And this indicates that the Companions understood this distinction from the words of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Abū Dharr explicitly stated the same, saying, “He saw Him with his heart, but did not see Him with his eyes.” On this basis, the statements of Ibn ‘Abbās and ‘Ā’isha can be reconciled, as we shall explain, Allah Most High willing. Abū Dharr said, “He saw Him with his heart, but did not see Him with his eyes.”

Al-Khallāl said: Abū Bakr al-Marwadhī informed us, saying: I said to Abū ‘Abd Allāh, “They say that ‘Ā’isha said, ‘Whoever claims that Muhammad saw his Lord has uttered a tremendous lie against Allah.’ What, then, can be used to counter ‘Ā’isha’s statement?” He replied, “The words of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ‘I saw my Lord’; and the words of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace