Seeing Allah

http://www.imamreza.net/eng/imamreza.php?id=3332
By:
Dr. Vahid J. Majd
1 Introduction
The issue of seeing the Essence !hat" of Allah has historicall# $een one of the theological
differences $etween the Shia and the Sunni schools of thought. This has $een due to their di%erse
understanding of the Essence of Allah as well as their differences in the interpretation of the
%erses of &uran. 'n this article( we will discuss the position of each school( and will e)amine each
school*s e%idence in this regard. +e will consider whether Allah can $e seen $# e#es or imagined
or thought of $# mind( and whether we ha%e an# wa# into the Essence of Allah. +e will also
discuss whether Allah can $e seen $# heart and felt $# conscience. +e will finall# pro%ide an in,
depth interpretation of %isiting Allah according to &uran and -adith.
2 The Sunni View of Seeing Allah
.ne of the doctrines that the Sunnis unanimousl# uphold is that a human $eing can see the
Essence of Allah $# his or her own e#es. Some of their prominent scholars( including Ahmad '$n
-an$al( maintained that Allah can $e seen in this world as well as in the hereafter. .ther Sunni
scholars stated that -e can onl# $e seen in the hereafter. The Sunni scholars use the following
%erse of &uran as their proof:
/Some faces on that da# i.e.( the !a# of 0udgment" will $e radiant( loo1ing towards their 2ord.
34:22,23"/
5oreo%er( the Sunnis ha%e narrated %arious traditions from their authorities to support this %iew.
-ere are some e)amples from their most authentic references:
0arir $in 6A$dullah narrated:
The 7rophet said( /8ou will definitel# see #our 2ord with #our own e#es./
, Sahih 9u1hari( %:( -adith ;43<
0arir $in 6A$dullah narrated:
Allah6s Apostle came out to us on the night of the full moon and said( /8ou will see #our 2ord on
the !a# of =esurrection as #ou see this full moon" and #ou will ha%e no difficult# in seeing
-im./
, Sahih 9u1hari( %:( -adith ;43>
?otice the similarit# that these traditions impl# $etween seeing Allah and seeing other things i.e.(
-is creations" $# one6s e#e. This is the case for the following traditions as well.
6Ata6 $in 8azid Al,2aithi narrated:
.n the authorit# of A$u -uraira: The people said( /. Allah6s Apostle@ Shall we see our 2ord on
the !a# of =esurrection?/ The 7rophet said( /!o #ou ha%e an# difficult# in seeing the moon on a
full moon night?/ The# said( /?o( . Allah6s Apostle./ -e said( /!o #ou ha%e an# difficult# in
seeing the sun when there are no clouds?/ The# said( /?o( . Allah6s Apostle./ -e said( /So #ou
will see -im li1e that. Allah will gather all the people on the !a# of =esurrection( and ... Allah
will come to them and sa#( 6' am #our 2ord.6 The# will den# -im and" sa#( 6+e will sta# here till
our 2ord comes( for when our 2ord comes( we will recognize -im.6 So Allah will come to them
in -is appearance which the# 1now( and will sa#( 6' am #our 2ord.6 The# will sa#( 68ou are our
2ord(6 so the# will follow -im. Then a $ridge will $e laid across -ell Aire".... The man will sa#(
6. m# 2ord@ !o not ma1e me the most misera$le of 8our creation(6 and he will 1eep on in%o1ing
Allah till Allah will laugh $ecause of his sa#ings( and when Allah will laugh $ecause of him( -e
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will sa# to him( 6Enter 7aradise(6....
, Sahih 9u1hari( %:( -adith ;432a
A$u Sa6id Al,Bhudri narrated:
... Allah6s Apostle said( /So #ou will ha%e no difficult# in seeing #our 2ord on that !a# as #ou
ha%e no difficult# in seeing the sun and the moon in a clear s1#"./ ... Then the Almight# will
come to them in a shape other than the one which the# saw the first time( and -e will sa#( 6' am
#our 2ord(6 and the# will sa#( 68ou are not our 2ord.6 And none will spea1: to -im then $ut the
7rophets( and then it will $e said to them( 6!o #ou 1now an# sign $# which #ou can recognize
-im?6 The# will sa#. 6The Shin(6 and so Allah will then unco%er -is Shin whereupon e%er#
$elie%er will prostrate $efore -im.
, Sahih 9u1hari( %:( -adith ;432s
Those li1e Ahmad '$n -an$al who claimed Allah can $e seen in this world and in dream $ased
their argument on other traditions such as:
The 7rophet S.A.+." said: /' saw m# 2ord in the shape of a #oung man who had a$undant/long
hairs./
, Banz al,Cmmal( %>( Dh3 of supplements to the 9oo1 of 'man( -adith ;>>42
, Ta$arani in Sunna said A$u Ear6a said this -adith is Sahih. Su#uti said: This refers to seeing in
dream.
