guardian besides Him. He provides for them, causes them to fall ill, restores them to health, and causes them to die. All created beings are powerless: the angels, the prophets, the messengers, and all the rest of creation. He is powerful with power, and knowing with eternal, unacquired knowledge. He hears with hearing and sees with sight. These two attributes are known from His own description; none of His creatures can fathom their true nature. He speaks with speech that proceeds from Him, not through a created instrument like those of created beings. He is described only as He has described Himself or as His Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, has described Him. Every attribute with which He has described Himself, or with which His Prophet has described Him, is a real attribute, not a metaphorical one.”

[Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr’s remarks in al-Tamhīd]

Abū ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-Barr said in his book al-Tamhīd, a commentary on al-Muwatta’, when discussing the hadith of the descent:

“This hadith is firmly established through transmission and has an authentic chain of narration. The hadith scholars do not differ over its authenticity ...

It has also been transmitted through routes other than this one, in reports from trustworthy narrators on the authority of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.....

It contains evidence that Allah is in heaven, above