Surah Al-A'raaf
Chapter 7 · Verse 143 · Revealed in Makkah
“And when Moses arrived at Our appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, he said, "My Lord, show me [Yourself] that I may look at You." [Allah] said, "You will not see Me, but look at the mountain; if it should remain in place, then you will see Me." But when his Lord appeared to the mountain, He rendered it level, and Moses fell unconscious. And when he awoke, he said, "Exalted are You! I have repented to You, and I am the first of the believers."”
Translation: Saheeh International
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Mishary Rashid Alafasy
Reflection — Ibn Kathir
Musa asks to see Allah
Allah said that when Musa came for His appointment and spoke to Him directly, he asked to see Him,
رَبِّ أَرِنِى أَنظُرْ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ لَن تَرَانِى
Reflection — Maarif ul Quran
The verse 143 carries the phrase لن ترانی “ you shall never see me”. The phrase has an indication that sighting of Allah is not impossible, but that he (Musa علیہ السلام) cannot endure it with his present physical disposition. Had it been impossible, the phrase would have been لن اری : “ I cannot be seen” (Mazhari). This allows that sighting of Allah is a logical possibility even in this world but at the same time this verse has precluded the possibility of its occurrence in this world. This is also the unanimous view of the majority of scholars. The following hadith has been included in Sahih Muslim:
لن یری احد منکم رَبِّہِ حتی یموت
What does this verse bring up for you today?