Abū ‘Ubaydah Ma‘mar ibn al-Muthannā:

‘Rose’ means ‘went up.’ The Arabs say, ‘I rose onto the horse’s back,’ meaning ‘I went up onto it,’ and ‘I rose onto the roof of the house,’ meaning ‘I went up onto it.’ They also say, ‘I rose onto the rooftop,’ with the same meaning. Allah Most High says:

‘When you and those with you have boarded the ship.’

He also says:

‘So that you may mount their backs.’

And:

‘It came to rest upon Mount Jūdī.’

And:

‘He rose over the Throne,’

meaning that He rose above the Throne.

The statement of al-Hasan and that of Mālik are among the finest and most comprehensive answers given on this question: this answer rejects specifying how, while affirming rising in its understood meaning. The scholars have followed Mālik’s statement, considering it excellent and commendable.”

He then discussed the invalidity of interpreting ‘rose’ as ‘gained mastery.’

Al-Tha‘labī said: “Al-Kalbī and Muqātil said that ‘Then He rose over the Throne’ means ‘He settled.’” He said: “Abū ‘Ubaydah said: ‘He ascended.’ It was also said: ‘He gained mastery,’ and it was said: ‘He took possession.’”

He himself preferred the interpretation he reported from al-Farrā’ and a group of scholars: that it means He turned to creating the Throne and directed Himself to its creation. He said: “This is supported by His words, ‘Then He turned toward heaven while it was smoke,’ meaning that He directed Himself to creating heaven.”

This interpretation is among the weakest, for He has stated that the Throne was upon the water before the creation of the heavens and the earth. Likewise, it is established in Sahīh al-Bukhārī, on the authority of ‘Imrān ibn Husayn, that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Allah existed, and there was nothing before Him. His Throne was upon the water, and He recorded everything in the Record, then created the heavens and the earth.”