associate with Him.’ (84) But their faith could not benefit them once they had seen Our punishment. This is Allah’s established way with His servants, and then and there the disbelievers were lost.” (85) [Ghāfir 83–85]
Allah Most High says:
“None dispute concerning Allah’s signs except those who disbelieve, so do not be deceived by their movement throughout the land. (4) Before them, the people of Noah denied the truth, as did the factions after them. Every nation plotted against its messenger to seize him, and they argued with falsehood to refute the truth. So I seized them—and how severe was My punishment!” (5) [Ghāfir 4–5]
Allah Most High also says:
“Thus We have appointed for every prophet enemies from among the criminals. But sufficient is your Lord as a guide and helper.” (31) [al-Furqān 31]
He also says:
“Thus We have appointed for every prophet enemies—devils from humankind and jinn—whispering to one another embellished speech in order to deceive.” [al-An‘ām 112]
Allah Most High says:
“Leave Me to deal with the one I created alone, (11) and granted abundant wealth, (12) and sons present by his side, (13) and made his life smooth and easy. (14) Yet he desires that I give him more. (15) No! He has stubbornly opposed Our signs. (16) I will burden him with an arduous ascent. (17) Indeed, he thought and calculated. (18) May he be destroyed—how he calculated! (19) Again, may he be destroyed—how he calculated! (20) Then he considered, (21) then frowned and scowled, (22) then turned away in arrogance, (23) and said, ‘This is nothing but magic handed down. (24) This is nothing but the word of a human being.’ (25) I will cast him into Saqar.” (26) [al-Muddaththir 11–26]
This is a vast subject, and this is not the place to address it. We have discussed much of what relates to it elsewhere. We have drawn attention to it here only because discussion of place is connected to discussion of time, and discussion of His being above the world is connected to His being before the world. As He, glorified is He, says:
“He is the First and the Last, the Most High and the Most Near, and He has knowledge of all things.” (3) [al-Hadīd 3]
The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
“You are the First, and there is nothing before You. You are the Last, and there is nothing after You. You are the Most High, and there is nothing above You. You are the Most Near, and there is nothing nearer than You.”