Answer to the one who asked: What is the meaning of Istiwa?
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The Shaykh : If someone asks, "What is its meaning, namely Istiwa?" the answer is: Istiwa occurs in the Arabic language in four ways. It occurs in the Arabic language in four ways:
The first: absolute.
The second: restricted by "ala" (on), accompanied by "ala."
The third: accompanied by "ila" (to).
The fourth: accompanied by the conjunction "wa" (and).
These are four. As for the first, its meaning is perfection, and every thing is according to its measure. From this is the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Qasas 28:14] meaning, it became perfect. And from this is the saying of people: "The food istiwa in cooking," meaning it ripened.
As for the second, which is transitive with "ala," its meaning is rising above a thing with a specific rising, and some say it also means settling. The rising and the settling. It has been narrated regarding the Istiwa of Allah on the Throne from the Salaf four meanings: He rose, He ascended, He went up, and He settled. However, there is doubt regarding the authenticity of these from whom they are attributed. It is not impossible that this meaning exists in the Arabic language.
The third: the one transitive with "ila," accompanied by "ila," its meaning is completion in a state of perfection, completion to a thing in a state of perfection. From this is the saying of Allah Blessed and Exalted is He: [Fussilat 41:11] These mean completion to a thing in a state of perfection. It was said that they mean He rose to them, but the first opinion is more correct: that they mean He completed to the thing in perfection. This is because it was not narrated that Allah istiwa on the sky, so that we would take "ila" to mean "ala." Yes, there is no doubt, but "on the sky" was not narrated. And because the original meaning of "ila" is completion and limit, so it means completion to a thing, but in a state of perfection. Where did we take "in a state of perfection" from? Because istiwa means to become perfect.
The fourth: that it be accompanied by the conjunction "wa," so it means equality, meaning one thing equals another. From this is their saying: "The water and the wood istiwa" Grammarians use this to illustrate what? The object with which (maf'ul ma'ahu). So here it means what? Equality, they agreed. And from this is that you say: "The response of so-and-so and so-and-so istiwa," meaning they were equal. These are the aspects. These four meanings are those for which istiwa was used. Now, if istiwa is known, "istiwa ala" means what? He rose above it and ascended above it. The "how" is not conceivable, as I told you, it is not possible for the mind to comprehend the modality. And you knew at the beginning of the page that the mind does not indicate, or it is not possible for it to reach knowledge of the modality. Belief in it is obligatory. Why? Because Allah informed of it about Himself, and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) conveyed it to us, and the Companions read it and approved it.
The first: absolute.
The second: restricted by "ala" (on), accompanied by "ala."
The third: accompanied by "ila" (to).
The fourth: accompanied by the conjunction "wa" (and).
These are four. As for the first, its meaning is perfection, and every thing is according to its measure. From this is the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And when he attained his full strength and was [mentally] mature
ولما بلغ أشده واستوىAs for the second, which is transitive with "ala," its meaning is rising above a thing with a specific rising, and some say it also means settling. The rising and the settling. It has been narrated regarding the Istiwa of Allah on the Throne from the Salaf four meanings: He rose, He ascended, He went up, and He settled. However, there is doubt regarding the authenticity of these from whom they are attributed. It is not impossible that this meaning exists in the Arabic language.
The third: the one transitive with "ila," accompanied by "ila," its meaning is completion in a state of perfection, completion to a thing in a state of perfection. From this is the saying of Allah Blessed and Exalted is He:
Then He directed Himself to the heaven and He made them seven heavens
ثم استوى إلى السماء فسواهن سبع سماواتThen He directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke
ثم استوى إلى السماء وهي دخانHe settled upon the Throne
استوى على العرشThe fourth: that it be accompanied by the conjunction "wa," so it means equality, meaning one thing equals another. From this is their saying: "The water and the wood istiwa" Grammarians use this to illustrate what? The object with which (maf'ul ma'ahu). So here it means what? Equality, they agreed. And from this is that you say: "The response of so-and-so and so-and-so istiwa," meaning they were equal. These are the aspects. These four meanings are those for which istiwa was used. Now, if istiwa is known, "istiwa ala" means what? He rose above it and ascended above it. The "how" is not conceivable, as I told you, it is not possible for the mind to comprehend the modality. And you knew at the beginning of the page that the mind does not indicate, or it is not possible for it to reach knowledge of the modality. Belief in it is obligatory. Why? Because Allah informed of it about Himself, and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) conveyed it to us, and the Companions read it and approved it.