Abū Bakr al-Bayhaqī narrated in al-Asmā’ wa-l-Sifāt (The Names and Attributes), through an authentic chain of transmission, that al-Awzā‘ī said:

“We used to say, while the Successors were still numerous: Allah—exalted be His mention—is above His Throne, and we believe in His attributes reported in the Sunnah.”

Al-Awzā‘ī was one of the four imams in the generation following the Successors: Mālik, the imam of the people of the Hijaz; al-Awzā‘ī, the imam of the people of Syria; al-Layth, the imam of the people of Egypt; and al-Thawrī, the imam of the people of Iraq. He reported that belief in Allah Most High being above the Throne, and in His attributes conveyed by revelation, was widespread during the time of the Successors. Al-Awzā‘ī made this statement only after the emergence of Jahm’s doctrine, which denied that Allah is above His Throne and negated His attributes, so that people would know that the doctrine of the early generations was contrary to it.

Abū Bakr al-Khallāl narrated in Kitāb al-Sunnah (The Book of the Sunnah) that al-Awzā‘ī said:

“Makhūl and al-Zuhrī were asked about the interpretation of the hadiths, and they said: ‘Let them pass as they have come.’”

He also narrated that al-Walīd ibn Muslim said:

“I asked Mālik ibn Anas, Sufyān al-Thawrī, al-Layth ibn Sa‘d, and al-Awzā‘ī about the reports concerning the divine attributes. They said: ‘Let them pass as they have come.’”

In another narration, they said: “Let them pass as they have come, without specifying how.”

Their words—may Allah be pleased with them—“Let them pass as they have come” refute those who negate the divine attributes, while their words “without specifying how” refute those who liken Allah to His creation.

Al-Zuhrī and Makhūl were the two most learned of the Successors in their time