How should we imagine Allaah to be?
Praise be to Allaah.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, All-Seer.” [al-Shoora 42:11].
There is nothing like unto Him, nothing that is equal or comparable to Him or that can rival Him. He is far above any resemblance to any created being. Whatever crosses the mind of the son of Adam with regard to his Lord, He is greater than that. No creature can encompass Him, may He be glorified and exalted, or imagine what He looks like.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“… and they will never encompass anything of His Knowledge.” [Ta-Ha 20:110]
The Muslim is not supposed to try to imagine or picture Allaah; rather, he has to believe in the sublime attributes which befit His Might and Majesty in which there is none like unto Him. Part of the ‘aqeedah (basic beliefs, creed) of the Muslims is that Allaah cannot be seen in this world,
as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“No vision can grasp Him” [al-An’aam 6:103]
But the believers will see Him in the Hereafter, in the gathering-place where judgement will be passed, and in Paradise. The Prophet
saw(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked – as it was reported in Saheeh Muslim – “Did you see your Lord?” He said, “I saw Light.” According to another report: “Light, how could I see Him?” This is in accordance with what Allaah said to Moosa in Soorat al-A’raaf (interpretation of the meaning):“ ‘You cannot see Me’” i.e., in this world.
Neither the Prophet
saw(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) nor anybody else has seen Allaah with his own two eyes. In the Hereafter, when the people see Him in the place of gathering, they will fall down in prostration before His Might and Majesty. Seeing Him in Paradise will be the greatest of all the joys that the people of Paradise will experience.You have to recognize Allaah by the Names and Attributes which He has told us about in His Book, and which His PMessenger
saw(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told us about. Do not occupy yourself with something that is beyond you; devote yourself instead to doing what your Lord has commanded you to do. Put aside these whispers from the Shaytaan, and may Allaah help you to do that which pleases Him.