is a disbeliever.
We further affirm that Allah will be seen with the eyes on the Day of Resurrection (1), just as the full moon is seen on its brightest night. The believers will behold Him, as the narrations (2) from the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—state. And we say: when the believers behold Him, the disbelievers will be screened from Him (3), as the Exalted has said:
“No indeed! On that Day they shall be veiled from their Lord.” (4)
Moses asked to see Allah in this world, and Allah manifested Himself to the mountain, reducing it to dust (5). From this Moses understood (6) that no one can behold Him (7) in the life of this world.
We hold that we do not declare any member of the People of the Qiblah an unbeliever on account of a sin he commits—such as fornication, theft, or drinking wine—contrary to the Khawarij who claimed (8) that such people are disbelievers. Yet we maintain that whoever perpetrates a major sin of this kind while deeming it lawful is a disbeliever, provided he does not believe in its prohibition (9).
(1) In al-Ibanah: it is maintained that in the Afterlife [God] will be seen with the eyes.
(2) Some of these points were mentioned above (p. 413).
(3) In al-Ibanah: that the disbelievers will be veiled from Him when the believers behold Him in Paradise…
(4) Sura al-Mutaffifīn (83), verse 15.
(5) As stated in the words of Allah: “And when Moses came at Our appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, he said, ‘My Lord, show me [Yourself] so that I may look upon You.’ He said, ‘You will never see Me, but look at the mountain; if it remains firm in its place, then you shall see Me.’ And when his Lord manifested Himself to the mountain, He made it level, and Moses fell down unconscious. And when he recovered, he said, ‘Glory be to You! I repent to You, and I am the first of the believers.’” [al-Aʿrāf 7:143]
(6) In al-Ibanah, in the section “Refuting the Fabricator’s Falsehood.” Note this.
(7) The term “ahad” (one) is omitted in al-Ibanah and in “Refuting the Fabricator’s Falsehood.”
(8) In al-Ibanah: “… and he alleged that they …”.
(9) In al-Ibanah: “… one who commits a major sin—such as adultery, theft, or the like—while deeming it lawful and not believing in its prohibition, is a disbeliever.”