Assalamualykum.
What's the meaning of the following verse:
He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days - and His Throne was over the waters - that He might try you, which of you is best in conduct. But if thou wert to say to them, "Ye shall indeed be raised up after death", the Unbelievers would be sure to say, "This is nothing but obvious sorcery!" (The Noble Quran, 11:7)"
Allah says: ... His Throne was over the waters...... Which water is this? The water on Earth? Well maybe that's not possible because Allah's throne is probably greater than the Heavens. Please help!!!!!
As'salamu Alaikum dear brother Farhan,
Thank you for your great questions, akhi. I appreciate them, because they certainly shed light on the concerns that some Muslims and non-Muslims may have, and they would allow for us to research them and get to the bottom of them, and ultimately find that Islam is indeed the Divine Truth of Allah Almighty. So thank you for that, dear brother.
Now as to your question, here are some of the things that we should keep in mind:
1- The physical life on earth is sort like a preview of the Divine Physical Paradise and World.
2- Life with Allah Almighty is both Spiritual and Physical. We certainly can't talk much about Its details, because it belongs to the Divine Secrets and the World of the Unknown.
3- However, we do know from the Glorious Quran, and also from the previous Scriptures that exist in the Bible and also exist outside the Bible that Heaven is Physical. For example, we read even in the Bible about people like
Enoch, Paul, Jesus, Elijah all ascended to Heaven in their physical bodies. Not that referencing the Bible is required here. But I am just using it, because I've heard so much ignorance from Bible believers about this in the past. So, I am using this opportunity to clear this ignorance. To the reader, please visit:
http://www.answering-christianity.com/pervert_nonsense.htm
http://www.answering-christianity.com/bible_errors_regarding_heaven.htm
http://www.answering-christianity.com/abdullah_smith/the_evidence_for_a_physical_paradise.htm
http://www.answering-christianity.com/islamic_paradise.htm
http://www.answering-christianity.com/heaven_hell.htm
http://www.answering-christianity.com/people_of_paradise.htm
http://www.answering-christianity.com/ways_to_paradise.htm
http://www.answering-christianity.com/hell_bible.htm
http://www.answering-christianity.com/sheol.htm
http://www.answering-christianity.com/ac10.htm#links
http://www.answering-christianity.com/ac2.htm#links4- So the physical Heaven is agreed upon by all of the Abrahamic Religions. No doubt about that.
5- Now of course, our bodies in Heaven will be different from what we have here on earth. We won't age, nor will we get sick, nor will we be dependent on breathing oxygen or else we die, nor could our physical bodies in Heaven die. These are some of the examples from among countless others that could be listed.
6- We also know that according to the Holy Quran, we will have Physical Bodies that have skins, that have eyes, ears, noses, reproductive systems, hands, feet, we'll be fair in skin color,
naturally sweating Heavenly perfume, etc... But Like I said in the points above, they'll be different from what we have here on earth, because what we have here on earth is only a preview or a small sample of the reality of the Divine Heaven.
7- We also know that according to the Holy Quran, we'll have running
Heavenly Waters, Lakes, Seas, Rivers of Honey, Rivers of Milk, etc... Again, please visit the links above.
8- We also know that according to the Holy Quran, we'll eat Heavenly Fruits, Meats, and Heavenly Food in general.
So what are the Waters in Noble Verse 11:7:The trial that the Noble Verse is speaking about is the actual creation of the physical world that Allah Almighty has put us in. This is the flesh and blood, dust and water world. This is the world of Creation:
[002:021] Oh mankind! Worship your Lord Who created you, and those before you. Perhaps you will attain piety.
[003:059] Indeed, according to Allah, the matter of (the birth of) Jesus is similar to the example of (the creation of) Adam; He created Adam from dust and said, “Be!” Thus, he became!
[021:030] Do the unbelievers not consider the fact that the heavens and the earth were joined together? We split them asunder! And from water, We created every living being! Do they not believe (that)?
[004:001] Oh you people! Fear your Lord who created you (all) from a single soul self. (From that single soul), He created its mate, and then out of the two, He propagated (and dispersed) multitudes of men and women. Fear Allah, in whose name you seek and demand your rights. Do not sever the ties of kinship. Of course, Allah watches over you closely!
[003:059] Indeed, according to Allah, the matter of (the birth of) Jesus is similar to the example of (the creation of) Adam; He created Adam from dust and said, “Be!” Thus, he became!
[023:012] Certainly, We have created man from strands of clay.In World of Command and Divine that Allah Almighty and all of the Creations that are close to Him are there, there is both the Physical Creation World and the World of Command (the Spirits, Angels, Word, etc...):
[036:082] His command when He willeth aught, is but to say to it, BE, and IT IS.
