has uttered a monstrous lie against Allah.” She appealed to the words of the Most High, “Vision cannot perceive Him” [al-Anʿām 103], and His words, “It is not for any human being that Allah should speak to him except by revelation” [al-Shūrā 51]. This rules out only seeing with the eyes. It is therefore clear that she understood those who said that Muhammad saw his Lord to mean seeing Him with the eyes.

Third, in the report narrated by ʿIkrimah, the question is asked: “Does the Lord Most High not say, ‘Vision cannot perceive Him, but He perceives all vision’ [al-Anʿām 103]?” The reply was: “May you be bereft of your mother! That is His light—His own light. When He manifests Himself in His light, nothing can perceive Him.” It is well known that this verse is cited in objection only to those who affirm seeing with the eyes. Moreover, the reply, “That is His light—His own light. When He manifests Himself in His light, nothing can perceive Him,” implies that perception occurs in a different state; that the reported seeing of Him is an instance of this perception, namely seeing with the eyes; and that sight did perceive Him, but not in His light—His own light—in which, when He manifests Himself, nothing can perceive Him.

In the version of this report narrated by Ibn Abī Dāwūd, a question was put to Ibn