“Note”:

Sheikh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy upon him) was asked in Liqa’ al-Bab al-Maftuh (Meeting 11 / Question 450): “‘Uthman al-Darimi, in his refutation of Bishr al-Marisi, cited that al-istiwa’ (rising over) comes with the meaning of al-julus (sitting); what is your eminence’s opinion?”

The Answer: “Rising over (al-istiwa’) something in the Arabic language comes with the meaning of ‘settling’ (al-istiqrar) and ‘sitting’ (al-julus). Allah, Exalted be He, said: ‘...that you may sit firmly (litastawu) on their backs’ [Az-Zukhruf: 13]. Now, is a person on the back of a beast sitting or standing? He is sitting. But is it correct to affirm this regarding Allah’s istiwa’ over the Throne? This is a matter for scholarly consideration. If it is established from the Salaf that they interpreted it as sitting, then they are more knowledgeable than us regarding this.” [End quote].

He also said in Majmu‘ Fatawa wa al-Rasa’il (1/135): “As for its interpretation as ‘sitting,’ Ibn al-Qayyim transmitted in al-Sawa‘iq al-Mursalah (4/1303) from Kharijah bin Mus‘ab regarding the saying of Allah, Exalted be He: ‘The Most Merciful rose (istawa) over the Throne’ [Ta-Ha: 5], his saying: ‘Can rising (al-istiwa’) be anything other than sitting?’ Furthermore, the mention of ‘sitting’ has appeared in a report narrated by Imam Ahmad from Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) as a marfu‘ report (attributed to the Prophet), and Allah knows best.” [End quote].

I say: Thus, the Sheikh did not reject the interpretation of al-istiwa’ as sitting; rather, he is as one who suspends judgment regarding its affirmation due to certain reports narrated concerning this interpretation. He previously stated: “If it is established from the Salaf that they interpreted it as sitting, then they are more knowledgeable than us regarding this.”