The secrets of Meraj and the vision of Allah Taala

Seeing Jibreel (May peace be upon him) does not mean not seeing Allah Ta’ala

There is a Hadith in Sahih Muslim:

Translation of Hadith: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Masruq (May Allah be well pleased with him) that he asked Hadhrat Aisha (May Allah be well pleased with her):  Doesn’t Allah Ta’ala say: 

Hadhrat Aisha Siddiqua (May Allah be well pleased with her) said:  I was the first one of this Ummah to ask the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) about this and He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  It was Jibreel (May peace be upon him).  (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 457)

This Hadith shows that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saw Jibreel (May peace be upon him).  It does not negate seeing Allah Ta’ala.  Seeing Allah Ta’ala is established by the Sahih (rigorously authenticated) Hadith.  It cannot be denied. 

The proofs about seeing Allah Ta’ala are contradictory to each other.  One cannot prefer one kind of proofs and declare the other to be unreliable.  The better way is to reconcile (Tatbeeq) the contradictory Hadith and Traditions. 

The way to reconcile this Hadith with the other is that at Sidratul Muntaha, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saw Jibreel (May peace be upon him) in his original form.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) went beyond it.  He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) heard the sound of the Qalam writing, He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) rode Raf Raf.  In these places, there is no mention of Jibreel (May peace be upon him).  Then He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) reached La Makaan where He saw Allah Ta’ala.