Our inner self is lighted with the light of cognizance

If our appearance is equipped with Shariah and our inner self is lighted with the light of cognizance, and good mannerism and with complete faith, the eyes of our hearts are ready to see the truth and every heart, proportional with its capacity, may observe Allah’s Glamour, Glory, Beauty, and Magnanimity.

Another interpretation for meeting and seeing Allah is conviction. This means man could reach such a lofty place as the doors of doubt are closed to him and his heart attains such a degree of perfection as to make it possible for man’s eyes to see the secrets beyond the things.

Regarding this, let us read two narrations which Saduq narrates in his great book called Touhid.

عَنْ عَبْدِاللهِ بنِ سِنان، عَنْ أبيه، قالَ: حَضَرتُ آبا جَعْفَرٍ عليه السلام فَدَخَلَ عَلَيهِ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الخَوارجِ فَقَالَ لَهُ: يَا أبا جَعْفَر أيَّ شيئٍ تَعْبُدُ؟ قالَ: الله، قاَلَ: رَأيْتَهُ؟ قَالَ: لَمْ تَرَهْ العُيُونُ بِمُشاهَدَةِ العَيانِ، وَ لكِن رَأتْهُ القُلُوبُ بِِحَقائِقِ الإيمانِ، لا يُعْرَفُ بِالقِياسِ، وَلا يُدْرَكُ بِالحَواسِّ، وَلا يُشَبَّهُ بِالنَّاسِ، مَوْصُوفٌ بِالآياتِ، مَعْرُوفٌ بَالعَلاماتِ، لا يَجُورُ في حُكْمِهِ، ذلِكَ اللهُ لا إلهَ إلا هُوَ. قالَ: فَخَرَجَ الرَّجُلُ وَ هوَ يَقُولُ: اللهُ أعلَمُ حَيْثًُ يَجْعَلُ رِسالَتَهُ.

Abdollah Ibn Senan narrates from his father: I went to see Imam Baqir (s). A man from Khavarej came to that Imam and asked him: what are you worshipping? Imam Baqir (s) replied: Allah. He asked Imam “have you seen Him?” Imam answered: the head’s eyes may not see Him. Seeing Him is only possible through one’s heart, the heart which is equipped with religion facts. You may not recognize Him through a comparison with other creatures. He is to be recognized only through His signs. The signs which are spread everywhere and are observable in what is called collectively as creation. He is not hejemonistic in His domination. He is unique.[1] When the Khareji was leaving Imam’s home, he was reciting the following verse:

اللهُ أعلَمُ حَيثُ يَجْعَلُ رِسَالَتَهُ.

“Allah best knows where He places His message. 16:124”

عَن أبي عَبْدِالله عَلَيهِ السَّلام قَالَ: جاءَ حِبْرُ إلى أميرِ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السّلامُ فَقالَ: يا أميرَ المُؤمِنينَ هَلْ رَأيتَ رَبَّكَ حِينَ عَبَدْتَهُ؟ فَقالَ: وَيْلَكَ مَا كُنْتُ أعْبُدُ رَبّاً لَمْ أرَهُ. قالَ: وَكَيفَ رَأيْتَهُ؟ قالَ: وَيلَكَ لا تُدْرِكُهُ العُيُونُ في مُشاهَدَةِ الابْصَارِ، وَلكِنْ رَاتْهُ الْقُلُوبْ بِحَقايقِ الإيمانِ.

Imam Sadiq (s) has said, one of the Jewish scholars asked Imam Ali (s) whether he had seen his God at his prayers. Imam Ali (s) replied: Woe to you. I did not worship a God whom I could not see. He asked Imam Ali (s): How did you see Him? Imam Ali (s) answered: what do you think? God may not be seen through the head’s eyes. It is the clean heart which, with the power of his faith, could observe that Sacred Being.

There is a delicate point we should consider here: Every heart has a special capacity to appreciate religious facts. When the worshipper asks Allah for more, his request will not be answered. If it were answered, it would destroy the suppliant. This fact is shown in the verse 143 of the sacred Surah Araf [The Elevated Places]. Regarding this, there is an interpretation supplied by the interpreter of Almizan: