How should we imagine Allaah to be?

 

I do hope I am not
asking a stupid question. I would like to know how a believe in Islam
should imagine Allah to be. I know He is invisible but should I visualize
him in a human form or a light. Please help me. Thank you very much
beforehand. May Allah's Blessings be always upon you. Wassalaam.

Praise be to Allaah.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the
All-Hearer, All-Seer.” [al-Shoora 42:11].

There is nothing like unto Him, nothing that is equal or
comparable to Him or that can rival Him. He is far above any resemblance to
any created being. Whatever crosses the mind of the son of Adam with regard
to his Lord, He is greater than that. No creature can encompass Him, may He
be glorified and exalted, or imagine what He looks like. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):

“… and they will never encompass anything of His

Knowledge.” [Ta-Ha 20:110]

The Muslim is not supposed to try to imagine or picture
Allaah; rather, he has to believe in the sublime attributes which befit His
Might and Majesty in which there is none like unto Him. Part of the
‘aqeedah (basic beliefs, creed) of the Muslims is that Allaah cannot be
seen in this world, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“No vision can grasp Him” [al-An’aam 6:103]

But the believers will see Him in the Hereafter, in the
gathering-place where judgement will be passed, and in Paradise. The Prophet

(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked – as it was
reported in Saheeh Muslim – “Did you see your Lord?” He
said, “I saw Light.” According to another report: “Light, how could I
see Him?” This is in accordance with what Allaah said to Moosa in Soorat
al-A’raaf (interpretation of the meaning):

“ ‘You cannot see Me’” i.e., in this world.

Neither the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) nor anybody else has seen Allaah with his own two eyes. In the
Hereafter, when the people see Him in the place of gathering, they will fall
down in prostration before His Might and Majesty. Seeing Him in Paradise
will be the greatest of all the joys that the people of Paradise will
experience.

You have to recognize Allaah by the Names and Attributes
which He has told us about in His Book, and which His Messenger
(peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told us about. Do not occupy yourself
with something that is beyond you; devote yourself instead to doing what
your Lord has commanded you to do. Put aside these whispers from the
Shaytaan, and may Allaah help you to do that which pleases Him.