the heart of any human being. Therefore, when Allah informs us of the unseen realities that are His alone—matters of Paradise and Hellfire—we grasp their meaning, understand what we are meant to comprehend from that address, and interpret it accordingly. As for the very reality of what is being reported—things that have not yet come to be and will only exist on the Day of Resurrection—such matters fall under an interpretation known only to Allah.

For this reason, when Mālik (d. 179 AH) and other early scholars were asked about the Almighty’s words, “The Most Merciful rose over the Throne” (Q. 20:5), they said, “The istiwāʾ (rising) is known, its modality is unknown, believing in it is obligatory, and asking about it is an innovation.” Likewise, Rabīʿah, Mālik’s teacher, had previously said, “The istiwāʾ is known, the how is unknown; clarification is from Allah, the Messenger’s task is to convey, and our responsibility is to believe.” He thus made clear that