Affirmations of Allaah’s Highness Over All His Creation

There are many verses in the Qur’an that affirm Allaah’s Highness over all His creation. To Him belongs the absolute Highness in all aspects:

3. Highness of Power and Subdual; He is the Compeller, Who is not compelled, and He is Dominant, Who is never defeated (or empowered). All the creation is submissive to Him. There is nothing that can move or stay still (settle) without His permission. (Fat’h Ar-Raheem Al-Malik)

Evidences from the Qur‘an Proving Allaah’s Highness

The evidences of Allaah’s Highness are stated in various ways in the Book of Allaah and in the Sunnah, and can be arranged in the following categories:

1. Evidences which state Allaah’s ‘Ulow (Highness) and that He is above His slaves and above His creation

2. Evidences which mention the Fawqiyyah (being above) using the adverb ‘Fawq’ which means above

3. Evidences which state that certain things descend from Him

4. Evidences which state that things ascend to Him

5. Evidences which state clearly that He is in (above) the heaven

First: Evidences which state that certain things are raised or ascend to Him

Such as the verses which clearly state that ‘Eesa [Jesus (‘Alayhis-salaam)] the son of Maryam [Mary (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha)] was raised up to Him.

In Surat Aal-‘Imraan (3:55) Allaah (Ta’ala) says:

يَا عِيسَىٰ إِنِّي مُتَوَفِّيكَ وَرَافِعُكَ إِلَيَّ

“O ‘Eesa (Jesus) I will Mutawaffeeka (take you) and raise you to Myself.”

Mutawaffeek means taking you up while sleeping, i.e. Allaah (Ta’ala) sent down on him sleep, then raised him up. This is because sleep is a kind of death (minor death) as Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat Al-An’aam (6:60):

وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَتَوَفَّاكُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا جَرَحْتُمْ بِالنَّهَارِ ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُكُمْ فِيهِ لِيُقْضَىٰ أَجَلٌ مُسَمًّى ۖ

“And He it is Who takes your souls at night (in sleep), and He knows what you acquire in the day, then He raises you up again that a term appointed be fulfilled…”

Also, Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat An-Nisaa’ (4:158):

بَل رَّفَعَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ ۚ

“But Allaah raised him (‘Eesa) up (with his body and soul) unto Himself.“

Second: Evidences which state Allaah’s absolute Highness (‘Ulow)

Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat Al-Baqarah (2:255):

وهو العلي العظيم

“And He is the Most High, the Most Great.”

And in Surat Al-A’laa (87:1), Allaah (Ta’ala) says:

سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى

“Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High.”

The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said (when he would prostrate):

سبحان ربي الأعلى

Subhaana Rabbial-A’laa

“Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.” [Muslim no. 772]

There are many Ahadeeth in which it is stated that the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) raised his hands when making Du’aa, and everyone who is stricken with distress raises his hands when calling upon Allaah (Ta’ala).

Another example is the way in which the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) pointed upwards with his finger, as in the Hadeeth describing his Farewell Pilgrimage, when they said: “We bear witness that you have conveyed the message and fulfilled (your mission) and advised us sincerely.” Then he pointed with his forefinger towards the heavens and then towards the people, and said: “O Allaah, bear witness! O Allaah, bear witness!” [Muslim no. 1218]

Third: Evidences which state Allaah’s Fawqiyya (being above)

Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat Al-An’aam (6:18):

وَهُوَ الْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهِ

“And He is the Irresistible, above His slaves.”

Also, He (Ta’ala) says in Surat An-Nahl (16:50):

يَخَافُونَ رَبَّهُم مِّن فَوْقِهِمْ

“They fear their Lord above them.”

“Fawq” is an adverb that indicates:

1. Highness

2. Status and rank

3. Subdual and predominance (supremacy)

Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, when he mentioned the heavens: “And Allaah is Fawq (above) the Throne.” [Reported by Ibn Khuzaimah, At-Tabari and Al-Bayhaqi in Al-Asma’ was-Sifat]

When the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) praised his Lord in his Du’aa, he said: “And You are the Most High, and there is none above You.” [Muslim no. 2713]

Zaynab (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) used to boast to the other wives of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam): “Your families arranged your marriages, but my marriage was arranged by Allaah from above the seven heavens.” [At-Tirmidhi no. 3213]

Fourth: Evidences which state that Allaah is in (above) the heavens (Fis-Samaa‘)

Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat Al-Mulk (67:16-17):

أَأَمِنتُم مَّن فِي السَّمَاءِ أَن يَخْسِفَ بِكُمُ الْأَرْضَ فَإِذَا هِيَ تَمُورُ

“Do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven (Allaah), will not cause the earth to sink with you, then behold it shakes (as in an earthquake)?”

