Where is Allah? And what are the usages of (where) in language and in the Shari'ah?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : In our discussion with some of those who claim affiliation with the Ash'ari theological school regarding the question of where Allah is, he said that "where" is used in language for either a place or a status. He stated that a place is negated regarding Allah, while a status is like when I say, "Where is the status of Muhammad?" and I answer, "In my heart." So he said the intended meaning is status, not place. What is your comment?
The Shaykh : My comment is that he is speaking in terms of language, but the inquiry is not about language. The inquiry is about the Shari'ah, is it not?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Did he speak about the Shari'ah? I am asking you a question... so that you understand his error. Did he speak about the Shari'ah?
The questioner : He said, "We understand the Shari'ah through language."
The Shaykh : That is correct, but did he establish the ruling of the Shari'ah in his answer to this question?
The questioner : That is, he establishes it in language as being in a place.
The Shaykh : "In the sky" — what does that mean?
The questioner : "In the status" — he says it is in the status.
The Shaykh : What is the status? And what is the answer to the question "Where is Allah?" as a question about the directions?
The questioner : He says, "Allah knows best."
The Shaykh : Well, "Allah knows best" is said regarding something that our Lord has not informed us about in the Book and the Sunnah. The texts of the Book and the Sunnah are mass-transmitted in affirming the true elevation of Allah the Mighty and Majestic, not a status. This is the denial of the divine attributes (ta'til) into which the Ash'ari and Maturidi theological schools have fallen. Allah, in order to establish for us the status, says:[Taha 20:5] [An-Nahl 16:50] [Al-Ma'arij 70:4] Is this in establishing the status? Which is established among all the believers. This is the denial (ta'til) that the scholars call it; it is denial in reality. May Allah help us with those who want to ask.
The questioner : Yes, yes.
The Shaykh : You are welcome.
The Shaykh : My comment is that he is speaking in terms of language, but the inquiry is not about language. The inquiry is about the Shari'ah, is it not?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Did he speak about the Shari'ah? I am asking you a question... so that you understand his error. Did he speak about the Shari'ah?
The questioner : He said, "We understand the Shari'ah through language."
The Shaykh : That is correct, but did he establish the ruling of the Shari'ah in his answer to this question?
The questioner : That is, he establishes it in language as being in a place.
The Shaykh : "In the sky" — what does that mean?
The questioner : "In the status" — he says it is in the status.
The Shaykh : What is the status? And what is the answer to the question "Where is Allah?" as a question about the directions?
The questioner : He says, "Allah knows best."
The Shaykh : Well, "Allah knows best" is said regarding something that our Lord has not informed us about in the Book and the Sunnah. The texts of the Book and the Sunnah are mass-transmitted in affirming the true elevation of Allah the Mighty and Majestic, not a status. This is the denial of the divine attributes (ta'til) into which the Ash'ari and Maturidi theological schools have fallen. Allah, in order to establish for us the status, says:
The Most Merciful [who is] above the Throne established.
الرحمن على العرش استوىThey fear their Lord above them
يخافون ربهم من فوقهمThe angels and the Spirit
تعرج الملائكة والروحThe questioner : Yes, yes.
The Shaykh : You are welcome.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.