Dr. Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Mujaddidi Qadri
Shaykh Ul Fiqh, Jamia Nizamia; Founder - Director
Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center
Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center
The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) journeyed through the heavenly worlds and saw the signs of Allah’s power and was privileged with the vision of Allah Ta’ala. This is mentioned in the Holy Quran and the Hadith, at some places indirectly and at other directly. Thus, Allah Ta’ala says about this: <div> </div> <div>(His) heart did not take it contrary to what (his) eyes beheld. Surah Najm (53:11)</div> <div> </div> <div>And assuredly he saw Him (Allah Unveiled) the second time (again and you argue only about seeing Him once). Surah Najm (53:13)</div> <div> </div> <div>And his eye neither inclined aside nor overstepped the limit; (it gazed in ecstasy at Whom it was to gaze). Surah Najm (53:17)</div> <div> </div> <div>Surely he saw the Greatest Signs of His Lord (during the Ascension Night). Surah Najm (53:18)</div> <div> </div> <div>There is a Hadith in the canons of Hadith on the authority of Hadhrat Anas Bin Malik (May Allah be well pleased with him):</div> <div> </div> <div>Translation of Hadith: Allah Ta’ala granted Him closeness and granted Him even more closeness to the extent that He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was as close as 2 bows or even closer. (Sahih Bukhari, Kitab Ut Tauheed, Hadith No. 7517; Mustakhraj Abi ‘Awana, Kitab Ul Iman, Hadith No. 270; Jame’ Ul Usool Min Ahadithir Rasool, Kitab Un Nubuwwah, Hadith No. 8867)</div> <div> </div> <div>[Allah Ta’ala is beyond the confines of time, space, etc. and cannot be compared to anything. Here “close as 2 bows” means that in Arabia, when two tribes wanted to show their unity and friendship, the chiefs would join their bows and shoot 1 arrow with it. The Holy Quran was revealed to Arabs, so Allah Ta’ala uses the idioms and expressions which were familiar to Arabs to explain things]</div> <div> </div> <div>There is a Hadith in Sahih Muslim, Sahih Ibn Hibban, Musnad Abi Ya’ala, Al Jame’ Ul Kabeer, Majma Uz Zawaaid, Kanz Ul Ummal, Mustahraj Abi ‘Awana:</div> <div> </div> <div>Translation of Hadith: Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Shaqeeq (May Allah be well pleased with him) says: I told Hadhrat Abuzar (May Allah be well pleased with him) that if I had the honor of seeing the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), I would have certainly asked Him. He asked: What would you have asked? Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Shaqeeq said: I would have asked the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), did He see His Lord. Hadhrat Abuzar Ghifari (May Allah be well pleased with him) said: I asked the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) about this and He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: I have seen Him, He is all Noor. (Sahih Muslim, Kitab Ul Iman, Hadith No. 462; Mustakhraj Abi ‘Awana, Kitab Ul Iman, Hadith No. 287; Sahih Ibn Hibban, Kitab Ul Isra, Hadith No. 58; Jame’ Ul Ahadith, Harf Ur Ra, Hadith No. 12640; Jam Ul Jawami’ (Jame’ Ul Kabir Lis Suyuti) Harf Ur Ra, Hadith No. 12788; Majma Uz Zawaaid, Hadith No. 13840; Musnad Abi Ya’ala, Hadith No. 7163; Kanz Ul Ummal, Harf Ul Fa, Hadith No. 31864)</div> <div> </div> <div>There is a Hadith in Sahih Muslim, Musnad Imam Ahmed, Sahih Ibn Hibban, Musnad Abi Ya’ala, Mo’jam Ausat Lit Tabarani, Jame’ Ul Ahadith, Al Jame Ul Kabir, Kanz Ul Ummal, Mustakhraj Abi ‘Awana:</div> <div> </div> <div>Translation of Hadith: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abuzar Ghifari (May Allah be well pleased with him): I asked the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam): Did you see your Lord? He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: He is Noor, indeed I see Him. (Sahih Muslim, Kitab Ul Iman, Hadith No. 177; Musnad Imam Ahmed, Musnad Abi Bakr, Hadith No. 21429/21351). </div> <div> </div> <div>In this Hadith also, it is clearly mentioned that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saw Allah Ta’ala. </div> <div> </div> <div>Translation of Hadith: The Sahabah asked the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam): Did you see your Lord? In reply, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: He is Noor, I see Him.