The following ahadith shed light on the subject of this article, read, understand and share as much as possible:
1 Proof from Ahadith on the subject
Narrated Masruq: I said to `Aisha (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا), “O Mother! Did Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) see his Lord?” Aisha (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) said, “What you have said makes my hair stand on end ! Know that if somebody tells you one of the following three things, he is a liar:
- Whoever tells you that Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) saw his Lord, is a liar.” Then Aisha (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) recited the Verse: ‘No vision can grasp Him, but His grasp is over all vision. He is the Most Courteous Well-Acquainted with all things.’ (6.103) ‘It is not fitting for a human being that Allah should speak to him except by inspiration or from behind a veil.’ (42.51)
- `Aisha (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) further said, “And whoever tells you that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) knows what is going to happen tomorrow, is a liar.” She then recited: ‘No soul can know what it will earn tomorrow.’ (31.34)
- She added: “And whoever tell you that he concealed (some of Allah’s orders), is a liar.” Then she recited: ‘O Apostle (صلى الله عليه وسلم)! Proclaim (the Message) which has been sent down to you from your Lord..’ (5.67)
- `Aisha (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) added. “But the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) saw Gabriel in his true form twice.”[1]
Narrated Aisha (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا): Whoever claimed that (the Prophet) Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) saw his Lord, is committing a great fault, for he only saw Gabriel in his genuine shape in which he was created covering the whole horizon.[2]
Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Shaqiq: “I said to Abu Dharr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْه): ‘If I saw the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) then I would ask him.” He said: ‘What is it that you would have asked him about?’ I said: ‘I would have asked him if Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) saw his Lord?’ He said: ‘I did ask him that, and he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: I saw light.'”[3]
Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْه): that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “My Lord, Blessed is He and Most High, came to me in the best of appearances. So he said: ‘O Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم)!’ I said: ‘Here I am O my Lord! And I am at Your service.’ He said: ‘What is it that the most exalted group busy themselves with?’ I said: ‘[Lord] I do not know.’ So He placed His Hand between my shoulders, until I sensed its coolness between my breast, so I knew what was in between the east and the west. He said: ‘O Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم)!’ I said: ‘Here I am O my Lord! And I am at Your service.’ He said: ‘What is it that the most exalted group busy themselves with?’ I said: ‘In the acts that raise ranks and the acts that atone, and in recording the footsteps to the congregation, Isbagh Al-Wudu in difficulties, and awaiting the Salat after the Salat. And whoever preserves them, he shall live in goodness and die upon goodness, and his sins shall be like that on the day upon which his mother bore him.'”[4]
Narrated Ash-Sha’bi: “Ibn ‘Abbas (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْه) met Ka’b at Arafat, so he asked him about something and he kept on saying the Takbir until it reverberated off of the mountains. So Ibn ‘Abbas (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْه) (finally) said: ‘We are Banu Hashim.’ So Ka’b said: ‘Indeed Allah divided His being seen and His speaking between Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and Musa. He spoke to Musa two times, and Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) saw Him two times.’ Masruq said: ‘I entered upon ‘Aishah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) and asked her if Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) saw his Lord.’ She said: ‘You have said something that makes my hair stand on end.’ I said: ‘Take it easy.’ Then I recited: Indeed he saw of the great signs of his Lord (53:18). So she said: ‘What do you mean by that? That is only Jibra’il. Whoever informed you that Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) saw his Lord, or that (صلى الله عليه وسلم) concealed something he was ordered with, or he knew of the five things about which Allah, [Most High] said: Verily Allah, with Him is the knowledge of the Hour, He sends down the rain (31:34) – then he has fabricated the worst lie. Rather he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) saw Jibra’il, but he did not see him in his (real) image except two times. One time at Sidrat Al-Muntaha and one time in Jiyad, he had six-hundred wings which filled the horizon.'”[5]
Narrated Masruq: “I was reclining in the presence of ‘Aishah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) when she said: ‘O Abu ‘Aishah! There are three things, whoever speaks of one of them, then he has uttered one of the worst lies against Allah. Whoever claims that Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) saw his Lord. Then he has uttered one the worst lies against Allah, Allah says: No vision can grasp Him, but His grasp is over all vision, and He is the Most Subtle, Well-Acquainted with all things (6:103). It is not for any human being that Allah should speak to him unless (it be) by revelation or from behind a veil (42:51).’ I was reclining so I sat up an said: ‘O Mother of the Believers! Take your time with me and do not be hasty with me! Did Allah Most High not say: And indeed he saw him at a second descent (53:13). (And) ‘And indeed he saw him in the clear horizon (81:23).’ She said ‘By Allah! I was the first who asked the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) about this. He said: “That was only Jibril. I did not see him in the appearance he was created in except for these two times. I saw him descending from the heavens, and due to his tremendous size he filled what was between the heavens and the earth.” “And whoever claimed that Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) hid anything that Allah revealed to him, then he uttered one of the worst lies against Allah. Allah says: O Messenger! Proclaim what has been sent down to you from your Lord (5:67).” “And whoever claimed that he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) knew what would be tomorrow, then he has uttered one of the worst lies against Allah. Allah says: Say: ‘None in the heavens and in the earth knows the unseen but Allah (27:65).'”[6]
References
[1] Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 4855
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ أَبِي خَالِدٍ، عَنْ عَامِرٍ، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ يَا أُمَّتَاهْ هَلْ رَأَى مُحَمَّدٌ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَبَّهُ فَقَالَتْ لَقَدْ قَفَّ شَعَرِي مِمَّا قُلْتَ، أَيْنَ أَنْتَ مِنْ ثَلاَثٍ مَنْ حَدَّثَكَهُنَّ فَقَدْ كَذَبَ، مَنْ حَدَّثَكَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا صلى الله عليه وسلم رَأَى رَبَّهُ فَقَدْ كَذَبَ. ثُمَّ قَرَأَتْ {لاَ تُدْرِكُهُ الأَبْصَارُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ الأَبْصَارَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ} {وَمَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَنْ يُكَلِّمَهُ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ وَحْيًا أَوْ مِنْ وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ} وَمَنْ حَدَّثَكَ أَنَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي غَدٍ فَقَدْ كَذَبَ ثُمَّ قَرَأَتْ {وَمَا تَدْرِي نَفْسٌ مَاذَا تَكْسِبُ غَدًا} وَمَنْ حَدَّثَكَ أَنَّهُ كَتَمَ فَقَدْ كَذَبَ ثُمَّ قَرَأَتْ {يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ} الآيَةَ، وَلَكِنَّهُ رَأَى جِبْرِيلَ ـ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ ـ فِي صُورَتِهِ مَرَّتَيْنِ.
[2] Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 3234
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الأَنْصَارِيُّ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَوْنٍ، أَنْبَأَنَا الْقَاسِمُ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَأَى رَبَّهُ فَقَدْ أَعْظَمَ، وَلَكِنْ قَدْ رَأَى جِبْرِيلَ فِي صُورَتِهِ، وَخَلْقُهُ سَادٌّ مَا بَيْنَ الأُفُقِ.
[3] Grade: Sahih (Darussalam) | Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3282
حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلاَنَ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، وَيَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ التُّسْتَرِيِّ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ شَقِيقٍ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي ذَرٍّ لَوْ أَدْرَكْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَأَلْتُهُ . فَقَالَ عَمَّا كُنْتَ تَسْأَلُهُ قُلْتُ كُنْتُ أَسْأَلُهُ هَلْ رَأَى مُحَمَّدٌ رَبَّهُ فَقَالَ قَدْ سَأَلْتُهُ فَقَالَ “ نُورٌ أَنَّى أَرَاهُ ” . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ .
[4] Grade: Hasan (Darussalam) | Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3234
