Ru’yah of Allaah (‘Azza wa Jall)
Seeing Allaah (Ta’ala) in the abode of the Hereafter is the noblest and highest of all the ranks, the most precious gift, and the most sublime delight in the highest Gardens of Jannah (Allaah’s Paradise).
Ibn al-Qayyim (Rahimahullaah) said: “It is the utmost goal that the true seekers seek, and competitors compete in, and those who race are racing to, for it lets all the workers work. When the people of Paradise attain it, they will forget all the delights that they are in; and being deprived of it is severer on the people of Hell than the torment of Hell. All the Prophets and Messengers, and all the Companions and their followers and all the Imaams of Muslim nations throughout the successive generations agreed upon it (this sublime matter).” [Haadi al-Arwaah ila bilaad al-Afraah pg. 361]
Evidences from the Qur’an
– Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat Al-Qiyamah (75:22-23):
وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ نَّاضِرَةٌ
“Some faces (that Day) shall be Naadhirah (shining and radiant)
إِلَىٰ رَبِّهَا نَاظِرَةٌ
Looking at their Lord (Allaah).”
– Allaah (Ta’ala) also says in Surat Al-Mutaffifeen (83:35):
عَلَى ٱلْأَرَآئِكِ يَنظُرُونَ
“On (high) couches, looking (at all things).”
– Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat Yunus (10:26):
لِّلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا۟ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ وَزِيَادَةٌۖ
“For those who have done good is the best (reward, i.e. Paradise) and even more [i.e. having the honor of glancing at the Face of Allaah (‘Azza wa Jall)].”
– Allaah (Ta’ala) also says in Surat Qaaf (50:35):
لَهُم مَّا يَشَآءُونَ فِيهَا وَلَدَيْنَا مَزِيدٌ
“There they will have all that they desire – and We have more [for them, i.e. a glance at the All-Mighty, All-Majestic (‘Azza wa Jall)].”
These verses confirm that on the Day of Judgment, the faithful believers will have the Ru’yah (glancing, gazing, i.e. they will see) of Allaah in Paradise
Shaikh As-Sa’dee (Rahimahullaah) said in his interpretation of the verses of Surat Al-Qiyamah (75:22-23): “On that day, some faces will be radiant; that is, they will be beautiful, beaming brightly and filled with light because of the joy and delight in their hearts and souls. ‘Gazing upon their Lord’ that is, looking at their Lord, according to their status: Some of them will gaze upon Him every day, morning and afternoon; some will gaze upon Him once every week. Thus, they will have the joy of gazing upon His noble Countenance and astounding beauty, for there is nothing like unto Him. When they see Him, they will forget the state of bliss in which they are, and they will attain inexpressible joy and happiness. Their faces will be radiant and will increase in beauty. We ask Allaah, the Most Generous, to make us among them.” [Tayseer Al-Kareem]
In the interpretation of Surat Al-Mutaffifeen, he (Rahimahullaah) said: “The believer (on the Day of Resurrection) will be in the utmost comfort and security, ‘sitting on couches’ that are beautifully adorned, ‘gazing around’ at that which Allaah has prepared for them of bliss, and gazing upon the noble Face of their Lord.” [Tayseer Al-Kareem]
Ibn Katheer (Rahimahullaah) explained the word ‘Ziyadah’ in Surat Yunus (10:26):
للَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا۟ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ وَزِيَادَةٌۖ
“For those who have done good is the best and even more.”
saying: “Allaah will grant them (the faithful believers who did good in this world by having faith and performing righteous deeds) on top of all of that (delight in Paradise) and even better, the honor of looking at His Noble Face. This is the increase that is greater than anything that had been given. They will not deserve that because of their deeds but rather, they will receive it by the grace of Allaah and His Mercy.” [Tafseer Ibn Katheer]
Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen (Rahimahullaah) said: “The delight of seeing Allaah is not of the same nature as the delight of Paradise. This is because the delight in Jannah is delight of bodies, rivers, fruits, purified spouses, etc. and the delight of the heart comes as a result of enjoying that pleasure. However, seeing Allaah’s Face is delight of the heart, which people of Paradise do not see better than it. May Allaah make us of those who will see Him. There is no delight comparable to it.” [Sharh al-‘Aqeedah al-Wasitiyah]
Evidences from the Prophetic Sunnah
The believers seeing Allaah in the abode of the Hereafter has been confirmed in the authentic narrations from numerous routes of transmission from the scholars of Hadeeth. It is not possible to deny this or refuse it. The following Ahadeeth (narrations) are examples of that.
- Jarir (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated: “We were with the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and he looked at the moon on a full moon night and said: ‘Certainly you will see your Lord as you see this moon and you will have no trouble in seeing Him. So, if you can avoid missing (through sleep or business, etc.) a Salaat (prayer) before the sunrise (Fajr) and a Salaat (prayer) before sunset (‘Asr), you must do so.’” [Al-Bukhaari no. 554]
- Abu Hurairah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated: “The people said: ‘O Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)! Shall we see our Lord on the Day of Resurrection?’ The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘Do you have any difficulty in seeing the moon on a full moon night?’ They said: ‘No, O Allaah’s Messenger.’ He (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘So you will see Him like that.’” [Al-Bukhaari no. 7437]
The meaning of seeing Allaah (Ta’ala)
Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah are in consensus in regard to seeing Allaah (Ta’ala) on the Day of Resurrection. And seeing Him (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) will be in two places:
First: When Allaah gathers the people on the open plains of the Resurrection place.
