Did The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمSee Allah?

In response to a similar question, Imam-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat, Sayyidi Ala Hazrat, Imam Ahmad Raza Khan Alaihir Rahmah, writes in Fataawa Razviyyah Shareef, in the light of Marfoo Ahadith, Athaar e Sahaabah, Akhbaar e Taabi'een (narrations of the Taabi'een), and statements of the Imams of the Deen as follows: (1) Marfoo Ahadith (Prophetic narrations) Imam Ahmad narrates in his Musnad from Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbaas RadiAllahu Anhuma:

Translation: The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلمsaid: I saw My Rabb. (Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, Volume 1, Page 285)

Imam Jalaalud-Deen Suyuti in Khasaa'ise Kubra and Allamah Abdur Rauf Munaawi in Tayseer Sharh Jaami'e Sagheer state that this Hadith is Saheeh with an authentic chain of narrations. (Tayseer Sharh Jaami'e Sagheer, under the Hadith “Ra’aytu Rabbi”, Volume 2, Page 525) Ibn e Asaakir narrates from Hazrat Jaabir bin Abdullah RadiAllahu Anhuma that the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمsaid:

Translation: “Indeed Allah Almighty granted Hazrat Moosa Alaihis Salaam the privilege of speech, and granted Me His Divine Vision, and favoured Me with the Grand Intercession and the Pond of Kauthar.” (Kanzul Ummaal, with reference of Ibn Asaakir, from Hazrat Jaabir, Hadith: 143926/447) The same Hadith master narrates from Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ood RadiAllahu Anhu that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلمsaid:

Translation: “My Rabb said to me: I granted My friendship to Ibrahim, spoke to Moosa, and granted you, O Muhammad ( )صلى الله عليه وسلمDirect Divine Vision, so You saw My Pure Divine Beauty without any veil or barrier.” (Taarikh e Damishq Kabeer, Volume 4, Page 424) The author of Majma Bihaaril Anwaar explains the word “Kifaahan” as:

Translation: “In The Direct Divine Presence with neither any veil nor any intermediary between them.” (Majma Bihaaril Anwaar, Volume 4, Page 424) Ibn e Mardawiyyah narrates from Hazrat Asma bint e Abi Bakr Siddique RadiAllahu Anhuma:

Translation: “I heard the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلمdescribing Sidratul Muntaha. I asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم, what did You see in its proximity?’ He صلى الله عليه وسلمreplied: ‘I saw His Divine Vision in its proximity. In other words, My Rab’b.’” (Ad-Durrul Manthoor)

(2) Athaar e Sahaabah (Narrations of the Companions) In Jaami‘e Tirmidhi Shareef, from Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbaas RadiAllahu Anhuma:

Translation: “We, Banu Haashim, the Household of the Messenger

Tirmidhi, Chapters of Tafseer, Surah Najm, Volume 2 Page 161/Ameen Company Urdu Bazaar, Delhi,) Ibn e Ishaaq narrates from Abdullah bin Abi Salma:

Translation: Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar RadiAllahu Anhuma asked Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbaas RadiAllahu Anhuma: “Did Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم see His Rabb?” He replied: “Yes.” (Ad-Durrul Manthoor with the reference of Ibn e Ishaaq under the Aayat 53/18, Volume 7, Page 570/Daaru Ihyaa'it Turaasil Arabi, Beirut)

In Jaami‘e Tirmidhi and Mu‘jamul Awsat of Tabaraani, from Ikrimah who narrates:

Translation: These are the words of Tabaraani that Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbaas RadiAllahu Anhuma said: “Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلمsaw His Rabb.” Ikrimah, his student says that I asked: “Did Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلمtruly see His Rabb?” He replied: “Yes. Allah reserved speech for Moosa, friendship for Ibrahim, and Divine Vision for Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم.” And Imam Tirmidhi added: “Indeed Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلمsaw Allah twice.” (Al Mu'jamul Awsat, Hadith 9392/Maktabatul Ma'aarif, Volume 10, Page 181, Riyadh/Jaami'e Tirmidhi, Chapters of Tafseer, Surah Najm, Volume 2, Page 169/Ameen Company, Urdu Bazaar, Delhi) Imam Tirmidhi says that this Hadith is Hasan. Imam Nasa'i, Imam Khuzaimah, Haakim, and Bayhaqi narrate:

Translation: “Is it strange that friendship was for Ibrahim, speech was for Moosa, and Divine Vision was for Muhammad ”?صلى الله عليه وسلمThese are the words of Bayhaqi. Haakim said: This Hadith is Saheeh. Imam Qastalaani and Zarqaani said: its chain of narrations is sound. (Al Mawaahibul Ladunniyah with reference of Nisa'i and Haakim/Al Maktabul Islami, Beirut, Volume 3, Page 104) (Ad-Durrul Manthoor with reference of Nisa'i and Haakim under Aayat 53/18/Daaru Ihyaa'it Turaasil Arabi, Beirut, Volume 7, Page 569) Tabaraani narrates:

Translation: Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbaas RadiAllahu Anhuma used to say: “Indeed, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلمsaw His Rabb twice, once with the eyes of his head and once with the eye of his heart.” (Al Mawaahibul Ladunniyah with reference of Tabaraani/Al Maktabul Islami, Beirut, Volume 3 Page 105) (Al Mu'jamul Awsat, Hadith 5757/Maktabatul Ma'aarif, Riyadh, Volume 6, Page 356) Imam Suyuti, Imam Qastalaani, Allamah Shaami, and Allamah Zarqaani said: Its chain of narrations is Saheeh and correct.

Imamul A'immah Ibn e Khuzaimah and Imam Bazzaar narrate from Hazrat Anas bin Malik RadiAllahu Anhu:

Translation: “Indeed, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلمsaw His Rabb.” (Al Mawaahibul Ladunniyah with reference of Ibn e Khuzaimah/Al Maktabul Islami, Beirut, Volume 3, Page 105) Imam Ahmad Qastalaani and Abdul Baaqi Zarqaani said: Its chain of narrations is strong. Muhammad bin Ishaaq narrates:

Translation: Marwaan asked Hazrat Abu Hurairah RadiAllahu Anhu: “Did Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلمsee His Rabb?” He replied: “Yes.” (SharhuzZarqaani Alal Mawaahibil Ladunniyah with the reference of Ibn e Ishaaq/Darul Maarifah, Beirut, Volume 6, Page 118)

3. Akhbaar e Taabi'een (Narrations of the Taabi'een) It is in Musannaf Abdur Razzaaq:

Translation: Imam Hasan Basri Alaihir Rahmah used to swear by Allah that indeed, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلمsaw His Rabb. (Ash-Shifa Be Taarif e Huqooqil Mustafa with the reference of Musannaf Abdur Razzaaq, Volume 1, Page 159) Similarly, Imam Ibn e Khuzaimah narrates from Urwah bin Zubair:

Translation: He affirmed the occurrence of Divine Vision on the Night of Mi‘raaj and strongly rejected its denial. (Sharhuz-Zarqaani Alal Mawaahibil Ladunniyah with the reference of Ibn e Khuzaimah/Darul Ma’aarifah, Beirut, Volume 1, Page 116) Likewise, Hazrat Kaab Ahbaar (An Expert Scholar of The Past Books), Imam Ibn e Shihaab Zuhri Qarshi, Imam Mujaahid Makhzoomi Makki, Imam Ikrimah bin Abdullah Madni Hashmi, Imam Ata bin Rabaah Qarshi Makki, Ustaad Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Muslim bin Sabeeh

Abud-Duha Kufi etc. and all the students of Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbaas RadiAllahu Anhum held the same belief. Imam Qastalaani states in Mawaahibul Ladunniyah:

“Hazrat Ibn e Khuzaimah narrated its affirmation from Urwah bin Zubair RadiAllahu Anhu. All the students of Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbaas RadiAllahu Anhuma held this view, and Kaab Ahbaar and Zuhri decisively affirmed it.” (Al Mawaahibul Ladunniyah/Al Maktabul Islami, Beirut, Volume 3, Page 104) (4) Statements of Later Imams of the Deen Imam Khallaal narrates from Ishaaq ibn Marwazi in Kitaabus Sunnah that Hazrat Imam Ahmad bin Hambal affirmed the Divine Vision and cited as proof, the statement of the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم:

Translation: "I Saw My Rabb" (Al Mawaahibul Ladunniyah with reference of Al Khallaal Fi Kitaabis Sunnah/Al Maktabul Islami, Beirut, Volume 3, Page 107)

Naqqaash narrates in his Tafseer that Hazrat Imam Ahmad said repeatedly:

Translation: “I believe in the Hadith of Ibn e Abbaas that the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمSaw His Rabb,” repeating it until his breath failed. (AshShifa Be Taarif e Huqooqil Mustafa with reference of Naqqaash, Volume 1, Page 159) Imam Ibnul Khateeb Misri Alaihir Rahmah says in Mawaahib Shareef:

Translation: “This was decisively affirmed by Ma‘mar bin Raashid Basri and others, and this is the doctrine of Imam Abul Hasan Ash‘ari and the majority of his followers.” (Al Mawaahibul Ladunniyah, Al Maqsadul Khaamis/Al Maktabul Islami, Beirut, Volume 3, Page 104) Allamah Shahaabud-Deen Khifaaji writes in Naseemur Riyaaz Sharh Shifa e Imam Qaazi Ayaaz:

Translation: “The strongest and most preferable position is that the

Night of Isra, as held by the majority of the Companions.” (Naseemur Riyaaz Sharh Shifaaul Qaazi Ayaaz, Volume 2, Page 303) Imam Nawawi in Sharh Saheeh Muslim and Allamah Muhammad bin Abdul Baaqi in Sharh e Mawaahib says:

Translation: “According to the majority of scholars, the preferable view is that the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمsaw his Rabb with His صلى الله عليه وسلمphysical eyes on the Night of Mi‘raaj.” (Sharhuz-Zarqaani Alal Mawaahibil Ladunniyah, Al Maqsadul Khaamis, Darul Ma’aarifah, Beirut, Volume 6, Page 116) There is no need to mention further opinions of later scholars, for they are beyond enumeration; the phrase ‘most of the scholars’ as stated in Minhaaj is sufficient and conclusive. (Fataawa Razviyyah Shareef, Volume 18, Page 399–403, Imam Ahmad Raza Academy, Bareilly Shareef)