Affirming the Attribute of Exaltation for Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He)

Question:
A discussion took place between me and a colleague in the office regarding the presence of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) in the sky. This person denies the presence of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) in the sky, while I affirm it based on the evidence of the saying of Allah the Exalted: {Do you feel secure that He who is in the sky would not cause the earth to swallow you up?} [Surah al-Mulk: Verse 16], and the hadith of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) with the girl, where he asked her: "Where is Allah?" She said: "In the sky" [Narrated by Imam Malik in al-Muwatta' from the hadith of Mu'awiyah ibn al-Hakam al-Sulami (may Allah be pleased with him)]. What is the clarification of the correct position, and may Allah reward you with good?

Answer:
There is no doubt that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) is in the sky, and this is what the Muslims and the followers of the messengers have believed, both in the past and the present. It is a matter of consensus among the messages of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and His believing servants that Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) is in the sky. The evidence from the Book and the Sunnah has converged on this, with more than a thousand proofs regarding the exaltation of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), that He is in the sky, and that He rose above His Throne (Glorified and Exalted is He), as Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) informed us. Among this is what the questioner mentioned, the saying of Allah the Exalted: {Do you feel secure that He who is in the sky would not cause the earth to swallow you up? Or that He who is in the sky would not send against you a storm of stones?} [Surah al-Mulk: Verses 16, 17], and the hadith of the girl in al-Sahih, where the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked her: "Where is Allah?" She said: "In the sky." He said: "Free her, for she is a believer" [Narrated by Imam Muslim in his Sahih from the hadith of Mu'awiyah ibn al-Hakam al-Sulami (may Allah be pleased with him)]. The meaning of His being in the sky, if "sky" is intended to mean exaltation, is that "in" indicates location, meaning that Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) is in exaltation, distinct from His creation (Glorified and Exalted is He), elevated above His creations, distinct from His creation. However, if "sky" is intended to mean the constructed sky, which is the seven layers, then the meaning of "in" here is "upon," meaning: upon the sky. This is like the saying of Allah the Exalted: {Travel in the land} [Surah al-An'am: Verse 11], meaning: upon the land. And like His saying: {And I will surely crucify you on the trunks of the palm trees} [Surah Ta-Ha: Verse 71], meaning: on the trunks of the palm trees. In any case, the converging verses, the mass-transmitted hadiths, and the consensus of the Muslims and the followers of the messengers are that Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) is in the sky. As for those who deny this from the Jahmiyyah and their offspring and students, this school of thought is invalid and is an inclination in the names of Allah. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says: {And leave those who distort His names; they will be recompensed for what they used to do} [Surah al-A'raf: Verse 180]. So, inclination in the names and attributes of Allah is a great crime. And this person who denies that Allah is in the sky lies about the Qur'an, lies about the Sunnah, and lies about the consensus of the Muslims. If he is aware of this, he becomes a disbeliever because of it. But if he is ignorant, it is explained to him; if he persists after the explanation, he becomes a disbeliever, may Allah protect us from that.