Chapters 11 and 12: Proof that Allāh is Above the Sky and Over the Throne: By Imām Abu Ismā’īl Al-Harawī (d. 481H)

The following are chapters from Shaikhul-Islām Abu Ismā`īl Al-Harawī’s: “The Book Of Forty Narrations In The Evidences Of Tawhīd” (Born 396H and died 481H -rahimahullāh)

This compilation is an amazing series of narrations in the establishment of the Tawhīd of Allāh, the Mighty and Majestic, especially in the arena of the Names and Attributes that has left the Jahmiyyah and their offspring such as the Ashā`irah and Māturīdīs dumbstruck just as Allāh has said:

وَقُلْ جَاءَ الْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ الْبَاطِلُ ۚ إِنَّ الْبَاطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقًا

“And say: ‘The Truth has come and falsehood has been vanquished. Surely! Falsehood is ever bound to be wiped out.’” (Al-Israa 17:81)

Chapter 11: Proof that Allāh, the Most High, is above the Skies 

Abu Ismā`īl Al-Harawī (481H) with his chain of narration to Ibn ‘Abbās (radiyallāhu `anhumā): A man came to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) with a black servant girl and said to him: “Will you fulfil this for me?” The Messenger (ﷺ) said to her: “Where is Allāh?” So she pointed with her hand to the sky. So He asked her: “Who am I?” She said: “You are Allah’s Messenger.” He said: “Free here for indeed she is a believer.”

Shaikh al-Islam Abu Ismā’īl Abdullāh Ibn Muhammad al-Ansārī (rahimahullāh) said: The hadeeth of Mu`āwiyah Ibn Hakam [1] is more authentic in its chain of narration than this.

[1] Reported by Muslim, 1/381, no. 33 and others – see the attached scan for the Arabic text and complete referencing by Shaikh `Alī Nāsir Al-Faqīhī, hafidhahullāh.

NOTE:

The hadeeth of Mu`āwiyah Ibn Hakam (radiyallāhu `anhu) reported by Muslim is as follows:

وَكَانَتْ لِي جَارِيَةٌ تَرْعَى غَنَمًا لِي قِبَلَ أُحُدٍ وَالْجَوَّانِيَّةِ فَاطَّلَعْتُ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ فَإِذَا الذِّيبُ قَدْ ذَهَبَ بِشَاةٍ مِنْ غَنَمِهَا وَأَنَا رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي آدَمَ آسَفُ كَمَا يَأْسَفُونَ لَكِنِّي صَكَكْتُهَا صَكَّةً فَأَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَعَظَّمَ ذَلِكَ عَلَىَّ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَفَلاَ أُعْتِقُهَا قَالَ ‏”‏ ائْتِنِي بِهَا ‏”‏ ‏.‏ فَأَتَيْتُهُ بِهَا فَقَالَ لَهَا ‏”‏ أَيْنَ اللَّهُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَتْ فِي السَّمَاءِ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ مَنْ أَنَا ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَتْ أَنْتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ أَعْتِقْهَا فَإِنَّهَا مُؤْمِنَةٌ ‏”

“I had a maid-servant who tended goats by the side of Uhud and Jawwaniyyah. One day I happened to pass that way and found that a wolf had carried a goat from her flock. I am a man from the children of Adam. I feel as others feel of sorrow at a loss, so I slapped her with a slap. Then I came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and felt what I did was grievous so I said: “O Messenger of Allah, should I not free her?” He said: “Bring her to me.” So I brought her to him. He said to her: “Where is Allah?” She said: “Above the sky.” He said: “Who am I?” She said: “You are the Messenger of Allah.” He said: “Free her for she is a believing woman.”

Chapter 12: Proof that Allāh, the Mighty and Majestic, is over the Throne 

Abu Ismā`īl Al-Harawī (481H) with his chain of narration to Abu Hurairah (radiyallāhu `anhu) from the Prophet (ﷺ) that he said: “When Allāh, the Mighty and Majestic, had completed the creation, He wrote in a book and that is with Him over His throne: ((Indeed My mercy have overcome My anger)).”

(Reported by Bukhārī, Fat.hul-Bārī 6/287, no. 3194 and other places in Bukhārī, also Ahmad and Ibn Khuzaymah in at-Tawheed p.58 – see the attached scan for the Arabic text and complete referencing)

NOTE:

One of the wordings in Bukhārī (no. 7453) has:

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏‏ لَمَّا قَضَى اللَّهُ الْخَلْقَ كَتَبَ عِنْدَهُ فَوْقَ عَرْشِهِ، إِنَّ رَحْمَتِي سَبَقَتْ غَضَبِي ‏

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “When Allah completed the creation, He wrote with Him above* His Throne: ((My mercy has preceded My anger)).”

* Arabic: fawqa

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