the Throne, and His words: “Do you feel secure that He who is in heaven will not cause the earth to swallow you?” He also said: “Or do you feel secure that He who is in heaven will not send against you a storm of stones?” [al-Mulk 17]

He said: “The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in a day whose measure is fifty thousand years” {4} [al-Maʿārij 4]. And He said: “Rather, Allah raised him to Himself” [al-Nisāʾ 158]. He said: “To Him ascends good speech, and righteous deeds raise it.” Relating Pharaoh’s words, He said: “O Hāmān, build me a tower so that I may reach the means of access {36}, the means of access to the heavens, and look upon the God of Moses” [Ghāfir 36–37].

The unbeliever thus directed his search towards the direction Moses had told him of. For this reason, he did not seek Him throughout the length and breadth of the earth, nor descend into its lower layers. The verses we have recited therefore indicate that Allah is in heaven and established over the Throne. If He were everywhere, singling this out would have neither meaning nor benefit.

He said that it has been customary for Muslims, elite and common folk alike, to call upon their Lord in earnest supplication and entreaty, raising their hands towards heaven