What is the meaning of the noble verse: "They fear their Lord from above them," and the Hadith of Lady Aisha: "Rather, Allah sees me from above seven heavens"? And does Allah's exaltedness and the affirmation of His being above necessitate affirming a direction for Him? And does that imply a limitation of Allah?

The Sunnis believe that Allah is above His creation, exalted over them, and distinct from them. Al-Qurtubi نقل (transmitted) the consensus of the Salaf (early Muslims) on affirming a direction for Allah Almighty, and that Allah ascended over His Throne in a real sense. Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah clarified that the term "direction" (جهة) is ambiguous: if it is intended to mean an existing entity (like a place that contains Allah), then it is false. However, if it is intended to mean a non-existent entity (i.e., what is above the world), and that Allah is above the world, then its proponent has spoken correctly. For Allah is distinct from His creation, exalted over them, and there is no other existent alongside Him. Therefore, a student of knowledge should study the sacred texts and avoid ambiguities.