Meaning of Al-Kursi - Affirming that Allaah Almighty has two feet

24-3-2016 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu. I would like to know what the Kursi of Allaah is. I would like to know whether Allaah, The Exalted, has two feet. What is the proof for that? I read that the hadith of Ibn Abbas that says that the Kursi is the place of Allaah's feet is weak. If it is authentic, could you please tell me which Hadith scholars considered it authentic.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. 

In an authentic narration, Ibn Abbaas said, “The Kursi is the place of His two feet, and the size of the Throne cannot be estimated.” [Al-Haakim in Al-Mustadrak] Al-Haakim said, “It is an sheeh (sound) hadeeth according to the requirements of Al-Bukhari and Muslim, but they did not narrate it.

Ath-Thahabi said in At-Talkhees, “It (this hadeeth) meets the requirements of Al-Bukhari and Muslim.”

Al-Azhari said in Tahtheeb Al-Lughah, “The scholars agreed that this narration is saheeh.” Al-Albaani classified it as s.

A hadeeth with the same meaning was narrated by Abu Moosa Al-Ash'ari and Ibn Hajar and Al-Albaani both classified it as authentic.

Hence, it becomes evident from the above that the preponderant opinion about the meaning of Al-Kursi is that it is the place of the feet of Allaah Almighty.

As regards the attribute of the Feet of Allaah, then this is something confirmed in the creed of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah.

Anas narrated that the Prophet said, “The people will be thrown into Hellfire, and it will say, ‘Are there any more (to come)?’ until Allaah puts His foot over it, and it will say, ‘Qatt! Qatt! (Enough Enough!).’” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The narrations of Ibn ‘Abbaas and Abu Moosa mentioned that they are two feet.

Therefore, we affirm that Allaah Almighty has two feet that suit His Majesty: the fatwa of the Standing Committee reads:

“What we must do is to affirm that which Allaah has affirmed for Himself, such as two Hands, two Feet, Fingers, and other attributes that are mentioned in the Quran and the Sunnah, in a manner that is befitting of Allaah, may He be glorified, without distorting the meaning, discussing how, likening Him to His creation or denying any of His attributes, because He, may He be glorified, says (what means): {“Say (O Muhammad): “He is Allaah, (the) One. Allaah-us-Samad (The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, He neither eats nor drinks). He begets not, nor was He begotten; And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him.”} [Quran 112:1-4] Allaah also says (what means): {There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.} [Quran 42:11] So we take these (attributes) as true in a real sense, not metaphorical.”

For more benefit, please refer to fataawa 90390, 39292and 92488.

Allaah knows best.