Exegesis of Some Verses Indicating the Exaltation of Allah
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Question:
The listener, Husayn Ali Muhammad, sent a question asking about the exegesis of some Qur'anic verses, including: His saying, the Exalted: I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan: [Al-Mulk:16] and His saying, the Exalted: [Yunus:3]. He hopes that you will explain these verses, and he titled them: Verses about Exaltation and Rising Above.
Answer:
These noble verses were explained by the scholars of the people of the Sunnah and the community, such as al-Baghawi in his tafsir, Ibn Kathir, Ibn Jarir, and others. Their meaning is clear to the people of the Sunnah. So His saying, (Exalted and Majestic is He):[Al-Mulk 67:16]: is interpreted with two meanings:
The first is: in the sky, meaning: the constructed heavens that are known. So the meaning of "in" is "on," from "on the heavens," as He said, (Exalted and Majestic is He): [Al Imran:137], meaning: on the earth. He said, (Exalted and Majestic is He), regarding Pharaoh, that he said to his opponents: [Ta-Ha:71], meaning: on the trunks of the palm trees.
And the second meaning is: that what is intended by "the sky" is the height, the direction of height. So "in" is for location, and the meaning is: "Are you secure from the One in the height?" And He is Allah, Glorified is He. He is in the height, above the Throne, (Exalted and Majestic is He). He has risen above the Throne in a manner befitting His Majesty and His Greatness. He does not resemble the creation in any of His attributes (peace and blessings be upon him). So He is above all creation, in the highest place, above all creation (peace and blessings be upon him).
And so did the cursed Pharaoh intend when he said: [Ghafir:36], meaning: the paths, [Ghafir:37], meaning: the paths of the heavens, [Ghafir:37]. The wicked one knew that He is in the height; because Musa conveyed to him that He is in the height. For this reason, he made this claim, although he cannot do it, nor can Haman. For the height to the heavens cannot be reached by a created being except by the command of Allah (peace be upon him), as Allah raised our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to the height, with Jibril (peace be upon him).
So the heavens have gates, and they have guards. No one can enter them except by the permission of Allah (peace be upon him). And this is from Pharaoh's stubbornness, from his stubbornness and his false claims. He knew that Allah is in the height, as Musa informed him. For this reason, he said this statement. And it is one of the proofs of the people of the Sunnah that Allah is in the height, and that Musa conveyed to Pharaoh that Allah is in the height. For this reason, he said this statement.
And so is His saying, the Exalted: [Al-A'raf:54], meaning: then He rose above the Throne. And this He said, the Exalted, in seven places in His Book, (Exalted and Majestic is He). He clarified therein His rising above the Throne (peace and blessings be upon him) and that He is above the Throne. As He said in Surat Ta-Ha: [Ta-Ha:5]. So the meaning of "istawa" (rose above) is: height and elevation. From this, "he istawa on the ship" means: he rose above it. And from this, [Hud:44], meaning: it rose above al-Judi.
So "istawa" means: height and elevation. "So-and-so istawa on the mount" means: he became on its back. And "istawa on the roof" means: he became above the roof. And "istawa on the camel" means: he became above the camel. So the meaning of "istawa on the Throne" is: He rose above the Throne, (Exalted and Majestic is He). And His rising above befits Him, the Exalted, and is fitting for Him (peace be upon him), and He does not resemble the creation in their rising above their mounts, and on the mountains, and on other things.
And so are all the attributes of Allah befitting Him (peace and blessings be upon him), and He does not resemble His creation in them, (Exalted and Majestic is He). As He said, the Exalted: [Ash-Shura:11]. And He said (peace be upon him): [Al-Ikhlas:4]. And He said, the Exalted: [An-Nahl:74]. And He said (peace be upon him): [Maryam:65], meaning: He has no equal, and no counterpart (peace and blessings be upon him). And so all verses like these indicate the Exaltation of Allah, and that He is above the Throne. Like [Ash-Shura:4] .. [Ghafir:12]. He is the Most High, the complete height: the height of His Essence, and the height of His dominion and power, and the height of place. So He is above the Throne, (Exalted and Majestic is He), above all creation (peace and blessings be upon him).
