English
Al-Abbas ibn Abdul-Muttalib (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that he was sitting in Al-Batha with a group, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was among them. A cloud passed by, and they looked at it. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “What do you call this?” They said: “The cloud.” He said: “And the Muzn?” They said: “And the Muzn.” He said: “And the Anan?” They said: “And the Anan.” He said: “Do you know the distance between the heaven and the earth?” They said: “We do not know.” He said: “The distance between them is either 1 one, two, or three and seventy years. The heaven above it is the same, until he counted seven heavens. Then above the seventh is a sea, the distance between its top and bottom like that between one heaven and another. Then above that are eight wild goats, the distance between their flanks and hips like that between one heaven and another. Then on their backs is the Throne, the distance between its bottom and top like that between one heaven and another. Then 2 Allah is above that.”
Possible references (unverified, pending editorial review)
- Candidate: Sunan Abi Dawud 4723 (unverified) 98% confidence
- Candidate: Jami al-Tirmidhi 3320 (unverified) 96% confidence
Confidence and text similarity are not editorial verification.
Commentary and footnotes (4)
Note 1
(1) His statement: “either one, two, or three and seventy years”: Al-Tayyibi said: The mention of seventy in the Hadith is for emphasis, not specification, as it is narrated that the distance between the heaven and the earth, and between one heaven and another, is a journey of five hundred years. Emphasis here is more eloquent and suited to the context. (As stated in Al-Mirqat)
Note 2
(2) His statement: “Then Allah is above that”: Al-Tayyibi said: He intended to divert their attention from the lower matters to the higher ones and to reflect on the dominion of the heavens and the Throne, then to ascend to the knowledge of their Creator and Sustainer, and to disdain worshipping idols and associating partners with Allah, the Sovereign, the All-Knowing. So he began ascending from the cloud, then the heavens, then the sea, then the wild goats, then the Throne, to the Possessor of the Throne. The “aboveness” is in terms of greatness, not place. The meaning is that He is of a station of immense proof. A commentator said: That is, above the Throne in terms of authority, greatness, and transcendence. (As stated in Al-Mirqat)
Note 1
(۱) قوله: إما واحدة وإما اثنتان أو ثلاث وسبعون سنة وقال الطيبي الله والمراد بالسبعون في الحديث التكثير لا التحديد؛ لما ورد من أن ما بين السماء والأرض وبين سماء وسماء مسيرة خمس مائة عام أي سنة، والتكثير هنا أبلغ والمقام له أدعى. كذا في «المرقاة».
Note 2
(۲) قوله: ثم الله فوق ذلك: قال الطيبي له: أراد الله أن يشغلهم عن السفليات إلى العلويات والتفكر في ملكوت السماوات والعرش، ثم يترقوا إلى معرفة خالقهم ورازقهم، ويستنكفوا عن عبادة الأصنام، ولا يشركوا بالله الملك العلام، فأخذ في الترقي من السحاب، ثم من السماوات، ثم من البحر، ثم من الأوعال، ثم من العرش إلى ذي العرش، والفوقية بحسب العظمة لا المكان، فالمعنى أنه على الشأن عظيم البرهان. وقال شارح: أي فوق العرش حكما وعظمة واستعلاء. كذا في «المرقاة».