Ruling On One Who Rejects Divine Vision

The predominant, strongest, and most authentic position held by the majority of eminent scholars is that the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمsaw Allah Almighty with His صلى الله عليه وسلمphysical eyes on the Night of Miʿraaj. Allamah Abdul-Baaqi Zarqaani states in Sharh Mawaahib:

Translation: According to the majority of scholars, the preferred view is that the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمsaw His صلى الله عليه وسلمRabb with his physical eyes on the Night of Miʿraaj. (Zurqaani Alal-MawaahibilLadunniyyah, Volume 8, Page 244) In this regard, numerous Marfoo (directly attributed to the Prophet )صلى الله عليه وسلمnarrations have been reported.

Imam Ahmad relates in his Musnad from Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbaas RadiAllahu Anhuma: The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلمsaid:

Translation: I Saw My Rabb, Mighty and Exalted. (Musnad Ahmad ibn Hambal, 1/285) Imam Jalaaluddin Suyooti in Khasaaʾisul-Kubra, and Allamah AbdurRaoof Manaawi in Tayseer Sharh Jaamie Sagheer, state that this hadith is authentically transmitted. (At-Tayseer Sharh Jaami’e Sagheer, under the Hadith “Raʾaytu Rabbi”, 2/525) Ibn Asaakir narrates from Hazrat Jaabir bin Abdullah RadiAllahu Anhuma that the Leader of the Messengers صلى الله عليه وسلمsaid:

Translation: Indeed, Allah Almighty granted Musa Alaihis Salaam the honour of direct speech, granted me His Divine Vision, and favored me with the Great Intercession and the Pond of Kauthar. (Kanzul-Ummaal, citing Ibn Asaakir, from Jaabir; hadith no. 1439206/447)

The same Hadith scholar narrates from Hazrat Abdullah bin Masʿood RadiAllahu Anhu:

Translation: The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلمsaid: My Rabb, Mighty and Exalted, said to me: I granted Ibrahim My friendship, spoke directly to Musa, and granted you, O Muhammad (Divine Vision) In My Direct Divine Presence (Muwaajahah), such that you saw My Pure Divine Beauty without any veil or barrier. (Taareekh Dimashq Kabeer, chapter on his ascension to the heavens and meeting with the prophets, 4/424) The author of Majmau Bihaaril-Anwaar explains the meaning of “Kifaahan” as:

“Kifaahan” means being in Direct Presence (i.e. a direct experience without an intermediary) (Majmau Bihaarul-Anwaar, 4/424)

Ibn Mardawayh narrates from Hazrat Asma bint Abi Bakr Siddique RadiAllahu Anhuma:

Translation: I asked: “O Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم, what did You see in its proximity?’ He صلى الله عليه وسلمreplied: ‘I saw His Divine Vision in its proximity. In other words, My Rab’b.’” (Ad-Durrul-Manthoor, citing Ibn Mardawayh, under the verse, 17/1; 5/193) (Fataawa Razviyyah Shareef, Volume 30, Page 638, Raza Foundation, Lahore) Imam Nawawi Alaihir Rahmah states in his commentary on Saheeh Muslim Shareef:

Translation: The summary is that according to the majority of scholars, the strongest and most authentic view is that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلمsaw his Rabb with his physical eyes on the Night of Isra, as reported in the narration of Ibn Abbas and others. It is not appropriate to cast doubt upon this, for these noble Companions

would never have affirmed it without directly hearing it from the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. (Saheeh Muslim Shareef with Sharh Nawawi, Volume 3, Page 5, Al Matba'atul Misriyah) Likewise, Allamah Shihaabud-Deen Khafaaji Alaihir Rahmah writes in Naseemur-Riyaad, the commentary on Shifa of Qaazi Ayaaz:

Translation: This contains an indication that the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمsaw His صلى الله عليه وسلمRabb on the Night of Miʿraaj. This is the view of the majority, and it is also the position of Ibn Abbaas RadiAllahu Anhuma that the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمsaw Allah Almighty with his physical eyes, this view adopted as well by Imam Ashʿari and Imam Nawawi. (NaseemurRiyaad, Volume 4, Page 286, chapter on His صلى الله عليه وسلمspecial distinctions, Darul Kutbul Ilmiyyah, Beirut) From the above-mentioned Ahadith e Mubaaraka and the statements of the leading Scholars and Imams, it becomes as clear as the sun that the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمdid indeed see Allah Almighty with His صلى الله عليه وسلمphysical eyes on the Night of Miʿraaj. Therefore, the statement of the person mentioned in the question is Marjooh (weak and unacceptable), as it contradicts the preferred position of the majority of scholars. Such a person should retract this statement and refrain from making such assertions in the future.