Allah Almighty Is Free from Place and Direction: Essential Islamic Beliefs

How is it to say 'The One who provides is sitting above'?

Question:

What is the ruling on saying 'The One who provides is sitting above' or 'The One who does justice is sitting above'?

Answer:

This is a statement of disbelief, because in this statement, a direction and a place have been affirmed for Allah Almighty. Sadr-ush-Shari'ah, Badr-ut-Tareeqah, Allamah Maulana Mufti Amjad Ali A'zami رَحْمَةُاللّٰہِعَلَیْہِ writes, 'To affirm a place for Allah Almighty is disbelief, because He is free from place. Saying 'God is above and we are below' is a statement of disbelief.'

(Bahar-e-Shari'at, Part 9, pp. 180, Fatawa Qazi Khan, vol. 4, pp. 470)

Teach children to say 'Allah'

Question:

Some people give their children the mindset that Allah is above. Consequently, when such children are lovingly asked, 'Where is Allah?', they immediately point to the sky. What is the ruling on teaching them in this way?

Answer:

Only someone who himself thinks that, Allah forbid, Allah is above, or that the place in which He resides is above, would teach his children this. Both of these concepts (believing that Allah is above or believing that He resides in a place) are disbelief. Allah Almighty is free from direction and place. Do not teach children to point (in the way that was mentioned in the question); rather, as soon as they are able to speak, strive to make the word 'Allah' the first word that comes out of their tongue. After this, teach them to say:

لَآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَّسُوْلُ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

Furthermore, also teach them to say 'Allah is closer than even our souls.' Allah Almighty says in verse 16 of Surah Qaaf,

وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ

And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein.

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran) (Part 26, Surah Qaaf, Verse 16)]

Sadr-ul-Afaadil, 'Allamah Maulana Na'eemuddin Muradabadi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰہِ عَلَیْہِ states, 'This is an expression of Allah's all-encompassing knowledge, i.e. (it is as though Allah is saying) 'We know the state of a person more than he knows himself.' 'Wareed' is the vein in the neck through which blood flows and then goes on to reach every part of the body. In other words, the meaning is that the various parts of a human being may be hidden from each other, but nothing is hidden from Allah Almighty.'

(Khaza'in-ul-Irfan, pp. 826)

How should deaf and mute people refer to Allah in sign language?

Question:

Nowadays, those who provide training to deaf and mute people teach them to point to the sky with their finger to refer to Allah. To what extent is this permissible?

Answer:

This method is completely wrong. Through this, those vulnerable people would develop the concept in their minds that Allah is above or that the place in which He resides is above. Both of these concepts (believing that Allah is above or believing that He resides in a place) are disbelief. Allah Almighty is free from direction and place. Instead of teaching them to point to the sky, they should be taught to form the word اللّٰه with their hand. The method of doing this is very simple; spread out the fingers of the right hand slightly and then raise the top of the thumb to join it to the side of the middle part of the index finger. Now if you look towards the back of your right hand, you will perceive that it has formed the word اللّٰه. If you follow the same method with your left hand and look towards your left palm, you will also see the word اللّٰه formed.

People learn statements of disbelief from films

Dear Islamic brothers! Statements affirming place and direction for Allah Almighty are becoming quite widespread amongst people, in particular, saying 'ooper wala' (the one above) is extremely common. Most people have learned this statement from watching films and dramas. Since not every Muslim can identify statements of disbelief, countless Muslims would commit these mistakes on a daily basis. All those who have uttered this statement even once in their lifetime should repent of this and recite the Kalimah anew (i.e. renew their faith), and renew their Nikah [i.e. marriage] as well if they are married. If only Muslims would develop the fear of a bad end in their hearts, completely abstain from films, dramas and songs, and attain the knowledge of the essentials of religion. Alas! Death hovers over us at all times. Through illnesses, explosions, riots, floods, storms, earthquakes, fires, and high speed car accidents, death even snatches away the lives of strong youths suddenly, and all merriments and flairs are mixed in the sand.

Jal gaye parwanay sham'ayn pani pani ho gaeyn
Mayra tayra zikr ho kar anjuman mayn reh gaya

How is it to say 'Allah is watching from the sky'?

Question:

Is it permissible or not to say the following statement to scare someone who carries out evil sightedness, 'Allah is watching from the sky'?

Answer:

It is impermissible as it is a statement of disbelief. It is stated on page 259 of volume 2 of Fatawa Aalamgiri, 'It is disbelief to say 'Allah is watching from the sky or from the 'Arsh (Divine Throne)'.' ('Aalamgiri, vol. 2, pp. 259) Instead, the one committing the sin of evil sightedness or any other sin should be made to realise that Allah Almighty is watching, just as it is stated in verse 14 of Surah Al-'Alaq:

اَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَرٰى ۝

Did he not know that Allah is watching (him)?

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 30, Surah Al-Alaq, Verse 14)

An act better than a thousand Hajj

Dear Islamic brothers! If only this concept would remain truly embedded in our minds at all times that Allah Almighty is watching us. If we genuinely achieve the pinnacle of this concept, then sins would never occur at all. Sayyiduna Imam Abul Qasim Qushayri رَحْمَةُ اللّٰہِ عَلَیْہِ states, 'Sayyiduna Hasri رَحْمَةُاللّٰہِعَلَیْہِ would say, 'One sitting is better than a thousand Hajj.' This one sitting refers to gathering your full attention and imagining that you are present in the court of Allah Almighty (i.e. that Allah Almighty is watching you).

(Al-Risala-tul-Qushayriyyah, pp. 321)

May Allah Almighty have mercy upon him and forgive us for his sake.

اٰمِيْن بِجَاهِ النَّبِيِّ الْأَمِيْن صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

A Kohl-stick¹ of fire will be passed through the eyes!

If only we would develop the habit of protecting the gaze! Without any doubt, the punishment for evil sightedness will be unbearable. 'Allamah Ibn Jauzi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰہِ عَلَیْہِ relates, 'Whoever did not protect his eyes from looking at non-Mahrams², on the Day of Judgement, a Kohl-stick of fire will be passed through his eyes.'

(Bahar-ud-Dumu', pp. 171 - 172)

A beautiful tip for controlling the gaze

Hujjat-tul-Islam, Sayyiduna Imam Muhammad Ghazali رَحْمَةُ اللّٰہِ عَلَیْہِ relates, 'Someone once asked Sayyiduna Junayd Baghdadi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰہِ عَلَیْہِ, 'Ya Sayyidi! I want to develop the habit of keeping my gaze lowered. Give me some advice that will help me.' He said, 'Always remember that before my gaze falls on someone else, a Watcher (i.e. Allah Almighty) is watching me.'

(Ihya-ul-'Uloom, vol. 5, pp. 129)

May Allah Almighty have mercy upon him and forgive us for his sake.

اٰمِيْن بِجَاهِ النَّبِيِّ الْأَمِيْن صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

¹ A small, thin metal stick used to apply Kohl (a traditional eye cosmetic) to the eyes, similar to an eyeliner pencil.
² Those men or women whom marriage is not forbidden permanently.