‫‪1. `Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Imran al-Daqqaq رحمه الله said:‬‬ ‫‪Muhammad ibn Abu `Abd Allah al-Kufi said: Muhammad ibn Isma`il al-Barmaki said: al-Husayn ibn al-Hasan said: My father related to me, on the authority of Hannan ibn Sadir that‬‬ I asked Abu `Abdillah عليه السلام about the Empyrean and the Throne. Hence, he said: Verily, the Empyrean has many different meanings which differ on the basis of their context in the Qur’an. By His Word: The Lord of the great Empyrean, He is that Great Sovereign. And by His Word: The Most Compassionate God is firm on the Empyrean, He encompasses by means of His Sovereignty, and this is sovereignty of qualities in things. The connection between the Empyrean and the Throne is unique as they are both openings to the greatest openings of the unseen. Although they are both unseen, they are both connected, because the Throne is the apparent opening from which are the innovation and all the things. The Empyrean is the hidden opening in which is found the knowledge of quality, existence, the divine decree, the boundaries, space, will intent, knowledge of words, actions, neglect, and the knowledge of the return and the beginning. Thus, they are both connected openings in knowledge, because the sovereignty of the Empyrean is different from the sovereignty of the Throne, and His Knowledge is more unseen than the Knowledge of the Throne. Therefore, it is for this reason that he said: The Lord of the great Empyrean, i.e. its description is grate than the description of the Throne, and they are both connected in that.”
I asked, “May I be your ransom. Why does it share the same merit as the Throne?” He عليه السلام replied, Verily, it shares in its merit because of the knowledge of quality they both contain. However, the Throne has the apparent openings of the beginning and its whereabouts, and the limits of contraction and expansion. Therefore, these two are partners: one of them is the carrier of its partner in exchange. It is similar to the exchange of scholars, so they may reason in their claim over the truth of these two, because Allah specifies His Mercy to whomever He wills. And He is the Powerful, the Honorable. Among the different descriptions of the Empyrean is that He, the Blessed and Exalted said: Lord of the Empyrean from what they attribute (to Him). He described the Empyrean of the Oneness, because a group had associated (Him with it), like I explained to you. The Blessed and Exalted said: Lord of the Empyrean, i.e. Lord of the Oneness from what they attribute. A group attributed Him with two hands, so they said: The Hand of Allah is tied up. A group attributed Him with two feet, and said: “ “He put His Foot over the rock of the Sacred House [bayt al-muqaddas], and from there He ascended to heaven.” A group attributed Him with fingertips, and said: “Verily, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: `I found the coolness of His Fingertips on my heart.” For the likeness of these attributes He said: Lord of the empyrean from what they attribute (to Him), that Lord of the highest example from what they resemble Him with. For Allah is the highest attribute, which no one resembles, and He cannot be described or imagined. That is the highest attribute. The one who have not been given benefits of knowledge, describe their Lord with adjectives which are below Him. They anthropomorphise Him and compare Him with that which they are ignorant of. And you have been given only a little portion of knowledge. Thus, He has no compeer, no likeness, and no equal. And Allah’s are the best names, with which no one is named but He. These are the ones that He described in the Book, and said: Therefore, call on Him thereby, and leave alone those who violate the sanctity of his names; ignorantly, and without knowledge.
Therefore, the ones who violate the sanctity of His Names without knowledge, and describe Him out of ignorance, actually deny Him while thinking that they are doing good deeds. That is why He has said: And most of them do not believe in Allah without associating others (with Him). Hence, they are the ones who violate the sanctity of His Names out of ignorance through misplacing His Names. O Hannan! Verily, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, has commanded to take a group to be `the Guardians.’ They are the ones Allah has bestowed with merit, and described them in terms with which He has not described others. Thus, He sent Muhammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم. He was a guide and leader to Allah until he passed away, with the authorization of the Mighty and High. Then his successor stood in his place as a guide and leader with knowledge according to the guidance and command of the Lord. He was followed by the other Rightly-Guided Imams عليه السلام [at-A`mmat al-Rashidun].”