like what is contained within a celestial sphere in relation to that sphere. In relation to Him, they are smaller than a chickpea, a peppercorn, or the like in the hand of one of us. If a chickpea or peppercorn—or indeed a dirham, a dinar, a ball that children play with, or something similar—is in a person’s hand, beneath him, or in some comparable position, would any rational person, recognizing that the person is above it and encompasses it, imagine that the person must be like a celestial sphere? Allah—to whom belongs the highest description—is far too great for such a notion to be entertained about Him. Only such people imagine this of Him:

“They have not appraised Allah with true appraisal, while the earth entirely will be within His grip on the Day of Resurrection, and the heavens will be folded in His right hand. Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him.” [Al-Zumar: 67]

Likewise, their second belief—that whatever is a celestial sphere may properly be turned towards from all six directions—is erroneous by the agreement of rational people versed in astronomy, and of rational people who know that a firm intention necessarily leads to carrying out what is intended insofar as one is able.

It has thus become clear that each of the two premises is erroneous according to both reason and revelation, and that hearts must turn towards Him only upwards, not in any other direction, under every conceivable assumption: whether the Throne is the ninth celestial sphere or something else; whether it surrounds the celestial sphere and is spherical in shape, or is above it without being spherical; and whether the Creator, glory be to Him, encompasses created things as He encompasses them in His grasp, or is above them in the upward direction from us, beyond our heads, rather than in the opposite direction.

Thus, whatever assumption is made, both premises of the question are false,