will be spread banquet tables laden with every kind of food and drink—things no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard, and that have never crossed the heart of any human being. They will then be scented with assorted perfumes and granted distinctive honors and gifts the like of which had never occurred to any of them before. After that, the Truth—glorified and exalted—is revealed to them, addressing each of them individually, exactly as the Qur’anic verses and prophetic ḥadiths—soon to be cited—make clear, in spite of the Muʿtazilites and others who deny that He will be seen in the Abode of the Hereafter.
Some scholars have reported a difference of opinion concerning the women: Will they behold Allah—mighty and majestic—in Paradise just as the men do? One view holds that they will not, because they are secluded within pavilions and do not emerge from them. Another view says it is because of the deficiency of their intellect and religion and their attachment to the life of this world. A third view, however, maintains that they will indeed see Him—glorified be He—for nothing prevents His being beheld in pavilions, palaces, or elsewhere; and once women enter Paradise, every deficiency that afflicted them in this world is removed—they become purified spouses, free of every harm, perfected in character and form—so there is no impediment to their seeing their Lord, mighty and majestic. Allah knows best.
Allah the Exalted says: “Surely the virtuous will be in bliss, upon couches, gazing.” ⦗83:22–23⦘ And He says: “They and their spouses will be in shade, reclining upon couches.” ⦗36:56⦘
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “You will indeed see your Lord—mighty and majestic—just as you see this moon on the night it is full; you will suffer no crowding in seeing Him. So if you can manage not to miss the prayer before sunrise and the prayer before sunset, then do so.” (1) This applies equally to both men and women. Allah knows best.
Some scholars advanced a third opinion: that the women will see Allah at times resembling the festivals, for He manifests Himself to the people of Paradise on days like the festivals in a general manifestation, and they will behold Him on such an occasion together with the rest of the inhabitants of Paradise. This opinion, however, requires specific evidence. Allah knows best.
Allah the Exalted says: “For those who excelled is the finest reward—and even more.” ⦗10:26⦘ A number of Companions and Successors explained “and even more” as the privilege of looking upon the Face of Allah Most High. Among the Companions who did so are Abu Bakr al-Ṣiddīq, Ubayy ibn Kaʿb, Kaʿb ibn ʿUjrah, Ḥudhayfah ibn al-Yamān, Abu Musa al-Ashʿarī, and ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with them). Among the Successors are Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyib, Mujāhid, ʿIkrimah, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abī Laylā, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Sābiṭ, al-Ḥasan, Qatādah, al-Ḍaḥḥāk, al-Suddi, and many others from the early and later generations.
The ḥadith affirming that the believers will behold their Lord—mighty and majestic—in the Hereafter has likewise been transmitted from several Companions, including: