Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) in the Sky
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question: A discussion took place between me and a colleague of mine in the office regarding the presence of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) in the sky. This person denies the presence of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) in the sky.And I affirm it with the evidence of the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Mulk: 16], and the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) with the slave girl, . We ask you, may Allah reward you with the best reward and bless you, to clarify the correct position.
Answer: There is no doubt that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) is in the sky. This is what the Muslims believe, as do the followers of the messengers, both past and present. It is a matter of consensus in the messages of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). His believing servants believe that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is in the sky. The evidence from the Book and the Sunnah converging on this point exceeds one thousand proofs regarding the exaltation of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), that He is in the sky, and that He rose above His Throne (Glorified and Exalted is He), as He (Mighty and Majestic) has informed us.And among that is what the questioner mentioned from the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Mulk: 16, 17]. And the hadith of the slave girl in the authentic collections, in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to her: .
The meaning of His being in the sky, if by "sky" one means "exaltation," is that it is in the sense of being above. That is, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is in exaltation, distinct from His creation (Glorified and Exalted is He), above His created things, distinct from His creation.
As for if by "sky" one means the constructed sky, which is the seven heavens,So the meaning of: "in": He is above in the sky.Meaning: above the sky,As in the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-An'am: 11],Meaning: on the earth,As in His saying: [Ta-Ha: 71],Meaning: on the trunks of the palm trees.
In any case, the converging verses, the mass-transmitted hadiths, and the consensus of the Muslims and the followers of the messengers are that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is in the sky.
As for those who deny this from the Jahmiyyah and their offspring and students, this school of thought is invalid and is distortion in the names of Allah.And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says: [Al-A'raf: 180].
Distortion in the names and attributes of Allah is a great crime. This person who denies that Allah is in the sky is lying to the Qur'an, lying to the Sunnah, and lying to the consensus of the Muslims. If he is a scholar, he becomes a disbeliever because of this. But if he is ignorant, it is explained to him. If he persists after the explanation, he becomes a disbeliever, may Allah protect us from that.
Do you feel secure that He who [holds authority] in the heaven would not cause the earth to swallow you
أَأَمِنْتُمْ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاءِ أَنْ يَخْسِفَ بِكُمُ الْأَرْضَHe said to her: Where is Allah? She said: In the sky.
قال لها: أين الله؟ قالت: في السماءAnswer: There is no doubt that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) is in the sky. This is what the Muslims believe, as do the followers of the messengers, both past and present. It is a matter of consensus in the messages of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). His believing servants believe that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is in the sky. The evidence from the Book and the Sunnah converging on this point exceeds one thousand proofs regarding the exaltation of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), that He is in the sky, and that He rose above His Throne (Glorified and Exalted is He), as He (Mighty and Majestic) has informed us.And among that is what the questioner mentioned from the saying of Allah the Exalted:
(16) Do you feel secure that He who [holds authority] in the heaven would not cause the earth to swallow you and suddenly it would sway? (17) Or do you feel secure that He who [holds authority] in the heaven would not send against you a storm of stones?
أَأَمِنْتُمْ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاءِ أَنْ يَخْسِفَ بِكُمُ الْأَرْضَ فَإِذَا هِيَ تَمُورُ أَمْ أَمِنْتُمْ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاءِ أَنْ يُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ حَاصِبًاHe said to her: Where is Allah? She said: In the sky. He said: Set her free, for she is a believer.
قال لها: أين الله؟ قالت: في السماء، قال: أعتقها إنها مؤمنةThe meaning of His being in the sky, if by "sky" one means "exaltation," is that it is in the sense of being above. That is, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is in exaltation, distinct from His creation (Glorified and Exalted is He), above His created things, distinct from His creation.
As for if by "sky" one means the constructed sky, which is the seven heavens,So the meaning of: "in": He is above in the sky.Meaning: above the sky,As in the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Say, "Travel through the land
قُلْ سِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِI will crucify you on the trunks of palm trees
وَلَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ فِي جُذُوعِ النَّخْلِIn any case, the converging verses, the mass-transmitted hadiths, and the consensus of the Muslims and the followers of the messengers are that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is in the sky.
As for those who deny this from the Jahmiyyah and their offspring and students, this school of thought is invalid and is distortion in the names of Allah.And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says:
And leave [the company of] those who practice deviation concerning His names. They will be recompensed for what they have been doing.
وَذَرُوا الَّذِينَ يُلْحِدُونَ فِي أَسْمَائِهِ سَيُجْزَوْنَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَDistortion in the names and attributes of Allah is a great crime. This person who denies that Allah is in the sky is lying to the Qur'an, lying to the Sunnah, and lying to the consensus of the Muslims. If he is a scholar, he becomes a disbeliever because of this. But if he is ignorant, it is explained to him. If he persists after the explanation, he becomes a disbeliever, may Allah protect us from that.