when the thicknesses are comparable, the combined bulk of what lies within is greater than that of what surrounds it; indeed, it may be many times as great. Moreover, the diverse motions that do not derive from its motion are more numerous, although its motion encompasses them all.
It is established in Sahīh Muslim, on the authority of Juwayriya bint al-Hārith:
“The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, came in to her while she was glorifying Allah using pebbles, as she had been doing from the dawn prayer until mid-morning. He said: ‘Since leaving you, I have uttered four phrases which, if weighed against what you have said, would outweigh it: Glory be to Allah, as many times as the number of His creatures; glory be to Allah, commensurate with the weight of His Throne; glory be to Allah, as much as pleases Him; glory be to Allah, to the extent of the ink for His words.’”
This shows that the weight of the Throne is the greatest of all weights. Yet they say that the ninth celestial sphere is neither light nor heavy. Rather, the hadith indicates that the Throne alone is the heaviest thing that can be invoked in such a comparison, just as the number of created beings is the greatest number that can be invoked.
In the two Sahīh collections, Abū Sa‘īd reports:
“A Jewish man whose face had been slapped came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said: ‘O Muhammad, one of your Companions slapped my face.’ The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: ‘Summon him.’ They summoned him, and he asked: ‘Why did you slap his face?’
“He replied: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I was passing through the marketplace when he was saying, “By Him who chose Moses above all mankind!” I said, “You wicked man! Above Muhammad too?” Anger seized me, and I slapped him.’
“The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: ‘Do not rank the prophets above one another, for people will fall unconscious on the Day of Resurrection, and I shall be the first to regain consciousness. Then I shall find Moses holding one of the legs of the Throne. I do not know whether he regained consciousness before me or was recompensed for his swoon.’”
This makes clear that the Throne has legs. A supporting leg is also mentioned using the term sāq (leg), and the statements on this subject are similar.