views: “The most evident view is that supported by the converging testimony of the verses, reports, and virtuous, righteous scholars: Allah is above His Throne, as He has stated in His Book and through His Prophet, without specifying how, distinct from all His creation. This is the position of the righteous predecessors, as transmitted from them by trustworthy narrators.”

Abū Bakr ibn Fūrak reported in his book on the doctrine of Abū Muhammad ‘Abd Allāh ibn Sa‘īd ibn Kullāb, his agreement with al-Ash‘arī, and the minor or merely verbal disagreements between them:

“Chapter One: An account of what our shaykh Abū al-Hasan—may Allah be pleased with him—related in his Book of Doctrines concerning the principal tenets of the scholars of hadith, and his clear declaration at its conclusion that he affirms all of them.”

Ibn Fūrak then reproduced precisely the doctrinal statement of al-Ash‘arī that we quoted earlier, including its mention of the Throne, Allah’s establishment over it, the attributes conveyed in revelation, and other matters, as previously discussed. He then said at its conclusion:

“His own words thus establish for you that he believes in these principles, which are the fundamental tenets of the scholars of hadith and the foundation of their affirmation of Allah’s oneness.”

There is no doubt that this is the position of the early Ash‘arīs and all their leading scholars.