Sharh Al-Aqeedat-il-Wasitiyah (Islamic book) -A muslims foundation of beliefs

22. Affirmation of Istawa for Allah

Allah's Statement that "The Most Beneficent (Allah) Istawa (rose over) the (mighty) Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty)" has occurred at seven places in the Quran. He said in Surah Al-A'raf ; "Indeed your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in Six Days and then He Istawa (rose over) the Throne (really in a manner that suits His Majesty)." (7 :54); 

And in Surah Yunus, "Surely, your Lord is Allah who created the heavens the earth in Six Days and then Istawa ( rose over) the Throne (really in a manner that suits His Majesty)." (10:3) 

and said in Surah Ar-Ra'd, "Allah is He Who raised the heavens without any pillars that you can see. Then, He Istawa (rose over) the Throne (really in a manner that suits His Majesty". (13:2); 

and said in Surah Ta-Ha, 'The Most Beneficent (Allah) Istawa (rose over) the (mighty). Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty)." (20:5); 

and said in Surah Al-Furqan, "Then He Istawa (rose over) the Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty)." (25:59); 

and said in Surah As-Sajdah "Allah it is He Who has created the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them in Six Days. Then He Istawa (rose over) the Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty)". (32:4); 

and said in Surah Al-Hadid, "He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in Six Days and then Istawa (rose over) the Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty)!' (57:4).

And He said, "And (remember) when Allah said: 'O 'Iesa (Jesus)! I will take you and raise you to Myself" (Surah Al-'lmran, 3:55); "

But Allah raised him (Jesus) up (with his body and soul) unto Himself" (Surah An-Nisa, 4:158); 

"To Him ascend (all) the goodly words, and the righteous deeds exalt it"(Surah Fatir, 35:10); 

"O Haman! Build me a tower that I may arrive at the ways, the ways of the heavens, and I may look upon the Ilah (God) of Moses but verily, I think him to be a liar" (Surah Ghafir, 40:36,37); 

and He (Allah) said, "Do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven (Allah), will not cause the earth to sink with you, then behold it shakes (as in an earthquake)? Or do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven (Allah), will not send against you a violent whirlwind? Then you shall know how (terrible) has been My Warning?" (Surah Al-Mulk, 67:16,17).

Allah says: "The Most Beneficent (Allah) Istawa (rose over) the (mighty) Throne." These are those seven places in the Quran where Allah has given information about His rising over the Throne. The proof of lstawa (rising over) in each verse is definitive, for these are related to the Book of Allah. That is why the followers of the Jahmiyah sect, who believe in the negation of the Attributes of Allah, cannot refute and deny it. These verses are lucid in their subject that there is no scope for amplification here. When the word Istawa occurs in the dictionary as a transitive with the vowel 'Ala' then its only possible meanings are height and loftiness. That is why the Salaf have explained this word with four expressions. Allamah Ibn Al-Qaiyim has written in the Qasidah Nooniyah as follows:

There are four phrases used by the Salaf for this word which are used for a rider who is a lancer. The first is Istaqarra meaning that which has been proved; the second is 'ala meaning that which has been raised high; the third is Irtafa 'a which also means that which has been exalted, and this meaning is widely recognised. The fourth word is Sa'eda which means that which has climbed up the height. The contemporary of Abu Ubaidah Shaibani has favoured this meaning in his exegesis who knew the Quran better than the Jahmiyah.

Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama 'ah have faith in those things about which Allah has Himself informed such as, He is occupying the High position over the Throne and is separate from His creature. Allah, the Magnificent, Alone knows the state of lstawa as has been stated by Imam Malik etc., that 'Istawa is known but its state is unknown.' The noise that the followers of Ta 'teel make about the emergence of such mischiefs on Istawa being proved does not apply upon us for we do not say that the state of Allah rose over the Throne is like the domination over the creature by a creator.