Mentioning the View of the Imâm, Âlim, Allâmah, the Hâfidh of Maghrib, the Imam of the [Ahl'us] Sunnah of His Era Abû Umar Yûsuf bin Abdillâh bin Abd'il Barr an-Namrî al-Andalusî, the Author of at-Tamhîd, al-Istidhkâr, and Extremely Valuable WorksWhile commenting on the eighth Hadîth of Ibnu Shihâb, he said in his book at-Tamhîd,
"The chain of narration for the Hadîth of Nuzûl is authentic. The people of Hadîth did not dispute its authenticity. In this hadith, there is evidence that Allâh Azza wa Jalla is in the sky, above the Arsh above the seven heavens, as was stated by the Jamâ'ah. This Hadîth is [among] their evidence[s ] against the Mu'tazilah and Jahmiyyah regarding their view that "Allâh is everywhere and not above the Arsh."
The evidence regarding the authenticity of the view of the people of truth regarding this is the statement by Allâhu Taâlâ,﴿الرَّحْمَنُ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ اسْتَوَى﴾
"Ar-Rahmân did Istiwâ above the Throne." (Tâ-Hâ, 20/5)
And the statement by Allâh,﴿أَأَمِنْتُمْ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاءِ﴾
"Do you feel secure from He, Who is in the heaven (Allâh)?" (al-Mulk, 67/16)
The meaning of "He, Who is in the heaven (Allâh)," is He Who is above the Arsh. Fî sometimes means Alâ.261 Do you not see Allâhu Taâlâ's statement?﴿فَسِيحُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ﴾
"So, travel freely, through the earth." (at-Tawbah, 9/2)
Meaning on the earth. Likewise, is Allâhu Taâlâ's statement,﴿وَلَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ فِي جُذُوعِ النَّخْلِ﴾
"I will crucify you on the trunks of palm-trees." (Tâ-Hâ, 20/71)
This is supported by Allâhu Taâlâ's statement,﴿تَعْرُجُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ إِلَيْهِ﴾
"The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him." (al-Ma'ârij, 70/4)
This is also supported by similar verses. All of these verses are clear in abolishing the view of the Mu'tazilah.
As for their claim of Istiwâ being figurative, and their view regarding interpretating Istawâ (He did Istiwâ) as Istawlâ (He conquered), then this has no meaning. This is because linguistically, this is not apparent. Linguistically, the meaning of Istîlâ is striving to conquer. Whereas nothing can conquer Allâh.
From the rights of speech is to construe it according to its proper sense, unless the Ummah agrees that with it is intended figurative speech. This is because there is no other way to follow what has been revealed to us from our Lord. If we were to accept every claimant's claim regarding something being figurative speech, none of the acts of worship would be established. However, it only befits Allâh to address the Ummah with that which the Arabs comprehend, according to what is known in their dialogues and the meaning of which is valid in the presence of the listeners.
Linguistically, Istiwâ is known and understood. Istiwâ means Uluww (being above), rising above something, to settle, and becoming established in it.
Abû Ubaydah said regarding Allâhu Taâlâ's statement,﴿الرَّحْمَنُ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ اسْتَوَى﴾
"Ar-Rahmân did Istiwâ above the Throne." (Tâ-Hâ, 20/5)
He said: This means He rose. [He also said:] The Arabs say: I have done Istiwâ (rose) above the beast, I have done Istiwâ (rose) above the house.
Others said: Istiwâ means settling, and for this, he brought as evidence the statement by Allâh,﴿وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَاسْتَوَى﴾
"And when he attained his full strength and did Istiwâ (was mentally mature)." (al-Qasas, 28/14)
That is, when his youth came to an end and established. So, he was no longer in his youth.
Ibnu Abd'il Barr said: Istiwâ means to settle in Uluww. This is how Allâh Azza wa Jalla has addressed us in his Book while he said,﴿لِتَسْتَوُوا عَلَى ظُهُورِهِ﴾
"So that you may do Istiwâ (rise) upon their back." (az-Zukhruf, 43/13)
Allâh also said,﴿فَإِذَا اسْتَوَيْتَ أَنْتَ وَمَنْ مَعَكَ عَلَى الْفُلْكِ﴾
"So, when you and those with you have done Istiwâ above (boarded) the ship..." (al-Mu'minûn, 23/28)
Allâh also said,﴿وَاسْتَوَتْ عَلَى الْجُودِيِّ﴾
"And the ship did Istiwâ (came to rest) on mount Jûdî." (Hûd, 11/44)"262
261- Refer to the 56th footnote.
262- With similar wording in Ibnu Abd'il Barr, at-Tamhîd, Mu'assasat'ul Furqân, 5/139-142.