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The same applies to “hearing,” “sight,” and “looking.” Allah Most High says:

“Say, ‘Act, for Allah and His Messenger will see your deeds.’”

This concerns the hypocrites. Concerning those who repent, He says:

“Say, ‘Act, for Allah, His Messenger, and the believers will see your deeds.’”

His words, “Allah will see,” indicate that He sees those deeds after this noble verse was revealed. The opponent either denies seeing altogether or affirms an eternal, beginningless seeing.

Likewise, He says:

“Then We made you successors in the land after them, to see how you would act.”

The lām expressing purpose entails that what follows it occurs after the act undertaken for that purpose. Thus, His looking at how they act comes after His making them successors.

Likewise:

“Allah has certainly heard the words of the woman who disputes with you concerning her husband and complains to Allah. And Allah hears your conversation.”

He states that He hears their conversation while she is disputing and complaining to Allah. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“When the imam says, ‘Allah hears whoever praises Him,’ say, ‘Our Lord, to You belongs all praise,’ and Allah will hear you.”

He thus made His hearing us a recompense and response to praise, so it comes after the praise. Here, hearing includes not only hearing the words but also accepting and answering them. This includes the words of Allah’s intimate friend:

“Indeed, my Lord is the Hearer of supplication.”

Likewise, He says:

“Allah has certainly heard the words of those who said, ‘Allah is poor, while we are rich.’”

And He said to Moses:

“Indeed, I am with you both; I hear and see.”