Praise be to Allah.
Quranic Evidence: Allah’s Throne on Water before Creation
Allah, may He be Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): {And He it is Who has created the heavens and the earth in six Days and His Throne was on the water, that He might try you, which of you is the best in deeds.} [Hud 11:7]
This is a statement by Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, that His Throne was above the water before He created the heavens and earth and what is in them. Qatadah said: Your Lord, may He be Blessed and Exalted, is telling you how His creation began before He created the heavens and the earth. (End quote from Tafsir At-Tabari, 15/246)
Hadith Narrations on the Position of The Throne of Allah
Al-Bukhari (2953) narrated from `Imran ibn Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) that some of the people of Yemen asked the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) this and said: We have come to you to ask you about this matter. He said: “There was Allah, and there was nothing else besides Him, and His Throne was over the water. He wrote all things in the Book (in heaven) and He created the heavens and the earth.”
Both the verse and the Hadith are speaking of the beginning of creation, and say that the Throne of Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, was over the water before the creation of heaven and earth.
This does not mean that the Throne is not still over the water.
Al-Bukhari (6869) and Muslim (1659) narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Right Hand of Allah is full and (its fullness) is not decreased by any spending; it is overflowing by night and day. Think of what He has spent since He created the heavens and the earth, but all this spending has not decreased what is in His Right Hand.” He said: “And his Throne is over the water, and in His other Hand is the power to bring about death, and He raises some people and brings others low.”
Scholarly Interpretations on the Throne and Its Significance
Al-Hafidh Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
In the report of Is-haq ibn Rahawayh it says “and the Throne is over the water.” The apparent meaning is that it was like that when the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) spoke these words. The apparent meaning of the Hadith which comes before it is that the Throne was over the water before the creation of the heavens and earth, and the two Hadith when taken together indicate that it is still over the water. (End quote from Fat-h Al-Bari, 20/496)
What It Means for The Throne of Allah to Be Over Water
The meaning of the word Kana (was) in the verse refers to what happened in the past, before the creation of the heavens and the earth. From his saying in the other Hadith, “His Throne is over the water,” it may be understood that it is still like that.
For more details, please see the following answers:
Is the Throne above the seventh heaven?
What is the difference between the `Arsh of the Lord and His Kursi?
And Allah knows best.
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