The doubt that Muslims worship emptiness
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Fatwa number ( 19142 )
Q: There is a doubt that keeps coming to my mind, which is the statement of some people: “That Muslims worship emptiness.” Especially when I come to pray, a question arises in me: Is it obligatory for me, when I prostrate, to imagine that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) is in front of me, while I know with certainty and by nature that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) is in the sky?
A: It is obligatory to believe that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is in the sky, rising above His Throne. And the perfection of servitude to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) is that you worship Him as if you see Him; if you do not see Him, He sees you. What you mentioned of doubts and whispers that make the Muslim imagine he is worshipping emptiness—all of that is from Satan and his seduction. It is obligatory to stop them and not to persist in them. The Muslim should increase in the remembrance of Allah the Exalted, seek refuge in Him from the accursed Satan, and occupy himself with what benefits him in his religion and his worldly life. There is no harm in the believer believing during prayer that Allah is in front of his face, even though He (Glorified and Exalted is He) is above the Throne; for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: It is agreed upon as authentic. Spitting to the left is permissible if one is outside the mosque, but if one is inside the mosque, he should spit in the edge of his cloak or his handkerchief or the like; because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan an-Nasa'i 723Sahih (Darussalam) The hadith. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: There is a doubt that keeps coming to my mind, which is the statement of some people: “That Muslims worship emptiness.” Especially when I come to pray, a question arises in me: Is it obligatory for me, when I prostrate, to imagine that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) is in front of me, while I know with certainty and by nature that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) is in the sky?
A: It is obligatory to believe that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is in the sky, rising above His Throne. And the perfection of servitude to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) is that you worship Him as if you see Him; if you do not see Him, He sees you. What you mentioned of doubts and whispers that make the Muslim imagine he is worshipping emptiness—all of that is from Satan and his seduction. It is obligatory to stop them and not to persist in them. The Muslim should increase in the remembrance of Allah the Exalted, seek refuge in Him from the accursed Satan, and occupy himself with what benefits him in his religion and his worldly life. There is no harm in the believer believing during prayer that Allah is in front of his face, even though He (Glorified and Exalted is He) is above the Throne; for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
When one of you stands in prayer, he should not spit in front of his face, for Allah is in front of his face, nor to his right, but to his left or under his foot.
إذا قام أحدكم في الصلاة فلا يبصقن قبل وجهه، فإن الله قبل وجهه، ولا عن يمينه، ولكن عن شماله أو تحت قدمهSpitting in the Masjid is a sin
البصاق في المسجد خطيئة
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.