He [Ibn Hajar] also stated (13/412): "Al-Kirmani said: His saying: 'in the heaven' (fi al-sama'): its literal meaning is not intended, for Allah is transcendent above indwelling in a place... etc."
8—Ibn Hajar al-Haytami stated in al-Zawajir (p. 65): "The descent of Allah is a metaphor for the descent of His mercy or some of His angels, due to His—Blessed and Exalted is He—sublimity above direction (jiha), place (makan), body (jism), and time (zaman)." [End quote].
I say: Tracing their statements regarding the negation of 'place' for Allah, the Exalted, would be lengthy. The core of their misconception revolves around the notion that affirming a place for Allah, the Exalted, gives the impression, in their view, of affirming that He is a body, and implies spatial confinement (tahayyuz), along with other misconceptions dictated to them by their intellects, which have been saturated with the false doubts of the people of divestment (ta'til) and distortion (tahrif).
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) stated in al-Sawa'iq al-Mursala (2/407): "Their misconception regarding the negation of direction is that it [affirming it] necessitates the affirmation of place, and affirming place necessitates the affirmation of corporeality (jismiyya)." [End quote]. [See: Bayan Talbis al-Jahmiyya (1/564)].
It is not hidden that these misconceptions do not bind the People of the Sunnah (Ahl al-Sunnah); because they are followers of the Pious Predecessors (al-Salaf al-Salih), who are most knowledgeable concerning Allah, the Exalted, and His attributes.
Therefore, beware of negating 'place' for Allah, the Exalted, and beware of the expressions of the theologians (al-mutakallimun) lest they infiltrate your belief without you realizing it, under the mask of transcendence (tanzih) and sanctification (taqdis), through which they negate the attributes of the Lord, Mighty and Majestic.
