Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: Once we were with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when a cloud passed by. He (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: "Do you know what this is?" We said: "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said: "This is the 'anan (rain cloud), and it goes to the far corners of the earth. Allah Almighty drives it even to those of His servants who do not thank Him and do not worship Him. Do you know what is above this?" We said: "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said: "(Above it) is al-Raqi' (the firmament), a restrained wave and a protected roof. Do you know how far it is between you and it?" We said: "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said: "A distance of five hundred years' journey." Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Do you know what is above that?" We said: "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said: "Another heaven. Do you know how far it is between you and it?" We said: "Allah and His Messenger know best." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "A distance of five hundred years' journey." Until he had counted seven heavens. Then he said: "Do you know what is above that?" We said: "Allah and His Messenger know best." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The Throne." He said: "Do you know how far it is between it (i.e. the Throne) and the seventh heaven?" We said: "Allah and His Messenger know best." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Five hundred years' journey." Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Do you know what is beneath you?" We said: "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said: "The earth. Do you know what is beneath it?" We said: "Allah knows best." He said: "Another earth. Do you know how far it is between the two?" We said: "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said: "Seven hundred years' journey." Until he had counted seven earths. Then he said: "By Allah! If you were to let down a rope, it would descend." Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) recited this verse: "He is the First and the Last, the Manifest and the Hidden, and He has knowledge of everything."
(Allamah al-Haythami says:) I say: Al-Tirmidhi recorded this narration, but he recorded these words: "Between every two earths is a distance of five hundred years' journey", whereas here it is mentioned that the distance is seven hundred years' journey. Likewise, al-Tirmidhi recorded these words: "If you were to let down a rope, it would descend upon Allah", and here the Name of Majesty is not mentioned.
Imam Ahmad recorded it; its chain contains a narrator, al-Hakam bin Abd al-Malik, who is matruk al-hadith (abandoned in hadith).
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب الإيمان / 283
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسناده ضعیف
Hadith Takhrij«اخرجه الامام احمد فى مسنده 370/2 اورده المؤلف فى زوائد المسند 3325 ، أخرجه سنن الترمذي برقم: 3298، وأخرجه مسند أحمد برقم: 8610»