Exegesis of the saying of Allah the Exalted: “As if he were ascending into the sky”

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, regarding the saying of Allah the Exalted, “As if he were ascending into the sky,” I heard an explanation that when a person ascends to the high places of the mountains and the like, the oxygen level is lower and he feels tightness in his breath and chest. So, what is your Eminence’s view on this?

Answer:
The exegetes mentioned the meaning we stated, that this is an example of an impossible comparison, and that the person to whom Allah has not decreed guidance cannot find the way, just as it is not possible for a person to fly in the air by himself, meaning he flies by his own power. As for flying by plane or by rockets, or these things, he did not fly by himself; he was flown. It is said, “The plane flew him,” or “he was flown.” It is like if a large bird came and he rode on it; this is not called that he flew, but rather that he was flown. The discussion is about him flying by his own power, which is absolutely impossible. As for the issue of oxygen and these things, Allah knows best about them. They were not known at the time of the revelation of the Qur'an, and the Companions did not know this matter. However, there is no harm in it being observed, for Allah has made inhabitants for the earth and inhabitants for the upper atmospheres and the high places. Yes, even the earth differs; its high places differ from its low places. Some people cannot bear to live on a high mountain if they have asthma or if there is...