[Murat Yazici]

Imam ash-Shafi'i (d. 204/820) rahimahullah has stated:

"If it is said that "Allahu ta'ala said "Rahman did istiwa over Arsh,"" then the following response is given:

These (types of) ayats are among the mutashabihat that perplex those who don't have the desire to achieve depth in ilm when answering these and others like them. That is, they should accept these ayats as they are and they should refrain from research and talking about them. This is because, one cannot ensure avoiding doubt and danger when he does not have rusukh [deep understanding] in ilm. He must believe in Allahu ta'ala's attributes as we have mentioned. No makan can contain Allahu ta'ala. Time does not pass over Him. He is exalted beyond having limits and end points; He is mustaghni [independent] from makan and directions. "There is nothing like Him." (42/11)"

Source: Imam ash-Shafi'i, al-Fiqh al-Akbar, 17. Quoted by: Dr. Ebubekir Sifil, Milli Gazete [daily newspaper in Turkish], Jan 8, 2006. Dr. Sifil states: See Kashf al-Zunun, II, 1288. Katib Chalabi points out the doubt about the attribution of this book to Imam ash-Shafi'i. However, Professor Fuad Sezgin reports that a copy of this book written in the year 292 is present in the al-Azhar Library and states: "If this date is correct, the doubt about the attribution of this book to Imam ash-Shafi'i is removed." (Tarikh al-Turath, I, 491)

This post has been edited by Murat Yazici: 01 January 2011 - 09:31 PM

[Murat Yazici]

Here

http://www.marifah.n...463&#entry19463

and here

http://www.sunnah.org/aqida/haddad/Allah's%20Descent1.htm

We read

Al-Baydawi said:

Since it is established with decisive proofs that the Exalted is transcendent above having a body or being circumscribed by boundaries, it is forbidden to attribute to Him descent in the sense of displacement from one place to another place lower than it. What is meant is the light of His mercy: that is, He moves from what is pursuant to the attribute of Majesty entailing wrath and punishment, to what is pursuant to the attribute of Generosity entailing kindness and mercy."22

22Ibn Hajar, Fath al-Bari (1989 ed. 3:37-38; 1959 ed. 3:32-33 #1094).

However, I do not know where Qadi Baydawi rahimahullah wrote this in his tafsir. On the other hand, I found the following (hope to insert a translation later):

http://www.altafsir....=0&LanguageId=1

Qadi Baydawi (d. 685/1286) rahimahullah in explanation of 7/54:

استوى أمره أو استولى، وعن أصحابنا أن الاستواء على العرش صفة لله بلا كيف، والمعنى: أن له تعالى استواء على العرش على الوجه الذي عناه منزهاً عن الاستقرار والتمكن والعرش الجسم المحيط بسائر الأجسام سمي به لارتفاعه، أو للتشبيه بسرير الملك فإن الأمور والتدابير تنزل منه وقيل الملك

This post has been edited by Murat Yazici: 02 January 2011 - 09:18 PM