Published on Jul 05 2009 

The Arabic word Rafi means to raise or to exalt. It is also used for  raising/exaltation in the physical things. In accordance to our faith it is God’s Being alone that is truly Al Rafi (the Exalter) and from Him comes all exaltation. God is Al Rafi; His station is at the lofty heights that human consciousness cannot encompass. Conversely, He is also very near and is present everywhere, yet He is far away and has cited the words ‘Rafi ud darajaat’ (The Exalter of ranks) (40:16) for Himself. There exists not a higher station than His, therefore He is also Lord of the Throne.

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that the Divine Throne is a most remote creation and is equal to the heavens, the earth and all surfaces. God forbid, it is not that the Throne of God is closer to the heavens and further from the earth. In Surah Al Hadid it is stated: ‘…And He is with you wheresoever you may be...’ (57:5). In Surah Al Mujadalah it is stated: ‘… There is no secret counsel of three, but He is their fourth…’ (58:8). It is stated in Surah Qaf: ‘… and We are nearer to him than even his jugular vein…’ (50:17). Huzur said just as the Word of God elucidates that despite occupying His Throne He is extremely close.  His attributes are more manifest in those who are near Him, He assures them of His nearness and saves and protects them from their opponents and exalts them.

In another place the Promised Messiah wrote with reference to verse 3 of Surah Al Rad; ‘Allah is He Who raised up the heavens without any pillars that you can see. Then He settled Himself on the Throne...’ (13:3). He explained that this verse may raise the doubt that God was not ‘settled’ on His Throne earlier. The answer to this is that God’s Throne is not a physical entity, it is a state of His Being most remote.  He created everything and gave light to the sun, the moon and the stars. He created man in His own image and infused His noble qualities in him. Thus He created an allegory for Himself but by stating that He settled on His Throne, He declared that He is most Exalted.

Huzur said thus is our God, Who is the Master of the heavens and despite this supremely elevated, high station He is closer than the jugular vein.  Though He is closer than the jugular vein, man’s sight cannot reach Him. He manifests Himself to those who are close to Him. He states: ‘Eyes cannot reach Him but He reaches the eyes…’ (6:104). God is Unseen and there can never be any concept of His physical being in any sense at all. The erroneous Christian creed gives Jesus (on whom be peace) the divine status. God has no needs, Jesus (on whom be peace) and his mother ate food, their passing away is noted and it is thus evident that one who has the need to eat food cannot be God.

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