Mi'raj un nabi Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam Part 2

First Heaven

The Beloved Prophet of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam began his ascent with Jibrail 'alayhis-salaam until they reached one of the gates of the nearest heaven called Bab al-hafazha. There an angel stood guard, named Isma'il, who was the custodian of the nearest heaven. He inhabits the wind. He never ascends to the heaven nor descends to earth except on the day that the Beloved Prophet left the temporary world, blessings and peace upon him. In front of him stood seventy thousand angels, each angel commanding an army of seventy thousand more.

Jibrail 'alayhis-salaam asked for the gate to be opened. Someone said:

- "Who is this?"

- "Jibrail."

- "Who is with you?

- "Muhammad."

- "Has he been sent for?"

- "Yes."

- "Welcome to him, from his family! May Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala grant him long life, a brother (of ours) and a deputy (of Allah), and what excellent brother and deputy! What an excellent visit is this!"

- "Jibra'il."

- "Who is with you?

- "Muhammad."

- "Has he been sent for?"

- "Yes, he has indeed been sent for."

- "Welcome to him, from his family! May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala grant him long life, a brother (of ours) and a deputy (of Allah), and what excellent brother and deputy! What an excellent visit is this!"

The gate was opened.

Idriss

The gate was opened. When they came in they saw Idris 'alayhis-salaam. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala had exalted him to a lofty place. The Beloved Prophet of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam greeted him and he returned his greeting and said: "Welcome to the righteous brother and the righteous Prophet!" Then he invoked for goodness on his behalf.

- "Jibra'il."

- "Who is with you?

- "Muhammad."

- "Has he been sent for?"

- "Yes, he has indeed been sent for."

- "Welcome to him, from his family! May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala grant him long life, a brother (of ours) and a deputy (of Allah), and what excellent brother and deputy! What an excellent visit is this!"

The gate was opened.

He replied,

'' By the one who sent you with the truth, I have the closest station of all creatures to Allah Almighty, but I have not seen this angel from the time I was created until this very minute. ''

The angel said,

''Allah is Greater! Allah is Greater!''

A voice came from behind the veil,

''My slave has spoken the truth. I am Greater! I am Greater! ''

The angel said,

'' I testify that there is no God but Allah! ''

A voice came from behind the veil,

My slave has spoken the truth. Here is not God but Me.

Then the rest of the adhaan is spoken, with no response to the words.,

'' Come to the Prayer, Come to Success ''

Then the angel took my hand and advanced me so that I was Imam of the inhabitants including Hadrat Adam 'alayhis-salaam. Thereafter he ascended with me till I was taken to such a height where I heard the scraping of pens.

Imam Abd'al-Wahhab al-Sha'raani 'alayhir rahman reported :

Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam accompanied the Beloved Messenger of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam till Sidrat al Muntaha and stopped there. The Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam advanced further and was presented a green throne which was known as the the rafraf (kursi'y). The rafraf was accompanied by an angel. The beloved of Allah sat down and moved further on with the rafraf, until he heard a voice calling him.

Rafraf is the name of the throne upon which the Beloved of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam was carried to the presence of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala during the night of his ascension, but in general parlance the word has also the meaning of dome, tent, throne, etc.

Deedar

Then the Beloved of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam saw his Lord, the Glorious, the Exalted, and he fell prostrate, and at that time his Lord spoke to him and said: "O Muhammad!" He replied: "At your service, O Lord!" Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala said: "Ask! (sal)." The Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam said:

You have taken to Yourself Ibrahim 'alayhis salaam as a friend, and You have given him an immense kingdom. You have spoken to Musa alayhis salaam directly, and have given Dawud alayhis salaam an immense kingdom and softened iron and subjected the mountains to him. You have given Sulayman alayhis salaam an immense kingdom, and subjected the jinn and men and devils to him, as well as the winds, and You have given him a kingdom the like no one may have after him. You have taught 'Isa alayhis salaam the Torah and the Evangel, and made him heal those born blind and the lepers, and raise up the dead with Your permission, and You have protected him and his mother from the cursed devil so that the devil had no path by which to harm them!

What was said ...

Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala said: "And I have taken you to Myself as My beloved." The narrator said: It is written in the Torah: habibullah "Allah's Beloved." Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala continued:

And I have sent you for all people without exception,

a bearer of glad tidings and a warner;

and I have expanded your breast for you

and relieved you of your burden

and exalted your name;

and I am not mentioned except you are mentioned with Me;

and I have made your Community the best Community ever brought out for the benefit of mankind;

and I have made your Community a mean and a middle;

and I have made your Community in truth the first

and the last of all Communities;

and I have made public address (al-khutba) impermissible for your Community unless they first witness that you are My servant and Messenger;

and I have placed certain people in your Community with Evangels for hearts (i.e. repositories of Allah's Book);

and I have made you the first Prophet created and the last one sent and the first one heard in My court;

and I have given you Seven of the Oft-Repeated which I gave to no other Prophet before you (i.e. Surat al-Fatiha);

and I have given you the last verses of Surat al-Baqara which constitute a treasure from under My Throne which I gave to no other Prophet before you;

and I have given you the Kawthar; and I have given you eight arrows (i.e. shares in good fortune): Islam, Emigration (hijra), Jihad, Charity (sadaqa), Fasting Ramadan, Ordering Good, and Forbidding Evil;

and the day I created the heavens and the earth I made obligatory upon you and upon your Community fifty prayers: therefore establish them, you and your Community."

(al-Shami added:) Abu Hurayra radi Allahu anhu said: Allah's Beloved Messenger Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam said:

My Lord has preferred me over everyone else (faddalani rabbi):

He has sent me as a mercy to the worlds and to all people without exception,

a bearer of glad tidings and a warner;

He has thrown terror into the hearts of my enemies at a distance of a month's travel;

He has made spoils of war lawful for me while they were not lawful for anyone before me;

the entire earth has been made a ritually pure place of prostration for me;

I was given the words that open, those that close, and those that are comprehensive in meaning (i.e. I was given the apex of eloquence);

My Community was shown to me and there is none of the followers and the followed but he is known to me;

I saw that they would come to a people that wear hair-covered sandals;

I saw that they would come to a people of large faces and small eyes as if they had been pierced with a needle;

nothing of what they would face in the future has been kept hidden from me;

and I have been ordered to perform fifty prayers daily.

And he has been given three particular merits: He is the Master of Messengers (sayyid al-mursalin), the Leader of the Godwary (imam al-muttaqin), and the Chief of those with signs of light on their faces and limbs (qa'id al-ghurr al-muhajjalin). (End of al-Shami's addition.)

Al-Mut'im ibn 'Adi (he died a disbeliever) said: "All of your affair before today was bearable, until what you said today. I bear witness that you are a liar (ana ashhadu annaka kadhibun). We strike the flanks of the she-camels for one month to reach the Hallowed House, then for another month to come back, and you claim that you went there in one night! By al-Lat, by al-'Uzza! I do not believe you."

Conclusion

The most important lesson that we are to learn from al-Isra' and al-Mi'raj is concerning ritual Prayer (salah). It is known that Prayer was ordained on that great night. It is because of the great importance of Prayer that Allah Almighty ordained it in heaven. He Almighty sent His Messenger to mankind (peace and blessings be upon him) and caused him to go on a night journey and ascend to heaven and the Lote Tree to inform him (peace and blessings be upon him) of the ordinance of Prayer.

Mind that all other ordinances were decreed on the earth. This indicates how important Prayer is in Islam. It symbolizes ascension to heaven; it is the Muslim's spiritual ascension to heaven. Thus, Prayer is the gift that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) brought with him from that journey to all Muslims so that they can worship Allah Almighty through it.

Prayer had to do with al-Aqsa Mosque. Al-Aqsa Mosque was the first qiblah in Islam. If it is true that al-Israa' took place in the tenth year of the Prophet's mission, this would mean that the Muslims' qiblah in Prayer was towards Al-Aqsa Mosque for three years before the Hijrah to Madinah and 16 months after it.

Then Almighty Allah decreed that the qiblah be changed towards the Sacred Mosque. Allah Almighty says: 

(So turn thy face toward the Inviolable Place of Worship, and ye (O Muslims), wheresoever ye may be, turn your faces when ye pray) toward it.) (Al-Baqarah 2: 143)

When the qiblah was changed, the Jews raised doubts about that. Allah Almighty says: 

(The foolish of the people will say: What hath turned them from the qiblah which they formerly observed?) (Al-Baqarah 2: 142)

The Jews spread rumours that the Muslims' Prayer [to the first qiblah] was invalid and so would not be rewarded. Allah Almighty refuted their claims as He, most High, says: 

(And We appointed the qiblah which ye formerly observed only that We might know him who followeth the Messenger from him who turneth on his heels. In truth it was a hard (test) save for those whom Allah guided. But it was not Allah's purpose that your faith should be in vain, for Allah is full of pity, Merciful toward mankind.) (Al-Baqarah 2: 143) According to this verse, "your faith" refers to Prayer, as Prayer is a symbol of one's faith.

