In the hadith of Allah’s descent to the lowest heaven, is it correct to say that we neither affirm nor deny that there is anything above Allah in this case?
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The questioner : ... A question related to the previous one
The Shaykh : Please go ahead.
The questioner : In the previous question, regarding the descent of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) when He descends to the lowest heaven, it asks here: Is it correct to say: that we neither affirm nor deny that there is nothing above Allah? This is a hadith, meaning that since nothing has come in it, we neither affirm nor deny. Is it correct for this person to say that?
The Shaykh : Whatever has come, He has the attribute of being above, and this is an eternal, permanent attribute, so we cannot deny it at any moment. So it is not said here: nothing has come.
The questioner : Nothing has come regarding the descent, meaning the one who argues with it argues that in the descent, nothing has come about whether there is something above Him or nothing above Him?
The Shaykh : This is the answer. We have prior knowledge that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has the attribute of being above. This is the knowledge that is established in people’s minds. Nothing has come to us regarding His state during the descent, so we are upon what is established regarding Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Is that clear?
The Shaykh : Please go ahead.
The questioner : In the previous question, regarding the descent of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) when He descends to the lowest heaven, it asks here: Is it correct to say: that we neither affirm nor deny that there is nothing above Allah? This is a hadith, meaning that since nothing has come in it, we neither affirm nor deny. Is it correct for this person to say that?
The Shaykh : Whatever has come, He has the attribute of being above, and this is an eternal, permanent attribute, so we cannot deny it at any moment. So it is not said here: nothing has come.
The questioner : Nothing has come regarding the descent, meaning the one who argues with it argues that in the descent, nothing has come about whether there is something above Him or nothing above Him?
The Shaykh : This is the answer. We have prior knowledge that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has the attribute of being above. This is the knowledge that is established in people’s minds. Nothing has come to us regarding His state during the descent, so we are upon what is established regarding Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Is that clear?
Source
www.al-albany.com
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