أَمْ أَمِنتُم مَّن فِي السَّمَاءِ أَن يُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ حَاصِبًا ۖ فَسَتَعْلَمُونَ كَيْفَ نَذِيرِ

“Or do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven (Allaah), will not send against you a violent whirlwind? Then you shall know how (terrible) has been My Warning?”

The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Do you not trust me when I am the trustee of the One Who is in (over) the heaven, and the Revelation comes to me from heaven morning and evening.” [Al-Bukhaari no. 4351 and Muslim no. 1064]

It is narrated that Mu’awiyah ibn al-Hakam as-Sulami beat a slave girl of his for being careless in minding his sheep. Then he regretted it and came to the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) to express his regret and ask for his permission to set her free. The Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) called for the girl and asked her: “Where is Allaah?” She said: “In the heaven.” He asked: “Who am I?” She said: “You are the Messenger of Allaah.” He said: “Set her free, for she is a believer.” [Muslim no. 537]

The meaning of His being in (above) the Heaven

The phrase “Allaah is in the  heaven” does not mean that He is contained by its physical dimensions – Glorified and Exalted be He far above that. What is meant by heaven is highness and being above. Allaah, the Exalted, has described Himself as being the Most High.

Fifth: Evidences that certain things descend from Him

Allaah (Ta’ala) mentions in many verses, that He sends down His Books, such as in Surat Al-An’aam (6:92):

وَهَٰذَا كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مُبَارَكٌ

“And this (the Qur’an) is a blessed Book which We have sent down.”

In Surat Al-Hijr (15:9), Allaah (Ta’ala) says:

إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ

“Verily We, it is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur’an) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption).”

And He (Ta’ala) tells us that the angels descend from Him, as He (Ta’ala) mentions in Surat An-Nahl (16:2):

يُنَزِّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةَ بِالرُّوحِ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ

“He sends down the angels with the Ruh (revelation) by His Command.”

Sixth: Evidences which indicate that certain things ascend to Him, such as good deeds.

He (Ta’ala) says in Surat Faatir (35:10):

إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ وَالْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ يَرْفَعُهُ

“To Him ascend (all) the goodly words, and the righteous deeds exalt it.”

There are also texts which state that the souls of the believers ascend to Him. He (Ta’ala) says in Surat Al-A’raaf (7:40):

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَاسْتَكْبَرُوا عَنْهَا لَا تُفَتَّحُ لَهُمْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ وَلَا يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ حَتَّىٰ يَلِجَ الْجَمَلُ فِي سَمِّ الْخِيَاطِ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُجْرِمِينَ

“Verily, those who belie Our revelations and are too arrogant to uphold them—the doors of heaven will not be opened for them, nor will they enter Paradise, until the camel passes through the eye of a needle. Thus, We recompense the criminals (polytheists, sinners, etc.).”

The verses indicate that the gates of heaven will be opened for the believers, and numerous Ahadeeth explain this.