'nterestingl#( it is mentioned in Sahih al,9u1hari on the authorit# of A$u -uraira that:
The 7rophet said( /Allah created Adam in -is picture( si)t# cu$its a$out 3< meters" in height./
, Sahih 9u1hari( %F( -adith ;2GH
'f Iod has a shape similar to Adam AS"( it follows that -e could surel# $e seen. As an indication
of this possi$ilit#( we find in another -adith:
The 7rophet S.A.+." said: /' saw m# 2ord in the shape of a #oung hair# man in a green area
while -e was wearing gold shoes./
, Banz al,Cmmal( %>( Dh3 of supplements to the 9oo1 of 'man( -adith ;>>43
, 5aJma6 al,Eawa6id( %3( 9oo1 of !ream interpretation( -adith ;>>3G4
, 5u6Jam al,Ba$ir( al,Ta$arani( 9a$ al,9aa( -adith ;24/>GG
The Shia !o"ition
The Shia( on the other hand( $elie%e that not onl# is Allah impercepti$le $# the e#es( $ut also that
-is Essence !hat" cannot $e imagined( thought( or descri$ed. An# imagination or perception of
the Essence of Allah is a creation of our mind( and the Dreator is far remo%ed from such a
perception. Thus( we ha%e no wa# to comprehend -is Essence. +e onl# understand $# reason
that -is Essence should $e purified from two limits: non,e)istence and li1eness. !ue to -is
a$undant signs( we 1now that -e is not non,e)istent( and at the same time( we 1now that -e has
no similarit# whatsoe%er with an# t#pe of e)istence that we 1now and comprehend. This implies
that the Essence of Allah cannot $e seen. An# thing that is limited to our facult# of sight is a
created $eing and an# created $eing needs a creator. Thus( if one could see his 2ord $# his e#es(
then his e#es ha%e made -im a created $eing li1e other $eings. -e who li1ens -im to -is
creatures has indeed ta1en associates with Allah.
Allah cannot $e seen $# e#es an#where $ecause -e does not ha%e an# $od# and does not occup#
an# place( as -e is the creator of $od# and place. -e is e)alted $e#ond the limitations of -is own
creations and is far remo%ed from $eing enclosed in them. +e ma# onl# see the manifestations of
Allah( which are $ut -is created signs. +e can ne%er( howe%er( see -is Essence.
?ow( let us pro$e into the %erse that is used $# the Sunnis as proof of seeing the Essence of Allah:
/Some faces on that da# i.e.( the !a# of 0udgment" will $e radiant( loo1ing towards their 2ord.
34:22,23"/
According to Ara$ic le)icon( the word /?adhira/ that is used in the a$o%e %erse does not
necessaril# impl# /seeing/. The 'mams AS" ha%e used other %erses of &uran to support the
definition of the word /?adhira/ in this %erse as similar to the meaning of /5untadhira/( which
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means e)pecting( waiting( or loo1ing forward to. .n the commentar# of this %erse( 'mam Ali
AS" said:
/... The %erse means loo1ing forward to what Allah( the 5ight# and the 5aJestic( has promised
them. And the word 6?adhira6 sometimes means 6e)pecting/waiting/loo1ing forward6 6al,
5untadhira6". -a%en6t #ou heard the sa#ing of Allah: 69ut ' am going to send him a present" and '
am loo1ing forward ?adhira" to what answer" the am$assadors will return 23:34".6 This means
' am waiting al,5untadhira" for what the am$assadors will return. As for the %erse: 6Aor indeed
he saw him at a second descent. ?ear the 2ote,tree of the uttermost $oundar# 43:>3,>G"6( it
means when 5uhammad S.A.+." was near the 2ote,tree of the uttermost $oundar# which none
of -is creations has passed it saw Ia$riel". 't is -is sa#ing in the followed %erses: 6-is" sight
ne%er swer%ed( nor did it go wrong@ Aor trul# did he see one of the great signs of his 2ord@
43:>3,>F"6( he saw Ia$riel in his shape twice. Keril# Ia$riel is a great creature and is from
amongst the spiritual entities whose creation and shapes are not full# understood e)cept $# the
2ord of the Cni%erse./
, al,'htiJaJ( %>( p2G3
, 9ihar al,Anwar( %:</:3( p><>( -adith ;>
'n Ara$ic( often it is said: /?adhartu 'lal,-ilal Aalam Arahu/ which means( /' loo1ed towards the
new moon crescent" $ut ' did not see it./ Therefore( e%en according to the general Ara$ic usage
of the term( the %erse does not necessaril# impl# that the# will see Allah.
