If it is said regarding the statement of Allah the Exalted, "And the Face of your Lord will remain," that the face referred to is His Essence, is this considered figurative interpretation?

The questioner : The honorable Shaykh, regarding the statement of Allah the Exalted: If it is said that the intended meaning is His Essence, is this figurative interpretation or correct?

The Shaykh : Yes, if an exegete interprets the statement of Allah the Exalted: as meaning His Essence, in response to the claim of those who say that only the Face remains and not the Essence, may Allah protect us from that, then this is correct.
However, if "And the Face of your Lord will remain" is interpreted as meaning His Essence in a way that denies the Face, then this is not correct. This is not correct. That is to say, if one says that Allah has a Face and uses the term "Face" to refer to His Essence, then this is correct, in response to the claim of those who say, may Allah protect us from that, that Allah perishes except for His Face. We ask Allah for safety. If he says, "I intend by this interpretation to refute the statement of these people," we say this is correct, but you are required to affirm the Face. If he intends by this interpretation to deny the Face, we say this is an error. Yes, that is right.