whatever He wills,” as referring to a descent that leaves the Throne without Him, whereas his opponent understands these words to refer to an effect separate from Allah.

In sum, those who say that the Throne is left without Him are a small group among the adherents of hadith. The majority hold that the Throne is not left without Him. This is the position transmitted from the imams known for their adherence to the Sunnah. It has not been transmitted from any of them, through either a sound or a weak chain, that the Throne is left without Him.

As for ‘Abd al-Rahmān’s assessment of that report from Ishāq as weak, we have already cited the other, soundly established report transmitted by Ibn Battah and others. We have also cited the established wording transmitted by Sulaymān ibn Harb from Hammād ibn Zayd, as related by al-Khallāl and others.

As for Ahmad ibn Hanbal’s letter to Musaddad ibn Musarhad, it is well known among the adherents of hadith and the Sunnah, both Ahmad’s followers and others, who have accepted it. Abū ‘Abd Allāh ibn Battah included it in his book al-Ibānah. More than one scholar relied upon it, including al-Qādī Abū Ya‘lā, who copied it in his own hand.