Clarification of what the Jahmiyyah have rejected concerning Allah’s words:

“Faces, on that Day, will be radiant, looking toward their Lord” (al-Qiyamah 75:22-23).

Ahmad—may Allah have mercy on him—said:

We asked them, “Why do you deny that the people of Paradise will look upon their Lord?”

They replied, “It is not fitting for anyone to look at his Lord, for whatever is beheld must be a known, describable entity; what is seen is only something He brings about.”

We then said, “Does not Allah say, ‘Faces, on that Day, will be radiant, looking toward their Lord’ (al-Qiyamah 75:22-23)?”

They answered, “The meaning of ‘looking toward their Lord’ is that they are waiting for the reward from their Lord; what they will actually see is His action and His power.” Then they recited another verse:

“Have you not seen how your Lord lengthens the shadow?” (al-Furqan 25:45).

They argued, “When He said, ‘Have you not seen your Lord,’ they certainly did not see their Lord; rather, the meaning is: ‘Have you not seen the action of your Lord?’”

We responded, “The servants have always been able to see Allah’s actions, yet He specifically said, ‘Faces, on that Day, will be radiant, looking toward their Lord.’”