rising over (Istawa) His Throne in a way that suits Him, The Glorified and Exalted, and does not equate with His creatures' attributes. Allah says, There is nothing like Him; and He is the All­Hearer, the All­Seer. On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will inform them of what they did in this worldly life. He is the All­Knower of everything and is, of all things, encompassing. He is the Knower of the unseen. Not absent from Him is an atom's weight within the heavens or within the Earth or what is smaller than that or greater, but is in a Clear Register.

As for the Hadith of the slave­girl whose master wanted to expiate his mistreatment of her by releasing her, her master came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and told him about his act. The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked him to bring her to him and asked her, "Where is Allah?" She replied: "In the heaven." He (peace be upon him) asked her: "Who am I?" She replied: "You are the Messenger of Allah." Then, he (peace be upon him) said to her master: "Release her for she is a believer." This Hadith indicates that Allah is above His Creation and that acknowledgement of this matter and of the Prophet's mission counts as proof of Iman (Faith). This is a brief meaning of the Ayahs you asked about. Every Muslim is obliged to follow the line of conduct of Ahl Al­ Sunnah wal­Jama`ah with regard to such Ayahs and authentic Hadiths which convey the same meanings and tackle Allah's Names and Attributes. They believe in and affirm His Names and Attributes in a way that suits Him without Tamthil (likening Allah's Attributes to those of His Creation), Ta`til (denial of Allah's Attributes), Takyif (questioning Allah's Attributes) or Tahrif (distortion of the meaning). This is the right approach adhered and agreed upon by the Salaf. Every Muslim is obliged to avoid what causes Allah's anger and give up the approach of the misguided people who negate or

allegorically interpret Allah's Attributes. Allah (may He be Praised) is greatly Exalted over the ignorant unjust people. Kindly, find attached a copy of Al­Aqidah Al­Wasitiyyah (Moderate Creed), a book written by Shaykh A l­Islam Ibn Taymiyyah with commentary by Muhammad Khalil Al­Harras. This book tackles the topic at hand extensively. May Allah grant us all useful knowledge and help us work accordingly and succeed in doing what pleases Him, for He is All­Hearer and Responsive!