The Meaning of Istiwa' in the Saying of Allah the Exalted: {The Most Merciful Settled Himself upon the Throne}

Question:
May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good. Please clarify for us the meaning of istiwa' in the saying of Allah the Exalted:

Answer:
It is to be taken at its apparent meaning. Istiwa' means He settled and rose above the Throne, in a manner befitting His Majesty, (Glorified and Exalted is He). It is not like the settling of a created being upon another created being. It is a real settling; for Allah, (Glorified and Exalted is He), repeated this phrase in seven places in His Noble Book: "He settled upon the Throne." This indicates that it is a real settling, meaning rising and being above the Throne. The Throne is a great creation that Allah, (Glorified and Exalted is He), created, and it is the greatest of all creations. Yes. May Allah reward you with good. It is the highest of all creations, and the greatest of all creations, and Allah, (Exalted and Majestic is He), settles upon it whenever He wills, (Glorified and Exalted is He). Yes.