'n another -adith on the commentar# of the %erse /Some faces on that da# will $e $rilliant(
loo1ing towards their 2ord/( 'mam Ali '$n 5usa al,=eza AS" said:
/'t means their faces" are radiant and the# are loo1ing forward to the reward of their 2ord./
, al,'htiJaJ( %2( pG<:
, Bita$ al,Tawhid( p>>H( -adith ;>:
, al,Amali( Shai1h SaduL( pG<:( -adith ;>
, al,9ihar( %G( p2F( -adith ;3
5oreo%er( on the impermissi$ilit# of seeing the Essence of Allah( &uran states:
/Kisions can not reach -im while -e reaches to all %isions. H:><3"/
The word /%isions/ is not limited to solel# seeing $# e#es. 't co%ers all t#pes of %ision and
perception as it is used in a plural form in the %erse. .n the impossi$ilit# of seeing( %isualizing(
imagining( descri$ing( or e%en cogitating Allah( A$u -ashim al,0a6fari narrated:
A$out the %erse /Kisions can not reach -im and -e grasps all %isions H:><3"/( 'mam al,=eza
AS" said: /. A$a -ashim@ The thin1ing/imagination of the mind is more delicate than the %ision
of the e#es. 9# #our imagination( #ou can reach to 'ndia and other places that #ou ha%e not
entered and #our e#es ha%e not reached. Thus( when the thin1ing of minds can not reach -im(
then how could the %isions of e#es do so?/
, al,Bafi( %>( p::( -adith ;>>
, Bita$ al,Tawhid( p>>3( -adith ;>2
, 9ihar al,Anwar( %G( p3:( -adith ;>3
Similarl#( he narrated:
'mam al,=idha AS" said: /Keril# the imagination of the mind is more powerful" than the %ision
of the e#es. Thus the %erse means" minds can not reach -im( and -e reaches to all minds./
, al,Bafi( %>( p:F( -adith ;><
, Bita$ al,Tawhid( p>>2( -adith ;>>
, 9ihar al,Anwar( %G( p3:( -adith ;>H
Sulaiman '$n Bhalid narrated:
'mam al,SadiL AS" said: /A%oid pondering o%er the Essence of" Allah( $ecause pondering o%er
the Essence of" Allah would onl# increase de%iation/error. Keril# Allah cannot $e reached $# the
sight of minds" and cannot $e descri$ed $# proportion./
, Bita$ al,Tawhid( pG43( -adith ;>G
, +asa6il al,Shia( %>H( p>:3( -adith ;2>33G
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, 9ihar al,Anwar( %3( p24:( -adith ;G
5oreo%er( it is narrated:
The 2eader of the Aaithful AS" said: /+hosoe%er ponders on the Essence of Allah( $ecomes an
infidel EindiL"./
, al,Bafi( %F( p22
, Tuhaf al,CLul( p>:H
, 9ihar al,Anwar( %3G( p2F3
A$out the %erse /?ow there ha%e come to #ou Kisions 9asa6ir" from #our 2ord. Thus( he who
$ecome more insightful A$sara" it will $e for the good of" his own soul( and he who $ecomes
$lind( it will $e to his own harm" H:><G"/( A$dullah '$n Sanan narrated:
E)plaining the %erse( /Kisions can not reach -imM/( 'mam al,SadiL AS" said: 't is more
generall#" a$out the grasping/encompassing/comprehending of Allah" $# the mind. -a%en6t #ou
seen -is sa#ing 6now ha%e come to #ou Kisions 9asa6ir" from #our 2ord?6 This does not mean the
%ision of the e#es. And -is sa#ing" 6he who $ecome more insightful A$sara" it will $e for his
own $enefit"6( does not mean sight $# e#es( and -is sa#ing" 6and he who $ecomes $lind( it will
$e to his own harm"6 does not mean $linding the e#es. Keril# it means encompassing $# mind
Just as we sa# a person is insightful 9asir" in poetr#( and the other person is insightful 9asir" in
AiLh... Keril# Allah is most e)alted to $e seen $# e#es./
, al,Bafi( %>( p:F( -adith ;:
, Bita$ al,Tawhid( p>>2( -adith ;><
, al,'htiJaJ( %2( p33H
, 9ihar al,Anwar( %G( p33( -adith;H
Seeing Allah is impossi$le when the mind cannot encompass -im. 'n another -adith( '$rahim al,
Bar1hi narrated:
' said to 0a6far '$n 5uhammad al,SadiL AS": /There is a man who claims to see Allah in dream.
-ow is this possi$le?/ -e AS" replied: /That man has no religion. Keril# Allah can $e seen
neither in awareness( nor in dream( nor in this world( nor in the -ereafter./
, al,Amali( Shai1h SaduL( pH><( -adith ;4
, 9ihar al,Anwar( %G( p32( -adith;3
Although the -ereafter ma# operate with different laws( there will $e neither an# change in the
Essence of Allah( nor an# change in the fact that e%er#thing other than -im is -is creation and
has no similarit# to -is Essence. That we cannot percei%e -im will not change $# our mo%ing
from this world to the -ereafter( as the Dreator will not $e limited $# -is creations( and -is
creations will not $e a$le to %iolate the limits of the creation. 'f someone claims that he will $e
a$le to see his /god/ in the hereafter $# his e#es( it will mean that he will $e a$le to $ring his god
to the le%el of creation. Either his e#es will catch the whole god( or he will see a part of his god.
The former implies that his god is limited and the latter implies that his god has different parts
and organs. 9oth cases are in contradiction with the 'slamic $elief that Allah( the E)alted( is
Cnlimited( and has no part or organ.
