Darimi

(Explanation of Hadiths 1516 to 1524)

From all these authentic hadiths, it is established that Allah Ta'ala descends to the sky of the world and calls out, which is correct and established without modality (bi-la takyeef) or resemblance (bi-la tamtheel). Intellect has no role in this, nor is it permissible to liken Him to His creation.

This is the creed of the Ahl al-Hadith and the pious predecessors (salaf saliheen), just as their belief has always been that Allah Ta'ala is established above the Throne (istiwa ‘ala al-‘arsh), and His mercy and knowledge encompass the entire universe.

The mention of Allah Ta'ala’s descent to the sky of the world is established from 7 noble verses and 15 authentic blessed hadiths. Therefore, to interpret this as meaning that Allah’s mercy descends, or that an angel descends, is completely baseless and false. The details of this can be seen in the book of Allamah Ibn Taymiyyah rahimahullah, «نزول الرّب إلى السماء الدنيا». In some narrations, it is mentioned that this occurs at the beginning of the night, in some in the middle of the night, and in some hadiths, in the last third of the night. Thus, it is possible that sometimes the descent of His Majesty (jalla shanuhu) occurs in the first third of the night, sometimes in the middle, and sometimes in the last third.

For this reason, sometimes the Beloved of Allah, Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, would perform witr in the first part, sometimes in the middle, and sometimes in the last third of the night. And from the last third, the virtue of performing tahajjud before Fajr is known, because the blessed descent of the Lord of Majesty occurs at this hour to the sky of the world.

(May Allah Ta'ala grant us the ability to do so, Ameen.)