Sight
He sees all without eye or instrument
Core Claim
Allah is described with an eternal sight — He sees all that can be seen, without a physical eye or any instrument
Why It Matters
Believing that Allah sees everything produces ihsan — worshipping Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not see Him, knowing He sees you
Lesson
Sight (al-Baṣar) — Allah is described with an eternal sight — He sees all that can be seen, without a physical eye or any instrument.
His sight is intrinsic — not contingent like ours, and does not require light, distance, or angle. He sees the apparent and the hidden, the large and the small, the near and the far, in darkness and light alike.
Comparison between created sight and Allah's sight: - Created sight needs a physical eye — Allah's sight requires no instrument - Created sight needs light — Allah sees in light and darkness equally - Created sight is limited by distance — Allah's sight has no distance limit - Created sight is blocked by walls — nothing blocks Allah's sight - Created sight begins and ends with life — Allah's sight is eternal - Created sight increases and decreases — Allah's sight is constant
Allah said: 'Indeed, Allah is Seeing of what you do' (al-Hujurat 49:18), 'Does he not know that Allah sees?' (al-'Alaq 96:14), and 'He is, of all things, Seeing' (al-Mulk 67:19).
Important rule: Affirming sight for Allah does not entail affirming a physical eye. Just as affirming hearing does not entail an ear. All Allah's attributes are free from 'how' and from instruments.
Key Points
- 1
Allah sees everything without eye or instrument — in darkness and light alike
- 2
His sight is intrinsic, eternal — it does not require light, distance, or angle
- 3
Affirming sight for Allah does not entail affirming a physical eye
- 4
Belief that Allah sees produces ihsan (excellence) in worship
Evidence
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ
Nothing is like Him; and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.
Quran 42:11 (Surah ash-Shura)
إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
Indeed, Allah is Seeing of what you do.
Quran 49:18 (Surah al-Hujurat)
أَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَرَىٰ
Does he not know that Allah sees?
Quran 96:14 (Surah al-'Alaq)
وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ بَصِيرٌ
And He is, of all things, Seeing.
Quran 67:19 (Surah al-Mulk)
Glossary
البصر
al-Baṣar
Allah's eternal attribute — He sees everything without eye or instrument
الإحسان
al-Iḥsān
To worship Allah as if you see Him — and if you do not see Him, knowing He sees you
Learn with quizzes, audio & progress tracking — Sign up free
Get Started