To sum up, Prayer is the spiritual means through which Muslims can ascend to their Lord. If the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ascended to heaven (once), we, brothers and sisters, could spiritually ascend to there as much as we can through Prayer.

Allah Almighty says in a qudsi (divine) hadith: "I have divided the Prayer into two halves between Me and My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks. When the servant says, 'Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the universe,' Allah the Most High says, 'My servant has praised Me.' And when he (the servant) says, 'The Most Compassionate, the Merciful,' Allah the Most High says, 'My servant has lauded Me.' And when he (the servant) says, 'Master of the Day of judgment,' He Almighty remarks, 'My servant has glorified Me.' And when he (the worshiper) says, 'Thee do we worship and of Thee do we ask help,' He Almighty says, 'This is between Me and My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for.' Then, when he (the worshiper) says, 'Guide us to the straight path, the path of those to whom Thou hast been Gracious not of those who have incurred Thy displeasure, nor of those who have gone astray,' He (Allah Almighty) says, 'This is for My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for.'"

No doubt that this event is unique and very important and we all need to be reminded about it whenever its date arrives. Not only that, but we also need to keep in touch with our important historical events in order to derive fruitful lessons from them while moving forward.

Mind, Body or Soul ?

The overwhelming majority of muslims, jurists, scholars of Hadith, and Muslim philosophers agreed that it was in both body and soul for many reasons.

First, according to Almighty Allah's words:

(Glorified be He Who carried His servant by night from theInviolable Place of Worship to the Far Distant Place of Worship.) (Al-Israa' 17: 1), He Almighty has referred to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as " His servant." The word "servant" does not refer to one's soul only; it refers to the servant as a whole, body and soul.

This is similar to the word "slave" in Allah's words: (Hast thou seen him who dissuadeth a slave when he prayeth?) (Al-'Alaq 96: 9) and (And when the slave of Allah stood up in prayer to Him, they crowded on him, almost stifling.) (Al-Jinn 72: 19) The word ''slave'' in both these verses refers to the person in question as a whole, body and soul.

Second, had the Prophet's journey of Al-Israa' and Al-Mi'raj been in soul only, it would not have been regarded as a miracle. It would have been then an ordinary dream. While sleeping, many people visit remote places and see extraordinary things without moving an inch from the places they are already in, and there is nothing extraordinary about that to other people.

Had the Prophet's journey of Al-Israa' and Al-Mi'raj been a dream, Allah Almighty would not have mentioned it in the Qur'an in terms that express its being a miracle and extraordinary incident.

Third, Allah Almighty says about the journey of Al-Israa' and Al-Mi'raj: (We appointed the vision which We showed thee as an ordeal for mankind.) (Al-Israa' 17: 60). ''Ordeal'' here refers to its being a trial. Contemplating this, the journey would not be a trial unless it was in both body and soul. Had it been in soul only, there would not have been a trial or something extraordinary regarding it.

Besides, when the unbelievers knew about the journey of Al-Israa' and Al-Mi'raj, they wondered how the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) could make it on one night, when they would make a similar journey in a month. [Why should they disbelieve it, if it were a mere dream?]

Fourth, it was Allah Almighty Who made His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) have that journey, and, certainly, nothing is impossible for Allah Almighty to do; He Almighty is able to do all things. Hence, there is nothing that calls us to doubt the occurrence of the journey in both body and soul.

Those who say that the journey was in soul only cite as evidence for their view the Qur'anic verse: (We appointed the vision which We showed thee as an ordeal for mankind.) (Al-Israa' 17: 60).

They believe that the vision (ru’ya) here refers to a dream, not to an actual seeing.

But this opinion is not wholly tenable, for ru'ya, lexically speaking, refers also to seeing with the eyes. Besides, according to Al-Bukhari, Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said, commenting on the verse in question, ''The sights which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was shown on the Night Journey when he was taken to Jerusalem were actual sights, (not dreams).''

Those who are of the opinion that the journey was in soul only also cite as evidence for their view the Mother of the Believers 'A'ishah's hadith: "The Prophet's sanctified body was not missing on the Night Journey.'

But this point is also refuted for the following reasons.

1. The hadith reported to have been said by `A'ishah is not an authentic one; there are missing and unknown reporters in its chain of narration.

2. 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) was not yet married to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) at the time of the journey. She might even not have been born then, if we take into account the controversy regarding the date of Al-Israa' and Al-Mi'raj.

3. Her saying: "The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not see his Almighty Allah with his eye" indicates that she believed that the journey was in both body and soul. Had she thought that it was in soul only, she would not have said that.

4. Since the hadith ''The Prophet's sanctified body was not missing'' is not authentic, there is no need to attempt to explain it to mean that the journey was in both body and soul, for some say that the hadith indicates that his soul was not separated from his body.

Anyway, what we are required to believe with regard to Al-Israa' and Al-Mi'raj is that it did take place, as Allah Almighty tells us in the Glorious Qur'an.

Glorified be He who carried His servant in the span of a night from the Haram Sharif to the Al-Aqsa Mosque whose surroundings we have blessed…(17:1)

Then the splendid vision drew nearer and came still nearer till there was a distance of two bow lengths or even less so Allah revealed to His beloved servant what He wanted to reveal (53:8-10)
'' Mi'raj-e-Mustafa ''

by

Allama Ata Al-Mustafa Jameel

[Speech given on 28th Rajab 1420; 6th November 1999 at the Leicester Central Mosque, UK]

After praising Allah the Almighty and sending Peace and Blessings on the Noble Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) he says:

Verily we have sent our Prophets with clear evidences … (57:25)

The commentators of Qur'an say that all Prophets sent by Allah the Almighty were for the salvation and guidance of mankind. We believe in all of them. ''I believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books and His Prophets''. The commentators say that whenever a Prophet came to this world to fulfil their role, when they said for the first time to their respective Ummah (Community) that ''I am Allah's Prophet'' there would be some certain responses to this claim which is called the proclamation of Prophethood. The Prophet declares to his people that he is no ordinary man amongst them but that he is, in actual fact sent from Allah as a Prophet, as a messenger. There is no doubt that when a Prophet uttered these words proclaiming Prophethood, there was a unique and strange response to it. We can say that there were four different responses to this claim. Or in other words we can say that every Prophet had four types of people in his Ummah which reacted differently to his claim. There is one unique example whereby a Prophet only a few hours old declared his Prophethood. That Prophet was Jesus son of Maryam (Alayhis Salaam). There were unique and unprecedented circumstances to this proclamation as allegations were made at Maryam by Jews that she was led astray (Ma'azallah). She has brought forth this child with no husband. So Jesus Christ spoke in her defence to protect and uphold her honour, chastity and purity. This was a unique case in exceptional circumstances.

'' I am indeed a servant of Allah. He has given me a book and He has made me a Prophet''…(19:30)

Let us look at the first category of people who responded to the Prophet's claim. Prophets had such people in their respective Ummah that when they said for the first time ''I am Allah's Prophet'', no sooner did the words leave the Prophets mouth did they believe in him. There was no argument, nor any demand to see any proof such as miracles. When the Prophet said, ''I am Allah's Prophet'' there is that fortunate category of people who immediately read the Kalima. This category of people in the Qur'an has been labelled as Siddiqeen -

'Those who testify Prophethood'. And who so obeys Allah and His Rasool, will then be in the company of those who Allah has conferred His favours from among the Prophets, the truthful, the martyrs and the righteous and pious- and what an excellent company they are indeed. (4:69)

From the approximate 124,000 Prophets sent there as many truthful testifiers. Our noble Prophet's Siddiq was given the title of 'Siddiq-e-Akbar'- the Greatest Siddiq, the king of Siddiq's. Akbar after all means the greatest. The Sufi's ask why the title Akbar was given? The response to this has been that the other Siddiq's testified to the other Prophets, but Siddiq-e-Akbar testified to the greatest of all the Prophets. When the final Prophet declared his Prophethood, Sayidina Abu Bakr (Radi Allah Anhu) was away in Syria conducting his business. When he returned, the enemy of Islam Abu Jahl asked Abu Bakr whether he had heard the big news? You may have noticed that in some communities you have some people who spread the news and gossip around! ''Have you not heard that Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has declared Prophethood''? Abu Bakr heard this and went straight to the Prophet. ''O Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), I have heard some news about you''. The Prophet smiled and said, ''you have heard correctly''. '' If this is the case, then please read me your Kalima so that I can be your first believer and servant”. Abu Bakr Siddiq was the first person to read the Kalima and enter the fold of Islam. The first child to do so was Maula Ali, and the first slave was Zayd bin Haris, and from the women Khadija tul Khubbra (May Allah be pleased with them all).

