Statements of the Salaf on where Allah is

Wahb bin Jareer said:

‘”The Jahmiyyah are heretics, they think that He has not risen over His Throne.’” (al-Bukhaaree, ‘Khalq Af’aal Ebaad’ 6)

Ibn al-Mubaarak said:
“We do not say as the Jahmiyyah say that Allaah is on the earth, rather He has risen over His Throne.’”

And it was said to him, ‘how should we know our Lord?’ He said “‘above the Heavens, over/upon (‘alaa) His Throne.’” (al-Bukhaaree, ‘Khalq Af’aal Ebaad’ 13)

Sufyaan ath-Thawree was asked about the verse,

“”And He is with you wheresoever you are”.“ He said: “In His Knowledge.’” (al-Bukhaaree, ‘Khalq Af’aal Ebaad’ 29)

Sadqa said, ‘I heard Sulaymaan at-Taimee saying:

‘”If I were asked, “Where is Allah?”

I would say, “Above (fee) the heaven”.

And if it said, “Where was the Throne before the Heaven?” I would say, “Over the water.”

And if it is said, “Where was the Throne before the water?” I would say, “I do not know.”’” (al-Bukhaaree, ‘Khalq Af’aal Ebaad’ 64)

[This shows that the question ‘Where is Allah’ was considered allowed by the Salaf, and how could it be otherwise when the Messenger of Allah (sallAllaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) himself asked the slave girl, “Where is Allah” as is established firmly in the saheeh of Muslim. So do not be misguided by the Jahmiyyah who try to declare the above hadeeth of Muslim as weak or distort its inherent meaning, and make out that the above question is a bid’ah, having only the classical Jahmiyyah as their precedents.]

And al-Bukhaaree said:

“‘And that (i.e. his answer) was because of the saying of Allah,

“And they cannot encompass anything of His Knowledge except what He wills.”

I.e. except what He explains.’”

Muhammad bin Yusuf said:

“(One of the teachers of Bukhaaree), ‘The one who says that Allah is not over (‘alaa) His Throne is a kafir. And the one who thinks that Allah did not speak to Musa is a kafir.’” (al-Bukhaaree, ‘Khalq Af’aal Ebaad’ 66)

Ibn Mas’ud (radhiAllaahu ‘anhu) said:
“About His saying, “Then He rose over His Throne”,

‘The Throne is over the water, and Allah is above (fawqa) the Throne, and He knows what you are upon.’” (al-Bukhaaree, ‘Khalq Af’aal Ebaad’ 103)

Abdullah bin Abbas (radhiAllahu’ anhu) said:

“‘Verily Allah was above His Throne before He created anything, then He created the creation and decreed what was to exist until the Day of Judgement.’” (‘Sharh Usul I’tiqaad Ahlus Sunnah’ of al-Laalikaaee “660)

Bashr bin Umar said:

“‘I heard more then one of the Mufassir [scholar of Tafsir] say about the verse, ’”The Most Merciful istawaa upon the Throne’” – istiwaa means rose above.’” (‘Sharh Usul I’tiqaad Ahlus Sunnah’ of al-Laalikaaee “662)

Rabee’ (one of the teachers of Maalik) was asked about the verse, “The Most Merciful rose over His Throne”

– ‘How did He rise?’ He replied:

“Al-istiwaa (rising) is known, and the how is not comprehensible, and from Allah is the message, and upon the Messenger is the preaching, and upon us is believing.’” (‘Sharh Usul I’tiqaad Ahlus Sunnah’ of al-Laalikaaee “665)

Maqaatil bin Huyaan said about His saying:

““And there is no secret discourse of 3 people except He is the fourth, or of 5 people and He is the sixth.”

‘He is above His Throne, and nothing is hidden from His knowledge.’” (‘Sharh Usul I’tiqaad Ahlus Sunnah’ of al-Laalikaaee “670)

Imam Ahmad (rahimahullah) was asked:

“‘Allah is above the seventh heaven, above His Throne, distinct from his creation, and His Power and Knowledge are in every place?”’ And he replied: “Yes, above the Throne and His Knowledge is in every place.’” (‘Sharh Usul I’tiqaad Ahlus Sunnah’ of al-Laalikaaee “673)

Imam Ahmad (rahimahullah) was asked about the verse,

“”And He is with you wheresoever you are”” and the verse, ““there is no secret discourse of 3 people except that he is the fourth.”

And he said: “‘(meaning) His Knowledge, He is the Knower of the seen and the unseen, His Knowledge encompasses everything. And our Lord is above the Throne without setting limits and giving description. And His Kursi [Footstool] is as the expanse of the heavens and the earth with His Knowledge.’”” (‘Sharh Usul I’tiqaad Ahlus Sunnah’ of al-Laalikaaee “675)

Imam Abdullah bin Ahmad quotes Abdullah ibn Mubarak (radhiAllahu ‘anhu) as saying:

“…I bear witness that You are above Your Throne above the seven heavens. And this is not as the enemies of Allah say, the heretics.”” [As-Sunnah’ of Imam Abdullah ibn Ahmad]

He also quoted him as saying: “We know that our Lord is above the seven heavens over the Throne, and we do not say as the Jahmiyyah say that he is here,” pointing with his hand to the earth.”

Imam Malik (rahimahullah) said:

““Allah is Above the heaven, and His knowledge is in every place, nothing is hidden from Him.”” [reported by Abdullaah in ‘as-Sunnah’ (pg. 5), and likewise Abu Dawood in ‘Masaa’il’ (pg. 263) …and it’s sanad is saheeh”]