LETTER NO.10
Bismillah hir Rahman nir
Raheem(In the name of ALLAH, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful).
May the Peace and Blessings of
ALLAH be upon the Imaam of all Prophets, Imaam of the Ummah, Imaam of
Mujahideen, our Holy Prophet-Muhammad (saws), and on those who follow his
(saws) guidance till the Day of Judgement.
FROM:- ABU HAFS
TO :- MY
DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS
ASSALAMU ALAIKUM WA RAHMATULLAHI WA BARAKATAHU
Alhamdulillah, we are into our 10th letter. And
it was by the grace and help of ALLAH that I have started this one. ALLAH
guides whom HE wills. In this letter we will be discussing a very important
topic. If anyone does not know the correct teachings about it then it might
lead him to a very dangerous belief and to evil. The topic is ‘Where is ALLAH’?
WHERE IS ALLAH? It seems to be an easy question, but it is
one of the most important one, as it is the Aqeedah(Belief). If you ask people
then you will get different answers. InshaALLAH, we will be giving the answer
from the Qur’an, Hadeeth, Prophets, Sahaba and Imaam.
Please read it carefully. May ALLAH open our heart and mind
to accept the truth, aameen.
Proof from QUR’AN:
ALLAH says:
“HE it is Who created
the heavens and the earth in six Days and then rose over (Istawa) the Throne(in
a manner that suits HIS Majesty). HE knows what goes into the earth and what
comes forth from it, and what descends from the heavens and what ascends
thereto. And HE is with you(by HIS knowledge) wherever you may be. And ALLAH is
the All-Seer of what you do.”
(surah-57, verse-4)
It is clearly mentioned in this verse that ALLAH rose over
the Throne(ARSH). And ALLAH says HE knows each and everything in the heavens
and the earth, HE is with all of us through HIS knowledge which covers
everything. As ALLAH says in the last part, ‘And ALLAH is the All-Seer of what
you do.’ We cannot escape from ALLAH, as His knowledge is everywhere.
In another verse it is straight that ALLAH is on
ARSH(Throne).
ALLAH says:
“The Most
Gracious(ALLAH) rose over(Istawa) the
Throne(ARSH) (in a manner that
suits HIM).” (surah-20, verse-5)
This verse is straight in telling that ALLAH is above the ARSH,
which is above the heavens
ALLAH says:
“They fear their Rubb above them.” (surah-16,verse-50)
This verse refers to the angels who are above us,
and above them is our Rubb, the Blessed, the Exalted. Lest anyone be confused,
Allaah confirms in this verse that He is above the angels who are the residents
of the heavens: “The Compassionate has mounted the 'Arsh.” (surah-20, verse-5)
“And verily, your Rubb is Allaah who created the heaven and earth in six days, and then mounted the 'Arsh.” (surah-7, verse-54)
“Are you sure that He
Who is Above the heaven will not cleave the earth beneath you? Or are you sure
that He Who is above the heaven will not send against you a stone-charged
hurricane.” (surah-67,
verse-17,18)
The renowned exegetes and commentators are agreed that the
One Who is above the heaven is none but ALLAH Who has mounted His ARSH and is
above it in the manner which suits His Majesty.
ALLAH says: “O, Issa (Jesus)! I shall cause
you to die, and raise you up to Me.” (surah-3, verse-55)Since ALLAH addressed Isa (as) saying: "I will raise you up to Me", what would those who believe that ALLAH is everywhere answer when they are asked: "Where is Isa (as) now?" They would say either Isa (as) is everywhere, or he is in heaven. If they claim that Isa (as) is everywhere, they would apostatize as a result of their equating Isa (as) with ALLAH in accordance with their claim that ALLAH is everywhere. A claim which resembles the Christians' myth of god incarnate. But if they say, "Isa (as) is in the heaven," they would admit that ALLAH did raise Isa (as) up to the heaven, and that ALLAH is above the heavens.
“The month of Ramadhan in which
was revealed the Qur’an…..” (surah-2,
verse-185)
ALLAH
says ‘unzila’(revealed). Unzil, nazil, anzal all means to get down. When does a
thing gets revealed or comes down? The answer is, if it is on a high place. So
ALLAH is above the heavens on ARSH(Throne), so the Qur’an was revealed down on
the earth.
