Why do we not say that Allah is established above His Throne with His Self and that He is with us with His Self?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you... We say that Allah is established above His Throne without... and that He is with us with His Self.
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : Why, O Shaykh, do we not say it this way...
The Shaykh : We, we believe this, but we do not say "in His Essence." Why? Because it is understood from"in His Essence"the concept of indwelling, as those who affirmed it said so.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : Therefore, we avoid this. As for what I testify to regarding Allah, He, Blessed and Exalted is He, is with us, He Himself, He Himself is with us, but He is in the sky above His Throne. We simply do not utter it so that no one suspects what the *Jahmiyyah* who denied the divine attributes went to. Otherwise, what is the meaning of saying that all the pronouns[Al-A'raf 7:54] refer to Allah except this one, which refers to knowledge? And in reality, He is with us by His knowledge. Knowledge is an attribute that does not separate. If what is with us is knowledge, it is impossible for the knowledge to be with us while the Knower is above. And if what is intended is His knowledge of what is on earth, His knowledge of what is on earth, where is His knowledge? His knowledge is with His Self, above. In that case, the Salaf's interpretation of it as knowledge is an approximation, an interpretation by the necessary consequence, and a repelling of what?
The student: ...
The Shaykh : Yes, a repelling of the implication of *hulul* (incarnation) that appeared in their time. Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : Why, O Shaykh, do we not say it this way...
The Shaykh : We, we believe this, but we do not say "in His Essence." Why? Because it is understood from"in His Essence"the concept of indwelling, as those who affirmed it said so.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : Therefore, we avoid this. As for what I testify to regarding Allah, He, Blessed and Exalted is He, is with us, He Himself, He Himself is with us, but He is in the sky above His Throne. We simply do not utter it so that no one suspects what the *Jahmiyyah* who denied the divine attributes went to. Otherwise, what is the meaning of saying that all the pronouns
who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne
خلق السماوات والأرض في ستة أيام ثم استوى على العرش يعلمThe student: ...
The Shaykh : Yes, a repelling of the implication of *hulul* (incarnation) that appeared in their time. Yes.