Heavens & Earth
Hierarchy of creation
He is the Uncreated 112:3, outside of whom nothing existed Bukhari 3191
before He began His creation,
the Producer (al-Bari’) who initiated His creation from nothing, thereby giving a beginning to everything 59:24,
the All-Glorious (al-Majiid) who, after initiating His creation, established Himself above the ‘Arch (the throne) 20:5
over the water 11:7,
the All-Knowing (al-Alîm) who is in the presence of the Lawh
(Preserved Tablet) 22:70, 36:12, 57:22, a Book situated with Him, above the throne Bukhari 3194, 7554, Muslim 2751,
after the Qalam
(the pen) 68:1
began recording His foreknowledge and His decree concerning what did not yet exist, but was going to exist Muslim 2653b,
the Most High (al-Alî) who also established Himself above the heavens
after creating them 67:16-17, Bukhari 4351, 7420,
the Majestic (al-Jalîl) whose throne serves as the canopy of the Firdaws
(highest level of Paradise) Ibn Taymiyyah, a roof from where the rivers of Paradise flow Bukhari 7423
and under which the souls of the martyrs find rest until the Day of Judgment 3:169, Muslim 1887,
the Pure (al-Quddus) whose Kursi
(the extension of His throne, the footstool or the pedestal) Ibn Khuzaymah
begins at Firdaws, also encompassing the other heavens and the earth 2:255,
the Appreciative (ash-Shakûr) who rewards the truthful, the pious, and the martyrs with a Firdaws
which is the central element of Paradise Bukhari 7423,
the Just (al-‘Adl) who has destined the rest of Paradise,
extending from the sixth to the first heaven, to the other believers, in accordance with the two categories of paradise described in the surah al-Waqi'a (the Event).
the Capable (al-Qadir) who, below the first heaven, holds back the water that flows through Paradise, water that He had poured through the gates of the firmament
54:11
from the heaven that we see from the earth 21:32, 79:28
to flood the disbelievers of the time of Noah (alayhi salam),
the Originator (al-Badi’) who, in the heaven visible from the earth,
has arranged the sun, the moon, the stars 25:61, 37:6, 41:12
the night and the day 3:27, 7:54, 16:12, forbidding access to the limits of this heaven to every accursed devil 15:17, 37:7, 41:12
and allowing the passage of the firmament only by His sovereign permission 55:33, as He did during the night journey of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa salam), during which he visited the seven heavens 17:1, Muslim 163-168,
the Fashioner (al-Musawwir) who, after creating the earth
on which we live, flattened it 51:48, 88:20
and spread it out in all its breadth 13:3, 50:7, thus giving people the choice to believe in His word or to turn away in favor of another word 77:50.
the Wise (al-Hakim) who fashioned seven (other) earths
65:12, the exact nature of which is known only to Allah, but the texts do not bode well, as they have connotations that are linked to punishment on the Day of Judgment Bukhari 2452, 2453, 2454. And Allah is the Allknowing, the Allwise.
References
Bukhari 3191
Imran ibn Husain (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that people from Yemen came to the prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and asked him: « We have come to ask you about this matter (the beginning of creation). » He said: « (Firstly) there was Allah, and there was nothing other than Him,
and (then) His Throne was over the water. He wrote in the Book everything that (was to) exist and created the heavens and the earth. »
Bukhari 7554
Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) reports: « I heard the messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: "Allah wrote a book before He created the creation (in which He wrote:) 'My Mercy precedes My Anger.' This is written with Him, above His Throne." »
Bukhari 3194, Muslim 2751
Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) stated: « When Allah completed creation, He wrote in His book which is with Him, above the Throne: "My Mercy overcomes My Anger." »
Annotation on Sahihs 3194 and 7554: The fact that His Mercy precedes His Anger and that His Mercy overpowers His Anger is not contradictory. His Mercy preceded His Anger during the creation of the heavens and the earth, and His Mercy overpowers His Anger when the creatures turn back to Him in repentance.
Muslim 2653b
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amro ibn al-‘As (may Allah be pleased with him) said: « I heard the messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: "Allah wrote the destinies of creatures fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth," and he added, "His Throne was over the water." »
Bukhari 4351
According to Abu Sa’id Al Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him), the prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: « Do you not trust me when I am the trusted one of the One above the heavens? »
Annotation: The term "فِي" in Arabic is commonly translated as "in." However, in a religious context, particularly when discussing the heavens and Allah’s position relative to them, this term should be understood as meaning "above," considering the theological implications regarding Allah's transcendence. Several Quranic verses and hadiths show that Allah is elevated above His Throne, which itself is above the heavens.
