All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
There is no explicit text in the Qur’an or Sunnah affirming that the angels see Allah, the Exalted, in this world, nor is there an explicit text denying it. Therefore, it is preferable to refrain from making a definitive claim on this matter without evidence. As for the Hereafter, a number of scholars considered it more likely that the angels will see Allah, although there has been scholarly disagreement on the issue.
We do not know of any authentic and explicit text affirming that the angels see Allah, the Exalted, in this world, nor of any text denying it.
This is one of the matters of the unseen, concerning which it is not permissible to make definitive claims based merely on possibility or personal opinion.
Allah, the Exalted, says:
“And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart—about all those [one] will be questioned.”
[Al-Isra: 36]
Therefore, it is preferable to remain within the limits of what has been established in the revealed texts.
The scholars differed concerning this matter.
Some scholars held that seeing Allah in the Hereafter is exclusive to believing human beings and that the angels will not see Him.
Others held that the angels will see Allah, the Exalted, in the Hereafter. This is the view preferred by a number of scholars.
Al-Saffarini, may Allah have mercy on him, reported this disagreement and then favored the view that the angels will see Allah, the Exalted.
Some scholars cited reports stating that on the Day of Resurrection Allah will manifest Himself to the angels and they will look at Him.
Among these are reports transmitted from some of the Companions and other narrations describing angels who have worshipped Allah continuously since He created them. When the Day of Resurrection comes, they will say:
“Glory be to You! We have not worshipped You as You truly deserve to be worshipped.”
Some narrations also mention Allah manifesting Himself to them on the Day of Resurrection and their looking at Him.
Al-Bayhaqi and others cited such reports in discussions concerning the angels’ vision of their Lord.
Some of those who denied that the angels see Allah cited His saying:
“Vision cannot encompass Him, but He encompasses all vision.”
[Al-An‘am: 103]
They argued that the believers have been excluded from this general wording by other evidence, while the angels remain included in it.
However, not all scholars accepted this argument. Others held that the inability of sight to fully encompass Allah does not necessarily mean that He cannot be seen, and that other evidence does not preclude the angels from seeing their Lord in the Hereafter.
Al-Suyuti, may Allah have mercy on him, mentioned the scholarly disagreement concerning this issue and then favored the view that the angels will see Allah, the Exalted.
He also transmitted this view from a number of scholars, including Ibn al-Qayyim and al-Bulqini.
Thus, there is no scholarly consensus on the matter, but a group of scholars favored the view that the angels will see Allah, the Exalted, in the Hereafter.
There is nothing in the revealed texts requiring us to say that the manner, extent, or times of the angels’ vision of Allah are exactly the same as those of believing human beings.
Some scholars have stated that believing humans will have a great distinction in Paradise regarding the vision of Allah, and that others may not share the same rank.
However, the details of this are matters of the unseen, so we do not go beyond what has been established by evidence.
Some scholars stated that believing jinn, when they enter Paradise, will also see Allah, the Exalted.
It has been reported from Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, that he was asked whether everyone who enters Paradise will see Allah, and he replied: “Yes.”
Based on this, some scholars held that believing jinn and the angels will see Allah, the Exalted, in the Hereafter.
There is no explicit text affirming or denying that the angels see Allah, the Exalted, in this world, so we refrain from making a definitive claim concerning it.
As for the Hereafter, the scholars differed, and a group of them favored the view that the angels will see Allah, the Exalted.
However, the details, manner, and times of this vision belong to the unseen, and nothing concerning them should be affirmed except on the basis of evidence.
And Allah knows best.