Abu Qurrah was one of the Sunni narrators at the time of Imam Reza (PBUH). Safwan ibn Yahya, one of the students of Imam Reza (PBUH), says, ”Abu Qurrah asked me to take him to Imam Reza (PBUH). I asked Imam Reza (PBUH) for permission, and he agreed. Abu Qurrah came to Imam Reza (PBUH) and began asking questions about the lawful, unlawful and Islamic laws. Finally he touched on a question about monotheism (Tawheed) as follows:
“It is narrated that Allah has divided His being seen (al-Ru’yah) and His (al-Kalam), speech between the two prophets. He gave Musa/Moses the opportunity to hear His speech, and Muhammad (PBUH&HP) the opportunity to see Him. So Allah is visible.”
Imam Reza (PBUH) asked, “If so, who conveyed this message from Allah to mankind and the Jenns?
The eyes cannot see Him. (1)
They cannot encompass Him with their knowledge. (2)
There is nothing similar to Him. (3)”
Was it not Muhammad (PBUH&HP)?”
Abu Qurrah then replied, “Yes, He was Prophet Muhammad.”
Imam Reza (PBUH) said, “Is it possible that a person who brought such messages (The eyes can not see Him. They cannot encompass Him with their knowledge. There is nothing similar to Him) to all creatures and called them to Allah, say that I saw Allah with my own eyes? I comprehended Him in my knowledge and that He is visible similar to a man? Should you not be ashamed of yourselves? Even the atheists have not claimed that the Prophet first brought one thing from Allah and then announced from Him other things contrary to the first.”
Abu Qurrah tried to answer the Imam. He said, “Does Allah Himself not say, ‘And indeed he (the Prophet) saw him in another time?” (4)
Imam Reza (PBUH) said, “There is another verse that points out what the Prophet actually saw. At first Allah says, “His heart did not ever lie about what it saw” (5) It means that the heart of the Prophet did not belie what his eyes saw.
Then Allah in another verse informs us about what the Prophet saw, “Indeed he saw the Greatest Signs of his Lord.”(6) Therefore, the signs of Allah (which the prophet had seen) are different from Allah Himself. Allah has also said in the Holy Quran, “They cannot comprehend Him in their knowledge”(7). If the eyes could see Him, then people might comprehend Him in their knowledge, and He could be defined (whereas the mentioned verse says comprehension of Allah is impossible).”
(Taken from “Usool al-Kafi”, Translation of the of vol.1, Chapter Negating Seeing Allah (SWT), Hadith, p.96)
Roshd website offers its condolence to all Muslims upon the anniversary of the martyrdom of the kind and knowledgeable Imam of the progeny of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP), Imam Ali Ibn Musa al-Reza (PBUH).
Footnotes:
1. The Holy Quran, (6:103)
2. The Holy Quran, (20:110)
3. The Holy Quran, (42:11)
4. The Holy Quran, (53:13)
5. The Holy Quran, (53:11)
6. The Holy Quran, (53:18)
7. The Holy Quran, (20:110)