Reconciling the Hadiths About Allah’s Descent and Saying He Descends at Sunset

Question: I know that there are hadiths saying that Allah descends to the lowest heaven in the last third of the night, but there is a hadith in Sahih Muslim that says that Allah descends after a third of the night has passed. How can these be reconciled? And also, if someone says that Allah descends in the evening or at sunset to the lowest heaven, is that a statement of disbelief, since this was not mentioned by the Prophet ﷺ in any hadith? I am trying to learn about Islam, and Allah has blessed you with knowledge, so please help me.

Summary:

• There is no contradiction between the hadiths; some mention the beginning of the descent, and others mention the best time of it, which is the last third of the night. • Saying “Allah descends at sunset” is an innovation and an error, and it is not disbelief unless it involves denial of the authentic hadiths out of stubbornness. • The way of the Salaf is to affirm the attribute of descent without distortion, without explaining how, and without likening Allah to His creation. • Allah’s descent is authentically established in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, and it is one of His actions that befit His majesty and perfection.

Answer:

In the name of Allah, all praise is due to Allah, and may Peace and Blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)

May Allah bless you, increase you in seeking the truth, and keep you firm upon the correct creed. Your question is very precise and shows your eagerness to understand the texts about Allah’s attributes according to the way of the righteous predecessors, which is the safe and sound path without deviation. We will answer you from the Qur’an and the Sunnah, upon the understanding of the Salaf of this Ummah.

First: The Hadiths About Allah’s Descent to the Lowest Heaven

There are several authentic narrations from the Prophet ﷺ regarding the descent of the Lord, Glorified and Exalted, during the night, among them:

1. The famous narration:

    The Prophet ﷺ said:

    From the Sunnah:

    • Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1145, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 758Narrated by Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him):
      "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) 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?""

    2. Another narration in Sahih Muslim:

    From the Sunnah:

    • Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 758bNarrated by Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him):
      "Our Lord, the Blessed and the Exalted, descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the latter part of the night is left, and says: Who supplicates Me so that I may answer him? Who asks Me so that I may give to him? Who asks Me forgiveness so that I may forgive him?"

      Some narrations mention the last third, while others mention after the first third has passed (meaning when two-thirds remain, or the last third begins).

    Second: How to Reconcile Between the Two Narrations The reconciliation mentioned by the scholars is that both narrations agree in meaning, and there is no contradiction, praise be to Allah. The Arabs, and likewise the Sunnah, may describe the same moment in different ways, such as: • The end of the first third, • The beginning of the last third, • After two-thirds of the night have passed, and one-third remains. All of these are different expressions for the same time. Example for clarity: If the night is nine hours long: • The first third is the first 3 hours, • The second third is the next 3 hours, • The last third is the final 3 hours. When the first third passes, the second third begins, and when two-thirds pass, the last third begins. Thus, the narration in Muslim means: When the first third of the night has passed, the time enters into the last two-thirds, including the last third which is most significant. But the famous narration specifies the last third because it is the time of answered supplications and mercy.

    From the Scholars:

    • Sharh Sahih Muslim
      Imam al-Nawawi said: “There is no contradiction between the narrations, for some describe the beginning of the descent, and some mention the virtue of the last third.”
    • Fath al-Bari
      Ibn Hajar said: “It can be reconciled that His descent begins after the first third, but its greatest virtue is in the last third.”

      Therefore, there is no contradiction at all. The narrations describe overlapping times of descent, and the most virtuous time is the last third of the night.

    Third: Is It Correct to Say That Allah Descends at Sunset, and Is That Disbelief? No, it is not permissible to say that, and it is an invalid statement, because the authentic texts restrict the descent to the time of the night only. The Prophet ﷺ never mentioned any descent at sunset or after Maghrib Is the person who says this a disbeliever? If he says it out of misunderstanding or ignorance and does not intend to describe Allah in a false way, he is mistaken but not a disbeliever, because: • He is not denying the Qur’an, • He is not denying the authentic Sunnah, • He is not deliberately likening Allah to His creation. He is ignorant and in need of learning. But if he says, “Allah descends at sunset,” while denying the authentic hadiths about the last third of the night, or he says, “I reject the Prophet’s hadith,” then this is very serious and close to disbelief, because it is a denial of an established, well-known hadith. However, declaring a specific person to be a disbeliever requires knowledge, intent, and that the proof is established against him. The ignorant person is not declared a disbeliever.

    From the Salaf:

    • Imam Ahmad said:
      “Whoever rejects a hadith of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is on the verge of destruction.”

    From the Scholars:

    • Ibn Taymiyyah said:
      “We do not declare a specific person to be a disbeliever until the proof has been established against him.”

    Fourth: The Belief of the Salaf Concerning the Attribute of Descent The Salaf established a general principle regarding Allah’s attributes: We believe that Allah descends in a way that befits His majesty, without asking how, without likening Him to His creation, and without denying or distorting the meaning. Exactly as Imam Malik said regarding Allah’s rising over the Throne: “The rising is known, its ‘how’ is unknown, believing in it is obligatory, and asking about it is an innovation.” We say the same about descent: • The descent is known in meaning, • The manner is unknown, • The texts affirm it, • It is not to be reinterpreted, • The Salaf were all upon this.

    And Allah knows best.

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