—when He manifests Himself in His light, nothing can encompass Him.”

Muhammad ibn Yahyā said, “Ibrāhīm ibn al-Hakam refused to narrate this hadith to me, so Allah chose for me someone better than him.” He meant that Yazīd ibn Abī Hakīm was better than Ibrāhīm ibn al-Hakam—that is, more reliable than him.

Muhammad ibn Yahyā said: His son—meaning the son of Ibrāhīm ibn al-Hakam—said to me, “Come, so that we may narrate to you.” But I did not go. Then ‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn Bishr ibn al-Hakam narrated to us: Mūsā ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azīz al-Qanbārī narrated to us: al-Hakam—meaning Ibn Abān—narrated to me: ‘Ikrimah narrated to me, saying: Ibn ‘Abbās was asked, “Did Muhammad see his Lord?” He replied, “Yes.” I myself then said to Ibn ‘Abbās, “Does the Lord, Mighty and Majestic, not say, ‘No vision can encompass Him, but He encompasses