Sahih al-Bukhari 1145
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) (p.b.u.h) said, “Our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, comes every night down on the nearest Heaven to us when the last third of the night remains, saying: “Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?”
- In Islamic theology, the phrase “coming down” or “descend” when used in relation to Allah does not imply physical movement or change in location, as Allah is believed to be transcendent and not confined by time or space. Rather, it is used metaphorically to convey the idea of Allah’s closeness, accessibility, and attentiveness to the supplications of His believers during the last third of the night. It is a way to emphasize the special time of the night when Allah’s mercy and forgiveness are particularly abundant, and He is ready to respond to the prayers and invocations of those who seek Him. The usage of such metaphoric language is a common feature in many religious texts, including Hadiths, to convey complex theological concepts in a way that can be easily understood by the believers. It is important to interpret such statements in light of the broader Islamic belief in the transcendence and omnipresence of Allah, and not to interpret them literally as indicating physical movement or change in location.
