If the Throne was created before the creation of the heavens and the earth, how could His rising mean that He directed Himself to creating it—even supposing that the expression “He rose over such-and-such” were known in the language to mean that He directed Himself to bringing it into being? Yet no such usage is known in the language at all, whether literal or figurative, in either poetry or prose.

Those who said that “rose” means “directed Himself” mentioned this in connection with His words:

“Then He turned toward heaven while it was smoke.”

This is because the verb is followed by the directional preposition “to,” just as one says, “I directed myself to such-and-such” or “I turned to such-and-such,” but not “I directed myself over such-and-such” or “I turned over it.” Nevertheless, the interpretation given for that verse is likewise unknown in the language, nor was it the view of any Quran commentator among the early generations. Rather, their interpretation was contrary to this, as we have already related from some of them.

This interpretation and others like it were only introduced into Islam when people began denying the Lord’s acts that subsist in Him and that He performs by His power, will, and choice. Some then began interpreting the Quran in ways incompatible with this, just as all other adherents of religious innovation interpret the Quran to suit their own doctrines. As for this interpretation being transmitted from any of the early generations, it was not. Rather, the statements reliably transmitted from them agree on this matter. They are not known to have held two differing views on it, as they sometimes did concerning certain verses. Although their expressions differed, their intended meaning was one: affirming Allah’s exaltedness above the Throne.

If it is asked: If Allah is always above created things, as explained earlier, how can it be said, “Then He rose to heaven while it was smoke,” or, “Then He rose above the Throne”?

The reply is: This is just as He has informed us