Uthman al-Darimi in his refutation of Bishr al-Murisi stated that istiwaa' (rising above the Throne) carries the meaning of sitting; is this correct?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah.
The questioner : O Shaykh, Uthman al-Darimi in his refutation of Bishr al-Murisi stated that istiwaa' (rising above the Throne) carries the meaning of sitting. What is your opinion?
The Shaykh : Yes, istiwaa' (rising above the Throne) in the Arabic language carries the meaning of sitting,[Az-Zukhruf 43:12-13], and is the person on the back of the mount sitting or standing?
The questioner : Sitting.
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : Sitting.
The Shaykh : Sitting, but is it correct to extend this to the istiwaa' (rising above the Throne) of Allah on the Throne?
This is a matter for consideration. If it is established from the Salaf (the earliest generations) that they interpreted it as sitting, then they are more knowledgeable about this than we are. Otherwise, there is doubt in it, because we say: the how, meaning the manner of the istiwaa' (rising above the Throne), is unknown. And part of that ignorance is that we do not know whether He is sitting or not sitting. Do you understand?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : But we say: the meaning of istiwaa' (rising above the Throne) is elevation. This is a matter of no doubt. He istawa' (rose above) the Throne means: He elevated Himself above it with a specific elevation, other than the general elevation that is over all created things.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah.
The questioner : O Shaykh, Uthman al-Darimi in his refutation of Bishr al-Murisi stated that istiwaa' (rising above the Throne) carries the meaning of sitting. What is your opinion?
The Shaykh : Yes, istiwaa' (rising above the Throne) in the Arabic language carries the meaning of sitting,
and has made for you of ships and animals those which you mount. (13) That you may settle yourselves upon their backs
وَجَعَلَ لَكُمْ مِنَ الْفُلْكِ وَالْأَنْعَامِ مَا تَرْكَبُونَ * لِتَسْتَوُوا عَلَى ظُهُورِهِThe questioner : Sitting.
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : Sitting.
The Shaykh : Sitting, but is it correct to extend this to the istiwaa' (rising above the Throne) of Allah on the Throne?
This is a matter for consideration. If it is established from the Salaf (the earliest generations) that they interpreted it as sitting, then they are more knowledgeable about this than we are. Otherwise, there is doubt in it, because we say: the how, meaning the manner of the istiwaa' (rising above the Throne), is unknown. And part of that ignorance is that we do not know whether He is sitting or not sitting. Do you understand?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : But we say: the meaning of istiwaa' (rising above the Throne) is elevation. This is a matter of no doubt. He istawa' (rose above) the Throne means: He elevated Himself above it with a specific elevation, other than the general elevation that is over all created things.