"We were seated with the Prophet (s.a.w) when he looked towards the moon on the night of a full moon and said:"Indeed you shall be placed before your Lord and you shall see Him as you see this moon. You will see Him without trouble. So if you are able to keep from becoming overwhelmed from prayer before the rising of the sun and before its setting, then do so." Then he recited: And glorify the praises of your Lord before the setting."
Hadith Commentary: The Vision of Allah
This noble hadith from Jami' at-Tirmidhi contains two profound matters: the believers' vision of their Lord in the Hereafter and the excellence of specific prayers. The Prophet's comparison of seeing Allah to seeing the full moon indicates both clarity and ease of vision - just as one sees the moon without difficulty or doubt, so shall the believers behold their Creator in Paradise.
Scholarly Explanation of the Vision
The scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah affirm that seeing Allah in the Hereafter is a fundamental belief established through Quranic texts, authentic hadiths, and consensus of the righteous predecessors. This vision will occur without encompassing His Essence, without comparison to creation, and without any harm to the beholders.
Ibn al-Qayyim explains that the comparison to the moon demonstrates the perfection of this vision - it will be direct, clear, and undeniable, unlike the ambiguous visions of this world. The condition "without trouble" indicates the comfort and peace the believers will experience, contrary to the overwhelming experiences of divine manifestation in this worldly life.
The Connection to Prayer Times
The Prophet's instruction to pray before sunrise and sunset refers to the Fajr and 'Asr prayers. These two prayers have special merit as they occur during times when angels witness them. Maintaining these prayers consistently prepares the soul for the ultimate meeting with Allah.
The recitation of "And glorify the praises of your Lord before the setting" (Quran 50:39) confirms the obligation of the 'Asr prayer. Al-Qurtubi notes that this connection shows how regular worship trains the heart to yearn for the divine vision and prepares the believer for that magnificent encounter.
Spiritual Implications
This hadith combines eschatological reality with practical worship, reminding believers that the promise of seeing Allah should motivate consistent obedience. The vision of Allah is the ultimate joy of Paradise, and the prescribed prayers are the means to attain this supreme reward.
As Imam al-Ghazali states, the anticipation of this vision should illuminate the heart during worship, making each prayer an opportunity to prepare for that eternal meeting where no veil remains between the servant and his Lord.