that they may depend on it, while it has no need of them. But to draw an analogy between Allah—the Creator of everything, who has no need of anything, the Self-Sufficient One upon whom everything depends—and weak, dependent created beings is to equate them with the Lord of all worlds. Whoever equates them with the Lord of all worlds is plainly astray.

The greatest of all places is the Throne. Muslims agree that the Throne depends upon Allah, while Allah has no need of the Throne, whether they say that He rose over it, is settled upon it, or is firmly established upon it, or do not say so. No one who outwardly professes Islam says that Allah depends upon the Throne or anything else. Rather, they agree that Allah, through His power, upholds the Throne, the bearers of the Throne, and all other created beings.

This is so alongside the transmitted reports affirming His place, exalted is He, such as the hadith narrated by Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, who said: “Satan said, ‘By Your might, my Lord, I shall never cease leading Your servants astray as long as their souls remain in their bodies.’ The Lord, exalted is He, replied, ‘By My might, My majesty, and the loftiness of My place, I shall never cease forgiving them as long as they seek My forgiveness.’”