Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (RA) narrated: While the Prophet (SAW) and his sahabah were sitting once, some clouds appeared overhead. He asked, "Do you realise what this is" "They said, "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said, "These clouds (irrigate and) water the earth. Allah drives them to a people who do not thank Him and do not supplicate Him." Then he asked if they knew what was above them and on receiving an answer from the sahabah that only Allah and His Messenger (SAW) knew best, he said, "This is an elevated protective roof. It is like the sea without support." Then he asked ,if they knew the distance between them and it. They pleaded, "Allah and His Messenger (SAW) know best." He said, "Between you and it lies a journey of five hundred years." Again he asked them if they knew what was above that and when they pleaded that only Allah and His Messenger (SAW) knew, he said, "Above that are two heavens, the distance between them being a joarney of five hundred years till the count is seven heavens, the distance between every two being what it is between the heaven and earth." Again, he asked, "Do you realise what is above that"? They said, "Allah and His Messenger (SAW) know best." He said, "Above that is the throne and between it and the heaven is the distance between two heavens". Then he asked. "Do you realise what is underneath you"? They said, "Allah and His Messenger (SAW) know best." He said, "That is the erth." Th,en, he asked, "Do you know what is underneath that "? They said, 'I Allah and His Messenger (SAW) know best." He said, "Below it there is another earth and between the two is the distance of a journey of five hundred years, till the count is seven earths, between every two earths is a journey of five hundred years." Then he said, "By him in whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad, if you will throw down a rope to the lowest earth then it will drop down to Allah." He then recited:
"He is the First and the Last, and the Manifest and the Hidden, and He is the knower of everything." (57:3)
[Ahmed 8836]
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