How to reconcile the fact that Allah is in the sky with the hadith (Do not spit in the direction of the qiblah, for Allah is in the direction of the qiblah)?
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The questioner : For example, the issue of the Highness. It is mentioned, for instance, in the evidence that none of you should spit toward the qiblah, for Allah is... then, or in the direction of the qiblah, or something like that. So how do you reconcile the fact that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) is on His Throne above the sky with these hadiths?
The Shaykh : So, do you have a doubt?
The questioner : I seek refuge in Allah.
The Shaykh : No, this question does not stem from a doubt.
The questioner : A person should be cautious, so that even if he is asked or if this doubt is presented to him, he knows how to respond to it.
The Shaykh : No, but you have a doubt, as evidenced by your question: "How do you reconcile?"
The questioner : I am being honest with you, this man means...
The Shaykh : Leave the man alone. This man is a liar, an Ash'ari, a Sufi, and full of every kind of calamity. What do you have to do with him?
The questioner : He is a Zindiq, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : You are now saying, "How do we reconcile?" Is that your question?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Okay, so you have a problem with Allah's Highness above His Throne. I will answer you. The entire earth is surrounded by the sky. Do you believe this fact?
The questioner : Exactly.
The Shaykh : Okay, so Allah is above all creation.
The questioner : Exactly.
The Shaykh : So, it is not permissible to spit toward the qiblah, for Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is facing you, wherever you are on earth. The matter is settled. This is from one aspect. From another aspect, it is not permissible to discuss the unseen matters, especially those related to the Divine Essence, with rational ideas that cannot be described except in terms less than what Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said: "And what..." What is in the Verse of the Throne[Al-Baqarah 2:255], and in the other verse [Al-Isra 17:85]? It is complete misguidance to attempt to bring the unseen matters, especially those related to the Divine Attributes, close to our understanding so that we comprehend them as one person comprehends another. This is impossible. A question like this and others is similar to what someone might say: "How can Allah, in a single moment, create, provide, give life, cause death, and hear the different voices of millions, billions of humans, jinn, and creations?" Is this said?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : I ask you, is this said?
The questioner : Of course, it is not said regarding Allah. He is... Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).
The Shaykh : So, may Allah reward you. So, recite with me the saying of the Exalted:[Al-Baqarah 2:2], who? [Al-Baqarah 2:3]. If Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says: [Taha 20:5], [Fatir 35:10], , and so on Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1924Hasan (Darussalam), and so on, then it should not be a problem for the Muslim: how is this, when the Prophet forbade spitting toward the qiblah because Allah is in front of him? Yes, Allah is in front of us and above us, but His being above is not like our being above, and His being in front, if that expression is correct, is not like ours either. And so on [Ash-Shuraa 42:11]. So, beware of being misled by al-Saqaf and his like.
The Shaykh : So, do you have a doubt?
The questioner : I seek refuge in Allah.
The Shaykh : No, this question does not stem from a doubt.
The questioner : A person should be cautious, so that even if he is asked or if this doubt is presented to him, he knows how to respond to it.
The Shaykh : No, but you have a doubt, as evidenced by your question: "How do you reconcile?"
The questioner : I am being honest with you, this man means...
The Shaykh : Leave the man alone. This man is a liar, an Ash'ari, a Sufi, and full of every kind of calamity. What do you have to do with him?
The questioner : He is a Zindiq, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : You are now saying, "How do we reconcile?" Is that your question?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Okay, so you have a problem with Allah's Highness above His Throne. I will answer you. The entire earth is surrounded by the sky. Do you believe this fact?
The questioner : Exactly.
The Shaykh : Okay, so Allah is above all creation.
The questioner : Exactly.
The Shaykh : So, it is not permissible to spit toward the qiblah, for Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is facing you, wherever you are on earth. The matter is settled. This is from one aspect. From another aspect, it is not permissible to discuss the unseen matters, especially those related to the Divine Essence, with rational ideas that cannot be described except in terms less than what Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said: "And what..." What is in the Verse of the Throne
and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills
وَلا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَAnd mankind have not been given of knowledge except a little."
وَمَا أُوتِيتُمْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًاThe questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : I ask you, is this said?
The questioner : Of course, it is not said regarding Allah. He is... Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).
The Shaykh : So, may Allah reward you. So, recite with me the saying of the Exalted:
This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah -
الم * ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لا رَيْبَ فِيهِ هُدًى لِلْمُتَّقِينَWho believe in the unseen
الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِThe Most Merciful [who is] above the Throne established.
الرَّحْمَنُ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ اسْتَوَىTo Him ascends good speech, and righteous work raises it
إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ وَالْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ يَرْفَعُهُThe angels ascend
تعرج الملائكةThe merciful are shown mercy by Ar-Rahman. Be merciful on the earth, and you will be shown mercy from Who is above the heavens.
الراحمون يرحمهم الرحمن ارحموا من في الأرض يرحمكم من في السماءThere is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُ
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.