Question:
Concerning the Hadith of descending; “Verily Allah descends to the worldly heaven…”, Does He leave the Throne?
Answer:
This is an issue that was put forth in some books, but the majority of the Salaf turned away from this, and they say one shouldn’t delve into the issue of whether he leaves the Throne or not.
We believe that He descends every night in the last third of the night to the worldly heaven, a descending which befits His Majesty without delving into what is related to the word that He moves or He leaves the Throne or doesn’t leave the Throne.
(ُۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِير)ٌ
“And Allāh is Able to do all things.” [Al-Baqarah, 284]
The meaning of this statement is a series which leads to the statement of Tamthīl (Likening Allah to His creation) and Tashbīh (Comparing Allah to His creation).
There appears from the statement of this person, Tamthīl and Tashbīh of Allāh. So when that occurred in his mind, he delved into this affair.
In that case say He descends and He is capable of doing all things.
(ُۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِير)ٌ
“And Allāh is Able to do all things.” [Al-Baqarah, 284]
(إِنَّهُۥ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ مُّحِيط)ٌ
“Verily! He it is Who is surrounding all things!” [Fussilat, 54]
ًۚ(وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُعْجِزَهُۥ مِن شَىْءٍ فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَلَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ عَلِيمًا قَدِيرًا)
“Allāh is not such that anything in the heavens or in the earth escapes Him. Verily, He is All-Knowing, All-Omnipotent.” [Al-Fātir, 44]
And from their responses, is Allah able to descend while He is on His Throne? If you say He is not capable then this is dangerous, and if you say He is capable then the case is closed.
At any rate they did not mention this. Allah established Highness for Himself and His descending is established to the worldly heaven in the last third of the night. Wherever the last third of the night is found then Allah descends.
It is not said He’s constantly going up and down. This is Tashbīh on its aparrent, as if he is making the descending of Allah like the descending of His creation.
ًۚ(وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُعْجِزَهُۥ مِن شَىْءٍ فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَلَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِۚ)
“Allāh is not such that anything in the heavens or in the earth escapes Him.” [Al-Fātir, 44]
It is said,
(لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِۦ شَىْء).
“There is nothing like unto Him” [Ash-Shūrā, 11]
Establish the descending and turn away from that which is in your mind.
Answered by: Shaykh, the Allamah, the Trustworthy Advisor, Abu Abdirrahman Yahya bin Ali Al-Hajuri – may Allah preserve him
Source: https://t.me/sh_yahia_duroos/8537
Translated by: Abū ‘Abdillāh ‘Omar bin Yahya Al-‘Akawi