hadith, to which they also bear witness, is that Allah is above His heavens, upon His Throne, as His Book declares. The scholars of the Muslim community and the eminent imams of the early generations did not disagree that Allah Most High is upon His Throne and that His Throne is above His heavens.”

Abū Bakr al-Bayhaqī said in his Book of Belief, in the chapter on rising over the Throne:

“Allah Most High says: ‘The Most Merciful rose over the Throne’ {5} [Tā Hā 5]; ‘Then He rose over the Throne’ [al-Furqān 59]; ‘He is the Subduer, above His servants’ [al-Furqān 61]; ‘They fear their Lord above them’ [al-Nahl 50]; ‘To Him ascends good speech’ [Fātir 10]; and ‘Do you feel secure from Him who is in heaven?’ [al-Mulk 16].

“He meant above heaven, just as He said: ‘I will surely crucify you on the trunks of palm trees’ [Tā Hā 71], meaning upon the trunks of palm trees. He also said: ‘Travel freely through the land’ [al-Tawbah 2], meaning upon the land. Anything that is above is called ‘heaven,’ and the Throne is above the heavens. Thus, the meaning of the verse is: ‘Do you feel secure from Him who