that the Throne was upon the water before the creation of the heavens and the earth. Then He said:

‘He who created the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them in six days, then established Himself over the Throne—the Most Merciful; so ask about Him one well informed.’ {59} [al-Furqān 59]

And His words:

‘Those who bear the Throne and those around it glorify their Lord with praise.’ [Ghāfir 7]

And His words, Mighty and Majestic:

‘Then He turned toward the heaven while it was smoke.’ [Fussilat 11]

And His words, Mighty and Majestic:

‘Then He turned toward the heaven and fashioned them into seven heavens.’ [al-Baqarah 29]

He thus stated that He established Himself over the Throne. You must therefore say that, during the period when the Throne existed before the creation of the heavens and the earth, Allah did not have mastery over it—if, in your view, ‘established Himself over’ means ‘gained mastery over.’ According to his claim, He only gained mastery at that time, not before.

He said: ʿImrān ibn al-Husayn narrated that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘Accept the glad tidings, people of Tamīm.’ They said, ‘You have given us glad tidings; now give us something.’ He said, ‘Accept the glad tidings, people of Yemen.’ They said, ‘We accept them. Tell us how all this began.’ He said, ‘Allah was before all things, and His Throne was upon the water, and He wrote in the Tablet the record of all things.’ It was also narrated from Abū