He spoke about the one who declares a disbeliever the person who says, "Allah is in every place," meaning those who deny the attribute of being above.
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The Shaykh : For there is no likeness, no similar, no counterpart, and do not make similitudes for Allah, and do not describe Him with movement, for He is in every place. This is a report from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), narrated by al-Rabi' ibn Habib in his Musnad, along with others. But where is the evidence? The evidence is that the one who declares a disbeliever the person who says "Allah is in every place" describes al-Rabi' this way, but in another place in his comments, he calls him the Imam. Then he declares a disbeliever everyone who says what came in this hadith that al-Rabi' narrated in his Musnad. And now we also benefit from the opinion of the honorable brother 'Umar regarding a phrase here: how do you understand it? The one who says—and this is a very important matter—that we do not say that Allah the Exalted exists in every place at all, but rather we declare a disbeliever the one who says that, and we believe that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, exists without a place because He is the Creator of place. And what is your opinion of this phrase?
The questioner : By Allah, I do not know the background of what he is saying, but if he means that He is not on the earth and not in the sky, and that the one who says Allah is in a place means on the earth or in the sky, then the phrase is correct. And if he means by "place" above the Throne, intending to deny the rising above, then the phrase is incorrect.
The Shaykh : That is what he means.
The questioner : If it is the second, it is of course a great error.
The Shaykh : Because he says, regarding all the scholars who interpret the verse[Taha 20:5] to mean that He rose above in a manner befitting His Majesty and Greatness, and that He is not in a place, that these are those who ascribe a body to Allah.
The questioner : He denies the attribute of being above, meaning
The Shaykh : Yes, and therefore here the phrase is very sweet to the one who does not know what the truth beneath it is, which is that He is without a place, as is said about some of the scholars of theology and philosophers that Allah is not described, as you know, as being above, below, on the right, or on the left. He summarized it with this phrase: He is not in a place. But on its surface, it is not in a created place, but he means even above the Throne where there is no place.
The questioner : Yes, just as the Shaykh al-Islam always says, there is detail in these issues.
The Shaykh : Indeed, and by Allah, therefore he says we do not affirm direction, nor do we deny it. Ibn Taymiyyah says we do not affirm direction, nor do we deny it, except after we clarify what the one who affirms it or denies it intends. And this is the exact truth.
Another questioner: Our Shaykh, here is an emphasis of your words regarding the issue that some scholars of theology or theologians say "not above, not below." He himself transmitted it and approved it in one of his books titled "The Creed of the People of the Sunnah and the Community." He transmitted this phrase exactly, so this explains this generality that contains this deception and concealment.
The Shaykh : Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the One to be sought for help.
The questioner : By Allah, I do not know the background of what he is saying, but if he means that He is not on the earth and not in the sky, and that the one who says Allah is in a place means on the earth or in the sky, then the phrase is correct. And if he means by "place" above the Throne, intending to deny the rising above, then the phrase is incorrect.
The Shaykh : That is what he means.
The questioner : If it is the second, it is of course a great error.
The Shaykh : Because he says, regarding all the scholars who interpret the verse
The Most Merciful [who is] above the Throne established.
الرحمن على العرش استوىThe questioner : He denies the attribute of being above, meaning
The Shaykh : Yes, and therefore here the phrase is very sweet to the one who does not know what the truth beneath it is, which is that He is without a place, as is said about some of the scholars of theology and philosophers that Allah is not described, as you know, as being above, below, on the right, or on the left. He summarized it with this phrase: He is not in a place. But on its surface, it is not in a created place, but he means even above the Throne where there is no place.
The questioner : Yes, just as the Shaykh al-Islam always says, there is detail in these issues.
The Shaykh : Indeed, and by Allah, therefore he says we do not affirm direction, nor do we deny it. Ibn Taymiyyah says we do not affirm direction, nor do we deny it, except after we clarify what the one who affirms it or denies it intends. And this is the exact truth.
Another questioner: Our Shaykh, here is an emphasis of your words regarding the issue that some scholars of theology or theologians say "not above, not below." He himself transmitted it and approved it in one of his books titled "The Creed of the People of the Sunnah and the Community." He transmitted this phrase exactly, so this explains this generality that contains this deception and concealment.
The Shaykh : Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the One to be sought for help.