Is Allah’s Istiwaʾ (Rising) Over the Throne Proven?
Source: Fatawa Ameenpuri — Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri
❖ Question
Is Allah’s rising over the Throne (istiwaʾ ʿala al-ʿArsh) established?
❖ Answer
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
Yes, according to Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama‘ah, it is an agreed-upon and unanimous belief that Allah ﷻ is above the Throne and that His istiwaʾ over it is established. This creed is proven from:
- Qur’anic texts
- Mutawatir ahadith
- Consensus of the Ummah
- Human natural disposition (fitrah)
No Muslim among the Salaf opposed this belief.
◈ Scholarly Statement
- Imam Muhammad ibn ʿUthman ibn Abi Shaybah (297 AH) رحمه الله said:
"There is consensus of the Salaf — the Companions, the Tabiʿin, and those who followed their path — affirming Allah’s loftiness and His istiwaʾ upon His Throne. More than one of the Salaf has reported this consensus from them."
(Kitab al-ʿArsh wa ma Ruwiya fihi, p. 150)
◈ Conclusion
- Allah’s istiwaʾ over the Throne is firmly established.
- It is supported by Qur’an, Sunnah, ijmaʿ, and fitrah.
- This is the unanimous belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama‘ah, without opposition from the early generations.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
