Is the creed that declares Allah to be transcendent above movement, standing, sitting, crookedness, and straightness—based on Imam Al-Bayhaqi's statement that Allah's istiwa' (establishment) over His Throne is without modality (kayf) or place (ayn), that He is distinct from His creation, that His coming, appearing, and descent are not by way of movement or transference, and that His Self, Face, Hand, and Eye are not a body, image, limb, or pupil—considered a sound creed?
Imam Al-Bayhaqi's creed, may Allah have mercy on him, as expounded in his book "Al-I'tiqad" (The Creed), largely aligns with the Ash'ari doctrine in many instances, while differing in others. He was closer to the methodology of the Salaf than many later Ash'aris.
Scholars have criticized the statement quoted by the questioner, clarifying that: 1. His statement, "and that His coming is not a coming from one place to another," and his negation of His Face being a form, is false and leads to the negation (ta'til) of the attribute. 2. His statement, "and that His Self is not a body," is an ambiguous phrase, and it can be a gateway to negation if denied absolutely. 3. Detailed negation, such as his statements, "and that His coming is not a movement, and that His descent is not a displacement," is not the methodology of the Salaf; rather, it is among the methods of the people of innovation.
Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah affirm these attributes while negating resemblance (tashbih), without delving into the details of negation that could lead to outright denial (ta'til).
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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