Second: That the combination of presence and elevation is possible in the case of the created being.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The reader: "The second aspect: That the combination of presence and elevation is possible in the case of the created being. For it is said: We have been traveling and the moon is with us, and that is not considered a contradiction. And it is known that the travelers are on the earth and the moon".
The Shaykh : and the moon.
The reader: "and the moon is in the sky. So if this is possible in the case of the created being, what about the Creator who encompasses everything? Shaykh Muhammad Khalil al-Hurras said on page 115 in his commentary on al-'Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah, regarding the author's statement: 'Indeed, the moon is a sign of the signs of Allah the Exalted, one of His smallest creations, and it is with the traveler and the non-traveler wherever they are.' He said: 'He gave an example of this with the moon, which is placed in the sky, and it is with the traveler and others wherever they are.' He said: 'If this is permissible regarding the moon, which is one of the smallest creations of Allah the Exalted, is it not permissible regarding the Subtle, the All-Aware, who encompasses His servants with knowledge and power, and who is a Witness looking down upon them, hearing them and seeing them, knowing their secrets and their whispered conversations? Indeed, the entire universe, its heavens and its earth, from the Throne to the ground, is before Him like a small nut in one of our hands. Is it not permissible for One whose state is such to be said: He is with His creation while He is elevated above them, separate from them, above His Throne.' End of quote.
The third aspect: That the combination of elevation and presence, even if it were assumed to be impossible in the case of the created being, does not necessitate that it be impossible in the case of the Creator, for there is nothing among His creation that resembles Allah:[Ash-Shuraa 42:11] Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said in al-'Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah, page 116, third page of al-Hurras's commentary: 'What is mentioned in the Book and the Sunnah regarding His nearness and His presence does not contradict what is mentioned regarding His elevation and His being above, for He, Glorified is He, is not like anything in all His attributes. He is elevated in His nearness and near in His elevation.' End of quote.
And the summary of the statement on this topic is as follows:
1. That the presence of Allah the Exalted with His creation is established by the Book, the Sunnah, and the consensus of the Salaf.
2. That it is a truth in its reality, in a manner befitting Allah the Exalted, without resembling the presence of the created being with the created being.
3. That it necessitates the encompassing of Allah the Exalted of the creation with knowledge and power, hearing and sight, dominion and management, and other meanings of His Lordship, if the presence is general. And it necessitates, in addition to that, victory, support, success, and guidance, if it is specific.
4. That it does not necessitate that Allah the Exalted be mixed with the creation, or present in their places, and it does not indicate that in any way.
5. If we reflect on what has preceded, we know that there is no contradiction between Allah the Exalted being with His creation in reality, and His being in the sky on His Throne in reality. Glorified is He and praised; we cannot count His praise. He is as He has praised Himself. And may Allah send prayers and peace upon His servant and His Messenger Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions". On 27/11/1403 AH.
The Shaykh : I have it. I wrote it. The poor one in need of Allah. What do you have?
The reader: I have the first one, the date, then.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The reader: Written by the poor one in need of Allah the Exalted:
Muhammad al-Salih al-Uthaymeen (may Allah preserve him) on the 27th of the eleventh month of the year 1403 AH.
The Shaykh : May Allah bless you. Is it finished? Read.
The reader: From which page?
The Shaykh : From page 145.
The reader: And as for praying behind one who declares others disbelievers?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The Shaykh : and the moon.
The reader: "and the moon is in the sky. So if this is possible in the case of the created being, what about the Creator who encompasses everything? Shaykh Muhammad Khalil al-Hurras said on page 115 in his commentary on al-'Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah, regarding the author's statement: 'Indeed, the moon is a sign of the signs of Allah the Exalted, one of His smallest creations, and it is with the traveler and the non-traveler wherever they are.' He said: 'He gave an example of this with the moon, which is placed in the sky, and it is with the traveler and others wherever they are.' He said: 'If this is permissible regarding the moon, which is one of the smallest creations of Allah the Exalted, is it not permissible regarding the Subtle, the All-Aware, who encompasses His servants with knowledge and power, and who is a Witness looking down upon them, hearing them and seeing them, knowing their secrets and their whispered conversations? Indeed, the entire universe, its heavens and its earth, from the Throne to the ground, is before Him like a small nut in one of our hands. Is it not permissible for One whose state is such to be said: He is with His creation while He is elevated above them, separate from them, above His Throne.' End of quote.
The third aspect: That the combination of elevation and presence, even if it were assumed to be impossible in the case of the created being, does not necessitate that it be impossible in the case of the Creator, for there is nothing among His creation that resembles Allah:
There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
ليس كمثله شيء وهو السميع البصيرAnd the summary of the statement on this topic is as follows:
1. That the presence of Allah the Exalted with His creation is established by the Book, the Sunnah, and the consensus of the Salaf.
2. That it is a truth in its reality, in a manner befitting Allah the Exalted, without resembling the presence of the created being with the created being.
3. That it necessitates the encompassing of Allah the Exalted of the creation with knowledge and power, hearing and sight, dominion and management, and other meanings of His Lordship, if the presence is general. And it necessitates, in addition to that, victory, support, success, and guidance, if it is specific.
4. That it does not necessitate that Allah the Exalted be mixed with the creation, or present in their places, and it does not indicate that in any way.
5. If we reflect on what has preceded, we know that there is no contradiction between Allah the Exalted being with His creation in reality, and His being in the sky on His Throne in reality. Glorified is He and praised; we cannot count His praise. He is as He has praised Himself. And may Allah send prayers and peace upon His servant and His Messenger Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions". On 27/11/1403 AH.
The Shaykh : I have it. I wrote it. The poor one in need of Allah. What do you have?
The reader: I have the first one, the date, then.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The reader: Written by the poor one in need of Allah the Exalted:
Muhammad al-Salih al-Uthaymeen (may Allah preserve him) on the 27th of the eleventh month of the year 1403 AH.
The Shaykh : May Allah bless you. Is it finished? Read.
The reader: From which page?
The Shaykh : From page 145.
The reader: And as for praying behind one who declares others disbelievers?
The Shaykh : Yes.