from one of the Salaf who interpreted Allah's Istiwa' as sitting, which implies that Allah needs the Throne; how is the answer?
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The questioner : According to the view of those who say that he interpreted the elevation as sitting, does this imply that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) needs the Throne?
The Shaykh : No, even if we say He elevated and settled, "settled" is how it came from the Salaf, the same thing.
The questioner : He settled in His elevation.
The Shaykh : No, He settled upon the Throne, but this does not prevent us from saying that it does not necessitate that He needs the Throne.
The questioner : I mean, if we say that the meaning of "elevated" is that He sat, it does not necessitate [that].
The Shaykh : By Allah, it was reported from the Salaf, but it is not well-known. I mean, if a person leaves off this expression, especially with the common people, because the common people know that Satan enters them: how is His sitting? Is He seated on a throne or sitting cross-legged? Or so and so? So it is better to say "He established Himself upon it in a manner befitting Him" and stop there. Yes. We took three.
The student: Five.
The Shaykh : Five? If the second question is only one.
The Shaykh : No, even if we say He elevated and settled, "settled" is how it came from the Salaf, the same thing.
The questioner : He settled in His elevation.
The Shaykh : No, He settled upon the Throne, but this does not prevent us from saying that it does not necessitate that He needs the Throne.
The questioner : I mean, if we say that the meaning of "elevated" is that He sat, it does not necessitate [that].
The Shaykh : By Allah, it was reported from the Salaf, but it is not well-known. I mean, if a person leaves off this expression, especially with the common people, because the common people know that Satan enters them: how is His sitting? Is He seated on a throne or sitting cross-legged? Or so and so? So it is better to say "He established Himself upon it in a manner befitting Him" and stop there. Yes. We took three.
The student: Five.
The Shaykh : Five? If the second question is only one.