from His creation, veiling Himself from them with veils. Exalted is Allah far above what the wrongdoers say!

‘Grave is the word that comes out of their mouths; they speak nothing but a lie.’”

He also cited reports concerning the veils.

Then, in the chapter on belief in the descent, he said:

“Among the beliefs of Ahl al-Sunnah is that Allah descends to the lowest heaven. They believe in this without assigning it any limit.”

He cited the hadith through Mālik and others, until he said:

“Wahb informed me, from Ibn Waddāh, from al-Zuhrī, from Ibn ‘Abbād, who said: ‘The scholars whom I met—Mālik, Sufyān, Fudayl ibn ‘Iyād, ‘Īsā ibn al-Mubārak, and Wakī‘—used to say: “The descent is real.”’

“Ibn Waddāh said: ‘I asked Yūsuf ibn ‘Adī about the descent. He said: “Yes, I believe in it without assigning it any limit.” I also asked Ibn Ma‘īn about it, and he said: “Yes, I affirm it without assigning it any limit.”’”

Muhammad said:

“This hadith makes clear that Allah, Mighty and Majestic, is upon the Throne in heaven, not on earth. This is also clear in Allah’s Book and in numerous hadiths from the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Allah Most High says:

‘He directs affairs from heaven to earth; then they ascend to Him.’

“And Allah Most High says:

‘Do you feel secure that He who is in heaven will not cause the earth to swallow you, and suddenly it begins to quake?’

‘Or do you feel secure that He who is in heaven will not send against you a storm of stones?’

“And Allah Most High says:

‘To Him ascends good speech, and righteous deeds raise it.’

“And He says:

‘He is the Subduer, above His servants.’

“And Allah Most High says:

‘O Jesus, I will take you and raise you to Myself.’

“And He says:

‘Rather, Allah raised him to Himself.’”

He also cited, through Mālik, the Prophet’s words to the slave girl, may Allah bless him and grant him peace: “Where is Allah?