said:

Bishr ibn al-Sarī asked Hammād ibn Zayd, saying, ‘Abū Ismāʿīl, concerning the hadith that says, “Allah descends to the lowest heaven”: does He move from one place to another?’ Hammād ibn Zayd remained silent, then said, ‘He is in His place; He draws near to His creation as He wills.’”

[Al-Ashʿarī’s Statement in His Book al-Maqālāt (Doctrinal Views)]

Abū al-Hasan al-Ashʿarī said in his book al-Maqālāt, when describing the position of the people of the Sunnah and the people of hadith:

“They affirm the hadiths transmitted from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: ‘Allah descends to the lowest heaven and says: Is there anyone seeking forgiveness?’—just as the hadith has been transmitted from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. They adhere to the Quran and the Sunnah, as Allah Most High says:

‘If you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger.’
(al-Nisāʾ: 59)

They hold that the earlier leading scholars of the religion should be followed, and that nothing Allah has not permitted should be introduced into their religion. They affirm that Allah will come on the Day of Resurrection, as He says:

‘And your Lord comes, and the angels, rank upon rank.’
(al-Fajr: 22)

And that Allah draws near to His creation however He wills, as He says:

‘We are closer to him than his jugular vein.’
(Qāf: 16).