The ruling on the one who says that Allah is not in a place

The questioner: A Christian.

The Shaykh: Yes, indeed. There is a difference between those who, for example, renounce [certain beliefs]. He says that Allah the Exalted is not outside the universe. And he declares disbelievers those who say He is in a place. So what do you think he would say about the one who says that Allah is not in a place? Guess what he says? When you imagine the misguidance in it with sincerity, because it is intentional misguidance, misguidance in the sense that they think they are doing a good deed, what is said about the one who is this person who says that Allah is not described as being inside the universe or outside of it, and says that whoever says Allah is in a place is a disbeliever, what do you think he would say about the one who says that Allah is not in a place?

The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

The questioner: Thank you. The implication of his words, our Shaykh, our Shaykh, is that he would say this is the very essence of faith.

The Shaykh: What do you say?

The questioner: If he says that Allah is in a place, then there is no doubt the opposite is the reverse; he will say that whoever describes Allah as not being in a place is a believer. This is the assumption, meaning...

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner: And I forgot it all, two buttons on a broken cup.

The Shaykh: And no Malik with us, Abu Anas? By Allah, it’s a bit scattered.

The questioner: Busy with the camel.

The Shaykh: The man, out of his misguidance, says Allah is not inside the universe nor outside the universe, and this describes the non-existent, as we believe. Fine, then he adds to that and says whoever believes that Allah is in a place is a disbeliever, because place is created.

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh: Fine, so what do you think this claimant would say about the one who said that Allah is not in a place?

The questioner: As long as...

The Shaykh: What does the orator want to say?

The questioner: But it’s not finished, look, it’s deceptive. He denies what Allah has affirmed. Not in his belief, he is. Excuse me, my Shaykh, may Allah honor you, repeat the question, I am.

The Shaykh: The man says he believes that Allah is not described as being inside the universe nor that He is described as being outside the universe, and this, in our belief, is disbelief and denial itself.

The questioner: There isn’t.

The Shaykh: But he says that whoever says Allah is in a place is a disbeliever, because place is created. Fine, so look at this person who says whoever says that Allah is in a place is a disbeliever, what does he say about the one who might say that Allah is not in a place?

The questioner: Also a disbeliever. Excuse me, my Shaykh, Muslim, regarding his words.

The Shaykh: By Allah, the exam is good at home. But it’s throwing without rest.

The questioner: May Allah have mercy on your parents. No, my Shaykh, he will of course say about him that he is a Muslim, because this is the implication of his first statement. Yes, indeed.

The Shaykh: As for Salim, let him rest now a little. Because he apparently understands the issue as this misguided one wants. The brother is perhaps with us on the topic. The truth of the answer. Who is the answer from? From the brothers. No, do you have an answer next to you?

The questioner: What did I mean? This touched me.

The Shaykh: You studied, it’s not from you.

The questioner: That he says with his faith.

The Shaykh: Good, and the professor here.

The questioner: His words necessitate the statement of faith. His first words necessitate faith in the one who denies place for Allah the Exalted?

The Shaykh: Abu Abd al-Rahman.

The questioner: By Allah, I mean this is what the implication is, that he says he has gone beyond his words, that he must be restricted to his words.

The Shaykh : Yes?

The questioner: He has gone beyond the phrase by which the water skin is tied, so he declares him a disbeliever, meaning he has gone beyond his method of affirmation, so he declares him a disbeliever.

The Shaykh: No, now we are saying what is supposed to be in this.

The questioner: That he accepts him as a believer and that it is the intention of his words. He says faith. Yes.

The Shaykh: And Abu al-Harir.

The questioner: I said, my Shaykh, from the beginning that this is exactly the implication of the words. I understood.

The Shaykh: Abu Layla, are you with us? Of course, my Shaykh, what is it like, like your companion? Like, meaning.

The questioner: May Allah keep you safe. Thank you.

The Shaykh: Do you understand the topic? What is your opinion?

The questioner: My Shaykh, take it, regarding the man’s statement, meaning this statement has gone beyond what he is upon.

The Shaykh: No, I am not saying he says this. What do you imagine from this claimant who says whoever says Allah is in a place is a disbeliever? If this claimant declares disbelievers those who say Allah is in a place and gives a correct explanation, saying because place is created, then if this claimant is asked, what do you say about the one who says Allah is not in a place? What do you imagine his answer would be if he is a sincere man? We heard the answer that he must say this man is a believer. What do you think now? I mean, the whole answer of the professor is that this man is a deceiver. I am the one who said this statement. I am the one who said that Allah is not in a place. But He is on the Throne, He rose above it in a manner befitting His majesty, and you know the story he will tell you about in Mina. Yes, when we chained it with al-Azhari, place is derived from the universe, so we are now in a place, which is the earth, and so on, above us is the sky, yes, we reached the Throne, above the Throne, what is there? We went up to the Cherubim and searched with him for a long or short time. Fine, my master, above the Cherubim, what is there? He said there is nothing. If the place ends, it ends. Why do you accuse the Salafis of placing Allah in a place? Allah is not in a place. He said this liar, this deceiver, says he translates or attributes to him that he placed Allah in a place. Look at the cunning in a place of non-existence. Exalted is Allah above what the wrongdoers say, greatly. So this man is an atheist in reality, because if I say this, I will tell you it is disbelief, if I say this, I will tell you it is disbelief. So what is the reality? The reality is what he expresses, which is non-existence. We agreed with him that Allah is not in a place, and we said frankly, was Allah or was there nothing with Him? So he is now, from this perspective, as He was, meaning He did not create the creation and enter into it and be enveloped by it, as the people of unity and existence say, and so on. So He is not in what was, yet he misguides us and makes us as if we ascribe a body to Him. Where did the ascription of a body come from? As long as we say He is not in a place, and you are the one who says this, but he adds to us misguidance from which we are innocent. Not inside the universe, nor outside it. Not inside the universe, he declares disbelievers those who say He is inside the universe. But outside the universe, why does he declare them disbelievers? We said He is outside the universe. So he is not satisfied with what Ibn al-Jawzi said, nor with what al-Nawawi said, but rather he wants to rule with complete non-existence, which is disbelief and denial itself. This is other