Al-Kāfi, vol. 1, no. 336

2. Ahmad ibn Idris from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya who has said the following. “Abu Qurrah, the narrator of Hadith asked for help to meet Imam Ali abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.). I requested the Imam (a.s.) to meet him and he agreed. Abu Qurrah asked the Imam about the lawful and unlawful matters and then said, “Do you affirm that Allah is carried?” Imam abu al-Hassan (a.s.) replied, “Every thing in an objective case is related to another thing and is dependent. Being carried is the name for verbal defect. On the other hand, carrier is in a subjective case and it verbally is a word to convey praises and so is the expression of one who says, “Above, below, upper and lower.” Allah has said, ‘For Him there are beautiful names, thus, call Him through those names.’ He (Allah) has not said anywhere in His books that He is al-Mahmul (Being carried) He has, in fact, said that He is the carrier in the sea and on land and the preserver of the heavens and earth from banishment. Al-Mahmul, (being carried) are things other than Allah. It is never heard from any one who believed in Allah and His greatness saying in his prayers Ya Mahmul, (O the one being carried,).” Abu Qurrah then said, “He Himself has said, ‘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) Also He has said, “Those who carry the Throne (al-‘Arsh).” Imam abu al-Hassan (a.s.) then said, “Al-‘Arsh (the Throne) is not Allah. Al-‘Arsh is the name of knowledge and power. In al-‘Arsh there is everything. Besides, He has ascribed carrying to things other than His Own-self. It is ascribed to a creature among His creatures. This is because He has made His creatures to worship Him through carrying His al-‘Arsh (the Throne) and they are the carrier of His knowledge. There is a creature, who speaks of His praise around His al-‘Arsh (the Throne) and act according to His knowledge and the angels write down the deeds of His servants. He has made those on earth to worship Him in the form of Tawaf (walking around) His house. Allah has control over al-‘Arsh (the Throne) as He has said, “Allah carries al-‘Arsh, those who carry it and those around it, preserves them, keeps them together and is the guardian of all souls and above and over all things.” It is not permissible to say, “He is carried. He is below.” It would be the only expression that would not make any sense. Thus, both the word and meaning would be destroyed.” Abu Qurrah than said, “Do you then consider a false Hadith the Hadith that says, “When Allah becomes angry His anger becomes known to the angels who carry al-‘Arsh. They at such time feel the weight of His anger on their shoulders. They then bow down in prostration. When Allah’s anger goes away it becomes light and the angels return to their places.” Imam abu al-Hassan (a.s.) said, “Tell me about Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. From the time He condemned Satan until today is He not angry with Satan? When did He become happy with Satan? As you say He is still angry with Satan, his friend and followers. How would you dare speak of your Lord as under going changes from one condition to another condition and that what happens to the creatures happens to Him also. He is the Most Glorious, the Most High. He does not banish with those who banish and does not change with those who change. He is not replaced with those who are replaced. The creatures are under His guardianship and they all are dependent on Him. He is Self-sufficient and independent of others.”