Question:
Respected Sheikh Zubair Ali Zai, “Is it correct to say that Allah Almighty is present everywhere in light of Surah Al-Hadid, verse 4? If not, what is the evidence against it?” (Abdul Mateen, Model Town, Lahore)
Answer:
Allah Almighty states:
"He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six days; then He established Himself on the Throne. He knows what penetrates into the earth and what emerges from it and what descends from the heaven and what ascends into it. And He is with you wherever you may be. And Allah, of what you do, is Seeing."
(Surah Al-Hadid: 4, Al-Kitab/Dr. Muhammad Usman p. 324)
Regarding the interpretation of the phrase وَ هُوَ مَعَكُمۡ أَیۡنَ مَا كُنتُمۡ, the ancient Quran commentator, Imam Muhammad bin Jarir bin Yazid al-Tabari (d. 310 AH), states:
"And He is a witness over you, O people, wherever you may be. He knows you, your deeds, your movements, and your resting places. He is above His Throne, over His seven heavens."
(Tafsir al-Tabari vol. 27 p. 125)
In a similar context, the Quran commentator Dhahak bin Muzahim al-Hilali al-Khurasani (d. 106 AH) says:
"He is above the Throne, and His knowledge is with them wherever they may be."
(Tafsir al-Tabari vol. 28 p. 10, sanad sahih)
Imam Abu Umar Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Abdullah al-Talamanki al-Andalusi (d. 429 AH) mentions:
"The consensus among the Ahl al-Sunnah Muslims is that the meaning of وَ هُوَ مَعَكُمۡ أَیۡنَ مَا كُنتُمۡ (Al-Hadid: 4) and similar verses is that 'it is His knowledge that is with them, and that Allah is above the heavens, upon His Throne as He wills.'"
(Sharh Hadith al-Nuzul by Ibn Taymiyyah pp. 144-145)
This consensus clarifies that deriving the notion from this verse that "Allah is present everywhere with His essence" is incorrect, baseless, and rejected due to its opposition to the consensus.
The word "یَعْلَمُ" (He knows) in the verse clearly indicates that the companionship referred to here is in terms of His knowledge and power. For details, refer to our respected teacher Sheikh Badiuddin Rashidi’s book "Tawhid Khalis" (p. 277). Harith bin Asad al-Muhasibi (d. 243 AH) states:
"It is not permissible to say...that Allah is on the earth."
(Fahm al-Quran wa Ma'anihi, section four, chapter on what cannot be abrogated)
Hafiz Ibn al-Jawzi mentions:
"The sect of Jahmiyyah considers Allah to be present everywhere."
(Talbis Iblis p. 30, Raqim al-Huruf’s book: Hukm al-Salat Khalfa al-Mubtadi p. 19)
Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani states:
"It is not permissible to say that He (Allah) is in every place; rather, it should be said that He is above the Throne in the heaven."
(Ghuniyat al-Talibin vol. 1 p. 100)
Respected Sheikh Zubair Ali Zai, “Is it correct to say that Allah Almighty is present everywhere in light of Surah Al-Hadid, verse 4? If not, what is the evidence against it?” (Abdul Mateen, Model Town, Lahore)
Answer:
Allah Almighty states:
"He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six days; then He established Himself on the Throne. He knows what penetrates into the earth and what emerges from it and what descends from the heaven and what ascends into it. And He is with you wherever you may be. And Allah, of what you do, is Seeing."
(Surah Al-Hadid: 4, Al-Kitab/Dr. Muhammad Usman p. 324)
Regarding the interpretation of the phrase وَ هُوَ مَعَكُمۡ أَیۡنَ مَا كُنتُمۡ, the ancient Quran commentator, Imam Muhammad bin Jarir bin Yazid al-Tabari (d. 310 AH), states:
"And He is a witness over you, O people, wherever you may be. He knows you, your deeds, your movements, and your resting places. He is above His Throne, over His seven heavens."
(Tafsir al-Tabari vol. 27 p. 125)
In a similar context, the Quran commentator Dhahak bin Muzahim al-Hilali al-Khurasani (d. 106 AH) says:
"He is above the Throne, and His knowledge is with them wherever they may be."
(Tafsir al-Tabari vol. 28 p. 10, sanad sahih)
Imam Abu Umar Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Abdullah al-Talamanki al-Andalusi (d. 429 AH) mentions:
"The consensus among the Ahl al-Sunnah Muslims is that the meaning of وَ هُوَ مَعَكُمۡ أَیۡنَ مَا كُنتُمۡ (Al-Hadid: 4) and similar verses is that 'it is His knowledge that is with them, and that Allah is above the heavens, upon His Throne as He wills.'"
(Sharh Hadith al-Nuzul by Ibn Taymiyyah pp. 144-145)
This consensus clarifies that deriving the notion from this verse that "Allah is present everywhere with His essence" is incorrect, baseless, and rejected due to its opposition to the consensus.
The word "یَعْلَمُ" (He knows) in the verse clearly indicates that the companionship referred to here is in terms of His knowledge and power. For details, refer to our respected teacher Sheikh Badiuddin Rashidi’s book "Tawhid Khalis" (p. 277). Harith bin Asad al-Muhasibi (d. 243 AH) states:
"It is not permissible to say...that Allah is on the earth."
(Fahm al-Quran wa Ma'anihi, section four, chapter on what cannot be abrogated)
Hafiz Ibn al-Jawzi mentions:
"The sect of Jahmiyyah considers Allah to be present everywhere."
(Talbis Iblis p. 30, Raqim al-Huruf’s book: Hukm al-Salat Khalfa al-Mubtadi p. 19)
Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani states:
"It is not permissible to say that He (Allah) is in every place; rather, it should be said that He is above the Throne in the heaven."
(Ghuniyat al-Talibin vol. 1 p. 100)