and narrate them in private and public gatherings. They are also contained in the Islamic books read in private and public gatherings, such as the Sahīhs of al-Bukhārī and Muslim, Mālik’s Muwatta’, Imām Ahmad’s Musnad, the Sunan of Abū Dāwūd, al-Tirmidhī, and al-Nasā’ī, and other such books of the Muslims.

However, whoever understands this hadith and others like it to imply something from which Allah must be declared free—such as likening Him to the attributes of created beings or attributing to Him an imperfection incompatible with the perfection that rightfully belongs to Him—has erred. If he expresses this understanding openly, he must be prevented from doing so. If he claims that the hadith indicates and entails such a meaning, he has likewise erred.

For describing Him, glorified and exalted is He, in this hadith as descending is like describing Him with His other attributes: His rising toward heaven while it was smoke; His having created the heavens and the earth in six days, then risen over the Throne; and His coming, as in His words, exalted is He:

“Do they await anything but that Allah should come to them in canopies of clouds, together with the angels?”

And His words:

“Do they await anything but that the angels should come to them, or your Lord should come, or some of your Lord’s signs should come?”

And His words:

“And your Lord comes, and the angels, rank upon rank.”

Likewise, His words, exalted is He:

“He created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in six days, then rose over the Throne.”

And His words:

“And the heaven We built with might.”

And His words:

“Allah is the One who created you, then provided for you, then will cause you to die, then will bring you to life. Is there any among those you associate with Him who does any of these things?”

And His words:

“He directs the affairs from heaven to earth; then they ascend to Him.”

And other such actions by which