Moving slightly away from the main talk, I would like to comment on Sayida Khadija (Radi Allah Anha). She was the Prophet's first wife. The mental and logical proof of our Prophet is that as his wife, Khadija accepted what he said straightaway. For a wife to testify a husband’s words and actions is a very big thing indeed. Otherwise, women are not quick to acknowledge their husband’s actions. There is a reason to this and is not simply a laughing and joking matter. The reason for this is that the wife knows about her husband’s qualities- good and bad. The wife knows these things. When Rasoolallah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) returned from Cave Hira to his home he was sweating and shivering due to the impact of revelation. Khadija saw this and asked her beloved husband what the matter was? The Prophet immediately asked for his shawl so he could wrap himself. Khadija again enquired from her beloved what the matter was? “Today something strange happened. I was in the cave (Hira) when Jibraeel (Alayhis Salaam) came to me”. Listen to the response to the mother of the believers. “Ya Muhammad! If Jibraeel were not going to come to you than to which person would he have appeared in front of? You are truthful, honest and decent. What good quality is there which is not with you? Make me read your Kalima for I accept your faith”. This is the mental and logical proof of his Prophethood. So the first category is Siddiqeen- the testifiers of Prophethood.

The second category is those people who neither accepted what was said nor did they reject what was claimed. When a Prophet said, “I am Allah’s Prophet” they remained silent. They didn't read the Kalima nor did they reject. The reason why they don’t accept him is because a very strange and bold claim had been made. But they don't reject either because they knew by seeing that person grow up in front of them, that he had never uttered a bad word or lied, or cheated anyone. They recognised that the claimant had lived an open life with nothing to hide. They studied what the Prophet said and did and would eventually accept his word.

The third category of people in relation to the declaration of Prophethood are those who didn’t accept the character of the Prophet, or his teachings, his words or actions. They rejected the theory and practice that was presented to them. To overcome these people power was needed. Allah in the Qur'an says that to overcome this category of people, miracles had been granted to Prophets. Miracles is such a power and phenomenon that the most biggest and bravest of rejecters, after seeing a miracle would hang their heads in shame and accept the reality and enter Islam. Allah has granted every Prophet miracles so that they can overcome these types of people. Allah knew that His Prophets would encounter such people who can only be won over by strength. That is why miracles were granted.

The fourth and final category is that category of people who even seeing the miracles of the Prophet to try and win them over still refuse to believe and accept the truth that has been sent to them. They would say to the Prophet, among other things, that he was a magician and a sorcerer (Ma'azallah).

The Qur'an says that Allah has sealed their hearing and their hearts, and on their eyes there is a covering. 

Theirs will be an awful doom (2:7)

The purpose of a miracle then is to win over the hearts and minds of those doubters so that even they have to admit the truth and accept it. Allah says in the final revelation:

Verily we have sent our Prophets with clear evidences…(57:25)

The difference is however that Allah sent the previous Prophets with miracles, but He sent our Rasool (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) as a miracle! Don’t think that Jameel Sahib has said an inspiring comment for the sake of it. There is Qur'anic proof of what I have just said. 

O mankind! There assuredly has come to you a clear proof (Burhan) from your Lord and we have sent down to you a light manifest that guides you to the straight path. (4:174)

All commentators agree that Burhan means miracle. Again I move slightly away from the main talk. Daleel is an Arabic word and so is Burhan. Daleel is a proof to an argument. If I say something to prove a point this is a Daleel. But as you know that sometimes if you offer a proof, there is a possibility that someone may come along and offer stronger evidence against your claim. A Daleel can be refuted. But the experts of Arabic language say that Burhan is such a word that means that the proof that is presented is irrefutable. The strongest, irrefutable proof is called Burhan it is called Muhammad Rasoolallah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). Previous Prophets brought evidences and proofs, but our Prophet came as an irrefutable proof. Shaykh Ahmad Sirhindi (May Allah be pleased with him) the Mujaddid (reviver) of Islam of the Indian subcontinent, who undid Akbar’s plans to reform Islam, in his masterpiece Maktubaat says “ The reason why I believe in and worship Allah is not because He is Lord and creator of all the worlds. I don’t believe in Allah because He is creator of the heavens and the earth. I believe in Allah because He is the Lord of Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam)” Burhan is such a proof that cannot be broken or refuted. The people of knowledge say that a miracle cannot be comprehended by the human mind. If it comes within the grasp of the mind then it cannot be a miracle but turns out to be a farce and a joke. Don’t you see these magicians who smash a watch, put it into a bag and then pull pigeons out and so on. Someone can learn magic and do the same tricks. These things can be learnt if someone is taught and practices it. But a miracle is such a thing that no one else can do. Prophets can only perform miracles. They cannot be copied. If it is copied and imitated then that becomes a joke and farce like jugglers and magicians. Allah says that Prophets have not been sent with tricks but with miracles. People say to me “Maulvi sahib, tell us some scientific, some realistic things and don’t talk about this”. I say to these people that the scientific and real issue is that miracles cannot be comprehended by the human mind. This is a scientific fact. Mawlana Jalaludin Rumi [Allah be pleased with him] says in this respect that there is a scale that weighs jewellery and fine things. The scale is very small and beautiful and is kept in a glass cabinet because it is so fragile. Maulana Rumi says that if some man comes along wishing to weigh his vehicle, then the weight cannot be taken. The weight can take measurements but not of that size. By measuring something very large would destroy the small measuring device. Rumi says that the human brain, which is a precious and unique gift, can only measure and weigh up to a certain level. This brain is like a computer that has achieved many things. Man has extracted oil from the ground, made missiles, sent man to the moon; it sends satellites to stars and other planets. But the brain is like a jeweller's scale. But to understand and comprehend miracles you need the eye of Siddiq-e-Akbar!

The Commentators of Qur'an have said another beautiful thing. They say that the miracles Prophets performed reflected the ideals and values of the specific time period. So if an Ummah specified in say for example science, then Allah would give his Prophet a miracle that reflected and bettered the science of that time. This fact cannot be denied and must be accepted. The commentators say that every Prophet in respect of beauty, wisdom, knowledge, foresight and every other quality were superior than all his community put together. No person could claim to be better in any respect than the Prophet. Allah has made His every Prophet superior to the nation or community he was sent to. I want to talk about miracles in the light of Miraj, because some people have doubted the Miraj questioning its legitimacy. The reason why I want to tell you these things is so that you don’t fall into the trap of those people who say that these things are unscientific and made up by Islamic scholars (Ma'azallah). Living in this country, I don’t want to see you fall in this trap. We need to have faith in every aspect of our Prophet just as Siddiq-e-Akbar did. The commentators as I was saying tell us that every miracle of the Prophet made them superior and victorious over their Ummah. I would like to offer you some example in the light of the Quran to back up what I have just said.

The Ummah of Sayidina Dawud (Alayhis Salaam) (David as the Jews and Christians know him) was according to the commentators of Qur'an specialists in industry. The other speciality was music and singing. Special gatherings were arranged whereby the whole night would be spent with people competing with each other in singing and music. Allah therefore decided to send His Prophet with such qualities that would make him shine and be better and victorious over the community he was being sent too. Allah did not wish to see His Prophet to be defeated but triumph over his people. Allah blessed Sayyadina Dawud (Alayhis Salaam) with such a sweet and melodious voice that was by far the best voice that Ummah had heard. They say that birds used to stop in mid-air and listen to him speak. In respect of industry, Allah gave Dawud the miracle that when he held any metal, no matter how hard it was, it became soft and malleable that it would turn into the shape he wanted it to become. History proves this. Allah made His Prophet powerful and victorious over that Ummah. Whatever qualities or specialities the Ummah had, the Prophet sent matched and bettered them in every respect. Sayyadina Salih (Alayhis Salaam) was sent to the nations of Aad and Samoud. These tribes made houses out of stone. The other feature was that they were great artists. They drew such paintings and drawings that looked as if they were real. Every year, a fair was held in which they would bring their works together and decide which was best. Allah decided in his wisdom to grant His Prophet such miracles and qualities that would make the greatest artists of the time fall at his feet. The Qur'an mentions an occasion when such a fair was held. The people gathered with their works and began commenting on them. Sayyadina Salih (Alayhis Salaam) heard the various comments of the people gathered and drew their attention. He then by invoking Allah's name struck a rock with his stick. The rock split open from which a live camel appeared -'The Camel of Allah''. The people made still images of animals and beasts, but the Prophet produced a living animal out of stone. This is the power of a Prophet over his Ummah. The miracles of Musa (Alayhis Salaam) are many. One of them was his encounter with the magicians. The commentators say that there were schools and academies where magic was being taught. The Pharaoh challenged Musa (Alayhis Salaam) with his magicians. But Allah sent his Prophet to a nation of magicians with just one stick! A stick that would defeat all magicians. Allah granted Musa (Alayhis Salaam) victory when his stick turned into a snake and ate all the magicians’ snakes. The Pharaoh was watching all this happen. The magicians saw the reality and truth and did not care for the Pharaoh or his army and saw with their enlightened hearts that he was truthful and that the Pharaoh was accursed. They turned around and said to Pharaoh that they would not accept him as their God but the Lord of Musa (Alayhis Salaam). The Qur'an says that all the magicians accepted Musa by reading his Kalima. The Pharaoh then threatened them with execution. They responded by saying that even if you cut us into tiny pieces like mincemeat we would still not leave the word of Musa (Alayhis Salaam). This is the power of Allah's Prophets.

