Is it possible to see Allah (Most High) in the Afterlife?
Quran
Hadith
Islamic Text
Yes, it is possible for the believers to see Allah (Most High) in the Afterlife, and it is the greatest of all rewards.
وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ نَاضِرَةٌ (22) إِلَى رَبِّهَا نَاظِرَةٌ (23)
Faces on that day are illuminated. Looking to their Lord. (Surah al-Qiyamah, 22 -23).
عَنْ جَرِيرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: إِنَّكُمْ سَتَرَوْنَ رَبَّكُمْ عِيَانًا
Jarir bin Abdillah said, the Prophet ﷺ said, ‘Indeed you will clearly see your Lord.’ (Sahih al- Bukhari, 7435).
There are many Ayaat of the Holy Quran alluding to this fact. As for Hadith narrations, they are even more explicit, as seen above.
Seeing Allah Most High in the Afterlife is the greatest of all rewards and blessings, therefore it is only right for one to ardently strive in order to attain it. One must not take it for granted, rather long for it and work passionately to achieve it.
مَذْهَب أهل الْحق أَن الْبَارِي تَعَالَى مرئي وَيجوز أَن يرَاهُ الراؤون بالأبصار، وَذهب الْمُعْتَزلَة إِلَى أَنه سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى يَسْتَحِيل أَن يرى
The position of the people of the truth is that the Creator Most High can be seen, and those seeing may see with their vision. But the Mu’tazilah held that He Most High is impossible to see. (Imam al-Juwayni, Luma al-Adilah).
وأما المعتزلة وفانهم نفوا الجهة ولم يتمكنوا من إثبات الرؤية دونها، وخالفوا به قواطع الشرع
And as for the Mu’tazilah they negate a direction (for Allah Most High) and could not conceive seeing (Allah Most High) without it. In doing so they opposed that which is clear in revelation. (Imam al-Ghazali, al-Iqtisaad fi al-I’tiqaad).
We see from the above that the scholars of Ahl Sunnah affirmed the beatific vision. However, it is absolutely necessary for a Muslim to recognise that this vision is beyond comprehension and cannot be compared to anything else within creation.
To attempt to visualise, or even entertain vague notions of the nature of the beatific vision is absolute misguidance, and an utter lack of appreciation of the transcendence of Allah (Most High). Consequently, it is obligatory upon Muslims to study the science of Aqeedah (Muslim Creed), to protect them from such destructive notions.
And Allah (Most High) Knows Best.
– Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (27.08.2021)
See also:
Do Asharis prefer their intellect over Quran and Hadith?
Do we believe in punishment of the grave?
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