Chapter about al-‘Arsh and al-Kursi

“Jathaliq, a christian scholar, asked Imam Ali (a.s.) saying, ‘Tell me about Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. Does He carry the ‘Arsh or ‘Arsh carries Him?” Imam Ali (a.s.) replied, “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, is the One Who carries and has lifted the ‘Arsh, the heavens and earth and all that is between them from banishment. ‘Allah (God) prevents the heavens and the earth from falling apart. If they do fall apart, then, no one besides Him can restore them. He is All-forbearing and All-forgiving. (35:41)’ He then asked, “Tell me about His words, ‘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).’ “How has He said it. You just said that He carries the heavens, earth and all that is between them.” Asked the man. Amirul Mu’minin then said, “Allah, the Most High, created al-‘Arsh (the Throne) from four lights. From a red wherefrom the redness became red, a green light from which the greenness became green, a yellow light whereby the yellowness became yellow. He created it from a white light wherefrom is white and it is knowledge which Allah has made the carriers to carry and that is the light of His greatness. With His greatness and His light He has given sight to the hearts of believers. Because of His greatness and light the ignorant ones have become His enemies. Through His greatness and light all those in heavens and on earth, all His creatures seek to reach Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, by means of their various deeds and mixed religions. All that is carried Allah carries them with the light of His greatness and power. They are not able to do any benefit, or harm, death or life or resurrection. All things are carried. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, preserves them from banishment and has control over both of them (heavens and earth). He is the life of all things, the light of all things. Glorious is He, the Most High, far above what they say about Him. He is far high above them with Greatness.” He then said tell me about Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, where is He? Amirul Mu’minin said, “He is here. He is there, above, below, encompassing us and with us as He has said. ‘There is not a single place wherein any secret counsel can take place between any three people without God being the fourth, nor five people without His being the sixth nor any gathering of more or less people, wherever it may be, without His being with them . .’ (58:7). The al-Kursi contains the heavens and the earth and all that is between them and below the soil. If you would say anything loud, He knows the secrets and hidden as mentioned in His words, “The heavens and the earth are under His dominion (contained in His al-Kursi). He does not experience fatigue in preserving them both. He is the High, and the Greatest.’ (2:255) Thus, those who carry al-‘Arsh (the throne) are the scholars whom Allah has made to carry His knowledge. There is nothing that Allah has created in the heavens and the earth that is out of these four that He has shown to those whom he chosen. He showed them to His friend Ibrahim (s.a.). “Also, We showed (Abraham) the kingdom of the heavens and the earth to strengthen his faith.” (6:75) How would the carriers of al-‘Arsh (the Throne) carry Allah when with life from Him their hearts receive life and with His light they found guidance to know Him.”

“I asked Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, ‘. . His Throne existed on water . (11:8).’” The Imam asked, “What do they say about it?” I said, “They say that al-‘Arsh (the Throne) was on the water and the Lord was on top of it.” The Imam then said, “They have said a lie. Whoever would think that way he has considered Allah as being carried and has described Him with the qualities of the creatures which involves that the thing that carries Him is stronger than Him.” I then asked, may Allah take my soul for your service, please explain it to me.” The Imam then said, “Allah made water to carry His religion and His knowledge before there were the earth, the heavens, the Jinns, the human beings, the sun and the moon. When Allah willed to create the creatures He spread them before His-self and said to them, “Who is you Lord? The first ones who spoke were the Holy Prophet and Amirul Mu‘minin Ali (a.s.) and the Imams (a.s.). They all said, “You are our Lord.” He then made them to carry the religion and the knowledge. Then He spoke to the angels, “These are the carriers of My religion and knowledge, My trustees in My people and they are responsible (or questions will be asked about them). Then Allah spoke to the children of Adam, “Acknowledge that Allah is the Lord and acknowledge that these people are the authorities (of Allah) among you and that obedience to them is obligatory. They said, “O our Lord, we acknowledge.” Allah then told the angels, “Bear witness to this.” The angels said, “We bear witness so that they, tomorrow will not say, ‘We were not aware of this or say that our forefathers have worshipped idols before us and we were only their offspring. Will You then destroy us just because what the followers of falsehood have done?” O Dawud, our authority over them was strongly stressed up on at the time of the covenant.”