Can We Say Allah is present with us?

Question: What is the ruling on people saying "Allah is present with us in this gathering and hears and testifies to what we say"? Answer Shaikh: If he says "Allah is with us, and is above heaven", then this is correct because Allah is with His creation and above the heaven. However, if the person intends to say that Allah is in the same place as us, then this is Haraam (prohibited), rather it is Kufr (disbelief) if this is what a person believes, since to believe that Allah is with us on earth contradicts the teachings of the Qur'an & Sunnah and the consensus of the Salaf (early generations) and the nature of human intellect and fitrah (natural human nature) of a person leads to the belief that Allah is above everything, and (saying "Allah is present with us") also leads to corrupt ideas. Nevertheless, it is compulsory to say "Allah is with us", meaning that He is close to us with His Knowledge, His Hearing, His Seeing, His Might, His Authority and other attributes pertaining to His Lordship. As for Allah being present with His creation in different places, By Allah, this is not true! Questioner: Shaikh, the person who said this statement: "Allah is present with us" is a righteous man. Shaikh: Nonetheless, he should be informed about this. A righteous man may not necessarily be a scholar, and how many righteous people do we find, yet are ignorant?! And how many scholars do we find whom are not righteous?! Thus it is your duty to inform this brother to not use statements like this. Questioner: So the phrase is incorrect, Shaikh? Shaikh: Yes, it is incorrect. Questioner: What is the correct way to say it? Shaikh: To say "Allah is with us and He is above His Throne." And we know that Allah says in the Qur'an: "There is no Najwa (secret counsel) of three but He is their fourth (with His Knowledge, while He Himself is over the Throne, over the seventh heaven), nor of five but He is their sixth (with His Knowledge), nor of less than that or more but He is with them (with His Knowledge) wheresoever they may be." (58:7) But this (verse) does not mean that He is present in the same place as them, By Allah, this is not true! He is above His Throne, above all His creation. Questioner: Is it permissible to say the words "Allah is present with us" and intend that it is 'with His Knowledge?' Shaikh: There is no need for this. It should be said without the word 'present' Questioner: "May Allah reward you with good." Shaikh: And you.