I heard my father say: ‘A man was imprisoned for espousing Jahmī beliefs, then repented. He was brought to Hishām ibn ‘Ubayd Allāh al-Rāzī to be examined. He asked him, “Do you testify that Allah is above His Throne, distinct from His creation?” He replied, “I do not know what ‘distinct from His creation’ means.” He said, “Take him back, for he has not yet repented.”’”

When ‘Abd al-Wahhāb ibn ‘Abd al-Hakam al-Warrāq related the report of Ibn ‘Abbās, “Between the seventh heaven and His Footstool are seven thousand lights, and He is above that,” he said: “Whoever claims that Allah is here is a wicked Jahmī. Allah, glorified is He, is above the Throne, and His knowledge encompasses this world and the Hereafter.”