SALMA—Can I also ask a question?
BUSHRA—Why not? You are most welcome.
SALMA—Is it true to say that Allah is seated on Arsh or a Throne, which the angels are supporting?
BUSHRA—Where did you hear that from?
SALMA—Our religious teacher told us so.
BUSHRA—The Holy Quran tells us that Allah is Self Subsisting and All Sustaining which means that Allah supports everything while He, Himself, requires no support. Therefore it is not true to say that the angels are supporting the Throne on which Allah is sitting. Perhaps your teacher was referring to the verses of the Holy Quran, which if translated literally mean what you have just described. But we cannot take those verses literally. I will explain to you.
The word Arsh is used in the Holy Quran as a metaphor. God has no physical body; therefore He does not need a throne made of bricks, stones or some other material, to sit on. God is limitless. He is on earth as He is in heaven. Therefore to think that He is confined to a limited space is totally wrong.
Arsh means the Greatness, Majesty and Supremacy of God. It is the name of the Divine rank which is beyond of beyond from all His creation and being above all and higher than all and farthest of all. It is a station, which is higher than the whole universe and is a manifestation of His attributes of Transcendence and Holiness.
SALMA—Please mum! Can you explain this point a bit further?
BUSHRA—God has two kinds of attributes, the attributes of Resemblance and the attributes of Transcendence. Attributes of Resemblance of God are similar to the attributes manifested by human beings, because God has created man in His own image and breathed into him His own qualities. He, thus, created a resemblance unto Himself.
On the other hand when His attributes of Transcendence and Holiness are manifested, He is above everything. That is to say, despite all relationships, He remains apart and does not mix with His creation. The attributes of Transcendence are God’s exclusive attributes. They are not found in any other being. They are eternal and unchangeable. No other being has the slightest resemblance to God in that respect. God Almighty withdraws to the station where His attributes of Transcendence cover all His other attributes and makes Him beyond of beyond and hidden of hidden. This station is called the Arsh. I hope you understand the meaning of Arsh.
Let me now explain to you the meaning of the verses which say that the angels are supporting the Arsh.
The principal attributes of Allah are four in number, which are given in the chapter Al-Fatihah of the Holy Quran. They are:
Lord of all the worlds.
The Gracious—who provides for all the needs of man even before his birth and without any effort on his part.
The Merciful—who causes man’s labours to produce the best possible results.
Master of the Day of Judgement—to whom all will have to render an account of their actions.
These are the basic Divine attributes that are essential to Allah’s Being, and on them rest the very existence of the universe.
These Divine attributes are manifested through angels. The bearing of Arsh by angels therefore means that the true reality of God’s attributes is disclosed and manifested through the angels.
When the Holy Quran says that four angels are holding His Throne, it means that four angels manifest these four attributes of Allah to the world.
I hope everything is clear now.