The dwellers of paradise will be blessed to see the face of Allah.

Question:

It is stated that on the day of judgement everyone will stand before Allah there will be no barrier between them and Allah and then it is said that only the dwellers of paradise will be blessed to see the face of Allah. Can you please explain this?

Answer:

As Salaamu Alaikum,

It is the creed of the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah (the Sunni Muslims) that the believers will see Allah, while in Paradise with their eyes. About this, the Messenger of Allah (SAS)said, ‘When the inhabitants of Paradise will enter Paradise, Allah , the Blessed and Exalted, will ask them, ‘Is there any thing more you need that I may bestow upon you’. They will say, ‘Have you not brightened our faces’. ‘Have you not entered us into paradise and delivered us from the Hell fire?’ Allah will say, “Certainly’. The Messenger of Allah (SAS) said, ‘Then the Veils will be removed and they will see the countenance of Allah Most High. They will not have been bestowed anything more beloved to them than the sight of their Lord’. The Messenger of Allah (SAS) then recited (the verse which stated), ‘For those who do good is the best (reward) and more.’ (Quran10:26) (Muslim).

In another sound hadith, it is narrated that the Companions (Sahabahs) once said to the Prophet (SAS), ‘O Messenger of Allah, shall we see our Lord in the hereafter?’ The Prophet (SAS) replied, ‘Do you have any difficulty in seeing the sun when there are no clouds?’ They said, ‘No, O Messenger of Allah’. The Prophet (SAS) then said, ‘Do you have any difficulty in seeing the moon on the full moon night ‘. They replied, No, O Messenger of Allah’. He said, ‘You shall see Allah like that’. (Meaning- you will have no doubt or difficulty in seeing your Lord’. (Muslim).

It is to be noted that the believers will see Allah in Paradise without specifying how, without comparison, without comprehending His essence, and without Allah being restricted to a place or location.

Equally, He will not be seen in a manner where He is opposite to His creation or where there is distance between Him and His creation.

Regarding this, Imam Abu Hanifa (AR) has stated in his renowned book of the Aqeeda/Creed of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah, ‘And Allah will be seen in the Hereafter. The believers will see Him, while in Paradise, with their own eyes without any comparison or modality. There will not be any distance between Him and His creation’. (Sharh Al Fiqhul Akbar pg.83).

And Allah knows best,
Mufti Waseem Khan

12/3/2013