“Whoever claims that ‘The Most Merciful rose over the Throne’ means something contrary to what is firmly understood by ordinary Muslims is a Jahmī.”

For Allah has instilled in His servants’ innate dispositions, and created them to acknowledge, that their Lord is above His heavens. Thus, Abd Allāh ibn Rawāhah recited these verses to the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and the Prophet approved them:

“I bear witness that Allah’s promise is true,
And that the Fire is the disbelievers’ abode;
That the Throne floats above the water,
And above the Throne is the Lord of all worlds.”

Abd Allāh ibn al-Mubārak’s standing as a leading scholar and his eminence were acknowledged by all the groups of the Muslim community. It was even said, “He is the Commander of the Faithful in every field,” and, “Khurasan has produced no one like Ibn al-Mubārak.” He studied under most of the scholars of his time, including al-Thawrī, Mālik, Abū Hanīfah, al-Awzā‘ī, and their contemporaries. When asked, “How do we know our Lord?” he replied, “By knowing that He is above His heavens, over His Throne, distinct from His creation.”

Muhammad ibn Ishāq ibn Khuzaymah—known as the Imam of Imams, to whom the followers of al-Shāfi‘ī turn for his defence of their school, and of whom one might almost say that none among them knew it better—said:

“Whoever does not affirm that Allah is above His heavens, over His Throne, distinct from His creation, must be called upon to repent. If he does not repent, he is to be beheaded and thrown onto a rubbish heap, so that neither the Muslims nor the non-Muslims under their protection are troubled by his foul stench. His property would become fayʾ (communal property).”

Imam Mālik ibn Anas also said, as related from him by Abd Allāh ibn Nāfi‘ in a widely known report