11 – When Mālik ibn Anas (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked—someone said to him, “O Abū ʿAbd Allah, ‘The All-Merciful rose over the Throne’ (Sūrah Ṭā Hā 20:5); how did He rise?” Mālik lowered his head, and perspiration broke out on him. The people waited to learn what he would say. Then he raised his head and declared, “The istiwāʾ (rising) is not unknown; its ‘how’ is beyond human understanding; believing in it is obligatory; and asking about it is an innovation. I consider you a wicked man.” He then ordered that the man be expelled.

12 – A number of them have transmitted the instruction to refrain from discussing this subject and to let the reports concerning the divine attributes pass exactly as they came. Several imams have likewise related that this is their doctrine, just as we have described.

13 – Shaykh Abū Bakr ʿAbd Allah ibn Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad al-Naqūr informed us; Abū Bakr Aḥmad ibn ʿAlī ibn al-Ḥasan al-Ṭarīthīthī—by authorization—reported to us; Abū al-Qāsim Hibat Allāh ibn al-Ḥasan al-Ṭabarī told us; Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad ibn Ḥafṣ informed us; Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad ibn al-Musalmah narrated to us; Sahl ibn ʿUthmān ibn Sahl said, “I heard….”