Explaining the prohibitions of interpreting the word *istiwa'* (rising above the Throne) as *istiwla'* (dominion), and refuting the doubts of those who oppose this

The Shaykh : If we make *istiwa'* mean *istiwla'*, two prohibitions follow. What is the first prohibition? It is that it diverts the speech of Allah from what Allah intended, and this is a grave offense against the texts. The second prohibition is affirming a defective meaning that does not correspond to the word. So in interpreting *istiwa'* as *istiwla'*, there are two great prohibitions. The third prohibition is contradicting the consensus of the Companions. And if someone said, "And it also contradicts the Sunnah," is that correct or not? It is correct, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite the Qur'an, and not a single letter came from him interpreting *istiwa'* as *istiwla'*. So the Qur'an, the Sunnah, and the consensus of the Companions are that *istiwa'* upon the Throne means He rose above it.
Now, here is a question. If someone said, "If Allah *istawa* upon the Throne, meaning He rose above it, then Allah is in a place, which is above the Throne, and this is not befitting of Allah?" The question is clear. I do not want the answer from you; I will answer it with the help of Allah, but you... this question is clear. If *istiwa* upon the Throne means He rose above it, it follows that Allah the Exalted is in a place. Is this belief defective or not? Fear Allah. Listen to Mu'awiyah ibn al-Hakam (may Allah be pleased with him). He had a slave woman, and one day he became angry with her, so he struck her and wanted to remedy this by freeing her, freeing the slave woman. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said to him, "Bring her, bring the slave woman." So he brought her. A slave woman, my brothers, and a slave woman is usually ignorant, having no knowledge. He said to her, "I am the one most knowledgeable of creation about Allah, the most sincere of creation in advising the slave woman, the most eloquent of creation in speech, and the most knowledgeable of creation about what he says." He said to her, "Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah Where is Allah?" He was inquiring about what? About the place. The slave woman said, And she had not studied or learned, but the one who guided her to this statement was her *fitrah* (innate natural disposition). Therefore, if the *fitrah* had been preserved from the statements of the distorters, people would have remained upon what the sacred texts require. But *bid'ah* (religious innovation) arose since the era of the Companions ended, and the distortions that occurred occurred. She said, "In the sky." We have a question: from whom? From the one most knowledgeable of creation about Allah, the most eloquent of creation, the most sincere of creation, and the most knowledgeable of them about the meanings of words? Because all the deities worshipped besides Allah, and they are all false, are on the earth. So she said, "Allah is in the sky." But does the fact that He (Exalted and Majestic is He) is in a place mean that the place surrounds Him? No, absolutely not. He is above everything, and above the creations is nothingness, in which there is only the Lord (Mighty and Majestic). That is, there are no walls, mountains, or rivers surrounding Allah (Mighty and Majestic). So He is above everything, and nothing surrounds Him. This is the implication of the texts, and it is a reasonable meaning. No one can claim that this is not befitting of Allah. The one who asked "Where is Allah?" of the Messenger (may peace and blessings be upon him), and the one who said "In the sky," this slave woman, and the Messenger (may peace and blessings be upon him) approved her and said to her master, What? Now, I hope it has become established in your hearts that Allah the Exalted has *istawa* upon the Throne, meaning... brother, beware of being distracted in the lesson. What?
The student : Meaning He rose above.

The Shaykh : Meaning He rose above. Well done, may Allah reward you. Meaning He rose above the Throne.