the texts indicating ascent to Allah Most High, for ascent to Allah Most High is a form of drawing near to Him. Just as the textual evidence for this is among the most abundantly transmitted, knowledge of it is also firmly established in the innate nature of Muslims, ordinary and learned alike, just as the knowledge that Allah is above them all is firmly established in their innate nature. This is coupled with the knowledge that a servant may draw near to Allah, and that among His servants are those brought near, whom Allah, Mighty and Majestic, draws near to Himself, and those accursed, whom Allah, Mighty and Majestic, distances from Himself.

They all describe acts of obedience as means of drawing near and say, “Through them we draw near to Allah.” None of them instinctively rejects drawing near to Allah unless his innate nature has been altered by some form of Jahmī thought and denial of the divine attributes. Likewise, none of them rejects raising his hands to Allah Most High unless his innate nature has been altered by some form of Jahmī thought and denial of the divine attributes.

Each of these two principles necessarily entails the other: if He is above the Throne, drawing near to Him is possible, and His being above is evidence that drawing near to Him is possible. If it is established that drawing near to Him is possible, it is established that He is where one can draw near to Him.