a bat cannot bear to look at it—not because it cannot be seen, but because of the weakness and incapacity of its sight. Likewise, one may be unable to hear extremely loud sounds, not because they are inaudible, but because of the listener’s weakness and incapacity. Thus, many people experience weakness, trembling, or similar effects when hearing tremendous sounds or seeing awe-inspiring things. This results from their inability to bear such sights and sounds, not because those things cannot be seen or heard.

Accordingly, reports concerning Moses—peace and blessings be upon him—and others state that people do not see Allah in this world only because of their weakness and incapacity. Allah, glorified and exalted is He, is able to strengthen them to do what they were incapable of doing. A full exposition and substantiation of this belongs elsewhere.

The point here is simply that, once it is established that He can be seen, it is self-evident to reason that anything seen that subsists in itself must be in a direction relative to the viewer. This is the vision of which the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, spoke when he said, “You will see your Lord just as