And the Throne is the ceiling of the created things and the highest of them, and Allah is above it (peace and blessings be upon him). And with this, nothing of the conditions of His servants is hidden from Him. He knows everything (peace and blessings be upon him), Yes, Allah is the Greatest! Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
The listener, Husayn Ali Muhammad, sent a question asking about the exegesis of some Qur'anic verses, including: His saying, the Exalted: I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan:
Do you feel secure that He who [holds authority] in the heaven would not cause the earth to swallow you and suddenly it would sway?
أَأَمِنتُمْ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاءِ أَنْ يَخْسِفَ بِكُمُ الأَرْضَ فَإِذَا هِيَ تَمُورُIndeed, 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 السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِAnswer:
These noble verses were explained by the scholars of the people of the Sunnah and the community, such as al-Baghawi in his tafsir, Ibn Kathir, Ibn Jarir, and others. Their meaning is clear to the people of the Sunnah. So His saying, (Exalted and Majestic is He):
Do you feel secure that He who [holds authority] in the heaven
أَأَمِنتُمْ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاءِThe first is: in the sky, meaning: the constructed heavens that are known. So the meaning of "in" is "on," from "on the heavens," as He said, (Exalted and Majestic is He):
so proceed throughout the earth
فَسِيرُوا فِي الأَرْضِI will crucify you on the trunks of palm trees
وَلَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ فِي جُذُوعِ النَّخْلِAnd the second meaning is: that what is intended by "the sky" is the height, the direction of height. So "in" is for location, and the meaning is: "Are you secure from the One in the height?" And He is Allah, Glorified is He. He is in the height, above the Throne, (Exalted and Majestic is He). He has risen above the Throne in a manner befitting His Majesty and His Greatness. He does not resemble the creation in any of His attributes (peace and blessings be upon him). So He is above all creation, in the highest place, above all creation (peace and blessings be upon him).
And so did the cursed Pharaoh intend when he said:
O Haman, construct for me a tower that I might reach the ways -
يَا هَامَانُ ابْنِ لِي صَرْحًا لَعَلِّي أَبْلُغُ الأَسْبَابَthe paths of the heavens
أَسْبَابَ السَّمَاوَاتِand I will look upon the God of Musa
فَأَطَّلِعَ إِلَى إِلَهِ مُوسَىSo the heavens have gates, and they have guards. No one can enter them except by the permission of Allah (peace be upon him). And this is from Pharaoh's stubbornness, from his stubbornness and his false claims. He knew that Allah is in the height, as Musa informed him. For this reason, he said this statement. And it is one of the proofs of the people of the Sunnah that Allah is in the height, and that Musa conveyed to Pharaoh that Allah is in the height. For this reason, he said this statement.
And so is His saying, the Exalted:
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 السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِThe Most Merciful [who is] above the Throne established.
الرَّحْمَنُ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ اسْتَوَىthe ship came to rest on the [mountain of] Judiyy
اسْتَوَتْ عَلَى الْجُودِيِّSo "istawa" means: height and elevation. "So-and-so istawa on the mount" means: he became on its back. And "istawa on the roof" means: he became above the roof. And "istawa on the camel" means: he became above the camel. So the meaning of "istawa on the Throne" is: He rose above the Throne, (Exalted and Majestic is He). And His rising above befits Him, the Exalted, and is fitting for Him (peace be upon him), and He does not resemble the creation in their rising above their mounts, and on the mountains, and on other things.
And so are all the attributes of Allah befitting Him (peace and blessings be upon him), and He does not resemble His creation in them, (Exalted and Majestic is He). As He said, the Exalted:
There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
لََيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُNor is there to Him any equivalent."
وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌSo do not assert similarities to Allah
فَلا تَضْرِبُوا لِلَّهِ الأَمْثَالَDo you know of any similarity to Him?"
هَلْ تَعْلَمُ لَهُ سَمِيًّاAnd He is the Most High, the Most Great.
وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُSo the judgement is with Allah, the Most High, the Grand."
فَالْحُكْمُ لِلَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْكَبِيرِAnd the Throne is the ceiling of the created things and the highest of them, and Allah is above it (peace and blessings be upon him). And with this, nothing of the conditions of His servants is hidden from Him. He knows everything (peace and blessings be upon him), Yes, Allah is the Greatest! Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.