Servant sees face of God?

Question:

One of the innovators made the claim that God has a face that His servants in Paradise will see. Is this true?

Answer:

The friend of Umar has lied!

Ja’far As-Sadiq (a.) reported that the Prophet Muhammad (s.) said: “While the people are in this state, they hear a voice from the underside of the throne: “O inhabitants of paradise, how do you consider your homecoming?” Whereupon they say: “We have the best homecoming and the best reward. We heard a voice and longed to look upon the lights of Your majesty, and it is the greatest reward. You have promised and you will not miss the appointed time.” So God gives the curtain an order and 70,000 curtains are raised. They ride on camel mares and working horses, carrying precious stones and jewels. They move on into the shade of a tree until they reach the place of peace and it is the place of God and the place of glory, light, happiness and honour. Then they hear the voice and say: “O our Lord, we heard the beauty of Your speech. Show us therefore the light of Your face.” Thereupon the Blessed and Exalted One reveals Himself to them until they look into the light of His Face, the Blessed and Exalted One, which is not visible to the eye of every one who sees. They are not able to control themselves, so that they fall prostrate on their faces and say: “Praise be to you, we did not worship You to the extent that You are rightfully entitled to worship, O Almighty!” Then He says: “O my servants, straighten up your heads! This is not a workshop, it is a place of honour and prosperity.” [La’ali Al-Akhbar by Muhammad At-Tusirkani, pages 410 – 411]

أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى، عن سعيد بن جناح، عن عوف بن عبد الله الأزدي، عن بعض أصحابنا، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: فبينا هم كذلك إذ يسمعون صوتا من تحت العرش: يا أهل الجنة كيف ترون منقلبكم؟ فيقولون: خير المنقلب منقلبنا وخير الثواب ثوابنا، قد سمعنا الصوت واشتهينا النظر إلى أنوار جلالك وهو أعظم ثوابنا وقد وعدته ولا تخلف الميعاد، فيأمر الله الحجب فيقوم سبعون ألف حجاب فيركبون على النوق والبراذين وعليهم الحلي والحلل فيسيرون في ظل الشجر حتى ينتهوا إلى دار السلام، وهي دار الله دار البهاء والنور والسرور والكرامة، فيسمعون الصوت فيقولون: يا سيدنا سمعنا لذاذة منطقك، فأرنا نور وجهك، فيتجلى لهم سبحانه وتعالى حتى ينظرون إلى نور وجهه تبارك وتعالى المكنون من عين كل ناظر، فلا يتمالكون حتى يخروا على وجوههم سجدا فيقولون: سبحانك ما عبدناك حق عبادتك يا عظيم. قال: فيقول: عبادي! ارفعوا رؤوسكم ليس هذه بدار عمل إنما هي دار كرامة ومسألة ونعيم

Abu As-Salt Al-Harawi reported that he said to Imam Ali Ar-Rida (a.): “O son of the Messenger of God, what is meant by the report which is narrated that the reward of the testimony: “No one is worthy of worship except God.” Is to look at the face of God?” He said: “O Abu As-Salt! whoever describes God with a face like the faces, he is disbelieving, for the face of God are His prophets, His messengers, and His proofs (a.) It is through them that one turns to God, His religion, and His knowledge. The Exalted One says: “Everyone who is on it is perishable, except the face of your Lord remains.” (55:26-27) And the Exalted One says: “Everything will perish except His face.” (28:88) Therefore, on the Day of Resurrection, it is a mighty reward for the believers to look at the prophets of God, His messenger and His proofs (a.) in their levels. The Prophet Muhammad (s.) said: “He who is angry with the people of my house and my family will not see me nor see him on the last day. And the Messenger said: “Among you is he who will not see me after he leaves me. O Abu As-Salt, God is neither described by a place, nor do the sights (6:103) and imaginations reach Him.” [At-Tawhid of As-Saduq, pp. 117 – 118 Hadith 21]

حدثنا أحمد بن زياد بن جعفر الهمداني رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا علي ابن إبراهيم، عن أبيه إبراهيم بن هاشم، عن عبد السلام بن صالح الهروي، قال قلت لعلي بن موسى الرضا عليهما السلام: يا ابن رسول الله فما معنى الخبر الذي رووه أن ثواب لا إله إلا الله النظر إلى وجه الله؟ فقال عليه السلام: يا أبا الصلت من وصف الله بوجه كالوجوه فقد كفر ولكن وجه الله أنبياؤه ورسله وحججه صلوات الله عليهم، هم الذين بهم يتوجه إلى الله وإلى دينه ومعرفته، وقال الله عز وجل: كل من عليها فان و يبقى وجه ربك وقال عز وجل: كل شئ هالك إلا وجهه فالنظر إلى أنبياء الله ورسله وحججه عليهم السلام في درجاتهم ثواب عظيم للمؤمنين يوم القيامة، وقد قال النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: من أبغض أهل بيتي وعترتي لم يرني ولم أره يوم القيامة وقال عليه السلام: إن فيكم من لا يراني بعد أن يفارقني يا أبا الصلت إن الله تبارك و تعالى لا يوصف بمكان، ولا تدركه الأبصار والأوهام