</div> <div> </div> <div>This Hadith is present in various canons of Hadith with different wordings:</div> <div> </div> <div>1. He is Noor, indeed I see Him. (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 177; Musnad Imam Ahmed, Hadith No. 21429/21351). </div> <div> </div> <div>2. Translation of Hadith: The manner in which I saw Him, He is all Noor. (Musnad Imam Ahmed, Hadith No. 21567)</div> <div> </div> <div>3. Translation of Hadith: I have seen Noor. (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 178; Mustakhraj Abi ‘Awana, Kitab Ul Iman, Hadith No. 287; Sahih Ibn Hibban, Kitab Ul Isra, Hadith No. 58; Tabarani Mo’jam Ausat, Hadith No. 8300;p Musnad Imam Ahmed, Hadith No. 21357; Jame’ Ul Ahadith, Harf Ur Ra, Hadith No. 12640; Jam Ul Jawami’ (Jame’ Ul Kabir Lis Suyuti), Hadith No. 12788; Sahih Ibn Hibban, Kitab Ul Isra, Hadith No. 255; Majma Uz Zawaaid, Hadith No. 13840; Musnad Abi Ya’ala, Hadith No. 7163; Kanz Ul Ummal, Harf Ul Fa, Hadith No. 31864)</div> <div> </div> <div>In this Hadith, it is clearly mentioned that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saw Allah Ta’ala. The Sahabah asked Him: Did you see Allah Ta’ala? The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: He is Noor. Only I see Him.</div> <div> </div> <div>This Hadith is mentioned with slightly different wordings in various books of Hadith:</div> <div> </div> <div>1. He is Noor. Only I see Him. (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 461; Musnad Ahmed, Hadith No. 2351, 21429)</div> <div> </div> <div>2. The way I see Him. He is all Noor. (Musnad Ahmed, Hadith No. 21567)</div> <div> </div> <div>3. I have seen Noor. (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 462; Sahih Ibn Hibban, Hadith No. 58; M'ojam Ausat Tabarani, Hadith No. 8300; Musnad Ahmed, Hadith No. 21537)</div> <div> </div> <div>This Hadith is recorded in different places with different wordings. It is mentioned multiple times in Sahih Muslim with multiple chains of authority. As such, there is no objection in its veracity.</div> <div> </div> <div>The words "Nooraniyyul Araahu" have been read in 3 different manners:</div> <div> </div> <div>1. Noorun. Innee Arahu.</div> <div> </div> <div>Translation: Allah Ta’ala is Noor. Indeed I see Him.</div> <div> </div> <div>2. Nooraniyyul Araahu.</div> <div> </div> <div>Translation: Allah Ta’ala is the creator of Noor. I see Him.</div> <div> </div> <div>3. Noorun. Anna Arahu.</div> <div> </div> <div>Translation: The way I see Him. He is all Noor.</div> <div> </div> <div>The word "Anna" in the 3rd one is used in 2 different senses. One, to inquire about the condition as "Kaifa" and the second as "Haitha".</div> <div> </div> <div>If it is used as "Kaifa," then the meaning of the Hadith will be "how can I see Him." In this sense, the vision of Allah Ta’ala is negated.</div> <div> </div> <div>If it is used as "Haitha," it means "He is all Noor." This shows the vision of Allah Ta’ala to be correct.</div> <div> </div> <div>The first 2 recitations of this Hadith and other Hadith show that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saw Allah Ta’ala. There is a huge probability that "Anna" is taken as "Haitha" only.</div> <div> </div> <div>If it is said "Anna" is taken only in the sense of "Kaifa," then the meaning of the Hadith will be: He is Noor. How can I see Him on my own?</div> <div> </div> <div>In this case, seeing on one's own is negated or seeing Allah Ta’ala as He is negated.</div> <div> </div> <div>If it is said that this Hadith means, "How can I see Allah Ta’ala?," even then the vision of Allah Ta’ala is not negated, because seeing Allah Ta’ala is established by many other Hadith, which establish the vision of Allah Ta’ala for the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) in the night of Meraj without any doubt. </div> <div> </div> <div>The words taken in this sense raise a doubt at the most. The Shariah has a principle:</div> <div> </div> <div>Translation: Certitude is not dispelled by doubt. (Al Ashba Wan Nadhaair, Al Qaidah Ath Thalitha)</div> <div> </div> <div>In light of this principle, the certitude gained by the various and numerous Traditions of the Sahabah is not dispelled by a mere doubt.</div>