and the term “creation” contradicts their claim that the universe is inseparable from Him, just as an attribute is inseparable from that which it qualifies.

The hadith of Abū Razīn was narrated by Ahmad, al-Tirmidhī and others. Al-Tirmidhī said in the Book of Quranic Commentary, under Surah Hūd, in explanation of the words of Allah Most High:

“It is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and His Throne was upon the water.” [Hūd: 7]

Ahmad ibn Manīʿ narrated to us, saying: Yazīd ibn Hārūn narrated to us: Hammād ibn Salama informed us, from Yaʿlā ibn ʿAtāʾ, from Wakīʿ ibn ʿUdus, from his uncle Abū Razīn, who said:

I asked, “O Messenger of Allah, where was our Lord before He created His creation?”

He replied, “He was in ʿamāʾ, with no air beneath Him and no air above Him. Then He created His Throne upon the water.”

Ahmad ibn Manīʿ said: Yazīd ibn Hārūn said, “‘ʿAmāʾ’ means that there was nothing with Him.”