amount to negation when interpreted. By this, they claim to declare Him transcendent and deny any likeness to creation. We seek refuge in Allah from a declaration of transcendence that entails negation and denial of His attributes.”

His use of these verses as evidence that Allah, mighty and majestic, is above the Throne explicitly indicates that it is Allah Himself to whom they are returned, to whom they come individually, before whom they are made to stand, and in whose presence they hang their heads, as the Quran indicates. If Allah Himself could not be met, approached, or stood before, this inference from the texts mentioning Allah’s coming, arrival, and descent would not be valid.

Likewise, al-Ash'arī cited evidence that He is upon the Throne, saying: “Among the evidence mentioned to you that Allah, mighty and majestic, is established over His Throne, rather than