The Intended Meaning of the Throne of the Most Merciful
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Our brother has a brief but broad question, in which he says: What is the intended meaning of the Throne of the Most Merciful?
Answer: The 'Arsh, according to the scholars, is the Kursi in the Arabic language, the great Kursi, the Kursi of the King. What is meant by the 'Arsh of the Most Merciful is a great Kursi, which is the greatest of all created things. It has pillars, and it has bearers from among the angels who carry it, and Allah is above the 'Arsh , as He said : [Ta-Ha:5], and He, Glorified and Exalted is He, said: [Al-A'raf:54]. So it is a great Kursi and a great created thing, and none knows the extent of its greatness and its vastness except the One who created it .
It is like a dome over the universe, and it is the ceiling of the entire world, and it is the ceiling of Paradise as well. So it is the ceiling of the world, and there is nothing above it except Allah .
This is the 'Arsh, the great Kursi that the Arabs know, as mentioned in the story of Bilqis: [Al-Naml:23]. So the thrones of kings are called 'arush (thrones), but the 'Arsh of Allah is not like any of the thrones of the created beings. However, in general, it is known linguistically as the great Kursi. None knows its vastness, its greatness, its essence, or its material except the One who created it , unless something authentic is reported from the Messenger of Allah regarding that. If something authentic is reported from the Messenger of Allah explaining something of its essence, then that is given precedence, for what the Messenger ﷺ says is the truth; for he does not speak from desire. And I do not know of any authentic, relied-upon report that explains the material of this 'Arsh. But it is a great 'Arsh and a great created thing, and it has bearers from among the angels, as Allah, Exalted and Majestic is He, said: [Al-Haqqah:17], meaning: on the Day of Resurrection. And the well-known view is that in this world it is carried by four, as 'Amir ibn Abi al-Salt said in his famous poetry which al-Shurayd ibn Suwayd recited to the Prophet ﷺ, and he approved it.
A man and a bull under his right foot
And an eagle for the other, and a lion in ambush
Meaning: four angels in the forms mentioned, one of them in the form of a man, the second in the form of a bull, the third in the form of an eagle, and the fourth in the form of a lion. For this reason he said:
A man and a bull under his right foot
And an eagle for the other, and a lion in ambush
So these created beings are called angels, whom Allah created to carry this Throne.
It was reported in the hadith of al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib that on the Day of Resurrection they will be eight, and that they will carry the Throne in the form of eight, and they have a great creation and great length, but there is some discussion in its chain. And the text of the Qur'an states that this will be on the Day of Resurrection, as He said (Glorified and Exalted is He): [Al-Haqqah:17] : on the Day of Resurrection. So that indicates that in this world they are four, and on the Day of Resurrection they will be eight. May Allah grant us assistance, and Allah knows best. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Answer: The 'Arsh, according to the scholars, is the Kursi in the Arabic language, the great Kursi, the Kursi of the King. What is meant by the 'Arsh of the Most Merciful is a great Kursi, which is the greatest of all created things. It has pillars, and it has bearers from among the angels who carry it, and Allah is above the 'Arsh , as He said :
The Most Merciful [who is] above the Throne established.
الرَّحْمَنُ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ اسْتَوَىIndeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne
إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِIt is like a dome over the universe, and it is the ceiling of the entire world, and it is the ceiling of Paradise as well. So it is the ceiling of the world, and there is nothing above it except Allah .
This is the 'Arsh, the great Kursi that the Arabs know, as mentioned in the story of Bilqis:
and she has a great throne.
وَلَهَا عَرْشٌ عَظِيمٌAnd there will bear the Throne of your Lord above them, that Day, eight [of them].
وَيَحْمِلُ عَرْشَ رَبِّكَ فَوْقَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ ثَمَانِيَةٌA man and a bull under his right foot
And an eagle for the other, and a lion in ambush
Meaning: four angels in the forms mentioned, one of them in the form of a man, the second in the form of a bull, the third in the form of an eagle, and the fourth in the form of a lion. For this reason he said:
A man and a bull under his right foot
And an eagle for the other, and a lion in ambush
So these created beings are called angels, whom Allah created to carry this Throne.
It was reported in the hadith of al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib that on the Day of Resurrection they will be eight, and that they will carry the Throne in the form of eight, and they have a great creation and great length, but there is some discussion in its chain. And the text of the Qur'an states that this will be on the Day of Resurrection, as He said (Glorified and Exalted is He):
And there will bear the Throne of your Lord above them, that Day, eight [of them].
وَيَحْمِلُ عَرْشَ رَبِّكَ فَوْقَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ ثَمَانِيَةٌOn that Day
يَوْمَئِذٍThe presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.