There is a %er# long $ut interesting -adith from 'mam Ali AS" in our relia$le sources from
which ' onl# Luote those parts that are related to our topic. A$i 5u6ammar al,Sa6dani narrated:
A person came to 'mam Ali AS" and said: /' ha%e $ecome dou$tful a$out the $oo1 of Allah as '
ha%e found some of its %erses contradict others./ -e then Luoted some of the %erses of &uran
that he thought contradictor#." 'mam Ali AS" replied: /Keril# in the 9oo1 of Allah each part
confirms the other( and does not contradict one another( $ut #ou ha%e not $een granted the
wisdom that $enefits #ou... A%oid interpreting &uran $# #our opinion and #ou should o$tain deep
understanding of it from al,Clamaa i.e.( the 'mams of Ahlul,9a#t AS"". Keril# there e)ist man#
re%ealed %erses whose wordings ha%e similarit# with the sa#ing of human1ind( $ut since the# are
the sa#ing of Allah( their interpretation Ta6wil" do not ha%e an# similarit# with the interpretation
of the" sa#ing of human1ind. ?othing in -is creation is li1e -im. 5oreo%er( -is action has no
resem$lance with an# actions of an# human( and also( -is sa#ing has no similarit# with the
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sa#ing of an# human... Thus do not li1en the sa#ing of Allah to the sa#ing of an# human or else
#ou will perish and will go astra#. Then 'mam Ali AS" e)plained to him the %erses that he found
contradictor# among which are:"
'n addition( -is sa#ing: 6?or is hidden from th# 2ord so much as" the weight of an atom on the
earth or in hea%en ><:H>"6 pro%es nothing is hidden from our 2ord. -ow could the creator of the
things 1now not what -e has created? And 6-e is the supreme" creator with infinite" 1nowledge
3H:F>".6 -owe%er( a$out -is sa#ing 6Allah" does not loo1 ?adhar" on them in the !a# of =ising
3:33"6 which seems to $e contradictor# the pre%ious %erse" informs that -e does not let an#
goodness reach them. +hen the Ara$s sa# 6Aulan does not loo1 upon us6( the# mean 6?o goodness
reaches to us on his side.6 Thus( the 6?adhar6 loo1ing upon" from Allah to -is creation is -is
5erc# for them. Also a$out the %erse( 6?a#@ Keril#( that da# the# shall $e %eiled from their 2ord
F3:>4"6( it %eril# means that da# the# shall $e %eiled from the reward of their 2ord.
As for -is sa#ing 6!o #e feel secure that -e +ho is in -ea%en will not cause #ou to $e
swallowed up $# the earth when it sha1es as in an earthLua1e"? H3:>H"6 and -is sa#ing 6And -e
is Allah in the hea%ens and on earth H:3"6 and -is sa#ing 6The Dommands and 7lans of the" 5ost
Iracious is esta$lished on the Throne 2<:4"6 and -is sa#ing 6-e is" the E%ident and the -idden
43:3"6 and 6And -e is with #ou wheresoe%er #e ma# $e 43:G"6 and -is sa#ing 6+e are nearer to
him than his" Jugular %ein 4<:>H"6 Such is Allah( increased is -is 9lessing and is the most -igh.
-e is purified and e)alted that an#thing should happen to -im from whate%er happens to the
creations( and -e is su$tle( well,aware( the 5ost Ilorious( and the 5ost -igh ... Keril# the
a$o%e %erses mean" -e is witness to all secret con%ersations( and -e has authorit# o%er all affairs(
and -e is illuminator of e%er#thing( and planner of all the things. -e( the -igh( the Ireat( is much
e)alted to than $e on -is throne.
And a$out -is sa#ing: 6And th# 2ord cometh( and -is angels( ran1 upon ran1 F::22"6( and -is
sa#ing: 6And now #ou ha%e come to us alone as +e created #ou for the first time H::G"6( and -is
sa#ing: 6+ill the# wait 8andhurun" until Allah comes to them in shades of clouds( with angels
2:2><"6 and -is sa#ing: 6Are the# waiting to see if the angels come to them( or th# 2ord comes(
or certain of the Signs of th# 2ord comes H:>4F"6( %eril# these are truth as Allah( the 5ight# and
the 5aJestic( said. -owe%er( the coming of Allah is not li1e the coming of -is creation. 8ou
realized that there are man# %erses in &uran whose interpretations are different from their
re%ealed appearance and are not similar to the sa#ing of an# human. ' now inform #ou one aspect
of such a case" that will $e sufficient for #ou( 'n,Shaa,Allah. 't is regarding the sa#ing of
'$rahim mentioned in &uran:" 6' will go to m# 2ord@ -e will surel# guide me@ 33:::"6 '$rahim6s
6going6 to -is 2ord is his turning to worship and his stri%ing in o$edience to achie%e pro)imit# to
Allah. !on6t #ou see that its interpretation is other than the appearance of" its re%elation? Also
Allah said: 6and +e sent down 'ron( in which is great might 43:24"6 which means weapons and
other similar things( and -is sa#ing: 6Are the# waiting to see if the angels of punishment" come
to them6 is $ecause the# did not ac1nowledged Allah and -is Apostle S.A.+." 6or th# 2ord
