relation—I mean that the Throne subsists through Him, not that He subsists through the Throne. That is why He said:

‘His Footstool extends over the heavens and the earth, and preserving them does not tire Him. He is the Most High, the Most Great’ [al-Baqarah: 255].”

I say: He has approached this verse in the manner he describes. The commentators have two well-known interpretations of the verse. The first is that His words,

“they would have sought a way to the Lord of the Throne” [al-Isrā’: 42],

mean seeking nearness to Him, worshipping Him, and petitioning Him. The second is that they would seek to resist and overcome Him.

The first is correct, for He said:

“Had there been other gods alongside Him, as they claim” [al-Isrā’: 42].

Yet they did not claim that their gods resisted Him or sought to overcome Him. This differs from His words:

“Nor is there any god alongside Him. Otherwise, each god would have taken away what he had created, and some would have risen above others” [al-Mu’minūn: 91].

This concerns the gods whose existence is denied; it does not say that they would rise above Allah or that the polytheists claimed this.

Moreover, His words,

“they would have sought a way to the Lord of the Throne” [al-Isrā’: 42],

support this interpretation. For the Most High said:

“Indeed, this is a reminder, so whoever wills may take a way to his Lord” [al-Muzzammil: 19].

What is meant is taking a way to worshipping and obeying Him. By contrast, in the opposite situation, He said:

“If they obey you, do not seek a way against them” [al-Nisā’: 43].

He did not say, “a way to them.”

Furthermore, taking a way to Him is commanded, as in His words:

“Seek the means of drawing near to Him” [al-Mā’idah: 35],

and His words:

“Say, ‘Call upon those whom you claim besides Him