Musnad Ahmad 30:1707

Surayj narrated to us, he said: Al-Hakam ibn Abd al-Malik narrated to us, from Qatadah, from al-Hasan, from Abu Hurayrah, who said: While we were with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), a cloud passed by. He said: "Do you know what this is?" We said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He said: "It is the *'inan* (the cloud), and the water-carriers of the earth. Allah drives it to those among His servants who do not thank Him and do not call upon Him. Do you know what this is above you?" We said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He said: "It is the *Raqi'* (the firmament), a restrained wave, and a protected ceiling. Do you know how much is between you and it?" We said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He said: "A journey of five hundred years." Then he said: "Do you know what is above that?" We said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He said: "Another heaven. Do you know how much is between you and it?" We said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He said: "A journey of five hundred years," until he counted seven heavens. Then he said: "Do you know what is above that?" We said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He said: "The Throne." He said: "Do you know how much is between it and the seventh heaven?" We said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He said: "A journey of five hundred years." Then he said: "Do you know what this is beneath you?" We said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He said: "An earth. Do you know what is beneath it?" We said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He said: "Another earth. Do you know how much is between them?" We said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He said: "A journey of five hundred years," until he counted seven earths. Then he said: "By Allah, if you were to lower one of you with a rope to the lowest seventh earth, he would descend." Then he recited: {He is the First and the Last and the Outward and the Inward, and He is Knowing of all things} [Al-Hadid: 3].