Every now and then people are asked to ask themselves some of the truly deepest questions in life. In the quiet darkness of the night, when the stars shine far away in the vast majestic sky, or in the cold, hard daylight, when life rushes by like a fast train, people of all colors, races and religions ask about the meaning of their existence. Why are we here? What does all this mean? Is that all there is?
On great days with sunshine and a bright blue sky, people turn their faces to the sun and look at its beauty. In the deepest winter or in the furthest storm, they ponder the power inherent in the forces of nature. Somewhere in the deepest corners of the brain there is the idea of God. The miracles of creation are a call to the heart and soul. The light touch of a snowflake, the smell of freshly cut lawn, the gentle dribble of raindrops and the violent wind of a hurricane – they are all warnings that this world is full of wonders.
When pain and grief threaten to suffocate us, people are encouraged to think again about the meaning of life. Amidst suffering and grief, the idea of God arises. Even those who see themselves far from any religion notice how they look up to the sky and ask for help. When the heart contracts and fear overwhelms us, we are helplessly turned to a higher power. The idea of a god then becomes real and meaningful.
In the midst of supplication and bargaining, the sheer breadth of the universe is exposed. The reality of life is filled with awe and wonder. It’s a roller coaster ride. There are moments of great joy and times of immeasurable sadness. Life can be long and monotonous or carefree. When the idea of God appears and His Majesty becomes clear, new questions begin to form. One question that is inevitable is – where is God?
All over the world and at all times, people have struggled to agree on where God is. The human drive tends to seek God. The ancient Babylonians and Egyptians built towering towers in their search for God. The Persians saw him in the fire. Still others like the natives of North America and the Celts saw God in the magnificent signs of nature around them. Buddhists find God in themselves and in the Hindu religion it is assumed that God is everywhere and in everything.
The search for God can be confusing. When asked where God is, the resulting answers can also be confusing. God is everywhere. God is in your heart. God is where goodness and beauty exist. But what happens when your heart is empty and when your surroundings are dark, dirty and ugly? Then does God continue to exist? No! Of course not! Amidst this confusion, the Islamic concept of God is a beacon for those groping in the dark.
What Muslims believe about God is clear and simple. They don’t believe that God is everywhere; they believe that God is above heaven. The need for people to turn their faces to the sky in times of unrest and strife is an inherent answer to the question where is God? God tells us in the Qur’an that He is the Most High (Quran 2: 255) and is above all of His creation.
“It is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then majestically turned to His kingdom. He knows what goes into the earth and what comes out of it, what comes down from heaven and what rises to it. And He is with you wherever you may be. And God sees everything you do. ” (Quran 57: 4)
It is known that the Prophet Muhammad pointed to heaven when referring to God. When he made supplications to God, he raised his hands to heaven. During his farewell sermon, Prophet Muhammad asked people, „Didn’t I bring the message to you?“ and they replied, „Yes!“ He asked again, „Didn’t I deliver the message to you?“ and they said, „Yes!“ He asked a third time: „Didn’t I deliver the message to you?“ and they said, „Yes!“ He always said, „Oh God, you are my witness!“ – at the same time he pointed to the sky and then to the people. [1]
God is above heaven, above His creation. However, this does not mean that it is contained to any physical extent. God is close, very close to those who believe in Him and He answers each of their calls. God knows all our secrets, dreams and desires, nothing is hidden from Him. God is with His creation with His knowledge and power. God is the creator and sustainer. Nothing comes into existence except through His will.
When Muslims ponder the wonders of the universe, they are certain of the knowledge that God the Most High is above the heavens, and they find comfort in the fact that He is with them in all matters. When a Muslim is afflicted with loss or grief, he does not question God’s wisdom or ask: ‚Where was God when I was sad or haunted or suffered?‘ Humanity was created to worship God (Quran 56:51) and God says many times that trials and sufferings will be part of our life experiences.
„And He is the One who created the heavens and the earth in six days … so that He may examine which of you do the best deeds.“ (Quran 11: 7)
In its darkest night or darkest hour, humanity instinctively looks to the sky. When their hearts beat hard and fear threatens to overwhelm them, people turn to God. They raise their hands and beg for mercy, forgiveness or goodness – and God answers; for He is the Most Merciful, Most Forgiving, and Most Kind. God is different and separate from His creation, and there is nothing like Him. He is the all-hearing and all-seeing. (Quran 42:11) Therefore, when we ask where God is, the answer is no doubt: He is above the heavens and above all of His creation. We also say that He does not need anything of His creation, and all of His creation needs Him.
Footnotes:
[1] The text of the farewell sermon can be found in Sahieh Bukhari and Sahieh Muslim, also in the books by At Tirmidhi and Imam Ahmad.
Source: https://www.islamland.com/deu/articles/wo-ist-gott-