Same is
the case in this verse also,
ALLAH
says:
“Verily, We have sent it (Qur’an)
down in the night of Al-Qadr(Decree).” (surah-97, verse-1)
It is
again said that ALLAH had sent down the Qur’an, because ALLAH is above the
heavens.
Proof from
HADEETH:
1.Mu’aawiyah
ibn al-Hakam(raa) said: “I had a servant girl who used to tend sheep in the
area of Mount Uhud
Please
note the question which our Holy Prophet(saws) asked, ‘Where is ALLAH?’ This is
our topic. And please note the answer, ‘Above the sky’. So, the one who knows
more than anyone about ALLAH, that is, ALLAH Messenger(saws) himself says that
she was a true believer. He(saws) not only said that she gave a correct answer,
but said that she was a true believer. After 2 questions’ correct answer
he(saws) called her a true believer. If someone does not agree that ALLAH is
above the sky on ARSH, then the person is not a true believer. This is what
Prophet(saws) said for saying that ALLAH is above the sky on ARSH, then the
person is not a true believer. This is what Prophet(saws) said for saying that
ALLAH is above the sky. It is the true belief, the belief of Messenger of
ALLAH(saws) and Sahaba(raa).
2. Abu
Huraira(raa) reported that the Prophet(saws) said: “When ALLAH completed
creation, HE wrote in a Book(which HE kept) with HIM above HIS Throne(Arsh),
‘Verily My mercy will precede my anger.’” (Saheeh Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim)
The Book mentioned in this hadeeth is kept with ALLAH above
HIS Throne(Arsh). This means HE is above the Throne (Arsh). It is very clear if
you open your mind and read. It does not need detail explanation as it is a
clear hadeeth.
3. Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: “Our
Rubb, the Blessed, the Exalted, descends to the lowest heaven every night,
during the last third of the night, and says: ‘Anyone calls Me, I will respond
to him? Is there anyone asking for anything? I will give it to him? Is there
anyone seeking My forgiveness, I will forgive him?’” (Saheeh
Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim)
The words of the Prophet (SAW):
'Our Rubb, the Blessed, the Exalted, descends to the lowest heaven', clearly
indicate the essential Highness or Loftiness of ALLAH, the Exalted. Were ALLAH
to exist everywhere, there would be no need for the Prophet (SAW) who knew
ALLAH best, to say, 'ALLAH descends', nor would there be a reason to
distinguish one portion of the night from another. There is only one answer to this: ALLAH, the Blessed, the Exalted, is
above the seven heavens, and above the great 'ARSH.
4. Abu Hurairah reported
that the Prophet (SAW) said: “ALLAH
will descend to His slaves on the Day of Resurrection.” (at-Tirmidhi and others)It is the Day when ALLAH will come down to pass His judgment.
5. Narrated Abu Huraira(raa) that Prophet Muhammad(saws) said: “(A group of) angels stay with you at night and (another group of) angels by daytime, and both groups gather at the time of ‘Asr(evening) and Fajr(dawn) prayers. Then those angels who have stayed with you over night, ascend (to Heaven) and ALLAH asks them (about you) though HE(ALLAH) knows all about you….” (Saheeh Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim, an-Nasai)
The angels ascend to the Heavens and ALLAH asks them, and it is because ALLAH is above the Heavens on ARSH, that is why HE asks them there.
6. The Prophet of ALLAH(saws) said: “And the Throne(ARSH) is above the water and ALLAH is above the Throne(ARSH), and HE knows on what you are.” (Abu Dawood, it was said to be a hasan hadeeth by ibn-Taimiyah in his book Al-Aqeedat-il-Wasitiyah)
No need to explain this hadeeth, it is very clear in explaining that ALLAH is above the ARSH.
7. Prophet Muhammad(saws) taught the sick to pray,
“Our Lord ALLAH who is above the heavens, may Your name be Holy……” (Abu Dawood) Note what the Messenger of ALLAH(saws) taught. He(saw) mentions about our Lord and also confirms it that who is above the Heavens. This again proves that the Prophet(saws) believed that ALLAH is above the Heavens, on ARSH. If we follow the Messenger of ALLAH(saws) we will inshaALLAH go to Heaven and if not(may ALLAH save us) then BEWARE OF THE FIRE OF HELL.
