by Umm Isam – Content Writer
“[He is] the Exalted above [all] degrees, Owner of the throne; He places the inspiration of His command (i.e. revelation) upon whom He wills of His servants to warn of the day of meeting.” (Al Mumin 40:15)
Dhul Arsh, is one of Allah’s (swt) beautiful names and explains that Allah (swt) is Lord and Possessor of the throne.
Who is Dhul Arsh?
The word ‘Dhul’ means: “The Possessor.” While the word ‘Arsh’ refers to: “His throne.” Just the way ‘Baytullah’ means House of Allah (swt) and automatically becomes honourable, similarly, when the throne is associated with Allah (swt) ‘Dhul Arsh’, Owner and Possessor of the throne, it becomes honourable too.
The throne or ‘Arsh’ was Allah’s (swt) first creation, before the pen, heaven, earth, universe, etc. The Arsh is closest to Allah (swt) and the highest creation of Him. The Arsh is also the mightiest and the heaviest creation. Nobody knows about its weight or vastness except Allah (swt).
Allah Dhul Arsh revealed His divine scripture from above
Allah (swt) is above His heavens over His throne as befits His majesty. Allah (swt) is the Highest and there is nothing higher than Him or above Him. From there, Allah Dhul Arsh, revealed His divine scripture ‘Wahi’ to all the Anbiya and Prophet Muhammad (sa) to warn the humanity about ‘Yaum at Talaq’, the day of meeting.
The day of account is to be established. Mankind cannot understand the reality and purpose of its creation, unless it follows the divine scripture. This is Allah’s (swt) greatest favour upon us to grant us this knowledge otherwise we could never have known the true objective of the worldly life and the past and the future of humanity. The most intelligent human being after his death cannot return to earth to explain about the unseen realm and this transition from Dunya to Aakhirah. His great IQ and worldly knowledge seizes to benefit him.
Allah Dhul Arsh commands, controls and manages all from above
Dhul Arsh also demonstrates Allah’s (swt) power by mentioning His greatest creation, the throne. “Honourable Owner of the throne, Effecter of what He intends.” (Al Burooj 85: 15-16)
The ideas that pop in our head, the emotions that surface in our heart, the intentions that our mind make, the whispers of our Dua, the good and bad deeds of all are witnessed and perfectly known by Allah Dhul Arsh. The distance between us does not hide anything. It does not misinform or confuse Him. He is also Al Baseer, the One Who watches, Al Khabeer, the One Who is well-aware, As Samee, the One Who Hears and Al Aleem, the One Who knows round the clock.
Allah (swt) is above His Arsh
“The Most Merciful [Who is], above the throne established.” (Taha 20:5)
This is a matter of the unseen realm, hence we cannot describe or comment whether Allah (swt) is sitting, standing or resting upon His throne. Hence we always say that Allah (swt) is above His throne as befits His majesty.
Allah (swt) states in the Quran: “And it is He Who created the heavens and the earth in six days – and His throne had been upon water – that He might test you as to which of you is best in deed.” (Al Hud 11:7)
How big is Allah’s (swt) Arsh?
Allah’s (swt) Arsh is His throne with pillars. It is like a dome over the entire universe. It is above the entire creation of Allah (swt) in the unseen realm. Physically it is the grandest and highest. In terms of honour, it is the most noble of creations. That is why Allah (swt) also has beautiful names referring to His throne such as: ‘Rabbul Arshal Azeem’, ‘Rabbul Arshal Kareem’ and ‘Rabbul Arshal Majeed’. Believers are commanded to invoke Allah (swt) using these beautiful names.
Where is Allah’s (swt) Arsh?
The distance between each of the seven skies above us is equal to the travel time of 500 years. Above them is Allah’s Kursi (i.e. His footstool) that only Allah (swt) knows about. After a travel distance of another 500 years above the Kursi is water. A travel distance of 500 years above the water is Allah’s (swt) Arsh. And upon the Arsh is Allah (swt) the way that befits His majesty. Imagine His power, Subhan Allah!
