Is Allah existent without a place? And does the hadith, "Allah existed and there was nothing, and His Throne was upon water," indicate that? And was the Throne existent before creation, or was it created?

First: It is part of the belief of the Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah (Sunnis) to have faith that Allah Almighty is established (mustawin) upon His Throne, and His Throne is above His heavens, and nothing from His creation encompasses Him.

Second: The Throne is a magnificent creation; it was not, then it came into being. He (Allah) is the Lord of the Magnificent Throne and the Creator of all things. Whoever claims that the Throne is eternal has indeed fabricated a lie.

Third: The majority of scholars hold the view that the Throne was the first of the creations that Allah created, and His Throne was upon the water before the creation of the heavens and the earth.

Fourth: The noble Prophetic Hadith confirms that Allah was, and there was nothing before Him; then He created the Throne, then the heavens and the earth.

Fifth: The addition "and He is now as He was" in the Hadith is a fabrication and a falsehood, and it was used by the people of innovation (Ahl al-Bid'ah) to deny the attributes of Allah Almighty, such as His being established upon the Throne.

Sixth: Denying a place for Allah is correct if it is intended to deny that creation encompasses Him. However, denying His exaltedness (uluw) is false, for Allah Almighty is in loftiness above His heavens, established upon His Throne.