Second: After entering Paradise.
The first seeing is of glory, majesty, and trial, and the second seeing is of delight and joy, for which there is no delight equal to it.
Suhaib (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “When the people of Paradise have entered Paradise, Allaah, Blessed is He and Most High, will say: ‘Do you want anything more?’ They will say: ‘Have You not brightened our faces, admitted us to Paradise, and saved us from the Fire?’ Then He will remove the veil, and they will not be given anything that is more dear to them than gazing upon their Lord, the Mighty and Sublime.” [Muslim no. 181]
The Impact of Belief in the Ru’yah of Allaah
1) Based on the aforementioned evidences, the believers will truly see Allaah (‘Azza wa Jall) with their own eye sight, without difficulty or harm touching them, as Prophet Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) assured the Sahaabah: “You will see your Lord as you see this moon,” clearly without any doubt or being hidden. Also “without difficulty” means without problem or rushing or gathering of people and without pushing one another, without feeling the slightest inconvenience in seeing Him.
However, the seeing of Allaah does not entail grasping Him, because Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat Al-An’aam (6:103):
لَّا تُدْرِكُهُ ٱلْأَبْصَٰرُ
“No vision can grasp Him.”
2) No one can see Allaah in this worldly life with these worldly eyes. The reason is that, as Imaam Maalik said: “These eyes are just temporary, and they cannot bear the sight of Allaah. This is why the research scholars claim that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) did not actually see Allaah during his journey to the heavens, he only talked to Allaah by way of Revelation (behind veil). He (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said about his Lord (‘Azza wa Jall): ‘His veil is the light, and if He were to remove it, the splendor of His Face would burn all of His creation, as far as His Sight reaches’ [Muslim no. 179].”
In Paradise, the believers will be provided with eyes and sight that would have the power to see Allaah (‘Azza wa Jall).
3) Based on the Hadeeth of Jarir (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu), the believers will have the honor of seeing Allaah on the Day of Resurrection when they enter Paradise. It also highlights the importance and merits of offering the Fajr and ‘Asr prayers punctually and in congregation (for men).
4) There are among the deviated sects, like Al-Mu’tazilah who deny the Ru’yah (seeing) of Allaah (‘Azza wa Jall). Their denial is based on weak evidences, such as Allaah’s Statement in Surat Al-A’raaf (7:143):
وَلَمَّا جَآءَ مُوسَىٰ لِمِيقَٰتِنَا وَكَلَّمَهُۥ رَبُّهُۥ قَالَ رَبِّ أَرِنِىٓ أَنظُرْ إِلَيْكَۚ قَالَ لَن تَرَىٰنِى وَلَٰكِنِ ٱنظُرْ إِلَى ٱلْجَبَلِ فَإِنِ ٱسْتَقَرَّ مَكَانَهُۥ فَسَوْفَ تَرَىٰنِىۚ فَلَمَّا تَجَلَّىٰ رَبُّهُۥ لِلْجَبَلِ جَعَلَهُۥ دَكًّا وَخَرَّ مُوسَىٰ صَعِقًاۚ فَلَمَّآ أَفَاقَ قَالَ سُبْحَٰنَكَ تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَأَنَا۠ أَوَّلُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
“And when Musa (Moses) came at the time and place appointed by Us, and his Lord spoke to him, he said: ‘O my Lord! Show me (Yourself), that I may look upon You.’ Allaah said: ‘You cannot see Me, but look upon the mountain if it stands still in its place then you shall see Me.’ So when his Lord appeared to the mountain, He made it collapse to dust, and Musa (Moses) fell down unconscious. Then when he recovered his senses he said: ‘Glory be to You, I turn to You in repentance and I am the first of the believers.’”
Musa (‘Alayhis-salaam) did not ask about seeing Allaah in the Hereafter; rather he asked to see Allaah in that spot in this world. Allaah (Ta’ala) replied:
لَن تَرَىٰنِى
“You cannot see Me (now).”
Then Allaah (Ta’ala) set an example of the mountain for Musa (‘Alayhis salaam); when Allaah (Ta’ala) appeared to the mountain, He made it collapse to dust.
When Musa (‘Alayhis-salaam) saw what happened to the mountain, he realized that he had no power of seeing Allaah; therefore, he fell down unconscious. Seeing Allaah in the Hereafter is possible because people will be in another world in which their state will be different from their state in the Dunya.
5) Believing in this utmost reward of gazing at Allaah’s Face in the Hereafter makes this worldly life of no value. The Dunya is nothing compared to the delight of gazing at Allaah’s Face, which is the fruit that all competitors are racing for, and those who strive are seeking and striving earnestly to attain it.
Sources:
At-Ta’liq Al-Ula fee sharh Asma’ullaahul-Husna wa Sifatihi Al-Ula by Mahir al-Muqaddim
Sharh Al-‘Aqeedah al-Wasitiyah by Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen
Tayseer Al-Kareem
Tafseer Ibn Katheer
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