Explanation of the author's statement: "Indeed, Allah's Footstool encompasses the heavens and the earth, and He is the One who holds the heavens and the earth from falling apart, and holds the sky from falling upon"
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The Shaykh : Then he said: "Indeed, Allah" clarifying the reason "Indeed, Allah's Footstool encompasses the heavens and the earth" His Footstool encompasses the heavens and the earth. The Footstool, as narrated from Ibn Abbas, is the place of the feet. It encompasses the heavens and the earth, meaning it surrounds them. It surrounds the seven heavens and the seven earths, and this is His Footstool, Mighty and Majestic. So how can anyone think that the sky carries Him or shades Him? Because if it carries Him, He would need it to carry Him. And if it shades Him, He is certainly below it, because it is above Him, Glorified and Exalted is He. If His Footstool encompasses the heavens and the earth, does anyone think this false thought? What is this false thought? That the sky carries Him or shades Him.
Now, then he said "And He is the One who holds the heavens and the earth from falling apart" Yes, He holds them from falling from their places, the heavens and the earth. And if not for Allah holding them, they would have been in turmoil, swayed, and fallen. But Allah, Mighty and Majestic, by His power and strength, holds the heavens and the earth from falling apart. Indeed, Allah the Exalted said:[Fatir 35:41] meaning no one has held them after Allah, ever. If a star were to fall, could anyone hold it? No, no one can hold it. So how if the heavens and the earth were to fall?! Only the One who created them can hold them, the One who says "Be" and it is, Glorified and Exalted is He. In His hand is the dominion of the heavens and the earth.
He said: "And He holds the sky from falling upon the earth except by His permission" The sky is above the earth, and by Allah, if not for Allah holding it, it would have fallen upon the earth, because they are massive bodies.[Al-Anbya 21:32] a vast canopy [Adh-Dhariyat 51:47] if not for Allah holding it. Yes, it would have fallen upon the earth. And if it fell upon the earth, it would have destroyed it. And what is the earth compared to the sky? So the One who holds the heavens and the earth from falling apart and holds the sky from falling upon the earth, can anyone imagine that the sky carries Him? Answer me, everyone.
The student: No.
The Shaykh : It is not imaginable, nor that the sky shades Him. Yes.
He says "And among His signs" also "that the heavens and the earth stand firm by His command" Among His signs, meaning among the indicators of His perfection, Mighty and Majestic, in every aspect, is that the heavens and the earth stand firm by His command. Is it His cosmic command or His legislative command?
The student: The cosmic will?
The Shaykh : Both the cosmic and the legislative.[Al-Mu'minun 23:71] and the desires. The desires are corruption for the heavens and the earth, and they are contrary to the legislative command. Is it contrary to the cosmic command?
The student: The Shari'ah ruling.
The Shaykh : The legislative command. So the heavens and the earth stand firm by Allah's cosmic and legislative command, by Allah's cosmic and legislative command. And if the truth had followed the desires of creation, the heavens and the earth and those within them would have been corrupted. And for this reason, the scholars said regarding His saying, the Exalted:[Al-A'raf 7:56] meaning do not corrupt therein by sins. I do not know about brother Hussein, is he with us or not?
The questioner : ... O Shaykh
The Shaykh : We have nothing but truth in this place.
The student: From now on.
The Shaykh : Yes
The student: From now on.
The Shaykh : From now on, good.
The Shaykh : The time has ended.
The student: Yes.
Now, then he said "And He is the One who holds the heavens and the earth from falling apart" Yes, He holds them from falling from their places, the heavens and the earth. And if not for Allah holding them, they would have been in turmoil, swayed, and fallen. But Allah, Mighty and Majestic, by His power and strength, holds the heavens and the earth from falling apart. Indeed, Allah the Exalted said:
And if they should cease, no one could hold them [in place] after Him
ولئن زالتا إن أمسكهما من أحد من بعدهHe said: "And He holds the sky from falling upon the earth except by His permission" The sky is above the earth, and by Allah, if not for Allah holding it, it would have fallen upon the earth, because they are massive bodies.
And We made the sky a protected ceiling
وجعلنا السماء سقفا محفوظاAnd the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] expander.
والسماء بنيناها بأيد وإنا لموسعونThe student: No.
The Shaykh : It is not imaginable, nor that the sky shades Him. Yes.
He says "And among His signs" also "that the heavens and the earth stand firm by His command" Among His signs, meaning among the indicators of His perfection, Mighty and Majestic, in every aspect, is that the heavens and the earth stand firm by His command. Is it His cosmic command or His legislative command?
The student: The cosmic will?
The Shaykh : Both the cosmic and the legislative.
But if the Truth had followed their inclinations, the heavens and the earth and whoever is in them would have been ruined
ولو اتبع الحق أهواءهم لفسدت السماوات والأرض ومن فيهنThe student: The Shari'ah ruling.
The Shaykh : The legislative command. So the heavens and the earth stand firm by Allah's cosmic and legislative command, by Allah's cosmic and legislative command. And if the truth had followed the desires of creation, the heavens and the earth and those within them would have been corrupted. And for this reason, the scholars said regarding His saying, the Exalted:
And cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation
ولا تفسدوا في الأرض بعد إصلاحهاThe questioner : ... O Shaykh
The Shaykh : We have nothing but truth in this place.
The student: From now on.
The Shaykh : Yes
The student: From now on.
The Shaykh : From now on, good.
The Shaykh : The time has ended.
The student: Yes.