Imam Ar-Ridha explains what ‘arsh is

From Safwan ibn Yahya who has said the following. “Abu Qurrah, the narrator of Hadith asked for help to meet Imam Ali abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.). I requested the Imam (a.s.) to meet him and he agreed. Abu Qurrah asked the Imam about the lawful and unlawful matters and then said, “Do you affirm that Allah is carried?” Imam abu al-Hassan (a.s.) replied, “Every thing in an objective case is related to another thing and is dependent. Being carried is the name for verbal defect. On the other hand, carrier is in a subjective case and it verbally is a word to convey praises and so is the expression of one who says, “Above, below, upper and lower.” Allah has said, ‘For Him there are beautiful names, thus, call Him through those names.’ He (Allah) has not said anywhere in His books that He is al-Mahmul (Being carried) He has, in fact, said that He is the carrier in the sea and on land and the preserver of the heavens and earth from banishment. Al-Mahmul, (being carried) are things other than Allah. It is never heard from any one who believed in Allah and His greatness saying in his prayers Ya Mahmul, (O the one being carried,).” Abu Qurrah then said, “He Himself has said, ‘The angels will be around the heavens and on that day eight of them will carry the Throne of your Lord above all the creatures.’ (69:17) Also He has said, “Those who carry the Throne (al-‘Arsh).” Imam abu al-Hassan (a.s.) then said, “Al-‘Arsh (the Throne) is not Allah. Al-‘Arsh is the name of knowledge and power. In al-‘Arsh there is everything. Besides, He has ascribed carrying to things other than His Own-self. It is ascribed to a creature among His creatures. This is because He has made His creatures to worship Him through carrying His al-‘Arsh (the Throne) and they are the carrier of His knowledge. There is a creature, who speaks of His praise around His al-‘Arsh (the Throne) and act according to His knowledge and the angels write down the deeds of His servants. He has made those on earth to worship Him in the form of Tawaf (walking around) His house. Allah has control over al-‘Arsh (the Throne) as He has said, “Allah carries al-‘Arsh, those who carry it and those around it, preserves them, keeps them together and is the guardian of all souls and above and over all things.” It is not permissible to say, “He is carried. He is below.” It would be the only expression that would not make any sense. Thus, both the word and meaning would be destroyed.” Abu Qurrah than said, “Do you then consider a false Hadith the Hadith that says, “When Allah becomes angry His anger becomes known to the angels who carry al-‘Arsh. They at such time feel the weight of His anger on their shoulders. They then bow down in prostration. When Allah’s anger goes away it becomes light and the angels return to their places.” Imam abu al-Hassan (a.s.) said, “Tell me about Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. From the time He condemned Satan until today is He not angry with Satan? When did He become happy with Satan? As you say He is still angry with Satan, his friend and followers. How would you dare speak of your Lord as under going changes from one condition to another condition and that what happens to the creatures happens to Him also. He is the Most Glorious, the Most High. He does not banish with those who banish and does not change with those who change. He is not replaced with those who are replaced. The creatures are under His guardianship and they all are dependent on Him. He is Self-sufficient and independent of others.”

Sheikh Al Majlisi:Hadith is sahih 

📚Miratul Uqool V2,P75-78

 

As-Sadooq explains what ‘Arsh is.

Shaykh Abu Ja'far As Sadooq says: 

Our belief concerning the Throne ('arsh) is that it is something which is carried or supported by the whole of creation. And 'arsh according to another interpretation is knowledge (ilm). And as-Sadiq, on whom be peace, was asked (the meaning of) the saying of Allah, the Mighty and Glorious:

“The Beneficent One, Who it established on the Throne” (Qur'an 20:5).

He said: He is equidistant from everything, and not a single thing is nearer to Him than another. Now that 'arsh, which is supported by the whole of creation,its borne by eight angels, each possessing eight eyes, each eye as large as the world.

One of the angels is of human shape and he asks Allah to provide daily bread for the sons of Adam. The second is of the shape of a bull, and he asks Allah to provide daily bread for all beasts. And the third is of the shape of a lion, and he asks Allah to provide daily bread for all beasts of prey. And the fourth is of the shape of a fowl, and he asks Allah to provide sustenance for all birds.

Today there exist four angels, but when the Day of Resurrection comes, they will become eight in number.

The 'arsh which means knowledge is borne by four amongst the ancients and four amongst the later ones; the former ones are Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus, on all of whom be peace; and the later are Muhammad, 'Ali, Hasan, and Husayn, the blessings of Allah upon them. This is what has been handed down from the Imams by a reliable chain of authorities concerning the Throne and its bearers.

Now the reason why these persons became the bearers of the 'arsh, that is the knowledge (of Allah), is that the ancient prophets, who lived prior to our Prophet Muhammad, namely, Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus, brought four different laws. It was through these that the true knowledge passed to them (i.e. Muhammad, Ali, etc.). Similarly the true knowledge was transmitted after Muhammad, by 'Ali, Hasan  and Husayn to those amongst the Imams who came after Husayn.

📚Al-Iqtiqadat P45-46

 

Belief in Allah(swt) having a body or form

Muhammad ibn al-Hassan has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Hamzah ibn Muhammad who has said the following. “I wrote to Imam abu al-Hassan (the third) (as) asking about the body and form (of Allah). He(as) wrote in reply, ‘Glorious is He similar to Who there is nothing. He is not a body nor has He any form.’” 

📚Kitab Al Kafi V1,P61

Hisham reported that Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) said: “The Prophet Muhammad (s.) never saw his Lord with the eyes. If by seeing he means seeing with the heart, he is right, and if by seeing he means seeing with the eye, he is disbelieving (kafir) in God and His signs , because the Messenger (s.) said: “He who compares God with His creation is disbelieving. He who compares Him to His creation has made for Him a partner.” 

📚Wasailush Shia V28 P348

Sheikh As-Saduq writes: 

“Those who describe God with a face like the faces are disbelievers and associate other partners with Him. His faces are His prophets and His proofs (a.), for they are those through whom the servants turn to God, His knowledge and the knowledge of His religion, and looking at them is a tremendous reward on the Day of Resurrection that surpasses any reward. The Exalted One says: “Everyone who is on it is perishable, but the face of your Lord remains.” (55:26-27) And the Exalted One says: “Wherever you turn, there is the face of God.” (2:115) By which he means: “Over there you have to turn to God.” So there is no necessity, to reject anything from the reports that agrees with the wording of the Qur’an.” 

📚Man La Yahduruh-ul-Faqih V1,P236