comes( or certain of the Signs of th# 2ord comes H:>4F"6 means the punishment of Allah" comes
to them in this world as -e punished the ancient nations( and this is the news that the 7rophet
ga%e a$out them. Then Allah states: 6the da# that certain Signs of th# 2ord do come( no good will
it do to a soul to $elie%e in them if he $elie%ed not $efore or if he did not earn good deeds" in his
state of" faith H:>4F"6 -ere 6$efore6 means $efore the coming of -is sign( and the sign is rising of
sun from the west. 't is sufficient for the people of understanding to 1now this would happen
when the %eils are remo%ed and 6when the# see that which was promised of punishment is
fulfilled" >::34N 32:2G"6 and in another %erse: 69ut Allah came to them in such a wa# that the# did
not e)pect 4::2"6 means Allah sent them une)pected" punishment. And such is the $ringing of
their structures $# Allah( as -e said: 6Thus Allah $rought forth their structures from their
foundations >H:2H".6 This means sending the punishment... Thus( content #ourself with what '
descri$ed for #ou instead of what has occupied #our mind due to misunderstanding of" what
Allah has descri$ed in -is 9oo1( and do not consider -is sa#ing li1e the sa#ings of an# human(
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as -e is the Ireatest( the 5ost Ilorious( and is -igher than what the descri$ers descri$e( e)cept
for that which -e has descri$ed -imself in -is sa#ing: 6?othing is li1e -im and -e is who hears
and sees G2:>>".6
As for -is sa#ing: 6?a#( the# den# the meeting 2iLaa" with their 2ord 32:><"6( meeting means
resurrection and Allah has named it 2iLaa meeting/getting together". Such is when -e mentions
the $elie%ers: 6Those who $ear in mind the certaint# that the# are to meet their 2ord 2:GH"6( which
means the# are certain that the# shall $e resurrected( shall $e gathered( shall $e accounted( and
shall $e recompensed $# reward or punishment. The word 6!hann6 here means certaint#. The
same goes for -is sa#ing: 6whoe%er e)pects to meet his 2ord( let him do good >F:>><"6 and -is
sa#ing: 6Those whose hopes are in the meeting with Allah should 1now that" the term appointed
$# Allah is surel# coming 2::4"6( which means those who $elie%e the# shall $e resurrected
should 1now that" %eril# the promise of Allah in terms of reward and punishment is coming.
Thus( here 2iLaa meeting" does not mean /seeing/N rather( it means /rising/. Therefore( 1now
that in all places in the 9oo1 of Allah where 2iLaa is used it means resurrection. Such is again the
%erse: 6Their salutation on the !a# the# meet -im will $e: 7eace@ 33:GG"6 't means the faith does
not lea%e their hearts on the !a# of 0udgment./
The Luestioner said: /5a# Allah relie%e #ou( . Dommander of the 9elie%ers( as #ou relie%ed me.
8ou( indeed( resol%ed m# pro$lem./
, Bita$ al,Tawhid( pp 24G,2H3( -adith ;4
, 9ihar al,Anwar( %:</:3( pp >23,>G<( -adith ;2
# Seeing Allah $y %eart
Cnli1e the mind and the e#es( the heart can 6see6 Allah. Seeing Allah $# heart is defined as
recognizing Allah through -is created signs such as -is merc#( so%ereignt#( glor#( etc. .nce we
recognize the signs of Allah in our heart and through our conscience( we ha%e recognized Allah in
our heart. This t#pe of %ision does not limit Allah since we do not percei%e -is Essence( and -is
Essence is not disclosed to us in an# wa#. +e onl# find in our conscience that( due to -is signs(
-e is not non,e)istent and is not a$sent from us. -isham narrated:
5u6awi#a '$n +aha$ as1ed 'mam al,SadiL AS": /. son of the Apostle of Allah S.A.+."@ +hat
do #ou sa# a$out the narration that states 6the Apostle of Allah S.A.+." saw -is 2ord in an#wa#
he saw6( and the narration which states 6people in paradise shall see their 2ord in 7aradise in
an#wa# the# shall see.6/ -e AS" replied: /Keril# 5uhammad S.A.+." did not see -is 2ord $#
the sight of his e#es. Keril# seeing is of two t#pes: seeing $# e#es( and seeing $# heart. Thus( in
the mentioned traditions" if one considers it seeing $# heart( then it is correct. -owe%er( if one
considers it seeing $# e#e( then he has certainl# dis$elie%ed in Allah and in -is signs. This is
$ecause the Apostle of Allah S.A.+." said: 6-e who li1ens Allah to -is creations has indeed
$ecome a dis$elie%er.6 'ndeed( m# father narrated me from his father from al,-usain '$n Ali AS"
who said( the Dommander of 9elie%ers AS" was as1ed: 6-a%e #ou seen #our 2ord?6 -e AS"
said: 6-ow could ' worship the one ' do not see? E#es can not see -im in an e#e,witnessing
process( $ut the hearts can see -im through the realit# of faith.6/ Then the 'mam AS" continued:
/An# thing that the e#e could reach is a created $eing" and an# created $eing needs a creator.
