The same applies to moving clouds. It is known that every motion is either “forced,” and thus dependent on the force acting upon it; “natural,” occurring only when a body has departed from its proper centre and tends to return to it; or “voluntary,” which is fundamental. All motions therefore depend upon the voluntary motion proceeding from the angels of Allah Most High, who are “those who administer affairs” and “those who apportion affairs,” alongside the other descriptions Allah has given of the angels. Reason also corroborates this. A discussion of this and similar matters belongs elsewhere.
Our purpose here is to show that the difficulty raised in the question is dispelled under every supposition, so that the answer rests on arguments grounded in knowledge, rather than uncritical acceptance or merely conceded premises. Once we have shown that the question can be answered under every supposition—as we shall explain—it will not matter which of these suppositions actually holds, even though we know which it is. However, formulating the answer on one particular supposition rather than another, and establishing that supposition, would require a lengthy discussion that is unnecessary here. An answer that holds under every supposition is both better and more concise.
The second point:
Whether the “Throne” is the ninth celestial sphere, a body encompassing the ninth sphere, something above it relative to the earth’s surface without encompassing it, or is described otherwise, it must be understood that the upper and lower worlds are exceedingly small in relation to the Creator Most High