and he said: “The Footstool means knowledge; the Throne, sovereignty; laughter, pleasure; rising over, taking dominion; descent, acceptance; and hastening means the same.” Thus they likened Allah to His creation in one respect and denied His attributes in another. They opposed the early generations, departed from the apparent meaning, and rejected the foundation. They affirmed nothing and left nothing existent.

They did not distinguish between explaining the meaning and expressing it in different languages. They said, “We do not explain these expressions; we leave them in Arabic as they were transmitted,” even though they had already given them those vile interpretations. Through this deception, they intended to make ordinary Muslims ever further removed from these attributes and ever more bewildered in turning away from them, so that they would become more uneasy at their mention and more inclined to recoil upon hearing them.

They have lied. Rather, explaining the meaning is to say “Face,” without then saying how. Asking “how” has no place in what Muslims say concerning this matter. As for expressing something in another language, Allah has said:

“The Jews say, ‘Allah’s hand is shackled.’” [al-Mā’idah 64]

But they had said this only