The last example I will offer is that of our Prophet’s predecessor Sayidina Isa ibn Maryam (Alayhis Salaam). The specialities and qualities of Jesus people were Algebra, Geometry, Mathematics, Palmistry, Astrology and the like. This was a period of great discovery, knowledge and wisdom. Allah informed Jesus that He would be sending him to a community of palmists and astrologers and doctors. So Allah gave him such miracles that made him superior and powerful over his Ummah. Allah says in the Qur'an what Jesus said to his people And he shall be a Messenger towards the Children of Israel saying this, 

“I have brought to you a sign from your Lord; that I make a form out of clay like a bird for you then again breath in it and it becomes a bird at once by the command of Allah; and I heal the born blind and the leper and I make the dead alive by the command of Allah and I declare to you what you eat and what you have stored in your houses…(3:49)

I will tell you with absolute certainty what you have just eat and done. “Ask me,” said Jesus about it and I will tell you. This is the challenge Jesus set out to his community. I will cure the blind (from birth) and those suffering from leprosy. I will give them no medicine, all I will do is just touch them with my blessed hands and they will be cured. Allah will give them sight and remove their leprosy. This is from the Quran all that I have just said. Please pay attention to the actual words of the Qur'an. ''Inni'' means ''I''. I will give a cure. Leave the translation of Imam Ahmad Raza Khan alayhir rahman aside; lets look at the translation of 'Maulana' Maududi. The translation is that which I have just given. It's a question of grammar. Read any translation you want the response is the same. Isa says, '' I will cure the blind and the leper''. There are those who question intercession asking why a third party has to intervene. Do they not look at the verses of the Qur'an! This is a gathering of knowledgeable people. You know better than I do that previous diseases have not yet been cured that new diseases are being created and spread. No absolute cure for leprosy has been found. But two thousand years ago Jesus said come and I will cure you from leprosy. Cure for illnesses can be gained from doctors. But Isa (Alayhis Salaam) performed such miracles that all the doctors in the world could not do. In the Qur'an another miracle of Isa (Alayhis Salaam) is mentioned:

…I bring the dead back to life by the command of Allah…(3:49)

Not just one dead person but many dead persons back alive. The Bible states that this miracle occurred four times. What I have said until now has been setting the context for what I really want to say to you. What we have learnt up to now is that Allah sent Prophets to mankind who showed that they were better in every respect. The end result was the same, the Prophet always turned out to be the best in all fields. The essence of the talk so far has been that Allah has given miracles to each and every Prophet to win over those people who initially rejected his proclamation of Prophethood. Every Prophet, as we have shown, is superior and more powerful than his Ummah. Thus far we have talked about previous Prophets. Now we come to talk about Our Prophet! The Prophet in whose honour this gathering has been initiated. The previous Prophets were sent to nations. Some were sent to Madyan, Jerusalem, Palestine and the like some to cities towns and villages. But our Prophet came as a Rahmah for all the worlds and as the Prophet for all nations! It has been fourteen hundred years since our Prophet has left this mortal world. The past belongs to him, the present belongs to him and the future belongs to him. The Prophet is always powerful and superior over his Ummah. It is the Sunnah of Allah, the Fitra (nature) of Allah. He never allows His Prophet to be undone or be ashamed or be defeated. The Prophet always comes out on top.

All the inventions we see today have been termed as part of the ‘miracles of science’ and all this has occurred after the Prophet’s arrival. Before the Prophet there were no loudspeakers, tape recorders or televisions. All these inventions came in this Ummah, not in previous ones. So logic says that if Allah sends His Prophets as superior and powerful over his nation, so why wouldn’t He send His Beloved Prophet as Ghalib? By this we mean powerful, superior, dominant. It’s a matter of common sense. Otherwise you say that the Prophet is defeated and less powerful than his followers are? Listen! And I will tell you the superiority and power of the Prophet. Scientists can make all the discoveries and inventions they like, and Allah knows best what else mankind will achieve. Allah has bestowed man with intellect and they have used it to great effect. But it is my belief that whatever mankind does; Allah has bestowed His Beloved with so many miracles, that he will remain superior and powerful in every age. Here are some examples to support my argument. The mobile phone is a phenomenon that has now become common. You are driving in your car, and your are asking directions, or you are phoning home to let them know what time you will be arriving. At work and at home, the mobile is a constant companion. The mobile phone runs on a power source, it runs on batteries/cells. It is after generations of progress and development that we have reached the age of mobile phones and instant telecommunications. I ask you then, that on which power and batteries were the stones in Abu Jahl’s hand operating when it spoke the Kalima fourteen hundred years ago in Makkah? Mobiles emit sound, but Abu Jahl had pebbles. Abu Jahl always kept them with him so that he could get an opportunity to throw them at him. It was his dirty and vile habit, a sign of his Kufr. One day, holding the pebbles in his fist, Abu Jahl called his nephew over. ''Ya Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam)! Are you Allah’s Prophet?'' He replied, ''Yes, by Allah's mercy I am his final Prophet''. Imam Jalaludin Rumi Allah be pleased with him narrates this story. Abu Jahl says, ''If you a Prophet, then tell me what is in my hand? Leave talk of the universe and so forth to one-side, tell me what is in my hand?'' The Prophet smiled. It is interesting to note that even Abu Jahl had the faith that the Prophet would tell him what is in his hand. That is the faith of one of the biggest Kafir's ever. And yet there are some people today who read the Kalima but yet deny the Prophet of having such knowledge. We infer from this that Abu Jahl was better than such people! People today claiming to be Muslims lack the faith that even Abu Jahl had. The noble Prophet smiled and said, “O uncle, shall I tell you what is in my hand, or shall the thing in your hand tell you who I am?'' Abu Jahl agreed, and the Prophet ordered the object kept in Abu Jahl's hand to tell him who he was. Rumi says that by the order of the Prophet the pebbles in Abu Jahl’s hand began to say, ''There is no God, but Allah, Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) is His Rasool''! I ask you then that after generation after generation of discoveries, progress and development what has mankind achieved? If the mobile phone drops on the floor it breaks. Will it speak or work? If the batteries fail, will the phone allow you to talk? If you switch the thing off, will it be of any use? I ask you then, with which power were the stones speaking? This proves that the Beloved Prophet of Allah is superior. 

Here is a narration from Mishkat Sharif. 

Maula Ali (Radi Allah Anhu) states that once after Zuhr prayer, the Prophet said '' O Ali! Shall we go for a walk?'' Maula Ali responded as they set off for a walk. They left Masjid al-Nabwi with the Prophet walking in front of Ali. They made their way through the streets of Madinah until they were outside the city. It was a small city at the time. Do you know that the present Masjid al-Nabwi extension is the same size as Madinah was back in the time of the Prophet? When the date trees and the mountains became visible. The hadith says ''that the grain of sands, the mountains, rocks, boulders, date trees, everything began to say ''Peace upon you Ya Rasool-Allah!'' Go and bring teams of scientists if you want and make a particle of sand speak? Give trees the ability to speak? Maula Ali says he heard with his own ear's everything in sight offering Salaam upon the Best of Creations, (Sallal laahu alaihi wasallam)

Here is another Hadith this time from Sahih Bukhari. 

