Did the Sahaba differ in regards to the Prophet ﷺ seeing Allah?

Question:

Our Shaykh, is it correct that we call what took place of differing between the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, in regards to the subject of “the Prophet ﷺ seeing Allah”, a subsidiary differing in ‘Aqeedah?

Answer:

The statement that differing took place between the Companions in the seeing of the Prophet ﷺ of his Lord, is incorrect.

And what is mentioned in regards to what has been narrated from the companions in this subject, then there is in reality no differing.

Those amongst them who affirmed the seeing, like Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, intended the seeing with the heart.

And whoever rejected the seeing, like ‘Aaisha, may Allah be pleased with her, rejected the seeing with the eyes.

With this it becomes clear that there is no differing here.

And this is what has been established and seen to be correct by Imaams of the religion.

I have relayed much of the speech of the people of knowledge on this topic in my refutation of the Hizbi Farkoos, who establishes this innovated principle to establish the methodology of Muwazināt, and uses as evidence this subject of the seeing Allah by the Prophet ﷺ on the night of ascension, and other than it, and i have dismantled, and all praise is due to Allah, this doubt from its roots in my book (Bayaan Ad-Daleel…).

And more than one of the Imāms have relayed the consensus of the companions being that the Prophet ﷺ hasn’t seen his lord on the night of ascension.

And Imām Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
“And ‘Uthmān bin Sa’īd Ad-Dārimī, in “Kitāb-ur-Rad” mentioned the consensus of the companions that he – ﷺ – did not see his lord on the night of the ascension, and some of them drew an exception of Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, from this.

And our shaykh [i.e: Ibn Taymiyyah] says:
“There is no differing in reality; because Ibn ‘Abbas did not say he saw him with the two eyes of his head.” “
[Ijmā’l Juyūshl Islāmiyyah p48].

Answered by:
Shaykh Abu Hatim Yusuf Al-‘Inaabi Al-Jazaa’iree – may Allah preserve him.

Source:
t.me/abouhatem/246

Answered on:
13th, Rabē’l Ākhar, 1438H.

Translated by:
Abu ‘Abdirrahman ‘Abdullaah bin Ahmed Ash-Shingaani