Salafis are fond of asking the question: "Where is Allah?" I replied that Allah Ta'ala is everywhere.

Answer

Salafis are deviates. Takfeer or declaring kaafir the followers of the Four Math-habs – the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama'ah – is their profession. They baselessly appropriate the designation, Ahlus Sunnah, for themselves. The response to their question, "Where is Allah?", is quite simple. Allah Ta'ala is where the Qur'aan says He is. Thus, the answer of the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama'ah is:

• "East and West belong to Allah. Whichever way you turn, there is the Face of Allah." (Baqarah, aayat 115)

• "Ar-Rahmaan is established on the Arsh." (Taha, aayat 5)

• "He is the Ilaah (Deity) in the heaven, and He is the Ilaah in the earth." (Zukhruf, aayat 74)

• "He is Allah in the heavens and in the earth." (An'aam, aayat3)

• "He is with you wherever you are." (Hadeed, aayat 4)

• "There are not three (persons) in a secret gathering, but He is the Fourth One, nor are there five, but He is the Sixth One, nor less than this nor more than this, but He is with them wherever they may be.

This is the belief of the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama'ah, Allah is in all places as He explicitly mentions in the Qur'aan Shareef. While the Salafis make ta'weel of (interpret) all these verses, we believe in them as Allah Ta'ala has revealed to Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). We do not ascribe any manner nor any concept, nor any form, nor any dimension, nor any direction, nor any space, nor any interpretation to Allah's Omnipresence. We say that He is Present as He has mentioned in the Qur'aan.

As far as the meaning of istiwa (Surah Taha, Aayat 5) is concerned, the belief of the Ahlus Sunnah has been succinctly stated by Imaam Maalik (rahmatullah). A man came and asked that Istiwa alal Arsh be defined. Imaam Maalik (rahmatullah alayh) said that istiwa is known, i.e. we know about istiwa from the Qur'aan, but its kaifiyyat (manner) is unknown. To believe in it is Waajib, and to probe it is bid'ah.

Salafis are trapped in bid'ah in this regard. They make ta'weel of all the verses in which Allah Ta'ala describes His Presence, explaining His Presence to mean His Knowledge. Then they interpret istiwa to mean that Allah Ta'ala sits on the Throne. Thus their criticism of those who also resort to interpretation is a vile canard. They are guilty of the very crime they accuse others of.

Commenting on Istiwa alal Arsh, Hadhrat Mufti Muhammad Shafi (rahmatullah alayh) states in his Ma-aariful Qur'aan, Vol. 6, page 61: "The correct and simple meaning of Istiwa alal Arsh is what has been narrated from the Jamhur Salaf that no one knows its reality and kaifiyyat. It is among the Mutashaabihaat. We have to only believe that Istiwa alal Arsh is the truth. Its kaifiyyat is in accord with the grandeur of Allah Ta'ala. No one on earth can even perceive of its meaning."