ALLAH says:
“And whatever the Messenger has given you, take.” (surah-59, verse-7)
“Whoever obeys the Messenger has obeyed ALLAH.” (surah-4, verse-80)
Proof from the AQEEEDAH of the SAHABA:
Zainab(raa), the wife of the Prophet (saws), used to claim excellence over the rest of his wives by telling them, ‘It is only your parents who gave you in marriage to the Prophet (saws), while it is ALLAH Who gave me in marriage to him from above the seven heavens.'’ (Saheeh Bukhari)
In another narration, she said to the Prophet (SAW), ‘It is the Rahmaan, the Merciful, Who married me to you from above His 'Arsh.’
O slaves of ALLAH! Why over seven heavens did ALLAH marry them? It is only because ALLAH is over the seven heavens.
In his speech after the death of the Prophet (saws), Abu Bakr as-Saddiq said: "He who was worshipping Muhammed (saws), (let him know that) Muhammed is dead, and he who was worshipping ALLAH, (let him know that) ALLAH is above the heaven Ever-Living, never dies'." (Saheeh Bukhari)
The best companion of the Prophet(saws), Abu Bakr(raa) also had the same belief that ALLAH is above the heavens on ARSH.
Ibn Abbas, may ALLAH be pleased with him, said to Aa'ishah, the wife of the Messenger of ALLAH (saws) when she was on her death bed: “Of all his wives,you were the most beloved to the Messenger of ALLAH (saws), and he used to live only with the pure. ALLAH, the Exalted sent down your exoneration from above the seven heavens which was brought down by Jibraeel(as). There is not a single masjid of the masajid of ALLAH but the verses of your exoneration are recited in it day and night.”
The exoneration which ALLAH sent down was from above the seven heavens as Ibn Abbas(raa) said and he(raa) too believed in it.
Proof from MA’IRAJ and ISRA:-
The Prophet (saws) reported his eventful journey from Makkah to
Jibraeel took me up to the lowest heaven and requested its guards to open its gate. He was asked, 'Who is this?' He answered, 'Jibraeel.' 'Who is with you?' They inquired. 'Muhammed (saws)' He answered. They inquired. 'Has he been invited?' 'Yes'. Jibraeel replied. Then someone greeted saying, 'He is most welcome'. The Prophet (saws) continued, when the gate was opened, I entered and met Adam there. Jibraeel said to me, 'This is your father, greet him'. Adam greeted me back, saying: 'Welcome, pious son and pious Prophet'. Then Jibraeel ascended to the second heaven and requested its guards to open its gate.
The questioning that took place in the lowest heaven was repeated before the gate was opened. The Prophet (saws) described what he saw in every heaven, until finally he was taken up to the seventh heaven where obligatory prayers were prescribed to him (Saheeh Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim and others).
This authentic mutawatir(strongest type of authentic hadeeth) hadeeth speaks clearly in plain words and straightforward manner which is not liable to misconstruction or farfetched interpretations. The Prophet (saws) was taken up to his Rubb from one heaven above the other. The Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah believe that the Mai'raj was neither an illusion nor a vision, rather real and essential. Had ALLAH been everywhere, why would the Prophet (saws) be taken all the way up to the seventh heaven? ALLAH would have prescribed to him the Salaah on earth rather than in the seventh heaven.
Proof from the AQEEDAH of another PROPHET:
We will go through this
verse:
“Pharaoh(Firaun) said, ‘O Haamaan! Build a lofty place for
me that I may attain the ways. The ways of (reaching) the heavens for me to
behold the God of Moses, for I certainly believe he is a liar….” (surah-40, verse-36,37)
Pharaoh wanted Haamaan
to build a tall or lofty place so that he would reach the heavens and behold.
Behold who? Behold the God of Moses(ALLAH). Why? Because Prophet Moses(as) must
have said that ALLAH is above the heavens, and Pharaoh knew this from
Moses(as). Now, wait for a while and read the verse carefully. Why did Pharaoh
wanted a lofty(tall place)? Why to reach heavens? Answer is to behold the God
of Moses. Why? The only simple answer is Pharaoh was informed that ALLAH(God of
Moses) is above the heavens. Who was the informer or messenger? Answer is ---
Prophet Moses(as). This is pure Aqeedah of all Prophets, even Prophet
Moses(as).
