his Book of Sunan, this report from ‘Ikrimah, who said: Ibn ‘Abbās was asked, “Did Muhammad see his Lord?” He replied, “Yes.” He was asked, “How did he see Him?” He replied, “In a form.” I myself then said to Ibn ‘Abbās, “Does He not say, ‘No vision can encompass Him, but He encompasses all vision; He is the Most Subtle, the All-Aware’ (103) [al-An‘ām 103]?” He replied, “Woe to you! That is His light—the light that is His. When He manifests Himself in His light, nothing can encompass Him.”

Abū Bakr ibn Khuzaymah also transmitted the report of the vision from Ibn ‘Abbās through this same route, saying: Muhammad ibn Yahyā narrated to us: Yazīd ibn Abī Hakīm al-‘Adanī narrated to us: al-Hakam ibn Abān narrated to us: I heard ‘Ikrimah say: I heard Ibn ‘Abbās being asked, “Did Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, see his Lord?” He replied, “Yes.” I then said to Ibn ‘Abbās, “Does Allah not say, ‘No vision can encompass Him, but He encompasses all vision’ [al-An‘ām 103]?” He replied, “Woe to you! That is His light