The Companions say that the Prophet was with his troops as they passed Uhud Mountain. They say that they heard the Prophet say “peace be upon you too”. The companions were bewildered because they could not see to whom the Prophet was responding too. They asked '' Ya Rasool-Allah! To whom are you sending Salaams?'' The Prophet said that the ''The mountain (i.e. Uhud) loves me. The mountain sent Salaam upon me, I replied. I am telling you that the mountain loves me''. Hubb is Arabic word which means to pull or to attract. When the heart is pulled towards something or attracted to it, this is the meaning of love. To love is the work of the heart. The Sufi's and Awliya say that the gate to the heart is the eye. The thief of the heart enters the door by the eye. Our Rasool (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has said to keep our heads down so that there is less chance of our hearts being stolen (to bad things). If you want to protect your faith then you need to guard your eyes. One who doesn’t love is said to be hardhearted. May I be sacrificed Ya Rasool-Allah! You make stones love you! Let me say this, that our Rasool is that being that has given stones a heart and instilled love inside them! He is a Prophet that gives hearts and love to stones. ''The mountain loves me''. What a Beloved he is if he can make stones love him. And why wouldn’t they because the Prophet’s face is so beautiful, radiant and bright. 

The next part of the Hadith is a glad tiding to the true believers. 

The Prophet says that the mountain loves me. The Prophet then says, '' I love the mountain''. There is a two-way traffic in the love and affection. This is such a Prophet that stones and mountains love him and he loves them. O Muslims! You are the best of creations. You are the Ummati of the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), you are his servant and ardent lover, and if you love him he will love you back. Those who send Durood and Salaam upon the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) and remember him constantly, he will remember you too. O scientists! The path, on which you have just set foot on, the Noble Prophet, has already passed it. O' inventors of telecommunications such as televisions, mobile phone, computers, my Prophet has passed and bettered your achievements along time ago. This is the age of surgery. I have seen with my own eye's people practising the traditional medicines. You will be amazed to hear, I swear on the Minbar (pulpit) I stand on, that this doctor I saw put his hand on a man's pulse, felt it, and said '' think about whose household you belong to, give up drinking alcohol''. The man said to me, ''I swear to Allah, Jameel Sahib, my wife doesn’t know I drink''. This was such a complete physician that by feeling the pulse he could tell the problem and its cure. Surgery is a common phenomenon now in Europe. Plastic surgery is the latest craze. Heart operations are a daily occurrence. Indeed it is foreseeable in the future that 'Body Shops' will open in the future where you can get body spare parts like hearts, livers, kidneys etc. Blood banks have been established. Surgery has transformed the lives on many people for better and worse. But I say to you, bring all the surgeons in the world together in one place, but what achievements and accomplishments our Prophet has achieved no person can achieve.

Listen to a Hadith from Bukhari Sharif. 

In the battle of Uhud, the Muslims were facing a critical time, when for a moment there was a danger that the Muslims might suffer defeat. The Beloved Prophet lost one of his blessed teeth at this time. They were being attacked with a shower of arrows coming in their direction. May I be sacrificed for these noble companions! There was a companion named Saad. He was so good at archery that nobody in Arabia could match him. He stood in front of the Prophet during battle. The Prophet was behind him supplying him arrows. The beloved Prophet would give him an arrow and say, ''Shoot! May my parents be sacrificed upon you!'' Qitada was another fortunate and blessed companion who stood in the front line with the Prophet. During the heat of battle a stray enemy arrow fell and hit his eye. Blood spurted out as he fell to the ground. With the arrow lodged in his eye, Qitada went about finding the Messenger of Allah. The Prophet saw the state of Qitada and told him to go to the back. Qitada said “Ya Rasoolallah! I haven’t come here just to be sent to the back. I am injured that is why I have come to you''. Allah knows best in which mood and state of mind Qitada uttered these words. The Prophet asked Qitada what the matter was? The injured companion said '' Ya Rasoolallah, I am a young man, my eye is injured my sight has gone, Ya Rasoolallah my eye has gone, I have come to get a new eye”. I ask you; you live in such a progressive age, that if a soldier in battle today got hit in the eye, and he went to his General that he wanted a new eye, what would the General do? He would say, put him into an ambulance to hospital; test his blood and his urine. Test after test after test the soldier would die. Let me tell you then about surgery of fourteen hundred years ago, which was not an age of surgery. We learn from Qitada's words and actions that it was his belief as well that when it comes to giving the Prophet does not disappoint and that he delivers. Whoever has Aqida goes and asks. The one without Aqida doesn’t ask. The Prophet said, '' Do you want an eye? If you want Qitada I can give you an eye,or you can have Paradise?'' Qitada replied '' Ya-Rasoolallah! I have gained paradise from the moment I set eyes on you, I already have paradise, I need an eye!'' Can someone really contemplate, in the heat of battle someone receiving an eye? The Prophet called Qitada over and Qitada moved forward. “Come closer,'' said the Prophet. Qitada went closer. ''Come closer,'' said the Noble Prophet. Again Qitada moved forward. Qitada came so close to the Prophet that his face was inches away from the face of the Prophet. The Prophet with his blessed hands pulled the arrow out of Qitada's eye. The arrow had Qitada's eyeball attached to the end of it. The Prophet then with his hands cleaned the blood off his face and eye. In today's day and age, the sugar and glucose levels of the patient have to be checked before anything is done. And we hear that after the operation, the patient still complains of pain. The surgeons then discover that they have left the scissors inside the patient! Some times they forget a towel in there. All this in a time of science and progress! Sadqa Ya Rasool-Allah! The commentators of Hadith say that the Prophet took his eyeball and placed it back in Qitada’s eye socket. The Prophet did so by placing his blessed saliva on it. The result of the Prophet's surgery was that the injured eye went back to normal as if it was never injured. Indeed the injured eye looked and felt better than the other one. The words of the Hadith state that the Prophet made Qitada's eye. Of the two eyes, the wounded eye was now brighter and beautiful than before. I say then, bring the world's surgeons together and ask them to make an eye like that. Nobody can even contemplate such a happening. No surgical instruments no anaesthetic, no donated eye, no glucose, nothing. All these modern necessities on one side, and my Mustafa's (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) blessed saliva on the other! The Prophet is powerful isn't he? 

Here is a Hadith from Mishkat Sharif. 

Man has invented the robot. What the robot is made out of and what energy it runs I don’t know in great detail, but the bottom line is that it runs on energy. The companions say that in one battle, Abu Zar Ghaffari (Radi Allah Anhu) was sent by Rasooallah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) as his spy to collect information about the enemy. The Prophet of Allah wanted to send an important message to Abu Zar. He would ask his companion's whether or not Abu Zar had returned from the frontline? The companions would tell him that he had not yet returned. After about 10-15 minutes, the Prophet would again ask whether his spy had returned yet? Again the companions told the Prophet that Abu Zar had not returned. The Prophet got up and started to look at the direction from which Abu Zar would appear. The companions say that a figure appeared on the horizon. They say that they looked at the figure and said that the figure could not be Abu Zar. They judged by his physique and decided that it could not have been him. The Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) also saw the figure on the horizon and asked his companions whether or not that was Abu Zahr? The companions having looked at the figure on the horizon told the Prophet that it could not be Abu Zar. The Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) then said ''whoever you are, become Abu Zar!'' when the figure came in front of them the companions were astounded to see that the figure was no other than Abu Zar. Tell me can a manmade robot compete with this. Allah knows best who that figure was on the horizon was. But when the Prophet said, ''become Abu Zar'' that is exactly what happened. The Prophet is powerful he is superior! He is Ghalib. The most advanced achievement of mankind to date has been to send man to the moon. This is what they claim. News is a thing that maybe fifty percent right or fifty- percent wrong. We don’t deny their claims because we live in a scientific and progressive age. Okay so we accept that they did go to the moon. But what did they bring back from the moon? They went with great expectations saying that they may dig out platinum or gold from the moon’s surface. They came back with boulders and pieces of rock! There was nothing, not even oxygen. This has been mankind's Miraj (upwardly journey) so far that they have reached the moon. They plan now to go to Mars. Maybe they will discover water there. I was astounded to read that they planned to send oxygen tanks to the moon so that they can generate land and living space on the moon, which they will sell on. When I read this, I said ''Ya Allah! Please save the moon from misguided Pakistani's if this is the case!'' They would make the moon disappear! Anyhow, whatever they plan, Allah has given man intellect. Man after all is Allah's vice-regent (Khalifa) on earth. Listen to the words of Allama Iqbal:

''The Kafir’s identity is that he is lost in the universe''

Sometimes he wants to go to the moon, then to Mars.

He sends rockets here and there.

''The Momin’s identity is that the universe is lost in him!''

Go and read the books of Hadrat Sayyad Ali bin Usman Hujweri [Data Ganj Baksh] and Shaykh Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani [Ghawth al A'zam] (Radi Allah Anhum) and you will discover that this statement is absolutely true. The moon is a quarter of a million miles away from earth and the speed of light is approximately 186000 miles per second. If you wish you can calculate the speed per minute and per hour. But now listen to this narration. Sayidina Jibraeel (Alayhis Salaam) appeared in front of the Prophet. Jibraeel (Alayhis Salaam) is an Angel made of Allah's light. One day, Rasoolallah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) asked Jibraeel what his speed was? Jibraeel (Alayhis Salaam) said that I have no speedometer that can measure my speed. The Prophet then asked for some indication. Sidra tul Muntahaa is above the seven heavens. This is the home of Jibraeel. Jibraeel (Alayhis Salaam) says “Ya Rasool-Allah I was in Sidra tul Muntahaa, when Allah called me for duty. Allah told me to go to earth to Canaan to a disused well where some brothers were about to throw their younger brother Yusuf into the well. Yusuf (Alayhis Salaam) was falling into the well seventy feet deep when I was ordered to go and save Allah's handsome Prophet. Ya Rasoolallah! Yusuf (Alayhis Salaam) had not reached the bottom of the well when I reached and saved him by spreading my wings underneath him. That is the speed of Jibraeel (Alayhis Salaam)! The speed of light then is 186,000 miles per second. This is the light of the sun, the star, and the reflection off the moon and so forth. I ask you then, what will be the speed of the light (noor) of Allah! Allah says in the Qur'an 

…There has come to you from Allah a light and a manifest book (5:15)

By light we mean the Prophet of Allah peace and blessings of Allah upon him and by manifest book is al-Quran al-Hakim. The scientists of today tell us another remarkable thing. They say that since the universe was created, there are some galaxies that are so far away that are not visible with telescopes. Travelling at the speed of light (c.186,000 miles per second) since the beginning of time the light from those stars have not yet reached earth. They are so many billions and trillions of light years away that they cannot be seen. Listen then to the power of our Rasool and his superiority. The Beloved of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) travelled on the night of Miraj to the heavens and beyond, spent thousands of years there and came back in such a short space of time, that when he returned the water from his ablution was still running and his bed was still warm! What can you say? This miracle of Miraj can't be comprehended in the human mind. To understand this you need the eye and vision of Siddiq-e-Akbar! Jibraeel (Alayhis Salaam) accompanied the Prophet on his Miraj. But when they reached Sidra, Jibraeel had to turn down the Prophet's request to go any further. Jibraeel (Alayhis Salaam) told the Prophet that Sidra tul Muntahaa was his limit. The Prophet of Allah said to Jibraeel (Alayhis Salaam) that where your light and speed ends, my journey starts! There is a beautiful account related to this story. When Ibrahim (Alayhis Salaam) was about to be thrown in to Nimrod's fire, Jibraeel (Alayhis Salaam) came to him and asked him if he needed anything? Ibrahim (Alayhis Salaam) thanked him but told him that because this was a test of his Prophethood from Allah he didn't require his help. On the night of Miraj, the Prophet lifted this request off his shoulders and asked him what he could do for him when he goes to Allah? In other words he asked him whether he had any request to Allah which he could get approved? Tell me who would refuse such an appeal from the Prophet! Jibraeel (Alayhis Salaam) told the Prophet that it was his wish that on the Day of Judgement when the believers have to cross the bridge over Hell which is thinner than hair and sharper than a blade, that he could spread his wings on the bridge so that the believers could pass safely through to paradise. Imam Ahmad Raza Khan (May Allah be pleased with him) captures this moment brilliantly when he says:

''Ya Rasool-Allah! Help me cross the bridge, so that the bridge doesn’t know I have passed,

And when Jibraeel (Alayhis Salaam) spreads his wings, let me cross so that the wings don't know I have passed!''

The scientists say another thing. When Neil Armstrong landed on the moon his heartbeat became abnormal. A quarter of a million miles on earth, sensitive equipment listened to his heartbeat and noticed the abnormality. Allah knows best if this is true or not. We don’t deny the possibility because this is the age of science and progress. The heartbeat of Armstrong was heard a quarter of a million miles away. Now I ask you one question, in relation to everything that has been said up to now. And that is that the Prophet is powerful and superior to his Ummah. How many examples from the Qur'an and Hadith I have presented to you. You are an Ummati and believer of the Prophet and everything that he has told us. You carry mobile phones and talk to friends and family thousands of miles away. You talk to them, they hear you and they respond. That is the case isn't it? As a follower of his you hear and talk from great distances. So tell me then, the Prophet you believe in, can he not hear your Durood and Salaams from the Green Dome in Madinah? Or are you saying that by doing tabligh, and praying lots of Nawafil and doing ''Allah, Allah…'' that the Ummati has surpassed their Prophet? For these so called Muslims their Prophet doesn't see nor listen, but they can hear and see thousands of miles away and respond. ASTAGFIRULLAH!!! 

Let us pray that Allah keeps us safe from such misguided and misinformed people –AMEEN.

May Allah protect our faith.

Listen to the superiority and power of the Prophet of Allah. The case of Armstrong we cited was 250,000 miles. But Jannatul Firdous is some way far and beyond Sidra tul Muntahaa. And Sidra is above and beyond the seven heavens. And the sun, stars, planets, galaxies are below the seven heavens. Allah knows best where everything is. We cannot even begin to contemplate how big and how far these things are. Words cannot describe the sheer size of the universe. Jannat is above all these things. Allah ordered His Beloved Prophet on the night of Mir'aj to see the palaces and mansions and gardens of his believers! The Prophet is Bashir and Nazir. Bashir is one who gives good news and a Nazir is one who warns people. Allah in His wisdom told His Prophet to stay in Jannat in the night of Miraj, and see the punishment of Hell for himself so that he could go back and tell his followers so that they would believe and act accordingly. The Prophet says that he saw the palaces of his close companions such as Abu Bakr Umar, Usman and Ali (Radi Allah Anhum) The companions made mansions in Paradise, but Pakistani's make them in Islamabad! What benefit is there in making homes that will soon turn to dust and come to nothing? The real mansions and gardens are those that the companions made in Jannat by loving and serving the Noble Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). The Prophet says that the houri (heavenly maidens) came out to great him. The Prophet was walking through Jannat when he says that he noticed that Sayidina Bilal (Radi Allah Anhu) was walking through the streets of Makkah. The Prophet of Allah says that he heard the sound of Bilal's footsteps while he was in paradise. These are the words of the Prophet not mine. Man has reached as far as the moon. And Allah knows best how many other galaxies and solar systems there are. Man can go wherever he likes, Allah has blessed you with a mind and intellect, but remember one thing, that wherever you go you will see the footmarks of Rasoolallah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) before you! The solar system, galaxies and so forth are just stepping-stones. The Miraj proves this without doubt. The sun, stars and moon were asking for Sadqa from the Prophet on the night of Miraj. The Prophet's going and coming on the night of Miraj is unique and unmatchable. So the Prophet says he heard Bilal's footsteps in Makkah from Jannatul Firdous. Ask yourselves then, that if he can hear Bilal's footsteps from heaven, can he not hear your Durood and Salaams from just a few thousand miles away in Madinah? The crux of my talk then is that every Prophet sent by Allah is powerful and superior, he is Ghalib. And because our Rasool (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) is the final and best of all the Prophets, let it be known that whatever progress and discoveries mankind does, Allah has granted him (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) such miracles and qualities that surpass any achievement. This is because it is Allah's principle that His Prophet is always superior and dominant. The miracle of Miraj is such an important thing for us. Why? Because we Muslims have stopped studying, meaning that westerners have overtaken us in this field. Do you know that the universities of Spain such as Cordoba and Granada were the destination of British scholars who came there to learn? They use to go to Baghdad to study sciences. This was our past, our heritage. But because we have stopped studying, the westerners have used Islamic knowledge to build the modern world we live in today. Shame! 

May Allah bless us with those days again when Muslims did something constructive.

May Allah less us with knowledge again-AMEEN.

But despite the fact that we have fallen behind and are relatively uneducated compared to others, at least we can say that our Most Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam is superior and powerful! We may well be weak and uneducated but we can still say that he is the best of all creations. The moon you may have reached, but our Nabi Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam passed it by some distance on the night on Isra and Mir'aj. This is the superiority of the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam. We thank Allah Almighty that He has created us and made us His follower. 

May Allah help us to maintain our relationship with the Prophet [Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam] and between ourselves by being his ardent followers-

AMEEN.

