We request clarification regarding the companionship of Allah
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The questioner : Your Eminence, many questioners are asking about the lecture you delivered in Jeddah on the topic of companionship; it has been difficult for them to understand.
The Shaykh : When?
The questioner : There are many questions.
The Shaykh : When did we deliver it?
The questioner : Companionship with Allah.
The Shaykh : But when did we deliver it as a lecture?
The questioner : I do not know.
The Shaykh : Yes, what?
The questioner : In Jeddah, he says.
The Shaykh : In Jeddah, the lecture was on the etiquettes of the student of knowledge, the teacher, and the learner. As for the issue of companionship, it is well known that no believer can say that Allah the Exalted is with us on earth forever. And whoever says that Allah is with us in every place, we see that he is a disbeliever, because he is denying the Qur'an, the Sunnah, the consensus of the Muslims, reason, and the innate disposition. Is it fitting that the Lord of the highest heavens should be present in every place? It is absolutely impossible; this is disbelief. I see no difficulty in this, even if some people object to it.
As for companionship in the sense that He encompasses the creation and is above them, that is the truth, and there is no difficulty in it. And companionship in this sense does not contradict His being above. The Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) gave an example of this in al-'Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah, which is a blessed creed and one of the most beneficial creeds. He said that the companionship of Allah with His creation is true in its reality and cannot be interpreted figuratively. It is not strange for something to be with you while it is above you. He gave the example of the moon. The Arabs say in the Arabic language, "The moon is with us." And where is it? In the sky. So the Lord (Mighty and Majestic) is with us, and He is above His Throne (Blessed and Exalted is He), and He encompasses everything. The seven heavens and the earths are in His hand, except like a mustard seed in one of our hands. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : When?
The questioner : There are many questions.
The Shaykh : When did we deliver it?
The questioner : Companionship with Allah.
The Shaykh : But when did we deliver it as a lecture?
The questioner : I do not know.
The Shaykh : Yes, what?
The questioner : In Jeddah, he says.
The Shaykh : In Jeddah, the lecture was on the etiquettes of the student of knowledge, the teacher, and the learner. As for the issue of companionship, it is well known that no believer can say that Allah the Exalted is with us on earth forever. And whoever says that Allah is with us in every place, we see that he is a disbeliever, because he is denying the Qur'an, the Sunnah, the consensus of the Muslims, reason, and the innate disposition. Is it fitting that the Lord of the highest heavens should be present in every place? It is absolutely impossible; this is disbelief. I see no difficulty in this, even if some people object to it.
As for companionship in the sense that He encompasses the creation and is above them, that is the truth, and there is no difficulty in it. And companionship in this sense does not contradict His being above. The Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) gave an example of this in al-'Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah, which is a blessed creed and one of the most beneficial creeds. He said that the companionship of Allah with His creation is true in its reality and cannot be interpreted figuratively. It is not strange for something to be with you while it is above you. He gave the example of the moon. The Arabs say in the Arabic language, "The moon is with us." And where is it? In the sky. So the Lord (Mighty and Majestic) is with us, and He is above His Throne (Blessed and Exalted is He), and He encompasses everything. The seven heavens and the earths are in His hand, except like a mustard seed in one of our hands. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.