Thus( if one could see his 2ord $# his e#e" the e#e has made -im a created $eing( not eternal. -e
who li1ens -im to -is creatures has indeed ta1en associates with Allah. +oe onto them@ -a%en6t
the# heard that Allah said: 6Kisions can not reach -im( and -e reaches to all %isions( and -e is
Su$tle well,aware of all things" H:><3"6 and -is sa#ing: 69# no means canst thou see 5eN 9ut
loo1 upon the mountN if it a$ides in its place( then shalt thou see 5e. +hen the created light of"
his 2ord manifested to the 5ount( -e made it as dust 3:>G3"6 Keril# -e re%ealed Just an amount
of -is created" light that could pass through the e#e of a needle( which struc1 the mountain. 6And
5oses fell down in a swoon. +hen he reco%ered his senses he said: Ilor# $e to Thee@ To Thee '
turned6 from the sa#ing of he who thin1s #ou can $e seen( and returned to m# understanding of
#ou that the sight can not reach #ou 6and ' am the first to $elie%e 3:>G3"6 means the first to
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confess that #ou see and #ou are not seen./
, Bifa#atul Athar( p2H<
, al,9ihar( %G( p4G( -adith ;32
& Vi"iting Allah
The Ahlul,9a#t AS" ha%e also pro%ided an in,depth interpretation regarding the topic of Kisiting
Allah. -ere( ' Luote a num$er of traditions in this regard. 'n a %er# interesting tradition from
'mam al,=idha AS"( which is widel# reported in our -adith literature( A$u Salt =A" narrated:
' as1ed Ali '$n 5usa al,=eza AS": /. son of the Apostle of Allah@ +hat do #ou sa# a$out that
which is narrated $# the people of -adith that the $elie%ers will %isit Ei#arat" their 2ord =a$$"
from their houses in 7aradise?/ -e AS" said: /. A$a Salt@ Keril# Allah ga%e -is 7rophet(
5uhammad S.A.+."( superiorit#/e)cellence o%er all -is creatures from the 7rophets to the
Angels. -e made/defined o$edience to him as o$edience to -im( pledging oath to him as
pledging to -im( and %isiting Ei#arat" him in this world and in the -ereafter as %isiting -im.
Allah( the 5ight# and the 5aJestic( said: 6+hoe%er o$e#s the Apostle( he has indeed o$e#ed
Allah G:F<"6 and 6Keril# those who pledge allegiance to #ou( the# ha%e indeed pledged allegiance
to AllahN the -and of Allah is o%er their hands GF:><"6. And the 7rophet S.A.+." said: 6-e who
%isits Ei#arat" me in m# life or after m# death has indeed %isited Allah.6 'n fact( the degree/le%el
of the 7rophet S.A.+." in the paradise is the highest of all"( and thus he who %isits him in his
degree from his house in 7aradise has indeed %isited Allah./
' further as1ed the 'mam: /. son of the Apostle of Allah@ +hat is the meaning of the -adith that
people" narrate: 6The reward of sa#ing( there is no Iod $ut Allah( is loo1ing toward the face of
Allah.6/ The 'mam AS" replied: /-e who attri$utes Allah a face li1e faces( has $ecome a
dis$elie%er. The face of Allah is -is 7rophets( -is Apostles and -is 7roofs( peace $e upon them(
$# whom people are attracted to -im and -is religion and get to 1now -im. Allah( the 5ight#
and the 5aJestic( said: 6All that is o%er it shall perish( $ut shall remain the face of th# 2ord( to
+hom $elong 5aJest# and -onor. 44:2H,23"6 Aurther Allah said: 6E%er#thing shall perish $ut -is
face. 2F:FF"6 Thus the a$o%e -adith means" loo1ing toward the Apostles of Allah( -is 7rophets(
and -is 7roofs in their degrees is a great reward for the $elie%ers in the !a# of 0udgment. And
%eril# the 7rophet S.A.+." said: 6-e who hates m# Ahlul,9a#t and m# progen#( he shall not see
me i.e.( shall not see m# merc#" nor shall ' see him i.e.( nor do ' pa# attention to him" on the
!a# of 0udgment.6 -e S.A.+." also said: 6Keril# amongst #ou are people who shall not see me
after m# departure.6 . A$a Salt@ Keril# Allah cannot $e descri$ed $# place and cannot $e captured
$# e#es or $# thin1ing/imagination./
, al,'htiJaJ( %2( pG<F
, C#un A1h$ar al,=idha( %>( p>>4( -adith ;3
, Bita$ al,Tawhid( p>>3( -adith ;2>
, al,9ihar( %G( p3>( -adith ;H
+e ha%e numerous traditions stating that the 7rophet S.A.+." and his Ahlul,9a#t AS" are the
/face/ of Allah( -is /e#e/( -is /tongue/( and -is /hand/( etc. Allah is e)alted $e#ond ha%ing
organs( as -e is the creator of the face( e#e( tongue and hand. +hate%er is other than Allah falls
into the categor# of -is creation( including what is called the /face of Allah/( and Allah does not
need an# of -is creation. An#where in the &uran where these words ha%e $een used for Allah
actuall# refer to the $est creation of Allah( and does not refer to -is Essence. 'n fact( it is narrated
that 'mam Ali AS" uneLui%ocall# stated:
'mam Ali AS" said: /An# %erse in the 9oo1 of Allah where an# of the words 6e#e6( 6face6( 6hand6(
or 6side6 is mentioned for Allah" refers to al,+ali./
, 9ihar al,Anwar( %24( p>32
The word al,+ali means the friend of Allah who is authorized $# -im o%er -is creations. Thus(
%isiting Allah in this world and in the !a# of 0udgment is defined as seeing the face of Allah( that
is( the light of 7rophet 5uhammad and his famil#( peace $e upon them. The face is the means of
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identification. Thus( to 1now Allah( one should loo1 at -is face@ This means that the proofs of
Allah were the means of attraction towards Allah( and onl# through them( one could properl#
recognize -im. The meaning of the word /al,-uJJa/ the 7roof of Allah" refers to the same fact.