Proof from the Aqeedah of some early
Scholars:
Abu Haneefah:
Abu Muti' Al-Balkhi reported: “I asked Imam Abu Haneefah about a person
who says, ‘I do not know whether my Rubb is, above the heavens or on earth?’
Abu Haneefah, may ALLAH grant him His mercy, said: ‘A person who makes such a
statement becomes an apostate because ALLAH, the Exalted says, ‘The Merciful
has ascended above the 'Arsh, and the 'Arsh of ALLAH is above His heavens’. I
further asked Abu Haneefah, ‘What if such a person admits, ALLAH is above His
'Arsh, but exclaims, I do not know whether His 'Arsh is above the heavens or on
earth’. Abu Haneefah responded: ‘If he denies that the 'Arsh is above the
heavens, he is an apostate.’” (Sharhut-Tahawiyyah,
p.288)
If the person apostatizes by saying that he did not know where is the 'Arsh of ALLAH, then by right a person who denies the Loftiness of ALLAH altogether is definitely worse than an apostate.
Imam Malik:
Abdullah bin Nafi' reported: Malik bin Anas said: ‘ALLAH is above the heavens, but His knowledge encompasses everything. Nothing escapes His knowledge. (Abdullah bin Ahmad, as-Sunnah, and others)
Well it has been proved by various sources and that too all authentic ones that ALLAH is above ARSH.
Those who believe that ALLAH is everywhere base their argument on verses such as: “And He is Ilaah in the Heavens and He is Ilaah on the Earth!”
The term, 'Ilaah' is classical Arabic means, 'the worshipped'; thus the meaning of the above verse is, "It is He Who is worshipped in the heaven and worshipped on the earth". It would have been redundant were the verse to speak about the existence of ALLAH in the heaven and on the earth, for the term Ilaah' is an adjective of ALLAH, while the pronouns, 'He' in the verse is used in lieu of the name 'ALLAH', therefore, when the name 'ALLAH' replaces the pronoun 'He', we get the proper meaning of the verse: 'And it is ALLAH Who is worshipped in the heaven and on the earth'. But according to the deviated sect who consider the term, 'Ilaah' as 'ALLAH', we get the redundant meaning, 'And ALLAH is ALLAH in the heaven and ALLAH is on the earth,' a sentence which is grammatically, linguistically and logically incorrect.
Qatadah, a renowned exegete, interpreted this verse as: ‘He is worshipped in the heaven and on the earth’.
Imam al-Aajurri said: ‘al-Ilaah, is the worshipped. He is worshipped in the heaven as He is worshipped on the earth’.
One more verse they quote and that is: ALLAH says: “Verily, We created man and know what is soul whispers, for We are closer to him than his jugular vein.” (suarh-50, verse-16)
They say that ALLAH is closer to us than even than jugular vein meaning ALLAH is everywhere. Whereas, the first important thing is neither did the Messenger of ALLAH(saws) interpreted it this way nor did the Sahaba. Morever read the verse you will see that ALLAH has said ‘We created man and know’ so ALLAH says in this regard that He is closer to us by his knowledge and not with self. Can ALLAH be with all the people near their jugular veins? Even while a person is drinking alcohol, doing illegal sex, gambling, sitting in a toilet. Is ALLAH everywhere like clubs, temples, churches, places were pigs are present, were all illegal things are done?
ALLAH says that He is closer and it is not only for muslims then, because ALLAH says We created man and then He says that He is closer to them, which means all men and all people, not only muslims. Now, is ALLAH close to all men, like Hindus, Christians, Jews, Sikhs? Even while they are worshipping their gods in temples, churches, etc.
Closer to him means with knowledge. ALLAH’s knowledge is with each and everyone, but ALLAH is above the ARSH. For eg:- I am in
My Brothers and sisters, this is a big aspect of AQEEDAH(Belief). The belief that ALLAH is everywhere starts all kinds of misguided beliefs. Beware of it.
Keep an open mind. Repent to ALLAH if your belief was that ALLAH is not on ARSH. May ALLAH forgive you, may ALLAH all muslims from these false belief and guide us to the correct belief of the Prophet(saws) and the Sahaba(raa), aameen.
PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO SHARE WITH OTHERS
ASSALAMU ALAIKUM WA RAHMATULLAHI WA BARAKATAHU
No comments:
Post a Comment