The Greatest Delight: Ridwaan Allah and Looking At His Face
" Some faces that Day will be Nadhirah [shining, radiant], Looking at their Rabb." [75:22-23]
Ibn al-Itheer said, "Seeing Allah is the ultimate joy in the Hereafter, the most precious gift of Allah. May Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) help us reach that goal." [Jaami' al-Usool, 10/557]
Muslim and at-Tirmidhi reported from Suhayb ar-Rumi that the Messenger of Allah (Salallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam) said: " When the people of Paradise enter Paradise, Allah Ta'ala will say: "Do you want anything more?" They will say, "Have You not made our faces white [i.e. honoured us]? Have You not admitted us to Paradise and saved us from the Fire?" Then the veil will be lifted, and they will never have been given anything more dear to them than looking at their Rabb, may He be Blessed and Exalted ."
One report adds, "Then the Prophet (Salallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam) recited the aayah, " For those who have done good is the best [reward i.e. Paradise] and even more [i.e. the honour of glancing at the Countenance of Allah]..." [10:26]
Thus seeing the Face of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) was interpreted as part of the "more" [mazeed] which Allah has promised to al-Muhsinoon [those who have done good]:
" There they will have all that they desire - and We have more [for them, i.e. a glance at the All-Mighty, All-Majestic." [50:35]
This is a joy and honour that will be denied to the Kuffaar and Mushrikeen:
" Nay, surely they [evildoers] will be veiled from seeing their Rabb that day." [83:15]
at-Tahhaawi, the great Hanafi Imaam, said in his "al-'Aqeedah at-Tahhaawiyyah", "This seeing [Allah] is true, something that will happen to the people of Paradise; it is not necessary to attempt to define it or describe how it will happen. It is mentioned in the Book of Our Rabb [75:23]. The way it will happen is according to the will and knowledge of Allah and we have to believe in it as it was narrated from the Messenger of Allah in the saheeh hadith. We should not interpret it according to our own inclinations and opinions, for no one is sound in his deen except the one who submits fully to Allah and His Messenger. What is ambiguous should be referred to one who has knowledge (i.e. a scholar)" [Sharh at-Tahhaawiyyah, 203]
The Conclusion Of Their Prayer Will Be Al-Hamdulillaahi Rabbil-Aalameen
The believers will pass through the turmoil of the Day of Judgement, then they will cross as-Siraat [the bridge over Hell] and will witness its horrors. Then Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) will admit them to gardens of delight in Paradise, after removing all grief and sorrow from their hearts. They will see the wonders that Allah Ta'ala has prepared for them in Paradise and they will raise their voices in praise and glorification of Allah because He will have lifted their sorrow, fulfilled His promise to them, and caused them to inherit Paradise:
" And they will say, "All praise and thanks be to Allah, Who has removed from us [all] grief. For Our Rabb is indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Ready to appreciate [good deeds and recompense] Who out of His Grace, has lodged us in a home that will last forever, there, toil will not touch us, nor will weariness touch us" [35:34-35]
" And they will say, "All the praises and thanks be to Allah Who Has fulfilled His promise to us and has made us inherit [this] land. We can dwell in Paradise where we will; how excellent a reward for the [pious good] workers!" And you will see the angels surrounding the Throne [of Allah] from all around, glorifying the praises of their Rabb. And they [all the creatures] will be judged with truth, and it will be said, "All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Rabb of the Aalameen" [39:74-75]
And the conclusion of their prayer will be al-Hamdulillaahi Rabbil Aalameen:
" Their prayer will be Glory to You, O Allah! and their greeting therein will be Peace, and the conclusion of their prayer will be, "Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds"