—Abū al-Hasan—two views held by our companions concerning rising over the Throne. The first: [that it] is an attribute of the essence. The second: that it is an attribute of action. Those who held it to be an attribute of the essence differed over its meaning. Most maintained that rising over the Throne means being above it in the sense of dominion, supremacy, and sole possession of the attributes of majesty. Although this meaning can be apprehended through reason, its designation as ‘rising over’ is derived from transmitted revelation.

Abū al-Hasan said:

‘Whoever holds that rising over is an attribute of the essence applies this designation to Allah from the time He created the Throne, because rising over entails [bringing it near] to Him [in order to] rise over it. Nothing other than Allah existed from eternity, so this designation did not apply to Him.’

He said:

‘Some of our later companions said: It may be said that He has always possessed the attribute of rising over without qualification, meaning that He possesses an attribute by virtue of which He may rise over the Throne when He creates it. Similarly, one says that Allah has always been powerful, although the relation of His power to bringing things into being pertains specifically to the time when they come into being. Others held that rising over is an attribute known through transmitted reports, judgment on whose meaning must be suspended until a report explaining it is received.’”