(The Meaning of Istawa When Restricted by the Preposition 'Ala or Ila, and the Difference Between Them) Its combination with the preposition of elevation is a text *** regarding elevation, as established by the tongue of every speaker. When it is combined with
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The Shaykh :"Its combination with the preposition of elevation is a text *** regarding elevation, as established by the tongue of every speaker"
"Its combination" means what? It means istawa with the preposition of elevation, which is "ala." It is a text regarding elevation, as established by the tongue of every speaker. So if it is said "He istawa upon such-and-such," it means He elevated Himself above it. No one disputes this matter. What remains for us is that it may be combined with something other than "ala." He said:
"When it is combined with 'ila,' the intention is with *** the meaning of elevation, due to its placement for clarification"
If it is said "He istawa to such-and-such," its meaning becomes "He intended to such-and-such," like His saying, the Exalted:[Fussilat 41:11] Its meaning is He intended to the heavens, but He intended with complete will along with elevation. We cannot say that istawa here means "ascended," because "ila" indicates a limit. If we said "He ascended to the heavens," it would imply that He was initially low, beneath the heavens, and this is certainly not intended. For this reason, Ibn Kathir interpreted it as meaning He intended to the heavens, and the meaning is not that He elevated Himself to the heavens, because there is a difference between "He istawa upon the heavens" and "He istawa to." So for this reason, he said:
"When it is combined with 'ila,' the intention is with *** the meaning of elevation, due to its placement for clarification
And to the sky He rose, so bound *** by the perfection of its creation with precision
He said: And this makes it clear that the intended meaning is that He intended to them to arrange them and make them beautiful.
[Fussilat 41:11] In order to complete them. But he did not say "He istawa to the Throne to complete it," for the Throne was already complete beforehand, and then He istawa upon it after its completion. This is unlike His istawa to the heavens, which was in order to complete them. For this reason, he said:
"And 'He istawa to the heavens' is restricted *** by the completion of their creation with precision
But upon the Throne He rose, He is absolute *** from it, it was completed by the pillars
It is clear, so there is a difference between "He istawa to the heavens" and "He istawa upon the Throne." Good.
"Its combination" means what? It means istawa with the preposition of elevation, which is "ala." It is a text regarding elevation, as established by the tongue of every speaker. So if it is said "He istawa upon such-and-such," it means He elevated Himself above it. No one disputes this matter. What remains for us is that it may be combined with something other than "ala." He said:
"When it is combined with 'ila,' the intention is with *** the meaning of elevation, due to its placement for clarification"
If it is said "He istawa to such-and-such," its meaning becomes "He intended to such-and-such," like His saying, the Exalted:
Then He directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke
ثم استوى إلى السماء وهي دُخان"When it is combined with 'ila,' the intention is with *** the meaning of elevation, due to its placement for clarification
And to the sky He rose, so bound *** by the perfection of its creation with precision
He said:
Then He istawa to the heavens and arranged them
ثم استوى إلى السماء فسواهنThen He directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke and said to it and to the earth, "Come [into being], willingly or by compulsion."
ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَهِيَ دُخَانٌ فَقَالَ لَهَا وَلِلْأَرْضِ ائْتِيَا طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْهًاThen He istawa to the heavens and arranged them as seven heavens
ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فسواهن سبع سماوات"And 'He istawa to the heavens' is restricted *** by the completion of their creation with precision
But upon the Throne He rose, He is absolute *** from it, it was completed by the pillars
It is clear, so there is a difference between "He istawa to the heavens" and "He istawa upon the Throne." Good.