earth; then it ascends to Him.” [al-Sajdah 5]

And Pharaoh said:

“O Hāmān, build me a lofty tower so that I may reach the ways {36}—the ways to the heavens—and look upon the God of Moses, though I certainly think him a liar.” [Ghāfir 36–37]

Thus he declared Moses a liar for saying that Allah is above the heavens. And He, Glorified, said:

“Do you feel secure that He who is in heaven will not cause the earth to swallow you, and suddenly it would quake?” {16} [al-Mulk 16]

Above the heavens is the Throne. Since the Throne is above the heavens, He said, “Do you feel secure that He who is in heaven” [al-Mulk 16], because He has risen over the Throne, which is above the heavens. Everything that is above is called heaven, and the Throne is the highest of the heavens.

When He says, “Do you feel secure that He who is in heaven” [al-Mulk 16], He does not mean the whole of heaven by the word “heaven.” Rather, He means the Throne, which is the highest of the heavens. Do you not see that Allah, Mighty and Majestic, mentioned the heavens and said:

“And made the moon a light within them.” [Nūh 16]

He did not mean that the moon fills them