Translated by Shahid Hussain 

THE QUERY: A question was presented regarding the Me'raj of the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam and the answer was given as found below by Allama Mahmood Jaan alayhir rahman [Khalifa-e-A'la Hadrat Barelwi].

THE ANSWER: This question is in five parts:

1. From where to where did the Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam go during the Me'raj?

2. Did he Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam journey with body or only spiritually?

3. What is the answer to the issues in the case of physical Me'raj as mentioned by Hadrat Ameer Muawiyah and Sayyida Aisha Siddiqa radi Allahu anhuma?

4. Did the Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam see Almighty Allah with the eyes of his head on the night of Me'raj or did he see through the heart only?

5. What is the rule regarding those who reject the Me'raj?

The answer to numbers one, two and five are as follows, through the Grace of Allah: The Me'raj of the Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam is a reality and a belief of the Ahl as-Sunnat Wa Jama'at [the greatest majority] mass of muslims. It is proven from the Noble Qur'an, the Sunnah [tradition of the Prophet] and from Ijma [scholarly consensus]. The journey from Makkah, to Masjid-e-Aqsa and from there to Syria is proven from authentic verses and one who rejects this is a Kaafir. The journey from Musjid-e-Aqsa and then towards the heavens is proven from famous Hadith and is also proven from the statements of the pious predecessors. One who rejects this, is misled and corrupt. The journey from the skies into Jannat and towards the Arsh and even beyond this, in other words the journey to La Maqaa, his journey in visiting Heaven and Hell etc. are proven from Hadith Shareef and to go against this is to transgress the law and one who does so is a Faasiq [sinner, evil]. The reality is that the Me'raj took place whilst the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam was physically awake, thus it was with the body and soul. There is however much difference of opinion on the exact dates that the Me'raj took place. Most Ulama [scholars] say that it took place in Rabi ul Awwal during the 12th year after announcing Prophethood. Some say that it took place on the 27th Ramadan and others say that it happened in the fifth or sixth year after announcement of Nabuwat. However the most famous narration is the one which says that it took place on the 27th of Rajab, and the People of Madinah have acted according to this narration.' Shaykh Muhaqqiq has stated as follows in Ash'atul Lam'aat, 'The people of Madinah spend this night of Rajab with great splendour and make many preparations on this night. This is the date which is correct and most authentic.' There are numerous other narrations relating to this, but this humble servant will stop here and adorn the answer with the evidence that is clear and hope for all to receive guidance.

It is in Sharhe Maqaasid vol 2 page 192 as follows:

'Verily, it has been proven from the Qur'an, Hadith and Ijma-e-Ummat that the Me'raj is a reality and it took place in a conscious state. He Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam traveled from Makkah to Musjid-e-Aqsa physically and this is proven from Qur'an and famous Hadith and from the Ijma of the Taabi'een and the great A'ima. Then, it is proven from there into the skies (whilst awake) and this is proven from famous Hadith Shareef. One who rejects this is a bid'ati and one who rejects up to Musjid-e-Aqsa is a Kaafir. And from there, he journeyed into the skies, then to Jannat, to the Arsh, the ends of the universe. There is difference of opinions in this case as it is proven from one narrator, but one who rejects this is a Faasiq.

It is in Sharah Aqaaid pg 104 as follows: 

'he Me'raj took place whilst the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam was in a awakened stated with body and soul. He traveled into the skies and from there, to whatever heights Allah willed for him to journey to, and this is true, in other words it is proven with sufficient evidence from famous Ahadith and one who rejects this is a misled.'

It is stated also in the same book as follows:

'And the statement of the author of Aqaaid-e-Nisfahia points to wards the journey into the skies. It also points towards the fact that he travelled whilst awake in physical form and it also points to the difference of opinion of the predecessors and that is that some have said that it was up to Jannat whilst some say it was up to the Arsh, whilst others have mentioned that it was even past the Arsh, whilst some have said that it was until the corners of the universe. It must be noted the fact that he Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam travelled from Musjid-e-Haram up to the Musjid-e-Aqsa in a short space of night is evident from the most authentic source and that is the Noble Qur'an and the journey from the earth into the skies is proven from famous Hadith and the journey from there to Jannat and beyond the Arsh is evident from other Ahadith.'

It is in Sharah Fiqh Akbar of Maulana Ali Qaari on page 135 as follows: 

'The Hadith-e-Me'raj concerning the physical journey into the skies and even beyond that until where Allah willed is Haq (The Truth). It is proven through numerous traditions in the Hadith Shareef and any one who rejects this evidence and does not bring Imaan on this reality, is misled and an open transgressor.�

It is in Khulaasa that when someone rejects the Me'raj, it needs to be established whether he rejected it from Musjid-e-Haraam to Musjid-e-Aqsa. If he did this, then he is a Kaafir. And if he rejected the Me'raj from Musjid-e-Aqsa, to the skies, then he is not a Kaafir, but a corrupt and misled person and this is because Isra is from 'Haram to Haram', and this is proven from verses of the Qur'an and is definite and the journey from Musjid-e-Aqsa to the skies is proven from tradition (Sunnah)'

It is in the end of Qasida Imali as follows:

'And the issue of Me'raj is proven to be true and authentic since there are very exalted Ahadith narrated relating to it.' Maulana Ali Qaari states in the annotation of this as follows: 

The narrations on this issue are so famous that it close to reach the level of mutawatir (continuous narrations).' After saying this, he writes, 'The Isra which is from Musjid-e-Haraam to Musjid-e-Aqsa is evident from Qur'an and Hadith and one who rejects it is a Kaafir. The Ulama have researched the issue of one who rejects the Me'raj into the skies and have agreed that he is not a Kaafir, but he is a bid'ati. The reality is this, that the Me'raj took place whilst he Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam was awake (and not whilst he was resting) and it took place with both body and soul.

It is in Takmeelul Imaan pg 45 as follows: 

'And his Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam Me'raj took place whilst he was awake and was with body and soul, and this was even whilst he went into the skies and up to where Allah willed for him to go, and all of this is Haq.'

It is in Ash'atul Lam'aat pg 550 as follows:

'Isra is proven from Musjid-e-Haraam to Musjid-e-Aqsa and into the skies. This is proven from verses of the Qur'an and one who rejects it is a Kaafir. The Me'raj is a reality and there is enough evidence to prove this. One who rejects this (going into the skies) is a corrupt and mislead person as this is proven from numerous Ahadith-e-Mubaaraka. It is in the Hadith that he Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam traveled into the skies and beyond the skies, up to where Allah willed.

Alhumdulillah, three questions have been answered here all together and there was no need for a very detailed answer.

As for the issue where Hadrat Ameer Muawiyah radi Allahu anhu has referred to the Me'raj as a pleasant dream, and the issue where Sayyida Aisha radi Allahu anha mentioned that the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam was beside her on the night of Me'raj and he did not go anywhere from her on that night. This thus, makes it seem like the Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam was only spiritual and not physical. Now, there are numerous explanations to these statements (of Hadrat Ameer Muawiyah and Sayyida Aisha).

First Explanation: These two narrations are not as strong as the numerous Ahadith-e-Mubaaraka that are proven through a very lengthy chain of narrators and from the senior Sahaba-e-Kiraam, as it has been mentioned by Allama Sa'adudeen Taftaazani alaihir Rahman in Sharah Maqaasid. He states on page 193 of volume 2 of his illustrious work as follows,

'Those who object try to use the statements of Sayyida Aisha, in which she says that the Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam was physically besides her for the entire night and the statement of Hadrat Ameer Muawiyah radi Allahu anhu where he says that the Me'raj was a pleasant Dream. Those who say this, need to know that in comparison there are numerous narrations which prove it (physical Me'raj) that are very strong chains of transmission which are from the Senior Sahaba-e-Kiraam and from numerous Ahadith and also which is proven during all the blessed eras.'

Second Explanation: It is very evident that the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam experienced Me'raj on numerous occasions. A few of these where spiritual whilst only one was physical.

It is in Mawahibul Laduniyah that Imam Nawawi has stated in his Fatwa that the Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam had Me'raj twice, once in a dream and the other physical. Suhaili has clarified the correctness of his stance from his Shaykh Qaadi Abu Bakr bin Arabi.

It is also in Ash'atul Lam'aat vol 4 page 550 as follows: 

'In other words it is proven that the Prophet Salla Allahu 'alayhi wa Sallam had Me'raj only once physically and numerous times in a dream and that which took place in the dream, was the inception and introduction of that which took place physically.' It is thus proven that the Physical Me'raj was only once.

