Reports from Ibn ʿAbbās both affirming the vision and refuting it have been transmitted, and both appear in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (1).

In the two Ṣaḥīḥs (2) there is a narration from ʿĀʾishah denying the vision. We have already noted, under the discussion of the Night Journey, that Ibn Masʿūd, Abū Hurayrah, Abū Dharr, and ʿĀʾishah—may Allah be pleased with them—held that the Being seen on the two occasions mentioned at the opening of Sūrat al-Najm was none other than Jibrīl (Gabriel), peace be upon him.

In Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim it is related from Abū Dharr that he said, “I asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, did you see your Lord?’ He replied, ‘Light—how could I see Him?’” (3). In another wording he said, “I saw light” (4).

This matter has already been treated at length in the section on the Isrāʾ in the Sīrah and in the commentary on the opening of Sūrat Banī Isrāʾīl.

Such is what our teacher mentioned concerning the miracles granted to Moses—upon him the most excellent blessings and peace.

Moreover, Allah spoke directly to Moses while he was on Mount Sinai; yet when Moses asked to see Him, the request was denied. Allah also spoke to Muḥammad ﷺ on the Night of the Miʿrāj, when he was raised to the highest assembly and reached a level where he heard the creaking of the pens, and—according to a large group of scholars, both early and later—he was granted the vision. Allah knows best.

I subsequently found that Ibn Ḥāmid had addressed this question in his book, doing so skillfully and profitably. Ibn Ḥāmid said: Allah said to Moses, “And I have cast upon you love from Me” (Tā Hā 20:39), and He said to Muḥammad, “Say: If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Ever-Merciful” (Āl ʿImrān 3:31).

As for the hand that Allah made a proof and sign for Moses against Pharaoh and his people, after mentioning how the staff became a serpent He said, “Insert your hand into your garment; it will come out white, unharmed; and draw your arm close to you in fear. These are two signs from your Lord to Pharaoh and his chiefs” (Al-Qaṣaṣ 28:32). And in Sūrat Tā Hā He said, “Another sign (22), that We may show you some of Our greatest signs” (Tā Hā 20:22-23).

Allah granted Muḥammad the splitting of the moon at a mere gesture, so that it divided into two parts—one beyond Mount Ḥirāʾ and the other on this side—as has already been established by mass-transmitted ḥadiths, along with His words, “The Hour has drawn near and the moon has split (1); yet if they see a sign they turn away and say, ‘Persistent magic’” (Al-Qamar 54:1-2). Without doubt, this miracle is nobler, greater, more dazzling, more complete, clearer, and more eloquent than that.

Kaʿb ibn Mālik said in his lengthy account of his repentance: “Whenever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was pleased, his face would shine as though it were a piece of the moon.” This is recorded in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (5).

Ibn Ḥāmid also said: They contend that Moses was granted the radiant white hand—