[017:085] They ask thee concerning the Spirit (of inspiration). Say: "The Spirit (cometh) by command of my Lord: of knowledge it is only a little that is communicated to you, (O men!)"[004:001] Oh you people! Fear your Lord who created you (all) from a single soul self. (From that single soul), He created its mate, and then out of the two, He propagated (and dispersed) multitudes of men and women. Fear Allah, in whose name you seek and demand your rights. Do not sever the ties of kinship. Of course, Allah watches over you closely!Also about the Divine SELVES and SPIRITS, I've written the following in the past. The following two links are very important:
http://www.answering-christianity.com/blog/index.php/topic,650.msg1523.html#msg1523http://www.answering-christianity.com/blog/index.php/topic,868.msg3373.html#msg3373One thing is clear from the Glorious Quran, is that the believers (at least the Martyrs among them) will enter Heaven before the Day of Judgement. The Noble Quran makes this clear. Again, visit: http://www.answering-christianity.com/martyrs.htm.
Now, in what form will they be in Heaven, before Judgement Day, it's not clear. Perhaps, this is one of the mysteries of the unknown. I agree though that it is most likely in a physical form (see below why). But however, our bodies will also resurrect in physical forms. So will the person be in a temporary physical form in Heaven? Will he be a spirit? Or will he just be standing beside GOD Almighty in Judgement Day (no resurrection for him at that time, because he/she already has a body)? I honestly don't think anyone can give a certain answer for any of this; at least to my knowledge. But I could be wrong. There are unknowns that we were not given answers for. As Allah Almighty Said in the Noble Quran:
[017:085] They ask thee concerning the Spirit (of inspiration). Say: "The Spirit (cometh) by command of my Lord: of knowledge it is only a little that is communicated to you, (O men!)"
Let us also not forget that a flesh and blood human, here on earth, is also made of a:
1- Self (Nafs).
2- Spirit (Rouh).
Both are different. They're not the same. All of our spirits came directly from the Holy Spirit, which Allah Almighty used to "blow his Spirit" into us. This is in the Holy Quran. See http://www.answering-christianity.com/holy_spirit.htm. Our Nafs (plural Nufoos), is something else. And of course, our physical bodies are also something else. In fact, according to the Holy Quran, OUR BODIES WILL TESTIFY FOR US AND AGAINST US ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT. See http://www.answering-christianity.com/are_private_sins_allowed.htm. So this means, that we're really not our flesh and blood. In other words, the flesh and blood that you're in, is no more than a tool or a vehicle that Allah Almighty Gave you. Think of it as the car that you drive. It's not you. It's only a tool that you use and ride. So after death, the Martyr (and possibly also all Believers) might go to Heaven in A SELF. And this SELF (nafs) might be in a certain or special place that only Allah Almighty Knows, and in a certain body or form that also only Allah Almighty Knows. This is why I say, I am not sure which form they will be in, in Heaven, before Judgement Day.
Let us not forget also, that Allah Almighty Said the following about the NAFS (SELF):
89:27 ياايتها النفس المطمئنة
[089:027] "O (thou) soul SELF, in (complete) rest and satisfaction!
89:28 ارجعي الى ربك راضية مرضية
[089:028] "Come back thou to thy Lord,- well pleased (thyself), and well-pleasing unto Him!
89:29 فادخلي في عبادي
[089:029] "Enter thou, then, among My devotees!
89:30 وادخلي جنتي
[089:030] "Yea, enter thou My Heaven!
So, it is possible that the NAFS (SELF) of the Martyr, and perhaps all of the Believers, will "come back to" (89:28) Allah Almighty, in Heaven, and will be placed in a Physical Form (in the devotee's body (89:29)). However, which form will the devotee be in, in Heaven, before Judgement Day? Will he be in a physical form? Probably yes. If so, then this means that he won't resurrect in the Day of Judgement. He'll probably only stand next to Allah Almighty. But like I said, this is probably one of the unknowns that Allah Almighty purposely left out of the Noble Quran.
There are many other Noble Verses that I could provide. But, since we know from the Holy Quran that there are Heavenly and Divine Waters and Rivers and Seas, then it should be clear that Allah Almighty's Throne is above those Waters. And of course, Allah Almighty's Throne is also above our World of Creation as well. But the Waters in Noble Verse 11:7 are not the our earth's waters. The Noble Verse is speaking about the World of the Divine.
And last and not least, I would like to invite the reader to visit the
Overwhelming Scientific Miracles in the Glorious Quran section at:
http://www.answering-christianity.com/ac20.htm#linksI hope this helps, Insha'Allah (if Allah Almighty is Willing), dear brother Farhan.
Take care,
Osama Abdallah
