It is also established in Sahīh al-Bukhārī and elsewhere, from ‘Imrān ibn Husayn, that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Allah was, and there was nothing other than Him. His Throne was upon the water. He wrote everything in the Record and created the heavens and the earth.”

In another version recorded by al-Bukhārī:

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

In an authentic version recorded by someone else:

“Allah was, and there was nothing with Him. His Throne was upon the water. Then He wrote everything in the Record.”

It is also established in Sahīh Muslim, from ‘Abd Allāh ibn ‘Amr, that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Allah decreed the destinies of all creatures fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth, and His Throne was upon the water.”

This determination took place after the Throne had come into existence and fifty thousand years before the creation of the heavens and the earth.

He, glorified and exalted is He, praises Himself as the Owner of the Throne, as in His words:

“Say, ‘If there were other gods alongside Him, as they claim, they would surely have sought a way to the Owner of the Throne.’”

And His words, Most High:

“Exalted in rank, Owner of the Throne, He sends revelation by His command to whomever He wills of His servants, to warn of the Day of Meeting—the Day they will stand exposed; nothing about them will be hidden from Allah. To whom does sovereignty belong today? To Allah, the One, the All-Subduing.”

And He, Most High, says:

“And He is the All-Forgiving, the Most Loving, Owner of the Throne, the Glorious, Who does whatever He wills.”

The word “Glorious” has been read in the nominative, as an attribute of Allah, and in the genitive, as an attribute of the Throne.

And He, Most High, says:

“Say, ‘Who is the Lord of the seven heavens and the Lord of the Mighty Throne?’ They will say, ‘They belong to Allah.’ Say, ‘Will you not then fear Him?’”

Thus, He describes the Throne as glorious and mighty. And He says: