What Is the Correct Belief Regarding the Vision of Allah on the Day of Judgment?


Answered by Shaykh Bassem Itani

Question

What is the belief of Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jama‘a regarding the vision of Allah on the Day of Judgment?

Answer

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace be upon our master Muhammad, his Family, and all his Companions.

Vision of Allah (Most High)

The belief of Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jama‘a regarding the vision of Allah (Most High) on the Day of Judgment is that it is intellectually possible and religiously obligatory.

Believers will see Allah on the Day of Judgment without any “how” (i.e., without asking how or imagining it), and without any resemblance or embodiment.

This belief is established by the Quran, the Sunna, and the consensus (ijma‘) of the Companions:

Evidence From the Quran

Allah (Most High) says:

“On that Day (some) faces will be bright, looking at their Lord.” [Quran, 75:22-23]

Evidence from the Sunna

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

“You will certainly see your Lord on the Day of Judgment just as you see this moon, and you will not be harmed in seeing Him.” [Bukhari]

This means that they will see Him without doubt.

Consensus of the Companions

The Companions (Allah be pleased with them) unanimously agreed upon the fact that believers will see Allah in the Hereafter. [See: Bajuri, Tuhfat al-Murid]

As for the intellectual evidence, it is logically possible to see Allah, as He exists, and anything that exists can be seen.

Summary

The blessings of Allah (Most High) on the Day of Judgment are innumerable, but the greatest blessing and honor He will bestow upon the believers is the vision of His noble countenance. This is a gift that surpasses all other gifts. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

“When the people of Paradise enter Paradise, Allah (Most High) will say:

‘Do you want anything more?’ They will say: ‘Have You not brightened our faces? Have You not admitted us to Paradise and saved us from the Fire?’ Then He will lift the veil, and they will not have been given anything dearer to them than looking at their Lord, Mighty and Majestic.” In another narration: “Then the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) recited the verse:

‘Those who do good will have the finest reward and (even) more. Neither gloom nor disgrace will cover their faces. It is they who will be the residents of Paradise. They will be there forever.’ [Quran, 10:26].” [Muslim]

[Shaykh] Bassem Itani

Shaykh Dr. Bassem Hussayn Itani was born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1965. He earned his Ph.D. in Islamic Studies in 2005. Among his mentors were Shaykh Muhammad Taha Sukkar, Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, Shaykh Mulla Abdul ‘Alim al-Zinki, Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri, Shaykh Abdul Razzaq al-Halabi, Shaykh Dr. Mustafa Dib al-Bugha, Shaykh Dr. Wahba al-Zuhayli, Dr. Muhammad al-Zuhayli, and others, may Allah have mercy on them all. 

Shaykh Itani has a rich background in both academic and administrative fields. He has held significant positions in many governmental and non-governmental institutions in Lebanon and abroad. This includes his role as a member of the Academic Committee at SeekersGuidance and a senior teacher with the free online global seminary.

From 2020 to 2021, he served as the Dean of the College of Da‘wa – University for Islamic Studies (Lebanon) – Postgraduate Studies. He was the Director of Dar Iqra for Islamic Sciences from 1998 to 2018. Shaykh Itani is a well-versed teacher in several academic subjects, including Fiqh, Usul, Aqida, and Tafsir. He has supervised and examined numerous Master’s and Doctoral theses at various universities and colleges in Lebanon.

His contributions to Islamic sciences are also evident in his writings and research. His notable works include “The Relied-upon Statements of Imam Zufar in the Hanafi School,” “Collective Ijtihad: The Sublimity of Thought in the 21st Century,” and “Custom and its Impact in Islamic Jurisprudence.” Shaykh Itani has actively participated in numerous scientific conferences and seminars, both in Lebanon and internationally. He is linguistically adept, excelling in Arabic, proficient in French, and comfortably conversant in English.