Discussion of the Throne and the explanation of the people of the Sunnah and the community regarding it.
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The Shaykh : So let us ask: What is this Throne upon which the Lord rose? This Throne is a vast creation, and none knows its magnitude except the One who created it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, as is reported: The ring is a circle, right? A desert.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : No, not this one and not that one. Rest a moment. The ring is the ring of a shield. The ring of a shield is very small, like a chain. The desert is the wide earth. Put, my brother, a ring in a desert of the earth; what is the ring in relation to this desert? What is it? Nothing. He said:Sahih Ibn Hibban 6:55 Glory be to Allah. The creations, by Allah, are great, and the mind is bewildered by them, but it does not deny them, for Allah is greater in magnitude and greater in power. The superiority of the Throne over the Footstool is like the superiority of the Footstool over this ring. Now, my brothers, we have known the Throne. What is it? A vast creation whose magnitude none can measure except Allah. A pretentious, deep-dive person comes and asks: From what was this Throne created? What do we say to him? We say: Allah knows best. Do you believe that there is a great Throne whose width none knows the measure of except Allah? And that is sufficient for you.
Now, "He rose above His Throne" means He elevated Himself above it. Does the elevation of Allah above the Throne mean that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is in need of this Throne, such that if it were removed, the Lord (Mighty and Majestic) would fall? No, by Allah, absolutely not. The Throne is in need of Allah, and all creations are in need of Allah, but the rising above the Throne is from the perfection of His greatness and dominion.
The seven heavens and the seven earths in the Footstool are like a ring cast into a vast desert
ما السماوات السبع والأرضون السبع في الكرسي في الكرسي إلا كحلقة ألقيت في فلاة من الأرضThe student: ...
The Shaykh : No, not this one and not that one. Rest a moment. The ring is the ring of a shield. The ring of a shield is very small, like a chain. The desert is the wide earth. Put, my brother, a ring in a desert of the earth; what is the ring in relation to this desert? What is it? Nothing. He said:
And the excess of the Throne over the Footstool is like the excess of the desert over this ring.
وإن فضل العرش على الكرسي كفضل الفلاة على هذه الحلقةNow, "He rose above His Throne" means He elevated Himself above it. Does the elevation of Allah above the Throne mean that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is in need of this Throne, such that if it were removed, the Lord (Mighty and Majestic) would fall? No, by Allah, absolutely not. The Throne is in need of Allah, and all creations are in need of Allah, but the rising above the Throne is from the perfection of His greatness and dominion.