Qatādah likewise mentioned this hadith in his commentary. It makes clear that “the Inward” does not mean nearness, nor does the word itself indicate that. Moreover, nearness is not spoken of in the Book and Sunnah with the same universal scope as being with. Nor, in Arabic and the Quran, does nearness have the same meaning as being with. When someone says, “This is with that,” he means togetherness, association, and companionship. This does not indicate that one of the two entities is near the other or intermingled with it.

Thus, when it is said, “He is with them,” this indicates that His knowledge, power, and sovereignty encompass them, while He is nevertheless above His Throne, as the Quran and Sunnah inform us. The Most High says:

“He is the One who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then rose over the Throne. He knows what penetrates into the earth and what emerges from it, what descends from heaven and what ascends into it. And He is with you wherever you are.”

He, glory be to Him, thus informs us that, despite being high above His Throne, He knows everything. His being on high does not prevent Him from knowing all things. Likewise, in the hadith of the mountain goats, recorded in the Sunan, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“And Allah is above His Throne, and He knows your circumstances.”

No comparable statement concerning nearness has been transmitted in which He says that He is above His Throne and near to everything. Rather, He says:

“Indeed, Allah’s mercy is near to those who do good.”

And He says:

“When My servants ask you about Me, I am indeed near. I answer the call of the supplicant when he calls upon Me.”

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“You are not calling upon one who is deaf or absent. The One upon whom you call is All-Hearing, Near.”

Ibn Abī Hātim said: My father narrated to us: Yahyā ibn al-Mughīrah narrated to us: Jarīr narrated to us, from Abadah ibn