His Kursī the heavens and the earth’ [al-Baqarah: 255]; and His saying, ‘And eight will bear the Throne of your Lord above them that Day (17)’ [al-Hāqqah: 17]; and His saying, ‘He directs affairs from heaven to earth; then they ascend to Him in a Day whose measure is a thousand years’ [al-Sajdah: 5]; and His saying, ‘The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him’ [al-Ma‘ārij: 4]; and His saying, ‘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]; and other such verses. If these are subjected to figurative interpretation, all revelation becomes subject to figurative interpretation; and if they are said to be ambiguous, all revelation becomes ambiguous. For all revealed religions are founded upon the affirmation that Allah Most High is in heaven, that the angels descend from Him with revelation to the prophets, that the scriptures descended from heaven, and that it was to heaven that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was taken on his night journey, until he drew near the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary.”

He said: “All the philosophers have agreed that Allah Most High and the angels are in heaven, just as all revealed religions have agreed upon this. The misconception that led those who deny direction to deny it was their belief that affirming direction