the third point:

We say: either the Throne is spherical like the celestial spheres and encompasses them, or it is above them without being spherical. If the former is the case, it is well known—and agreed upon by those knowledgeable in this matter—that the celestial spheres are round and spherical in shape; that the upward direction is towards the outer surface, which is convex; and that the downward direction is towards the centre. The celestial spheres have only two directions: up and down.

The six directions, however, pertain to a living creature, which has six sides. It faces one direction, which is therefore in front of it, and leaves another behind, which is therefore behind it. One direction is to its right, another to its left, another towards its head, and another towards its feet. These six directions have no fixed character in themselves; rather, they depend on relative position and relation. Thus, what is to the right of one creature may be to the left of another; what is in front of one may be behind another; and what is above one may be below another.

The upward and downward directions of the celestial spheres, however, do not change: the outer surface is above, and the centre is below. This is so even though the face of the earth, which Allah has laid out for His creatures and made firm with mountains, is where people, beasts, trees, plants, mountains, and flowing rivers are found. As for the other side of the earth, the sea surrounds it, and there are no human beings there, nor anything associated with them. Were anyone assumed to be there, they would be on the surface of the earth and would not be