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ اللَّجْلاَجِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ أَتَانِي رَبِّي فِي أَحْسَنِ صُورَةٍ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ قُلْتُ لَبَّيْكَ رَبِّي وَسَعْدَيْكَ قَالَ فِيمَ يَخْتَصِمُ الْمَلأُ الأَعْلَى قُلْتُ رَبِّي لاَ أَدْرِي فَوَضَعَ يَدَهُ بَيْنَ كَتِفَىَّ فَوَجَدْتُ بَرْدَهَا بَيْنَ ثَدْيَىَّ فَعَلِمْتُ مَا بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ قَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ . فَقُلْتُ لَبَّيْكَ رَبِّ وَسَعْدَيْكَ قَالَ فِيمَ يَخْتَصِمُ الْمَلأُ الأَعْلَى قُلْتُ فِي الدَّرَجَاتِ وَالْكَفَّارَاتِ وَفِي نَقْلِ الأَقْدَامِ إِلَى الْجَمَاعَاتِ وَإِسْبَاغِ الْوُضُوءِ فِي الْمَكْرُوهَاتِ وَانْتِظَارِ الصَّلاَةِ بَعْدَ الصَّلاَةِ وَمَنْ يُحَافِظْ عَلَيْهِنَّ عَاشَ بِخَيْرٍ وَمَاتَ بِخَيْرٍ وَكَانَ مِنْ ذُنُوبِهِ كَيَوْمَ وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ ” . قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ وَعَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَائِشٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
[5] Grade: Da’if (Darussalam) | Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3278
حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ مُجَالِدٍ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، قَالَ لَقِيَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ كَعْبًا بِعَرَفَةَ فَسَأَلَهُ عَنْ شَيْءٍ، فَكَبَّرَ حَتَّى جَاوَبَتْهُ الْجِبَالُ فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ إِنَّا بَنُو هَاشِمٍ . فَقَالَ كَعْبٌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَسَمَ رُؤْيَتَهُ وَكَلاَمَهُ بَيْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَمُوسَى فَكَلَّمَ مُوسَى مَرَّتَيْنِ وَرَآهُ مُحَمَّدٌ مَرَّتَيْنِ . قَالَ مَسْرُوقٌ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَائِشَةَ فَقُلْتُ هَلْ رَأَى مُحَمَّدٌ رَبَّهُ فَقَالَتْ لَقَدْ تَكَلَّمْتَ بِشَيْءٍ قَفَّ لَهُ شَعْرِي قُلْتُ رُوَيْدًا ثُمَّ قَرَأْتُ : (لقَدْ رَأَى مِنْ آيَاتِ رَبِّهِ الْكُبْرَى ) قَالَتْ أَيْنَ يُذْهَبُ بِكَ إِنَّمَا هُوَ جِبْرِيلُ مَنْ أَخْبَرَكَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَأَى رَبَّهُ أَوْ كَتَمَ شَيْئًا مِمَّا أُمِرَ بِهِ أَوْ يَعْلَمُ الْخَمْسَ الَّتِي قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى : ( إنَّ اللَّهَ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ السَّاعَةِ وَيُنَزِّلُ الْغَيْثَ ) فَقَدْ أَعْظَمَ الْفِرْيَةَ وَلَكِنَّهُ رَأَى جِبْرِيلَ لَمْ يَرَهُ فِي صُورَتِهِ إِلاَّ مَرَّتَيْنِ مَرَّةً عِنْدَ سِدْرَةِ الْمُنْتَهَى وَمَرَّةً فِي جِيَادٍ لَهُ سِتُّمِائَةِ جَنَاحٍ قَدْ سَدَّ الأُفُقَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَقَدْ رَوَى دَاوُدُ بْنُ أَبِي هِنْدٍ عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَحْوَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ وَحَدِيثُ دَاوُدَ أَقْصَرُ مِنْ حَدِيثِ مُجَالِدٍ .
[6] Grade: Sahih (Darussalam) | Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3068
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مَنِيعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ الأَزْرَقُ، حَدَّثَنَا دَاوُدُ بْنُ أَبِي هِنْدٍ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، قَالَ كُنْتُ مُتَّكِئًا عِنْدَ عَائِشَةَ فَقَالَتْ يَا أَبَا عَائِشَةَ ثَلاَثٌ مَنْ تَكَلَّمَ بِوَاحِدَةٍ مِنْهُنَّ فَقَدْ أَعْظَمَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْفِرْيَةَ مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَأَى رَبَّهُ فَقَدْ أَعْظَمَ الْفِرْيَةَ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ يَقُولُ : ( لَا تُدْرِكُهُ الأَبْصَارُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ الأَبْصَارَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ ) ، ( مَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَنْ يُكَلِّمَهُ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ وَحْيًا أَوْ مِنْ وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ ) وَكُنْتُ مُتَّكِئًا فَجَلَسْتُ فَقُلْتُ يَا أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْظِرِينِي وَلاَ تُعْجِلِينِي أَلَيْسَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ : ( وَلَقَدْ رَآهُ نَزْلَةً أُخْرَى )، ( وَلََقَدْ رَآهُ بِالأُفُقِ الْمُبِينِ ) قَالَتْ أَنَا وَاللَّهِ أَوَّلُ مَنْ سَأَلَ عَنْ هَذَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ” إِنَّمَا ذَاكَ جِبْرِيلُ مَا رَأَيْتُهُ فِي الصُّورَةِ الَّتِي خُلِقَ فِيهَا غَيْرَ هَاتَيْنِ الْمَرَّتَيْنِ رَأَيْتُهُ مُنْهَبِطًا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ سَادًّا عِظَمُ خَلْقِهِ مَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ ” . وَمَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا كَتَمَ شَيْئًا مِمَّا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَدْ أَعْظَمَ الْفِرْيَةَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ : ( يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ ) وَمَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي غَدٍ فَقَدْ أَعْظَمَ الْفِرْيَةَ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ يَقُولُ : (قُلْ لاَ يَعْلَمُ مَنْ فِي السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ الْغَيْبَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ ) . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ وَمَسْرُوقُ بْنُ الأَجْدَعِ يُكْنَى أَبَا عَائِشَةَ وَهُوَ مَسْرُوقُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ وَهَكَذَا كَانَ اسْمُهُ فِي الدِّيوَانِ .