The affirmation of the Salaf regarding "sitting" (al-julus) has been previously mentioned, and the statement of his teacher, al-Sa‘di, regarding what has been narrated from the Salaf concerning that was recently cited. Thus, we are people of adherence (ittiba‘) and submission (taslim) to our righteous predecessors (al-salaf al-salih), and we shall never be more knowledgeable or more God-fearing than they were. And Allah knows best.

Furthermore, know that I have not encountered anyone among the Imams of the Salaf, nor those who followed them among the Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah and al-Athar (the People of Hadith), who denied describing Allah, Exalted be He, with "sitting" (al-julus) or "seating" (al-qu‘ud) in a manner that befits Him, glorified be He. Rather, the denial of these meanings became well-known only from the people of ta‘til (divesting Allah of His attributes) and tahrif (distortion) of the texts regarding the Divine Attributes, such as the Jahmiyyah, the Ash‘arites, and others, as well as those among the later scholars who were influenced by them or became addicted to studying their books.

Examples of this include:

1—Ibn Furak stated in Mushkil al-Hadith (p. 391): "Know that describing Allah, Exalted be His mention, with 'seating' (al-qu‘ud) is something for which no text from the Book or the Sunnah has been established. Even if it were established, it would be interpreted in the same manner as all other descriptions of His actions, such as what has been mentioned regarding His descending to the lowest heaven... etc."

I say: Meaning, based on the figurative interpretation (ta’wil) of the attribute of descent (al-nuzul) and all other attributes—Exalted is He—which he proceeded to interpret figuratively and distort in this book of his.

1—Al-Nasafi said in his Tafsir (1/148): "'The Most Merciful rose (istawa) over the Throne' [Ta-Ha: 5]; al-istiwa’ can carry the meaning of 'sitting' (al-julus), and the meaning of 'power' (al-qudrah) and 'conquest' (al-istila’). The first meaning is impermissible for Allah, Exalted be He, based on the evidence of the definitive verse (al-muhkam), which is His saying: 'There is nothing like unto Him' [Ash-Shura: 11]." [End quote].