“The verses we have cited demonstrate the falsity of the claim made by some of the Jahmiyyah that Allah, in His Essence, is everywhere. As for His words, ‘He is with you wherever you are,’ He meant that He is with them by His knowledge, not in His Essence.”

Abū ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-Barr, commenting on the hadith of the Descent in his Sharh al-Muwatta’ (Commentary on al-Muwatta’), said:

“The scholars of hadith have not differed over the authenticity of this hadith. It contains evidence that Allah is in heaven, upon the Throne, above the seven heavens, as the community has affirmed. It is among their proofs against the Mu‘tazilah.”

He said:

“This is so widely known and familiar among the learned and the general public that it needs no more than to be stated. They know it intuitively, without anyone having instructed them in it, and no Muslim has disputed it with them.”

Abū ‘Umar also said:

“The scholars among the Companions and Successors from whom explanations of the Quran have been transmitted unanimously agreed in their explanation of His words, ‘There is no private conversation among three but that He is their fourth,’ saying: ‘He is upon the Throne, and His knowledge is everywhere.’ No one whose opinion carries authority disagreed with them on this.”

This, then, is what the later generations received from the early generations, for nothing else has been transmitted from them. It is the manifest truth indicated by the Quranic verses and the Prophetic hadiths. We therefore ask Allah the Magnificent to grant us and all other Muslims a good end, and, by His grace and generosity, not to let our hearts deviate after He has guided us. Indeed, He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy. All praise belongs to Allah alone.