Al-Qādī said: Once His rising over the Throne, His being in a direction, and the fact that this belongs to the attributes of the divine essence have been established, is it permissible to ascribe a limit to Him? Ahmad affirmed this in the report transmitted by al-Marrūdhī. Ibn al-Mubārak’s statement, “We know Allah to be upon the Throne, with a limit,” was mentioned to him. Ahmad said, “That has reached me,” and approved of it. Al-Athram said: “I said to Ahmad, ‘It is related that Ibn al-Mubārak said, “We know our Lord to be in the seventh heaven, upon His Throne, with a limit.”’ Ahmad replied, ‘That is our position.’”

Al-Qādī said: I saw in Abū Ishāq’s handwriting: “Abū Bakr Ahmad ibn Nasr al-Raffā’ informed us: I heard Abū Bakr report from Abū Dāwūd: ‘I heard my father say: A man came to Ahmad ibn Hanbal and asked him, “Does Allah, blessed and exalted be He, have a limit?” He replied, “Yes; none but He knows it.” Allah, blessed and exalted be He, said: “You will see the angels surrounding the Throne” [al-Zumar 75]—meaning, encircling it.’”