What Is the Concept of the Seventh Heaven

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Question:

Where did the concept of the seventh heaven come from, and what does it mean? - An exploration of the idea of seventh heaven in Islam and other religions, its origins, and meaning. :::

Answer:

As per Islamic Belief :

In Quran it is mentioned: It is Allâh Who has created seven heavens and of the earth the like thereof (i.e. seven). His Command descends between them (heavens and earth), that you may know that Allâh has power over all things, and that Allâh surrounds (comprehends) all things in (His) Knowledge. (At-Talaq 65:12)

As per One of the great companions of prophet saws there is a narration where it is mentioned as below (though the there is some differences between different narrations regarding distance between the different layers of heaven):

At-Tabaraani narrated in al-Mu‘jam al-Kabeer (8987) with a hasan isnaad from Ibn Mas‘ood that he said: The distance between the lowest heaven and the next one is the distance of five hundred years’ travel, and the distance between each heaven and the next is the distance of five hundred years’ travel.

“The distance between the first and the second heaven is that of 500 years (of travel), and between each of the seven heavens is also 500 years, and the distance between the seventh heaven and the Kursi is also 500 years, and the distance between the Kursi and the water is again 500 years. The Throne is above the water and Allaah The Almighty is above the Throne. And Allaah knows everything that you do (i.e. nothing is hidden from Him of your deeds).” [Ad-Daarimi and At-Tabaraani]. This Hadeeth is classified by Ibn Al-Qayyim and Ath-Thahabi as Saheeh (sound).

Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen rahimullah said: “This Hadeeth is said by Ibn Mas’ood without attributing it to the Prophet but it is among the matters that cannot be said by way of personal opinion, so his statement takes the ruling of being attributed to the Prophet [i.e. this statement is considered as originally said by the Prophet]”

From islamqa: What is the difference between the ‘Arsh of the Lord and His ?

The evidence for the above is given below, along with the comments of some of the scholars. It was narrated that Ibn Mas’ood said: Between the first heaven and the one above it is (a distance of) five hundred years. Between each of the heavens is (a distance of) five hundred years. Between the seventh heaven and the Kursiy is (a distance of) five hundred years. Between the Kursiy and the water is (a distance of) five hundred years, and the Throne is above the water. Allaah is above the Throne, and nothing whatsoever of your deeds is hidden from Him. (narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah in al-Tawheed, p. 105; by al-Bayhaqi in al-Asmaa’ wa’l-Sifaat, p. 401). This report was classed as saheeh by Ibn al-Qayyim in Ijtimaa’ al-Juyoosh al-Islamiyah, p. 100; by al-Dhahabi in al-‘Uluw, p. 64).

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: This hadeeth stops at Ibn Mas’ood (it is mawqoof), but this is one of the matters concerning which there is no room for personal opinion, so it comes under the heading of marfoo’ [ahaadeeth whose isnaad goes back to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)], because Ibn Mas’ood is not known to have taken anything from the Israa’eeliyyaat [reports derived from Jewish sources]. (al-Qawl al-Mufeed Sharh Kitaab al-Tawheed, 3/379)

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