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This is an urgent matter as it is dividing our small mosque community. One brother insists that he will not pray behind our elder brother because the elder brother believes Allah is present everywhere while the younger brother insists that we must all believe that Allah (SWT) is only above His "Arsh". My own reading of the Qur'an is that Allah (SWT) can be found in the East, West, etc. close to our heart, jugular vein and He is everywhere with us wherever we are. Please, urgently help us clarify this issue: is Allah (SWT) omnipresent or only found on his "Arsh".
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions. Allah, The Almighty is above His Throne not among His Creatures. Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {The Most Beneficent (Allâh) Istawâ (rose over) the (Mighty) Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty).}[20: 5]. The evidences that Allah is deemed far above and that He is above His Throne are numerous in Qur'an, Sunnah and sayings of the scholars of Salaf. Al-Zahbi compiled these proofs in a book that he entitled: "Al Uluwu Lil Aliyi Al Ghafar". Although Allah The Almighty is above His Throne not mixed with His Creatures, He is everywhere by His Power, Strength and Knowledge. Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {… but He is with them (with His Knowledge) wheresoever they may be; …}[58: 7]. In this sense Allah is close to His servants, not in the sense He is (actually) with them, Exalted is Allah from this. As for praying behind a person who says that Allah is everywhere, if he means that Allah is (physically) everywhere, then this is Kufr and it is unlawful to pray behind a person who believes in such a thing. But if he means that Allah is everywhere by His Knowledge and Power, then this meaning is true and there is no objection to praying behind him. Allah knows best.
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