and those among the Muʿtazilīs and later Ashʿarīs who share his position of negation concede that adducing these verses as evidence that Allah is above the Throne entails affirming that they indicate that Allah is spatially situated in a direction and has a limit. Al-Ashʿarī’s statement has already been quoted in full. He also said:

“Allah Most High has said, ‘They fear their Lord above them’ [al-Nahl 50]. He, glorified be He, said, ‘The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him’ [al-Maʿārij 4]. He, glorified be He, said, ‘Then He turned to the heaven’ [al-Baqarah 29]. He said, ‘Then He rose over the Throne—the Most Merciful; so ask about Him one well informed’ {59} [al-Furqān 59]. He said, ‘Then He rose over the Throne. You have no protector or intercessor besides Him’ [al-Sajdah 4]. All of this indicates