illustrious figures and masters of Islam? No regard is to be given to the defects some Jahmites have unjustly claimed regarding it, in order to suppress the truth. The imams of Islam have narrated it in the books of Sunnah, and the Salaf continued to narrate it; not a single imam among the imams of the Sunnah was heard to have rejected it until the Jahmiyyah emerged and denied it, followed by those who pursued their tracks in that regard... etc.

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said, while discussing a report from Ka’b al-Ahbar (may Allah have mercy on him) which affirms the highness (al-'uluww) of Allah, the Exalted: "Suppose the negator (al-mu’attil) were to call Ka’b a liar and accuse him of anthropomorphism (tajsim); how then could these illustrious figures have narrated it from him, affirming it and not objecting to it?" [Source: Mukhtasar al-Sawa’iq (3/1075)].

Al-Dhahabi said in al-'Arsh (2/121) regarding the hadith of ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): "When the Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, sits upon the Footstool (al-Kursi)": "If these imams—Abu Ishaq al-Sabi‘i, al-Thawri, al-A‘mash, Isra’il, ‘Abd al-Rahman bin Mahdi, Abu Ahmad al-Zubayri, Waki‘, Ahmad bin Hanbal, and others whose mention and number would be lengthy, and who are the beacons of guidance and the lamps in the darkness—have received this hadith with acceptance, narrated it, did not object to it, and did not impugn its chain of transmission, then who are we to reject it and act pedantically toward them? Rather, we believe in it and consign the knowledge of it to Allah, the Mighty and Majestic."

I say: His statement "we consign its knowledge" means its modality (kayfiyyah); otherwise, the meaning is known and affirmation is obligatory. Al-Dhahabi has comments on some texts regarding the Attributes from which a newly-invented and innovative tafwid (consignment of meaning) can be understood. I have discussed this in my book: al-Ihtijaj...