The angels that hold Allah’s (swt) Arsh
‘Hamlatul Arsh’ also known as the Bearers of the throne, are the mighty angels holding the pillars of Allah’s (swt) throne. Jabir bin Abdullah (rta) reported that the Prophet (sa) said: “I have been permitted to tell about one of Allah’s angels who bear the throne that the distance between the lobe of his ear and his shoulder is a journey of seven hundred years.” (Abu Dawood)
Only Allah (swt) knows how huge these angels are.
The Quran mentions Hamlatul Arsh and the role of other angels too: “Those [angels] who carry the throne and those around it exalt [Allah] with praise of their Lord and believe in Him and forgiveness for those who have believed…” (Al Ghafir 40:7-9)
The Arsh on the day of judgment
Quran also mentions the role of the angels on the Day of judgement. “And the angels are at its edges. And there will bear the throne of your Lord above them, that day, eight (of them).” (Al Haqqah 69:17)
On the day of judgment, Prophet Muhammad (sa) will be the first one to be resurrected as mentioned in the following Hadeeth reported by Abu Hurairah (rta): “… Do not give me superiority over Moses, for on the day of resurrection all the people will fall unconscious and I will be one of them, but I will be the first to gain consciousness, and will see Moses standing and holding the side of the throne (of Allah). I will not know whether (Moses) has also fallen unconscious and got up before me, or Allah has exempted him from that stroke.” (Bukhari)
Arsh is the ceiling of Jannat al Firdous
Muadh bin Jabal (rta) reported that the Prophet Muhammad (sa) said: “Paradise has one hundred grades, each of which is as big as the distance between heaven and earth. The highest of them is Firdous and the best of them is Firdous. The throne is above Firdous and from it spring forth the rivers of Paradise. If you ask of Allah, ask Him of Firdous.” (Ibn Majah)
How should this beautiful name change the way we think?
- Knowledge breeds honour. After learning about Allah’s (swt) High and Noble status as the Powerful Creator and Perfect Disposer of affairs, we must honour him most and follow His commandments in the Quran and the Sunnah.
- We must trust Allah’s (swt) divine decrees in our lives and around. The Prophet Muhammad (sa) was reassured by Allah (swt): “But if they turn away (O Muhammad) say ‘Sufficient for me is Allah. There is no deity except Him. On Him I have relied and He is the Lord of the great throne.’” (At Taubah 9:129)
- Develop the abundant mindset instead of scarcity mindset. Share and give to all and ask Allah Dhul Arsh for your own needs. Once Prophet Muhammad (sa) saw Bilal ibn Rabbah (rta) with a basket of dates. Upon questioning, Bilal (rta) said that he had kept the dates for the next day. The Prophet (sa) advised him not to fear poverty as Allah (swt) was Owner of the throne. Otherwise, what is hoarded becomes the smoke of hell fire.
Prophet Muhammad’s (sa) supplications referring to the Arsh
لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ الْعَظِيمُ الْحَلِيمُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ رَبُّ السَّمَوَاتِ وَرَبُّ الأَرْضِ وَرَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيمِ
Ibn Abbas (rta) reported that Prophet Muhammad (sa) used to supplicate in these words during trials: “There is no God but Allah, the Great, the Tolerant, there is no God but Allah, the Lord of the magnificent throne. There is no God but Allah, the Lord of the heaven and the earth, the Lord of the edifying throne.” (Muslim)
سُبْحـانَ اللهِ وَبِحَمْـدِهِ عَدَدَ خَلْـقِه ، وَرِضـا نَفْسِـه ، وَزِنَـةَ عَـرْشِـه ، وَمِـدادَ كَلِمـاتِـه
When Prophet (sa) found Jaweriyah (rta) praying from Fajr until Chasht, he advised her to make this Tasbeeh instead as it was more rewarding: “Glory be to Allah and with His praise (equal to) the magnitude of His creation and (equal to) pleasure of His self, and (equal to) the weight of His throne and (equal to) the ink of His words.” (Muslim)
Some may wonder why we are learning so much about Allah’s (swt) throne. To highlight that if Allah’s (swt) throne is so grand, what can we perceive about the grandeur of its Possessor, Allah, Dhul Arsh. It must teach us to be in awe of Allah, Dhul Arsh and submit to His commands humbly.
Partially adapted from a course by Safiya Khan
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