A Study on the Story of "Where is Allah" in al-Tabarani

The Shaykh : Yes. In my opinion, the cover should be bound from the inside as is customary. You searched in some sources and found it. Most likely, it is in al-Tabarani’s Majma'. It contains the phrase "Where is Allah?" in a story between 'Umar and a shepherd. It says in it:

The questioner : This is rare. Rare.

The Shaykh : Very rare.

The questioner : I mean, this is a rare and precious thing.

The Shaykh : And the one who named it.

The questioner: Glory be to Allah.

The Shaykh : Why am I asking about it?

The questioner : Allahu Akbar.

The Shaykh : So it did not pass by you.

The questioner : Well, if it is in al-Tabarani, my Shaykh, I have come across a story in Ibn Qudamah’s section on the Exaltation (al-'Uluw) from Ibn al-Mubarak. He said, or rather, it is a story, meaning he said: If you are asked "Where is Allah?" say "In the sky." It contains the phrase "Where is Allah." As for Ibn 'Umar, by Allah, this is not in the section on the Exaltation.

The Shaykh : No.

The questioner : It is not by the enemy. Well, what is its chain of narration, my Shaykh?

The Shaykh : I do not remember. Because of this, I wanted to verify it, because the citation is like the chain of narration.

The questioner : Well, let’s see. Did you see Ibn 'Umar here, my Shaykh? How? Did you see Ibn 'Umar in al-Tabarani?

The Shaykh : I do not remember. It is as if I went back there. There is a possibility that this exists.

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : I mean, the point of the citation is that it is permissible for one to say "Where is Allah," but it is a story.

The questioner : My Shaykh, did you like this? I received another copy of it, by the grace of Allah.

The Shaykh : What Allah willed.

The questioner : So it is for you, my Shaykh.

The Shaykh : No, and may Allah reward you with good, because I had asked Abu al-Yasir. When he came, he said to me, "I brought you one." From it? And it will be okay tonight.

The questioner : What Allah willed.

The Shaykh : It will come tonight.

The questioner : What Allah willed.

The Shaykh : I think from it. Yes.

The questioner : Well, if he does not bring it, in any case, a copy is available. Praise be to Allah, my Shaykh.

The Shaykh : Fine, may Allah reward you with good.

The questioner : May Allah bless you.

The Shaykh : Yes. So tonight I have an appointment after 'Isha' prayer. With a person who asks a lot by phone.

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : It seems he is a Salafi and says, "I am a Salafi." Many of our brothers, I mean, ask me by phone, and we distinguish them.

The questioner : Good, from the abundance.

The Shaykh : As for this one, I have not known him yet. Maybe he will come tonight and you will know him.