Did the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) see Allah Almighty directly on the day he saw Paradise and Hell, and if the answer is yes, what is the proof from the Book and the Sunnah?

The majority of the Companions held that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, did not see Allah Almighty with his eye on the Night of Mi'raj (Ascension).

It is authentically reported from 'Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, that she said: "Whoever tells you that Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, saw his Lord, has lied."

And from Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him, he said: I asked the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, 'Did you see your Lord?' He replied: "Light; how could I see Him?"

As for Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, his statement: "The heart lied not in what it saw, and indeed he saw Him at another descent," was interpreted to mean that he saw Him with his heart, not with his eye.

The Companions unanimously agreed that the Prophet did not see his Lord on the Night of Mi'raj, though some excepted Ibn Abbas. However, Ibn al-Qayyim clarified that Ibn Abbas's statement does not indicate seeing with the eye.

And Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah explained that 'Aisha denied seeing with the eye, while Ibn Abbas affirmed seeing with the heart. It is not authentically reported from Ibn Abbas or Imam Ahmad a clear statement that he saw Him with his eye.

The religious texts indicate the negation of seeing Allah with the eye in this world, except for what some disagreed upon regarding the Prophet Muhammad's vision specifically. The Salaf (early generations) agreed that the believers will see Allah clearly on the Day of Resurrection.