Ruling on the Imāmah of One Who Denies that Allah is Established Above the Throne
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
What is the ruling on someone who does not believe that Allah is established (istiwa) over the Throne (ʿArsh)? Can such a person lead the prayer?
Belief that Allah is established above His Throne is affirmed through:
✔ The Qur'an
✔ Mutawātir Aḥādīth (mass-transmitted prophetic traditions)
✔ Statements of the Companions (Aṣḥāb)
✔ The consensus (ijmāʿ) of the Ummah
✔ The innate natural disposition (fiṭrah) of all human beings
❖ One who denies this essential belief is not qualified to lead the prayer (imāmah), and it is impermissible to perform ṣalāh behind such a person.
“Allah has informed us about Himself that He is above the heavens. The Seal of the Prophets, Muḥammad ﷺ, has also conveyed the same. There is consensus (ijmāʿ) of the scholars, the Companions, and the jurists on this matter. So many aḥādīth have been reported regarding it that they result in certain knowledge (ʿilm yaqīnī). Allah has unified the hearts of the Muslims upon this belief and made it part of the natural disposition (fiṭrah) of all creation.”
Look! In times of distress, everyone turns their gaze towards the heavens. In duʿā (supplication), they raise their hands upwards. They look toward their Lord for ease and say with their tongues words seeking relief from above.
Only a deviant innovator (ghālī mubtadiʿ) or someone caught in the trial of blindly following those in misguidance would deny this.”
Ithbāt Ṣifat al-ʿUlū, p. 63
✔ Belief in Allah’s elevation above the Throne is a foundational part of Islam.
✔ Denying this belief is a deviation from the consensus of the Ummah and contradicts the Qur’an and Sunnah.
✔ A person who holds such a belief is not fit for imāmah, and prayer behind them should be avoided.
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
❖ Question:
What is the ruling on someone who does not believe that Allah is established (istiwa) over the Throne (ʿArsh)? Can such a person lead the prayer?
❖ Answer:
Belief that Allah is established above His Throne is affirmed through:✔ The Qur'an
✔ Mutawātir Aḥādīth (mass-transmitted prophetic traditions)
✔ Statements of the Companions (Aṣḥāb)
✔ The consensus (ijmāʿ) of the Ummah
✔ The innate natural disposition (fiṭrah) of all human beings
❖ One who denies this essential belief is not qualified to lead the prayer (imāmah), and it is impermissible to perform ṣalāh behind such a person.
❖ Scholarly Evidence:
❀ Imām Ibn Qudāmah رحمه الله (d. 620 AH) writes:
“Allah has informed us about Himself that He is above the heavens. The Seal of the Prophets, Muḥammad ﷺ, has also conveyed the same. There is consensus (ijmāʿ) of the scholars, the Companions, and the jurists on this matter. So many aḥādīth have been reported regarding it that they result in certain knowledge (ʿilm yaqīnī). Allah has unified the hearts of the Muslims upon this belief and made it part of the natural disposition (fiṭrah) of all creation.”
Look! In times of distress, everyone turns their gaze towards the heavens. In duʿā (supplication), they raise their hands upwards. They look toward their Lord for ease and say with their tongues words seeking relief from above.
Only a deviant innovator (ghālī mubtadiʿ) or someone caught in the trial of blindly following those in misguidance would deny this.”
Ithbāt Ṣifat al-ʿUlū, p. 63❖ Summary:
✔ Belief in Allah’s elevation above the Throne is a foundational part of Islam.
✔ Denying this belief is a deviation from the consensus of the Ummah and contradicts the Qur’an and Sunnah.
✔ A person who holds such a belief is not fit for imāmah, and prayer behind them should be avoided.
