[ابو الوليد البتار]

The Standpoint of the Companions (May Allah be pleased with them)

Zainab, the wife of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wasallam) , used to claim
excellence over the rest of his wives by telling them, 'It is only your parents who
gave you in marriage to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wasallam) , while it is Allah
Who gave me in marriage to him from above the seven heavens.'[37]
In another narration, she said to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wasallam) , 'It is the
Rahmaan, the Merciful, Who married me to you from above His 'Arsh.'
Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said to Aa'ishah, the wife of the
Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu `alaihi wasallam) when she was on her death bed:
"Of all his wives you were the most beloved to the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu
`alaihi wasallam) , and he used to live only the pure. Allah, the Exalted sent down
your exoneration from above the seven heavens which was brought down by
Jibreel. There is not a single masjid of the masajid of Allah but the verses of your
exoneration[38] are recited in it day and night."

Aa'ishah, the wife of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wasallam) in this world and in
the world to come, Mother of the Believers, whom the pervasive-minded sect tried
to dishonor, but Allah, the Exalted, exonerated her honor and condemned those who
spread the lies against her.
In his speech subsequent to the death of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wasallam) ,
Abu Bakr as-Saddiq said: "He who was worshipping Muhammed (sallallaahu
`alaihi wasallam) , (let him know that) Muhammed is dead, and he who was
worshipping Allah, (let him know that) Allah is above the heaven Ever-Living,
never dies'."[39]

Ibn Umar passed by a shepherd and asked him, 'Do you have a sheep fit for
slaughter? 'Its owner is around', the shepherd answered. 'Tell him that the wolf
devoured it'. Ibn Umar said to him. Thereupon, the shepherd uplifted his head
towards the heaven and said, 'Then where is Allah?' Ibn Umar responded, 'By Allah.
It is I who should have said, 'Where is Allah.' He later on bought off the sheep and
the shepherd and freed the latter and gave him the sheep.[40]

Abdurrahman al-Mahdi [41] said: "There is no one more evil among the people of
whims than the followers of Jahm. All their deviant beliefs revolve around one
theme; 'There is no one above the heaven.' I believe, by Allah, that they should not
be married from, nor to inherit Muslims nor to be inherited by Muslims."

This opinion of Ibn Mahdi is shared by many among the pious predecessors.

Wahab b. Jareer said: "Beware of the opinions of Jahm's followers, for they try to
convince people that there is nothing above the heavens. Their statements are only
from Iblees's revelation, and it is only infidelity".[42]