Bukhari 7420
Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: « If the messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had wished to conceal something (from the Quran), he would have concealed this (verse 33:37). Zainab (may Allah be pleased with her) used to boast to the prophet’s wives saying: "Your families married you, whereas Allah married me from above the seven heavens." »
Annotation: The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) felt embarrassment over marrying Zainab (may Allah be pleased with her) after her divorce from Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him), his adopted son. This marriage aimed to abolish pre-Islamic cultural traditions. Verse 33:37 was revealed to support this marriage, and other verses address the rules regarding familial relations and marriage, emphasizing the supremacy of Allah’s will over social conventions. Zainab, for her part, felt a certain pride in being mentioned in the Quran through Allah’s decree, occasionally displaying a sense of superiority towards the other wives of the Prophet. May Allah not hold her accountable for this attitude on the Day of Judgment, especially since she was a devout believer, diligent in her fasting, and showed great generosity to the needy.
Ibn Taymiyyah, Majmu’ al-Fatawa 52/3
Ibn Taymiyyah, Majmu’ al-Fatawa 52/3
Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah be pleased with him): « Paradise, whose roof is the Throne,
is above the orbits. »
Bukhari 7423
According to Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him), the prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: « When you ask Allah, ask Him for Al-Firdaws, for it is the center [central element] of Paradise and the highest level of Paradise. Right above it is the Throne of the Most Merciful, and from it spring the rivers of Paradise. »
According to Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him), the prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: « When you ask Allah, ask Him for Al-Firdaws, for it is the center [central element] of Paradise and the highest level of Paradise. Right above it is the Throne of the Most Merciful, and from it spring the rivers of Paradise. »
The word "أوسط" (awṣaṭ) in Arabic is normally translated as "middle," "center," or "median." However, in the context of the hadith concerning Al-Firdaws, it is understood to mean "the best" or "the central element" of Paradise in terms of rank or quality.
Muslim 1887
Masruq (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that he asked for clarification from ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) regarding the verse: "And think not of those who are killed in the way of Allah as dead. Nay, they are alive, with their Lord, and they have provision." (Quran 3:169). He then replied: « We asked the prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) about this, and he said: "The souls of the martyrs are inside green birds, which have lanterns suspended from the Throne. They roam around in Paradise wherever they wish,
and then return to these lanterns. Their Lord looks upon them and says: 'Do you have a wish?' They say: 'What can we wish for when we can roam around in Paradise as we please?' He asks this question three times, and when they think they won't stop being asked, they say: 'O Lord, we wish You to return our souls to our bodies so that we may be killed in Your way once more.' When He sees they have no need, they are left (to their joy in Firdaws).’" »
Ibn Khuzaymah
According to Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), reported as his own statement (Mawquf): « The Kursi is the place of the two feet (of Allah),
and no one can comprehend the greatness of the ‘Arsh (the throne of Allah). »
This statement has been authenticated by Al-Hakim, Sheikh Moqbil, Sheikh Ahmed Shakir, and Sheikh Albani. Additionally, it is reported that the companion Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari (may Allah be pleased with him) has uttered the same words concerning the Kursi.
Muslim 163
According to Anas Ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: « The roof of my house in Mecca was opened, and Gabriel descended. He opened my chest, then washed it with the water of Zamzam. Then he came with a golden basin filled with wisdom and faith, and he poured it into my chest, then closed it. Then, he took my hand and elevated me to the sky. When we reached the lowest heaven, Gabriel said to the guardian of the lowest heaven: "Open." He asked: "Who is this?" He replied: "It’s Gabriel." He asked: "Is there anyone with you?" He replied: "Yes, Muhammad is with me." He asked: "Has he been sent for?" He replied: "Yes," so he opened it...
In the first heaven,
we met Prophet Adam (peace be upon him).
In the second heaven,
we met Prophets Jesus and John (peace be upon them).
In the third heaven,
we met Prophet Joseph (peace be upon him).
In the fourth heaven,
we met Prophet Idris (peace be upon him).
In the fifth heaven,
we met Prophet Aaron (peace be upon him).
In the sixth heaven,
we met Prophet Moses (peace be upon him).
And in the seventh heaven,
we met Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him).
At every heaven, after Gabriel announced our arrival, the gates were opened and each prophet greeted me. »
Annotation: The beginning is the original text, and the subsequent part is a condensed version of the hadith in question. For the original texts and additional details, please refer to the following references from Sahih Muslim: 163, 164a/b, 165a/b, 166a/b/c, 167, and 168.
Annotation: The beginning is the original text, and the subsequent part is a condensed version of the hadith in question. For the original texts and additional details, please refer to the following references from Sahih Muslim: 163, 164a/b, 165a/b, 166a/b/c, 167, and 168.
Bukhari 2452
According to Sa'id ibn Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: « He who unjustly takes a span of land, the land will engulf him down to the seven earths. »
Bukhari 2453
According to Abu Salama (may Allah be pleased with him), there was a dispute between him and some people over a piece of land, and when he informed ‘Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), she told him: « Avoid taking land unjustly, for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "He who takes even a span of land unjustly will be encircled by it down to the seven earths." »
Bukhari 2454
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: « He who takes land unjustly will be engulfed along with that land down to the seven earths on the Day of Resurrection. »