Al-Khatīb al-Baghdādī likewise mentioned that a number of people objected to some of Abū Tālib’s statements concerning the divine attributes.
This “third group,” admittedly, adheres more closely to the scriptural texts and departs less from them than the first two groups. The first followed none of the texts, but contradicted them all. The “second” abandoned the many clear, unambiguous texts and clung to a few texts whose meanings it had misunderstood. As for this group, it says, “I have followed all the texts.” Yet it too is mistaken.
Everyone who says that Allah Himself is everywhere contradicts the Quran, the Sunnah, and the consensus of the early generations of the Muslim community and its leading scholars. He also contradicts the innate disposition with which Allah created His servants, sound reason, and abundant evidence.
These people make contradictory statements. They say, “He is above the Throne,” yet they also say, “The Throne’s share of Him is like the share of the heart of one who knows Him,” as Abū Tālib and others state. It is well known that the heart’s share of Him consists in knowledge, faith, and what follows from them.
If they say that the same applies to the Throne, they contradict their own statement that He Himself is above the Throne. If they say that He Himself dwells within the hearts of those who know Him, that amounts to affirming particular indwelling.