40 – Yahya ibn Mahmud related to us by authorisation. He said: My grandfather, the ḥadith master Abu al-Qasim, related to us, saying: “Whatever is mentioned in the Book of Allah, exalted be He, concerning the divine attributes, or is transmitted through sound chains of narration, the creed of the early generations—may Allah have mercy on them—is to affirm it, leave it upon its apparent meaning, and negate any enquiry into its modality. Discussion of the attributes is a branch of discussion about the Essence, and affirming the Essence merely affirms existence, not how-ness; the same, therefore, applies to affirming the attributes. All of the Salaf proceeded upon this, and we have already cited Malik’s statement when he was asked about the how of the istiwāʾ (rising over the Throne).

41 – Qurrah ibn Khalid narrated from al-Hasan, from his mother, from Umm Salamah, that she said regarding Allah’s words, “The All-Merciful rose over the Throne”: “Istiwaʾ is not unknown; its modality is beyond comprehension. Affirming it is faith, and denying it is disbelief.”

42 – Rabīʿah ibn Abi ʿAbd al-Rahman said: “Istiwaʾ is not unknown, and its modality is beyond comprehension. From Allah comes the message, from the Messenger its conveyance, and upon us is to believe.”