“Then He rose over the Throne—the Most Merciful; so ask about Him one well informed (59)” [al-Furqān: 59].’

They said: ‘He is beneath the seventh earth just as He is upon the Throne. He is upon the Throne, in the heavens, on earth, and everywhere. No place is devoid of Him, nor is He in one place to the exclusion of another.’ They recited verses from the Quran:

“And He is Allah in the heavens and on earth” [al-An‘ām: 3].

We said: ‘Muslims know of many places in which there is nothing of Allah’s majesty.’

They asked: ‘Which places?’

We said: ‘Your entrails, the insides of pigs, latrines, and filthy places—there is nothing in them of the majesty of the Lord, glorified be He. He has told us that He is in heaven. He, glorified be He, said:

“Do you feel secure that He who is in heaven will not cause the earth to swallow you, and suddenly it would sway (16)? Or do you feel secure that He who is in heaven will not send against you a storm of stones?” [al-Mulk: 16–17].

And He said:

“To Him ascends good speech, and righteous deeds raise it” [Fātir: 10].

And He said:

“To Him belong all those in the heavens and the earth, and those in His presence” [al-Anbiyā’: 19].

And He said:

“Indeed, I will take you and raise you to Myself” [Āl ‘Imrān: 55].

And He said:

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

And He said:

“They fear their Lord above them” [al-Nahl: 50].

And He said:

“The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him” [al-Ma‘ārij: 4].

And He said:

“He is the Subduer above His servants, and He is