Affirming the Attribute of Exaltation for Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He)
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A Sudanese woman in the United Arab Emirates, whose name is Umm Mujahid, is asking another question as well. She says: My husband said in one of the Friday sermons: "Allah is in the sky, established above the Throne, distinct from His creation, and He is in the seventh heaven." So one of the people went to criticize him and disparage him. We ask you, Your Eminence, for a clear statement on this matter. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer: Your husband has done well in what he said, and he has hit the truth in what he said. For Allah is above the Throne, above all the heavens, and above all creation, as He said : [Al-A'raf: 54]. And *istiwa'* means: exaltation and elevation, meaning: then He exalted Himself above the Throne and elevated Himself above it . So He is above the Throne, and His knowledge is everywhere, according to the people of the Sunnah and the community. And this is what the messengers, peace be upon them, came with, led by our Prophet and our Imam Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
It is the statement of all the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him); they all agreed that Allah is in the height, above the Throne, above all creation, and His knowledge is everywhere, (Glorified and Exalted is He), as He the Exalted and Majestic said: [Ghafir:12] and He said: [al-Baqarah:255]. So He has complete height in all aspects: the height of His Essence, the height of His status and honor, and the height of His dominion and subjugation. He is above the Throne, above all creation. He rose above the Throne in a manner befitting His Majesty and Greatness, as He the Exalted said: [Ta-Ha:5]. He mentioned this in seven places in His great Book. So it is obligatory for every Muslim man and woman to believe in this, and to pass on the attributes as they came, without distortion, denial, asking how, or likening Allah to creation. Denying the rising above the Throne is the doctrine of the Jahmiyyah, the doctrine of the people of innovation. So it is obligatory for the people of Islam, men and women, to believe in this as it came in the great Qur'an, and to follow the path of the people of the Sunnah in affirming the height of Allah above all creation, above the seventh heaven, above all creation, above the Throne. For the Throne is above the seventh heaven, and above the seventh heaven is the Footstool, and then there is a sea between its bottom and its top, just as there is between the heavens and the earth, and after that is the Throne. So the Throne is above the water, and the Throne is the roof of the created things and the highest of them, and Allah is above the Throne (Exalted and Majestic is He) above all creation. For this reason, He the Exalted said: [al-A'raf:54] and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [Ta-Ha:5] and He said: [al-Furqan:59]. These are seven verses, all indicating His height, His being above, and His rising above the Throne. So the one who denied it to your wife is the one who has erred and made a mistake, agreed with the people of innovation, and opposed the people of the Sunnah. As for your wife, in her statement that Allah is above the Throne, above the heavens, above all creation, she has hit the mark, agreed with the people of the Sunnah, agreed with the Book and the Sunnah, and opposed the people of innovation.
So we ask Allah for you, for us, for your husband, and for all Muslims, success, guidance, and steadfastness upon the truth.
Answer: Your husband has done well in what he said, and he has hit the truth in what he said. For Allah is above the Throne, above all the heavens, and above all creation, as He said :
Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne
إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِIt is the statement of all the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him); they all agreed that Allah is in the height, above the Throne, above all creation, and His knowledge is everywhere, (Glorified and Exalted is He), as He the Exalted and Majestic said:
So the judgement is with Allah, the Most High, the Grand."
فَالْحُكْمُ لِلَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْكَبِيرِAnd He is the Most High, the Most Great.
وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُThe Most Merciful [who is] above the Throne established.
الرَّحْمَنُ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ اسْتَوَىIndeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He covers the night with the day, [another night] chasing it rapidly; and [He created] the sun, the moon, and the stars, subjected by His command. Unquestionably, His is the creation and the command; blessed is Allah, Lord of the worlds.
إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ يُغْشِي اللَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَاتٍ بِأَمْرِهِ أَلا لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالأَمْرُ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَThe Most Merciful [who is] above the Throne established.
الرَّحْمَنُ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ اسْتَوَىThen the Most Merciful established Himself above the Throne, so ask about Him one who knows.
ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ الرَّحْمَنُ فَاسْأَلْ بِهِ خَبِيرًاSo we ask Allah for you, for us, for your husband, and for all Muslims, success, guidance, and steadfastness upon the truth.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.