of goodness, and righteous deeds raise them’ [Fātir: 10].

He also said:

‘Rather, Allah raised him to Himself’ [al-Nisā’: 158].

And He said:

‘He directs affairs from heaven to earth; then they ascend to Him’ [al-Sajda: 5].

Allah Most High said, recounting Pharaoh’s words:

‘O Hāmān, build me a tower so that I may reach the ways * the ways to the heavens, and look upon the God of Moses. Indeed, I think he is a liar’ [Ghāfir: 36–37].

Pharaoh accused Moses of lying when he said that Allah, mighty and majestic, is above the heavens.

Allah, mighty and majestic, said:

‘Do you feel secure that He who is in heaven will not cause the earth to swallow you?’ [al-Mulk: 16].

The Throne is above the heavens. Since the Throne is above the heavens, and everything that is above is called heaven, the Throne is the highest of the heavens. When He says, ‘Do you feel secure from Him who is in heaven?’, He does not mean the whole of heaven; rather, He means the Throne, which is the highest of