What is the authenticity and meaning of the Hadith about our Lord, the Blessed and Exalted, descending to the lowest heaven in the last third of the night?

The Hadith about the Lord's descent to the lowest heaven is authentic and well-established, narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim, and transmitted by approximately twenty-eight Companions. The People of Sunnah (Ahl al-Sunnah) have agreed upon its acceptance.

The descent of the Lord, Glorified and Exalted be He, to the lowest heaven is an actual attribute of action, befitting His Majesty and Greatness. There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. It is not permissible to distort its meaning by claiming it refers to the descent of a command, or mercy, or an angel, for several reasons:

1. Interpretation contradicts the apparent meaning of the Hadith, which attributes the descent to Allah. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was the most knowledgeable of people concerning Allah, the most eloquent, and the most truthful. 2. The descent of Allah's command or mercy is not exclusive to the last third of the night; rather, it occurs at all times. 3. The Hadith explicitly states that the one who descends says: "Who is there who supplicates to Me, that I may answer him? Who is there who asks of Me, that I may give him? Who is there who seeks My forgiveness, that I may forgive him?" And no one can say this except Allah Almighty.