Where is Allah?

The Fitrah about where Allah is

When we refer to God, we immediately point or look up. Allah is the Most High (Al-A'laa). We have all been given the Fitrah. It unconsciously refers upwards when we think of Allah.

The religions: Christianity, Judaism and Islam, agree that God is above His creation. There are also others without religion who believe that God must be above, and that He is separate from His creation.

Where Allah is not:

Everywhere
Nowhere
Down

There are several groups that adhere to Islam. For example, you have the Jahmiyyah and Asha'irah. Majority of them believe that Allah that He is not above. They tend to say that Allah is nowhere. Among them you will also find those who believe that Allah is everywhere.

The understanding of the Sunnis in this is that Allah is above. And that He has described Himself that way. In addition, there are several narrations that indicate that He is above.

Allah is not limited, and He is in control of His creation. And the rules of creation do not apply to Him. He is not in His creation, because it does not suit His Majesty.

Where is Allah according to the Quran?

Where is Allah according to the Sunnah?

Where is Allah according to the Salaf Saliheen?

The Quran about where Allah is

Allah has made clear where He is. In various places within the Quran we see what Allah has described Himself with. The question of where He is falls under one of His Attributes.

Or do you feel sure that He who is above will not send against you a storm of stones? Then you would know how [serious] My warning was.
[67:17 Quran]

Verily, your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and then settled on the Throne.
[7:54 Quran]

They fear their Lord above them, and they do as they are commanded.
[16:50 Quran]

And so there are many other verses that describe where Allah is. It is made clear to us that He is not everywhere, nor is He nowhere. The Salaf Saliheen elaborated more on this.

The Sunnah about where Allah is

We get to see in the Hadith that Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) describes where Allah is. The hadith about this are many, so below we give you some narrations.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “The Merciful will be shown mercy from the Merciful. Have mercy on those on earth, and the One above the heavens will have mercy on you.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhī 1924 (Sahih)]

the Prophet asked a female slave, "Where is Allah?" She said, "Above the sky." The Prophet asked, "Who am I?" She said, "You are the Messenger of Allah." The Prophet said, "Free her, for she is a believer." [Sahih Muslim 537]

The Salaf Saliheen on where Allah is

The pious predecessors of Islam have given clarity as to where Allah is. That is according to the correct understanding about the verses and ahadith concerning this matter.

Below you will find several statements of Islamic scholars, which every Muslim should take as a reference in this matter. They understand it better than the later scholars, and correctly report where Allah is.

Imam Malik said: "Allah is above His Throne, and His Knowledge is everywhere." [Masail Abu Dawud page 263]

'Abdullah ibn Mubarak said: "Allah is above the seventh heaven, above His Throne, and we do not say as the Jahmiyyah say, 'He is here on earth.'" [Ar-Radd 'Alal Jahmiyyah page 50 of Daarimie]

Yazid ibn Harun said: "Anyone who understands 'Allah rose above His Throne' other than a layman is a Jahmi (follower of Jahmiyyah sect)." [Khalq Af'aal Al 'Ibaad page 36 of Bukhari]

Al-Muzani said: "Allah is High above His Throne in His Majesty, with His Essence. And He is near His creation with His Knowledge. His Knowledge encompasses all things, and the Qadr has He enforced. [And He is the Generous, the Forgiving], [and] "He knows the deceit of the eyes and all that the breasts conceal." (Gafir 40:19) [Sharh As-Sunnah page 79-82 of Al-Muzani]

Abu 'Eesa Al-Tirmidhi said: "Allah's Knowledge, His Power and His Sovereignty is everywhere, and He is on the Throne as He described Himself." [Sunan Tirmidhi 3298]

Daarimee said: "And the Muslims agree that Allah is above His Throne, above His heavens." [Ar-Rad 'alaa Al-Jahmiyyah page 39 of Daarimee]

Ibn Abi Shaybah said: "He (Allaah) is above the heavens and above the Throne with His Essence, free from His creation, separated from them. He has Knowledge of His creation, and nothing can escape His Knowledge." [Al-Arsh wama Ruwiyah Fihi page 291-292 of Ibn Abi Shaybah]

Abu Athari

Abu Athari writes about basic principles within Islam. He uses his critical and well-researched way to spread knowledge of the first three Muslim generations.

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