Chapter: 28, Verse: 88 - The face of Allah

أبي رحمه الله قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، عن أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى عن علي بن سيف، عن أخيه الحسين بن سيف ، عن أبيه سيف بن عميرة النخعي عن خيثمة، قال: سألت أبا عبد الله عليه السلام عن قول الله عز وجل (كل شئ هالك إلا وجهه) قال: دينه، وكان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم وأمير المؤمنين عليه السلام دين الله، ووجهه وعينه في عباده، ولسانه الذي ينطق به، ويده على خلقه، ونحن وجه الله الذي يؤتى منه، لن نزال في عباده ما دامت لله فيهم روية، قلت: وما الروية؟ قال: الحاجة فإذا لم يكن لله فيهم حاجة رفعنا إليه وصنع ما أحب

The narrator says,

I asked Abu Abd-Allah Imam al-Sadiq (عليه السلام) about the saying of Allah (عز وجل),

"Everything will perish except His own Face." (28:88)

The Imam said, "[It means] His religion. The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله) and Amir al-Muminin (عليه السلام), were the religion of Allah, His face, His eye among His servants, His tongue with which He speaks, and His hand over His creation. 

And we are the Face of Allah through which He is approached. We will continue to remain to be among His servants as long as Allah has a ruwiya [consideration] regarding them."

I (the narrator) said: "And what is the ruwiya?"

The Imam said: "The need [Hajah - Referring to divine purpose]. So, if Allah no longer has a need regarding them, He will raise us up to Him and will do whatever He pleases."

[Source: al-Tawhid, Shaikh Saduq, Chapter. 12, Hadith. 7]