is upon the Throne,’ as the other verses explicitly state.” He also said: “The verses we have cited demonstrate the falsity of the Jahmiyyah’s claim that Allah, in His Essence, is everywhere. His words, ‘And He is with you wherever you are,’ mean by His knowledge, not by His Essence.”

When discussing the hadith of the descent, Abū ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-Barr said: “This hadith is firmly established through transmission and has a sound chain of narration. The hadith scholars do not disagree about its authenticity. It has also been transmitted through routes other than this one, through reports of upright narrators from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. It contains evidence that Allah is in heaven, upon the Throne, above the seven heavens, as the community has affirmed. It is among their proofs against the Mu‘tazilah’s claim that Allah is everywhere.”

He said: “The evidence for the correctness of the position of the people of truth is the word of Allah Most High,” and he cited