What is the ruling on involuntary mental images, especially concerning the unseen, that occur to a person when reading or listening to certain religious lessons and lectures, and does this fall under anthropomorphizing the Divine Essence?

If these imaginations occur unintentionally, there is no sin in them, as they are a form of waswasah (whispers of Satan) and self-talk which Allah has forgiven as long as one does not act upon them or speak of them. This is confirmed in the hadith: "Indeed, Allah has forgiven my Ummah for whatever thoughts cross their minds, as long as they do not speak of them or act upon them."

One must divert their mind from these imaginations, especially those related to the essence and attributes of Allah. As for imaginations concerning Paradise and Hellfire, it must be firmly believed that their reality transcends anything that comes to mind, in accordance with the Almighty's saying: "{No soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes}" [Quran 32:17], and the Hadith Qudsi: "I have prepared for My righteous servants what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has ever conceived."