The %erse 2F:FF of &uran that was mentioned in the -adith of 'mam al,=idha AS"( /E%er#thing
shall perish $ut -is face/( does not pro%e eternit# for the face of Allah. 't rather gi%es e%idence to
the fact that the role of the 7roofs of Allah does not come to end $# the death of their $odies. 'n
the commentar# of the a$o%e %erse( 'mam al,SadiL AS" said:
/'t means e%er#thing shall perish $ut -is religion. The Apostle of Allah S.A.+." and the
Dommander of 9elie%ers AS" were -is religion and -is face( and -is e#e amongst -is ser%ants(
and -is tongue $# which -e spo1e( and -is hand o%er -is creatures. And we are the face of Allah
$# which people" are turned/directed toward Allah. +e are alwa#s present to -is ser%ants so
long as Allah wishes to 1eep them( and afterwards Allah shall ta1e us towards -imself and shall
do with us what -e pleases./
, Bita$ al,Tawhid( p>4>( -adith ;3
, al,9ihar( %G( p3( -adith ;>G
The fact that the light of 7rophet 5uhammad and his famil# peace $e upon them all" was the
first creation of Allah is e%en ac1nowledged $# the Sunnis. .f the traditions the# ha%e narrated in
this regard is the following -adith on the authorit# of Salman al,Aarsi =A" who said:
' heard the Apostle of Allah S.A.+." sa#ing: /' and Ali were one light in the hands of Allah
fourteen thousand #ears >G(<<<" $efore -e created Adam AS". +hen Allah created Adam AS"
-e di%ided that light into two parts( ' $eing one part and Ali $eing the other./
Sunni =eferences:
, 5izan al,'6tidal( $# al,!haha$i( %>( p234
, Aadha6il al,Saha$a( $# Ahmad '$n -an$al( %2( pHH3( Tradition ;>>3<
, al,=i#adh al,?adhira( $# 5uhi$$uddin al,Ta$ari( %2( p>HG( %3( p>4G
, -istor# of '$n Asa1ir
As mentioned in the pre%ious section( seeing Allah $# the heart means recognition/identification
5a6rifa" of Allah through the heart. ?ow( according to the following traditions( the recognition of
Allah is defined as the recognition of the light of 7rophet 5uhammad and his Ahlul,9a#t( peace
$e upon them. Salman al,Aarsi =A" and A$u !har =A" $oth narrated:
The 2eader of the Aaithful AS" said: /Dertainl#( no one6s faith $ecomes complete until he 1nows
me $# the recognition of m# light. .nce he 1nows me $# such recognition 5a6rifat"( his heart
has passed Allah6s test for perfect" faith and Allah has opened his $osom for su$mission and has
$ecome cognizant Arif" with %ision. -e who falls short of such recognition will remain"
dou$tful. . Salman@ . 0unda$@ =ecognition 5a6rifat" of m# light is recognition of Allah S+T"(
and recognition of Allah S+T" is recognition of m# light./
, 9ihar al,Anwar( %2H( p>( -adith ;>
?ote that( the light of Allah is -is creation. -owe%er( since we ha%e no wa# to understand the
Essence of Allah( and that the recognition of -is Essence can onl# $e purif#ing -im from
an#thing that we understand( Allah has /defined/ -is recognition as the recognition of -is
greatest sign( that is the recognition of -is light. This is as much as we can o$ser%e( and we are
not a$le to see $e#ond this created light. This light( the first creation of Allah( is the light of the
7rophet S.A.+." and his Ahlul,9a#t AS". A person who reaches to this light has reached to the
clima) of understanding Allah since he has recognized -is greatest sign. 'mam -asan al,As1ari
AS" said:
'mam al,=eza AS" said: /Allah is 1nown/recognized $# the signs and is pro%en $# the
indications./
, Tafsir 'mam -asan al,As1ari AS"( p4<( -adith ;2G
, Bita$ al,Tawhid( pG3( -adith ;:
, 9ihar al,Anwar( %G( p3<3( -adith ;3>
The greater the sign( the greater the recognition. A person who has recognized the greatest sign of
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Allah i.e.( the light of the 7rophet S.A.+." and his Ahlul,9a#t AS""( has attained the greatest
recognition 5a6rifat" of Allah. 5uhammad '$n 5uslim narrated:
'mam al,9aLir AS" said: /A%oid pondering on the Essence of" Allah. -owe%er( when #ou intend
to loo1 towards -is maJest#( then loo1 towards -is greatest creation./
, al,Bafi( %>( p:3( -adith ;3
, Bita$ al,Tawhid( pG43( -adith ;>G
