Ahmad ibn Manī‘ narrated to us: Abū Mu‘āwiyah narrated to us, from Shabīb ibn Shaybah, from al-Hasan:

“Imrān ibn Husayn reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to his father, ‘Husayn, how many gods do you worship today?’
He replied, ‘Seven: six on earth and one in heaven.’
He asked, ‘Which of them do you turn to in hope and fear?’
He replied, ‘The one in heaven.’”

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not rebuke this disbeliever for recognizing that the God of all worlds is in heaven, as the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, himself stated. Thus, Husayn al-Khuzā‘ī, despite his disbelief at that time, knew more about Allah, the Majestic, the Most Exalted, than al-Marīsī and his companions, despite their professed adherence to Islam. For he distinguished between the Creator God in heaven and the created gods and idols on earth.

Muslims and disbelievers alike have agreed that Allah is in heaven, affirming a limit for Him on that basis—all except the misguided al-Marīsī and his companions. Even children who have not yet reached puberty know Him in this way: when something troubles a child, he raises his hand to his Lord, calling upon Him in heaven, not elsewhere. Everyone knows Allah and His place better than the Jahmiyyah do.