Al-Baraa’ ibn Aazib (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “…When a believer is about to leave the world and enter the Hereafter, angels with faces white as the sun come down to him from heaven with one of the shrouds of Paradise and some of the perfume of Paradise and sit away from him as far as the eye can see. Then the angel of death comes and sits at his head and says: ‘O good soul, come out to forgiveness and acceptance from Allaah.’ It then comes out easily, like a drop of water from the mouth of a water-skin, and he seizes it, and when he seizes it, they do not leave it in his hand for an instant, but take it and place it in that shroud and that perfume, and from it there comes forth a fragrance like that of the sweetest musk found on the face of the earth. They then take it up and do not bring it past a company of angels without their asking: ‘Who is this good soul?’ to which they reply: ‘So and so, the son of so and so,’ using the best of his names by which people called him on the earth. They then bring him to the lowest heaven and ask that the gate should be opened for him. This is done, and from every heaven its archangels escort him to the next heaven till he is brought to the seventh heaven, and Allaah Who is Great and Glorious says: ‘Record the book of my servant in ‘Illiyun [Surat Al-Mutaffifeen (83:18)] and return him back to earth, for I created mankind from it, I shall return them into it, and from it I shall bring them forth another time.’ His soul is then returned to his body, two angels come to him, and making him sit up, say to him: ‘Who is your Lord?’ He replies: ‘My Lord is Allaah.’ They ask: ‘What is your religion?’ and he replies: ‘My religion is Islam.’ They ask: ‘Who is this man who was sent among you?’ and he replies: ‘He is Allaah’s Messenger.’ They ask: ‘What is your [source of] knowledge?’ and he replies: ‘I have read Allaah’s Book, believed in it and declared it to be true.’ Then a voice calls out from the heaven: ‘My servant has spoken the truth, so spread out a bed from Paradise for him, open a gate for him into Paradise and clothe him from Paradise.’ Then some of its joy and fragrance comes to him, his grave is made spacious for him as far as the eye can see, and a man with a beautiful face, beautiful garments and a sweet odor comes to him and says: ‘Rejoice in what pleases you, for this is your day which you have been promised.’ He asks: ‘Who are you, for your face is a face that brings good?’ He replies: ‘I am your good deeds.’ He then says: ‘My Lord, bring the Last Hour; my Lord, bring the Last Hour so that I may return to my people and my property.‘” [Saheeh Al-Jamie’ no. 1676 and Al-Albaani graded it Saheeh, also see Hadeeth no. 4753, Abu Dawoud and Al-Albaani graded it Saheeh]

Also, the angels ascend to Him (Ta’ala), as is mentioned in Surat Al-Ma’arij (70:4):

تَعْرُجُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ إِلَيْهِ

“The angels and the Ruh (Jibreel /Gabriel) ascend to Him.”

Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat As-Sajdah (32:5):

يُدَبِّرُ الْأَمْرَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ ثُمَّ يَعْرُجُ إِلَيْهِ فِي يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ مِّمَّا تَعُدُّونَ

“He arranges (every) affair from the heavens to the earth, then it (affair) will go up to Him in one Day, the space whereof is a thousand years of your reckoning (i.e. reckoning of our present world’s time).”

These are some of the evidences from the Book and Sunnah that proves Allaah’s Highness (‘Ulow). The Salaf (the righteous predecessors) are all in consensus that Allaah (Ta’ala) is in (above) the heavens by His Essence, since the era of Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) until this day. None of them said that Allaah is not in the heavens or Allaah is on the earth or everywhere with His Essence, or so forth.

Allaah’s Highness is also affirmed in the previous religions and laws. In Surat Ghaafir (40:36), Allaah (Ta’ala) says that Fir’awn (Pharaoh) said to Haman, his minister:

وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ يَا هَامَانُ ابْنِ لِي صَرْحًا لَّعَلِّي أَبْلُغُ الْأَسْبَابَ

“And Fir’awn (Pharaoh) said: ‘O Haman! Build me a tower that I may arrive at the ways.'”

Shaikh As-Sa’dee (Rahimahullaah) said: “Pharaoh said, objecting to Musa, and rejecting his call to acknowledge the Lord of the Worlds, Who rose over His Throne and Who is above His creation: ‘O Haman, build me a tower that is, a great, high structure, the purpose of which is so that I may climb up and have a look at the God of Musa, for verily I think he is a liar in his claim that we have a Lord and that He is above the heavens.'” [Tayseer Al-Kareem]

The impact of belief in Allaah’s Highness

When one knows that Allaah is above everything, he will know Allaah’s Power and Supremacy and Dominance over His creation. Accordingly, one will fear Him and magnify Him. He will have Taqwa of Him and will perform the duties that are enjoined on him and abandon the prohibitions.

Sources

Sharh Al-Aqeedah Al-Wasitiyah by Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen

Belief in Allaah by ‘Umar Al-Ashqar

At-Ta’aliq Al-‘Ula by Mahir Al-Muqaddim