SUMMARISED EXPLANATION OF THE HADITH OF DESCENT AND HADITH OF THE FEMALE-SLAVE

Q: What is the meaning of Hadith of Descent Narrated by Al-Bukhariyy?

Al-Hafidh Al-^Iraqiyy explained in his Alfiyyah (Pg161): “to know the meaning of one narration look to another narration.”

Al-Bukhariyy narrated in his sahih (V2 Pg53 #1145) that the Messenger ﷺ said:

يَنْزِلُ رَبُّنَا كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا

which means: “Yanzilu, Our Lord every night to the lowest sky”

An-Nasa`iyy narrates a version in ^Amalul-Yawmi Wal-Laylah (Pg340 #482)

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُمْهِلُ حَتَّى يَمْضِيَ شَطْرُ اللَّيْلِ ثُمَّ يَأْمُرُ مُنَادِيًا يَقُولُ هَلْ مِنْ دَاعٍ فَيُسْتَجَابُ لَهُ

“Surely, after half of the night passes, our Lord commands a caller who says, “Is there a supplicant so that he would be answered? …”

The meaning of the narration of Al-Bukhariyy is: (A caller) Yanzilu, descends (by the Order of) Our Lord.

Movement, i.e. transferring from one place to another place, does not befit Allah. But it does befit creations such as Angels.

Q: What is the meaning of Hadith Jariyah narrated by Muslim?

Al-Imam Muslim narrated in his Sahih (V1 Pg382), that the female-slave said to the Prophet ﷺ “fis-sama`” this is an expression which means “Allah is the Greatest in Status”. It is narrated by Ibn ˆAbdil-Barr, one of the companions said in front of the Prophet ﷺ said: [بلغنا السماء] which literally means “we reached the sama` (sky)”, what it means is by Islam Allah raised their ranks.

This understanding of Hadith Jariyah is in compliance with the various different narrations of this hadith, such as the narration of Ibn Hibban in his sahih the Prophet ﷺ asked: “who is your Lord”, she said “Allah”, the narration of Imam Malik, the Prophet ﷺ asked “Do you testify that there is no God except Allah” she said “yes”.

The Hadith of Jariyah does not mean Allah lives in the sky or is on top of the Throne.