—God had already declared: “la tudrikuhu al-absar” (the eyes of the people of this world cannot grasp Him). Therefore the thunder-bolt struck them because of their wrongdoing and because they asked about something God has forbidden the inhabitants of this world to request. Had they instead asked to see Him in the Hereafter, as Muhammad’s Companions asked the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—the thunder-bolt would not have touched them, and they would have been answered only with what Muhammad told his Companions when they asked, “Will we see our Lord on the Day of Resurrection?” He replied, “Yes; you will suffer no harm or crowding in seeing Him.” God and His Messenger did not reproach them for that question; rather they approved it and gave them beautiful glad tidings, just as you yourself, O Marisi, have transmitted. God had already announced this good news in His Book: “wujuhun yawma’idhin nadirah, ila rabbiha nadirah” (on that day radiant faces shall be looking at their Lord); whereas to the unbelievers He said: “kalla innahum ‘an rabbihim yawma’idhin lamahjubun” (no! on that day they will be veiled from their Lord). Thus the people of Moses asked their prophet for something God had barred the people of this world from—“la tudrikuhu al-absar”—whereas the Companions of Muhammad asked their Prophet for something God has promised to grant and reward them with. The people of Moses were struck down for requesting what cannot be, while the Companions of Muhammad were kept safe for asking what will most certainly occur. When, then, did God ever censure the people of Moses for asking to see Him in the Hereafter, that you should forge such a claim against them? In so doing you lie against God and His Messenger—and God does not love the liars. Al-Ajurri says in al-Shariʿah, pp. 979–980: If an ignorant person with no knowledge, or one of these Jahmiyyah who have not been granted guidance—the devil has toyed with them and they have been deprived of success—objects, “Do the believers really see their Lord on the Day of Resurrection?” he is told, “Yes, and praise be to God for that.” If the Jahmi then says, “I do not believe it,” he is told, “You have disbelieved in the Almighty God.” If he asks, “What is the proof?” it is said, “Because you have rejected the Quran, the sunnah, the statements of the Companions—may God be pleased with them—and the consensus of Muslim scholars. You have followed a way other than that of the believers, and you are among those about whom God says: ‘Whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows a path other than that of the believers, We shall leave him to what he has chosen and make him enter Hell—an evil destination’ (al-Nisa 115).” As for the explicit text of the Quran, God says: “wujuhun yawma’idhin nadirah, ila rabbiha nadirah” (on that day radiant faces shall be looking at their Lord). He also informs us that the disbelievers will be screened from seeing Him: “kalla innahum ‘an rabbihim yawma’idhin lamahjubun, thumma innahum lasalu al-jahim, thumma yuqalu hadha alladhi kuntum bihi tukadhdhibun” (no! on that day they will be veiled from their Lord; then they will surely enter the Blaze; then it will be said, ‘This is what you used to deny’) (al-Mutaffifin 15-17). This verse proves that the believers will indeed gaze upon God and will not be barred from this vision—a mark of honour from Him to them. See also: 986/2–994.