, +asa6il al,Shia( %>H( p>:4( -adith ;2>323
5oreo%er( Salama '$n Ataa narrated:
'mam al,SadiL AS" said: al,-usain '$n Ali AS" said: /. 7eople@ Dertainl# Allah( the Ilorious(
created the ser%ants so that the# recognize/1now -im( and when the# recognize -im the#
ser%e/worship -im( and when the# worship -im the# will ha%e no need to worship other than
-im./ At this time someone as1ed: /5a# m# father and m# mother $e sacrificed for #ou( . Son
of the Apostle of Allah@ +hat is the recognition 5a6rifat" of Allah?/ -e AS" replied: /The
recognition of the 'mam of the time whose o$edience is o$ligator# to 7eople./
, 'lal al,Shara#e6( part >( p:( -adith ;>
, Banz al,Aawa6id( %>( p32F(
, 9ihar al,Anwar( %23( pF3( -adith ;22
, Tafsir ?ur al,ThaLalain( under Kerse 4>:4H
'n another -adith( A$i 9asir narrated:
'mam al,SadiL AS" said: The Dommander of 9elie%ers said: /' am the Iuide( and the Iuided( ...
' am the leader of 9elie%ers towards 7aradise. ' am the Strong =ope of Allah( the trustworthiest
handhold( and the word of TaLwa. ' am the e#e of Allah( -is truthful tongue( and -is hand. ' am
the side of Allah a$out whom Allah" sates: 62est the soul should then" sa#: 6Ah@ +oe onto me
that ' neglected m# dut# towards"/a$andoned/a$used the side of Allah 3::4H".6 ' am the
outstretched hand of Allah in 5erc# o%er -is creation( and ' am the door of forgi%eness. +hoe%er
recognizes me and recognizes m# rights has indeed recognized -is 2ord( $ecause ' am the +asi
of -is 7rophet on -is Earth and -is 7roof o%er -is creation. ?o one would den# this $ut he who
has denied Allah and -is Apostle./
, al,'1htisas( p2GF
, Bita$ al,Tawhid( p>HG( -adith ;2
, 5a6ani al,A1h$ar( p>3( -adith ;>G
, 9ihar al,Anwar( %2G( p>:F( -adith ;23
+hen something is %er# close to a person it will $e on his side. 'mam Ali is called the 6side6 of
Allah as he has $ecome 6close6 to -im through o$edience so much so that neglecting his right
would mean neglecting Allah6s right( forsa1ing him would mean forsa1ing Allah( and recognizing
him in heart would mean recognizing Allah in heart.
5oreo%er( the# $eing the /e#e/ of Allah mean that the light of 7rophet S.A.+." and his famil#
are witness to man1ind. ?onetheless( this does not mean Allah is in need of them for watching
o%er the creation. Allah has full 1nowledge and is witness o%er all -is creation. This rather means
Allah has chosen them to $e also witnesses to their acts much the same as -e has chosen some
angels to $e witnesses o%er each and e%er# action of the human $eing.
Similarl#( the# $eing the /tongue/ of Allah clearl# means that Allah spea1s to man1ind through
them. The# inform them of -is orders and -is commandments( e)plain -is message( and protect
-is religion.
As for them $eing the outstretched /hand/ of Allah in merc#( shows that the merc# of Allah
reaches to -is creation onl# through them. The hand can also refer to power. Allah shows -is
power through them. Dertainl#( Allah does not need an#one to wor1 for -imN howe%er( -is glor#
is e)alted to do simple Jo$s in person. -e has created some ser%ants and angels and has assigned
them different duties( while -e has full control a$o%e them. 5oreo%er( -e attri$uted their acts to
-imself( as -e has ordered them of those acts and -e 1nows that the# e)actl# follow -is
commandments.
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Those who ha%e denied the %irtues of Ahlul,9a#t AS" could not e)plain the a$o%e,mentioned
%erses of &uran an# other wa# e)cept that the# considered Allah as ha%ing a $od# complete with
organs such as a face( hands( e#es( sides( etc. The essence of such a god can surel# $e seen. The#
ha%e limited Allah to their faculties( and $# claiming to see the Essence of Allah through their
e#es( the# ha%e fallen into a clear 1ind of pol#theism Shir1".
5a# Allah grant us 1nowledge and TaLwa( sa%e us from the Aitna of Satan( the accursed. 5a#
Allah hasten the ad%ent of our 'mam AS"( and Luench our thirst through his 1nowledge and his
compan#.
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