The dangerous abyss of allegory lies ahead of those who traverse the path of understanding God and we are warned about it by the Islamic traditions especially by the traditions of the Ahlulbait which are full of wisdom and knowledge. They have pointed out this narrow path to us. We present on such tradition as an example:

Amirul Mumineen in his sermon titled Ashbah says:

“I testify, O Lord! That whoever thinks You to be like the creatures created by You, he imagines a being equal to You, and whoever imagines such a being refuses to accept the explicit, indisputable and unambiguous verses of the Holy Qura’n which with the help of intelligent and rational reasons and arguments prove

Your Unity, Omniscience, Omnipotence and Omnipresence.

 Lord! You are the being who is alone; whom imagination and mind cannot comprehend, deliberation and meditation cannot grasp and Who cannot be brought within the limits of conception or apprehension.”

Imam Ali Ibn Musa Raza has given a very good explanation in this regard. When a person named Abu Qara asked him, “I have heard that God has divided similitude and oratory between two persons. Musa talked to God and Mohammad was granted the vision” the Imam replied, Who brought these verses from god that say “The eyes cannot see Him but He sees the eyes. No one can fathom His knowledge.

There is nothing similar or equal to Him.” Did not Hazrat Mohammad take these verses to the people?” Abu Qara answered, “Yes. He gave it to the people” then the Imam said, “How is it that he took such verses from God to the people and yet said that he saw God and saw him and said that He had the form of a human being? You should be ashamed about uttering words that are not spoken even by the disbelievers. They too do not bring any words from the Messenger and then speak against it.

Abu Qara asked, “Do you deny the Beatific Vision?’

The Imam answered, “Yes I deny all that is against the words of the Qura’n and I also deny that which denies the tenets of the Muslims. Muslims firmly believe that no one can comprehend God, eyes cannot see him and there can be nothing equal or similar to Him.’ (2)

There is a tradition in which Imam Jafar Sadiq said, “God has an elevated status and station. His servants cannot explain or describe him. They can never perceive His divine glory. The eyes cannot see Him but He sees the eyes. He is pure and all-knowing” (3)

1. Nahjul Balagha Sermon 91

2. Tawhid by Al Suduq Page 110 and Usul Kafi

3. Usul Kafi Vol. 1 Page 103