al-Akbar,” saying:

“I asked Abū Hanīfah about someone who says, ‘I do not know whether my Lord is in heaven or on earth.’

He replied, ‘He has disbelieved, because Allah Most High says:

“The Most Merciful rose over the Throne (5)” [Tā Hā: 5].

And His Throne is above the seven heavens.’

I said, ‘He says, “He rose over the Throne,” but we do not know whether the Throne is in heaven or on earth.’

He replied, ‘If he denies that He is in heaven, he has disbelieved.’”

Ibn Abī Hātim also narrated: ‘Alī ibn al-Hasan ibn Mihrān narrated to us: Bashshār ibn Mūsā al-Khaffāf narrated to us, saying: “There came Bishr ibn