of knowledge, remembrance, and love. They become oblivious to all else through witnessing what has arisen in their hearts, experiencing self-effacement and utter absorption. They imagine that this is something witnessed with their eyes, although it occurs only in the heart. Thus, many of them have imagined that they see Allah with their own eyes in this world.

This has happened to a number of people, both earlier and later, and it is an outright error. Indeed, their claims have even caused uncertainty among speculative thinkers and theologians who acknowledge, in principle, the possibility of seeing Allah but lack sufficient knowledge of the Sunnah to determine whether this occurs in this world. Some mention two opinions concerning its occurrence in this world, while others say that it is possible. All of this is misguidance. The imams of Ahl al-Sunnah wa-l-Jamā‘ah agree that no one sees Allah with their own eyes in this world. Their disagreement concerns only our Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

Several reports from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, state that we do not see Him in this world. Among them is the report narrated by Muslim in his Sahīh:

“The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said when speaking of the Dajjāl: ‘Know that none of you will see his Lord until he dies.’”

Moses son of Imrān, peace be upon him, asked to see Him. Allah, glorified is He, recounted His words:

“You will not see Me,”

and the loss of consciousness that befell Moses.

Some of these people say that Moses did see Him, and that the mountain was a veil between them; when He leveled the mountain, Moses saw Him. This appears in the writings of Abū Tālib and others like him. Others identify the seer with the One seen, namely Allah. They speak of union and say that He caused Moses to lose awareness of himself until