What are the types of istiwaa' in the language of the Arabs, and how do we affirm the attribute of istiwaa' for Allah (Mighty and Majestic)?
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The questioner : The first question in his letter asks: What are the types of istiwaa' in the language of the Arabs, and how do we affirm for Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) the attribute of istiwaa'?
The Shaykh : In the Arabic language, istiwaa' comes as intransitive, as transitive with a preposition, and as accompanied by the conjunction of accompaniment (waw al-mu'ayyah). These are three aspects of istiwaa'. As for the first, which is used absolutely without being restricted by an object or a conjunction of accompaniment, it means perfection. From this is the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Qasas 28:14] meaning he became perfect. And from this is the common saying of people: "The food has istawa," meaning its ripening is complete.
The second section, or the second aspect, is when it comes accompanied by the conjunction of accompaniment, in which case it means equality, as in their saying: "The water and the plank istawa," meaning they became equal.
The third is when it is made transitive with a preposition. If it is made transitive with "ala" (on), its meaning is elevation and settling. If it is made transitive with "ila" (to), the exegetes have differed on it. Some say it means rising and elevation, while others say it means intention and will. An example of it being made transitive with "ala" is the saying of Allah the Exalted: and His saying: [Taha 20:5] This has occurred in seven places in the Noble Qur'an. An example of it being made transitive with "ila" is the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Fussilat 41:11] and His saying: [Al-Baqarah 2:29] The exegetes have differed on istawa here; some said its meaning is "to the sky," while others said its meaning is "intended and willed."
In any case, the istiwaa' of Allah upon the Throne is one of the established attributes that it is obligatory for the believer to believe in. It is that Allah the Exalted istawa upon His Throne, meaning He elevated Himself above it with a specific elevation that is not like His elevation above the rest of creation. Rather, it is an elevation specific to the Throne, as He the Exalted said:[Ghafir 40:15] However, we do not know the modality (kayfiyyah) of this istiwaa'.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is because its modality cannot be comprehended, and neither Allah nor His Messenger has informed us of it. For this reason, when Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Taha 20:5] "How did He istawa?" he lowered his head until sweat covered him, then he said: "Istiwaa' is not unknown, but the modality is not conceivable. Belief in it is obligatory, and asking about it is an innovation." So we know the meaning of istiwaa', we believe in it, and we affirm it. It is that He (Glorified and Exalted is He) is upon His Throne and has settled upon it with an elevation and settling that befits Him (Glorified and Exalted is He). But we do not know the modality of this istiwaa'. It is obligatory for us to refrain from discussing the modality and to believe in the meaning. As for the statement of those who say that the meaning of is "He took control of it," this is a statement that is not correct. It contradicts what the Salaf were upon and what this word indicates in the Arabic language. It should not be relied upon; rather, it is invalid. If the meaning of istawa were "to take control," it would necessarily follow that Allah the Exalted is istawa upon everything, for He (Glorified and Exalted is He) has taken control of everything.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It would also necessarily follow that the Throne was not the property of Allah before this, but was the property of someone else, and then He took control of it from them. These are invalid meanings that do not befit Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).
The questioner : (Glorified and Exalted is He). May Allah reward you.
There remains for the brother questioner, Muhammad Tayyib Munazir Ahmad from Pakistan, a question.
The Shaykh : In the Arabic language, istiwaa' comes as intransitive, as transitive with a preposition, and as accompanied by the conjunction of accompaniment (waw al-mu'ayyah). These are three aspects of istiwaa'. As for the first, which is used absolutely without being restricted by an object or a conjunction of accompaniment, it means perfection. From this is the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And when he attained his full strength and was [mentally] mature
ولما بلغ أشده واستوىThe second section, or the second aspect, is when it comes accompanied by the conjunction of accompaniment, in which case it means equality, as in their saying: "The water and the plank istawa," meaning they became equal.
The third is when it is made transitive with a preposition. If it is made transitive with "ala" (on), its meaning is elevation and settling. If it is made transitive with "ila" (to), the exegetes have differed on it. Some say it means rising and elevation, while others say it means intention and will. An example of it being made transitive with "ala" is the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Then He rose above the Throne
ثم استوى على العرشThe Most Merciful [who is] above the Throne established.
الرحمان على العرش استوىThen He directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke
ثم استوى إلى السماء وهي دخانIt is He who created for you all of that which is on the earth. Then He directed Himself to the heaven, [His being above all creation], and made them seven heavens
هو الذي خلق لكم ما في الأرض جميعا ثم استوى إلى السماء فسواهن سبع سماواتIn any case, the istiwaa' of Allah upon the Throne is one of the established attributes that it is obligatory for the believer to believe in. It is that Allah the Exalted istawa upon His Throne, meaning He elevated Himself above it with a specific elevation that is not like His elevation above the rest of creation. Rather, it is an elevation specific to the Throne, as He the Exalted said:
[He is] the Exalted above [all] degrees, Owner of the Throne
رفيع الدرجات ذو العرشThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is because its modality cannot be comprehended, and neither Allah nor His Messenger has informed us of it. For this reason, when Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about the saying of Allah the Exalted:
The Most Merciful [who is] above the Throne established.
الرحمان على العرش استوىHe settled upon the Throne
استوى على العرشThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It would also necessarily follow that the Throne was not the property of Allah before this, but was the property of someone else, and then He took control of it from them. These are invalid meanings that do not befit Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).
The questioner : (Glorified and Exalted is He). May Allah reward you.
There remains for the brother questioner, Muhammad Tayyib Munazir Ahmad from Pakistan, a question.