Al-Ruʾya
Definition
Al-ruʾya — the vision of God — is the climax of the Ihya: the supreme joy of Paradise and the ultimate destination of the entire spiritual path that al-Ghazali has mapped across forty books. The hadith says: 'When the people of Paradise enter it, God will say: Do you wish for anything more? They will say: Have You not brightened our faces? Have You not admitted us to Paradise? And then He will lift the veil.' Al-Ghazali describes this vision — the direct perception of God's face by the believing soul — as so incomparably beautiful that every other pleasure of Paradise pales in comparison. It is the beginning, not the end: in Paradise, the journey of love and nearness and knowledge of God continues forever, without limit and without end.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
How the scholars use Al-Ruʾya.
-
"We find those who acknowledge the vision of God Almighty intensely yearning for it, with a great longing toward it, not content with any rank below it because they covet it, while those who deny it do not yearn for it nor wish for it at all because they do not covet it, and you find them content with satisfaction and dwelling in the abode of honor only because their souls do not covet more."
— Ibn Ḥazm of Cordoba, al-Akhlāq wa'l-Siyar — Character and Conduct
-
""Welcome, our master, and keeper of our Lord's book." He praised God, tears in his eyes, and said: "If you honor me for the sake of God's majesty, then rejoice in the vision of God." Then he said, "I wish to worship in your sanctuary for a month, so take care of this young man, for I have found him to be gentle and quick to respond.""
— Imam al-Dhahabī, Volume 1
Appears in
2 books in the library
Hear the term in context.
Every book above uses Al-Ruʾya the way the classical scholars meant it. Listen with the full Study Kit in the app.