How to reconcile the hadith "Indeed, the Throne is above Paradise al-Firdaus" with the saying of Allah the Exalted, "And His Throne was over the water"

The questioner : The hadith and the saying of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) in Surat Hud . The understanding of this hadith is that it mentions that the highest part of Paradise is the Throne, while the verse mentions that the Throne of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) is above the water.

The Shaykh : .

The questioner : .

The Shaykh : This is the basis for this, first of all, because the fact that the Throne is the greatest of Allah’s (Mighty and Majestic) creations does not negate that it is, in its greatness, also above the Throne and above Paradise. The problem with this question and other similar questions is that some Muslims today try to conceptualize the unseen matters in a material, tangible way, and this is a great error. That is because it is not permissible to expand upon the unseen matters; rather, one must stop at their words and not add to them. As for trying to delve into understanding the how of these unseen matters, like this issue, the Throne was over the water, and then the Throne is the roof of Paradise. We are now trying to conceptualize that the Throne is a small size first, and then we try to conceptualize that the matter was as it was before, meaning the Throne of the Most Merciful was over the water, truthfully from Allah. However, this first does not necessitate the contradiction you referred to denying earlier. Second and finally, I say that it is possible that the matter was as stated in the Qur'an, that it was, and then afterwards our Lord (Mighty and Majestic), as He said , it is His (Mighty and Majestic) affair to create, give life, cause death, and deal with His creation as He wills. So there is no necessity for us to reconcile first that His Throne is over the water and His Throne is above Paradise at the same time. It is possible that it is so, and the answer has been given previously. It is also possible that a new creation occurred regarding this water such that the entire Throne became the roof of Paradise. This is what we say in general terms, and it is not permissible to enter into the details of the unseen matters.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : Yes.