Now, that we have understood the above mentioned explanations, it is thus clear that the Me'raj that Hadrat Ameer Muawiyah and Sayyida Aisha radi Allahu anhuma are referring to is the spiritual Me'raj which was in a dream. Now this is clear and can not be contested as this is the best of all explanations and answers to these issues as there is no refuting of any Hadith in it as well, just as it is evident in the Hashia Khayali which is the footnotes of Sharah Aqaaid, on page 406: ' And it is best that they should be given this answer, that verily the Prophet Salla Allahu 'alayhi wa Sallam went for Me'raj twice, once with the body and soul and once only with the soul. The narration of Sayyida Aisha is related to the second type of Me'raj, in other words the one with only the soul.'

It is in the same as follow: This is the best answer as none can turn away from it, which is clearly mentioned in the Hadith Shareef.

It is on page 32 of Sharah Fiqh Akbar as follows:

'It can be said that the Me'raj occurred on numerous occasions. It is for this reason that there is difference of opinion relating to the details of the Me'raj. One statement is that it was up to Jannat and the other is that it was up to the Arsh and third is that it was even beyond the Arsh and this will not mean that because there are numerous narrations, then the issue of Namaaz being Fard will be Fard on every such occasion, as the Imam of the Wahabis; Ibn Qayyim tried to wrongly imply.

It is in Sharah Qasida Al Imaali page 24 as follows:

'This is correct, that the Me'raj took place in an awakened state. It was with both body and soul and not only with the soul, since the Prophet Salla Allahu 'alayhi wa Sallam had Me'raj on numerous occasions and there are numerous differences of opinion on how many times this took place.

I (Allama Mahmood Jaan) must say that if we accept that the Prophet Salla Allahu 'alayhi wa Sallam did not have a physical Me'raj just based on the narrations of Hadrat Ameer Muawiyah and Sayyida Aisha and if it is said that Allah took the soul of the Prophet Salla Allahu 'alayhi wa Sallam to the heights were He willed and let his soul travel to great spiritual heights, then it must be noted that if this was the case (which is not), then why all the fuss and why was there objection by (the unbelievers) to the Me'raj (in other words if it were only a dream, then none would have made any objections and there would have been no issue about this),� The Soul is a very exalted and blessed power and it is not impossible for the soul to see paradise, Musjid-e-Aqsa etc in a dream. There is no intellectual explanation needed for this as well. The great leaders and Philosophers too have accepted this can happen.

Also if it is accepted (that it was a dream), then it wont be uniquely attributed to the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu 'alayhi wa Sallam whereas the Me'raj is something that is specially attributed to the Beloved Messenger of Allah Salla Allahu 'alayhi wa Sallam. Event he great Ambiya alaihimus salaam have no part in this great attribute of physical Me'raj which was bestowed upon the Prophet Salla Allahu 'alayhi wa Sallam. The actuality of a spiritual Me'raj is given to every Prophet of Allah and lots of Awliyah as well are able to reach great spiritual heights through the grace of Allah, and great spiritual experiences are also possible for all Momins. It is mentioned in Ash'atul Lam'aat as follows: 'If the Me'raj was only a dream, then there would have been no need for all the opposition to it and the Mushrikeen would have never made an issue of it. The Physical Me'raj is Unique for the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu 'alayhi wa Sallam and with the exception of him, no other Prophet has been blessed with this. This shows his greatness and excellence. Those who oppose this without valid reason are caught in the web of their lack of understanding and thus can not understand the truth.' In such instances, one needs his Imaan to be strong and needs to have faith in the Knowledge and Power of Allah. In reality, all the great matters of Nabuwat and Wahi (revelation) can not be engulfed by the ordinary human mind and is thus distant from understanding. If any person says that he is not prepared to accept this or believe it until it does not make sense to his intellectual capacity, then such a person is deprived and of the gems of faith.�

It is on page 30 of Tazkiratul Mauta wal Quboor by Allama Qaazi Thana'ullah :

'In a dream, the souls of the true believers travel towards the Arsh [throne]. When we say this, we refer to those who are strongest in faith, in other words the Ambiya [Prophets] and the Awliyah [Saints]. The Shaitaan [devil] can not enter the dreams of the Ambia-e-Kiraam alaihimus Salaatu was salaam. It is for this reason that the dreams of the Ambiya are part of Wahi [revelation]. As for the souls of the Awliyah, then they are raised into the heights of the skies, Most of their dreams are exalted and true ones and the souls of the ordinary Muslims can not just travel into the skies. It is for this reason that most dreams of the ordinary people are not correct. The dreams of the Awliyah that occur when the soul is journey beyond the skies, sometimes are not as correct as the shaitaan tries to interfere. Hadrat Ali radi Allahu ta'ala anhu has reported that the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu 'alayhi wa Sallam has stated, 'When men or women sleep, then there souls climb towards the Arsh and the dreams that they see whilst the souls are there and in the skies, are true and when the soul is returning then shaitaan [devil] intercepts the soul and whispers lies into it whilst the soul is beneath the skies and these dreams are generally incorrect.' Imam Baihaqi Radi Allahu anhu has reported on the authority of Hadrat Abdullah in Amr bin A'as radi Allahu anhu that the souls of the Momins [believers] go towards the skies and once close to the Arsh, they are commanded to make sajdah [prostrate], those who are pure near the Arsh and those that are not pure make Sajdah far from the Arsh. Ibn Mubaarak Radi Allahu anhu has narrated from Hadrat Abu Darda radi Allahu anhu that the souls of the Muslims travel to the heights of the Arsh in their dreams and those souls that are pure are commanded to make Sajdah there and those who are in the state of Janaabat [impure], their souls are not granted permission for Sajdah.'

Now once again, it is evident from all that has been mentioned that the narrations of Hadrat Ameer Muawiyah and Sayyida Aisha refer to the 'Spiritual Me'raj and not to the actual Physical Me'raj.' The Physical Me'raj can thus not be refuted as there is no room for refutation, as this would lead to much objections and huge situations which can never be resolved. Both the statements of Hadrat Ameer Muawiyah and Sayyida Aisha are correct and Haq reality/truth] as they refer to the spiritual Me'raj and in the said context it is totally correct, and neither of them rejects the physical Me'raj.

It must be also noted that Sayyida Aisha radi Allahu anha mentioning that the Prophet Salla Allahu 'alayhi wa Sallam did not leave her side during Me'raj can never be referring to the Physical Me'raj as at that time Sayyida Aisha' was not even born (and thus not yet in the home of the Prophet Salla Allahu 'alayhi wa Sallam. It is in Sharah Fiqh Akbar as follows:

'And the proper explanation to this is that the Me'raj occurred in Makkah Muazzamah during the early days after announcement of Nabuwat [Prophethood] and Sayyida Aisha radi Allahu anha was not even born at this time.'

Another reply is as follows. It must however be noted that there are numerous different views on these issues and much reference to the Sahaba-e-Kiraam [noble companions of the Prophet Salla Allahu 'alayhi wa Sallam]. I thus will try to be brief by quoting a few references and then a few Tafseers [commentaries] etc. so that our point may be well understood. It is in Ash'atul Lam'aat as follows:

'From all that which has occurred, it can be understood that there is difference of opinion amongst the Sahaba-e-Kiraam about whether the Prophet Salla Allahu 'alayhi wa Sallam saw Allah with the eyes of his head. 

Hadrat Aisha radi Allahu anha says differently and Hadrat Ibn Abbas radi Allahu anhu proves it and both are supported by a group of Sahaba-e-Kiraam. After them the Tabi'een, then the Tab'be Taabi'een have also remained in difference in certain issues relating to the divine vision. Some have remained silent and have not said anything. It is the most famous and most accepted fact amongst the learned scholars that the Prophet Salla Allahu 'alayhi wa Sallam did see his creator with the eyes of the head. It is recorded in Mualimut Tanzeel (pg 148): 

Some Ulama have said that the Beloved Messenger of Allah Salla Allahu 'alayhi wa Sallam saw Allah ta'ala with the eyes of the heart and now with the eyes of the head, and it must be noted that this opinion is contrary to the Hadith and the true Mazhab is this, that he Salla Allahu 'alayhi wa Sallam saw his Creator with the eyes of his head.' It has been thus clarified that the Prophet Salla Allahu 'alayhi wa Sallam saw Almighty Allah with the eyes of his head and this the correct belief and the acceptable belief.

I prefer that it is important to narrate here the Hadith-e-Me'raj from Bukhari and Muslim and I would like to do that with reference to the explanation in Ash'atul Lam'aat. I will also use brackets to explain the Hadith and clarify important issues relating (to the Me'raj). It has been narrated from Hadrat Qatadah radi Allahu anhu who in turn narrates from Hadrat Anas bin Maalik radi Allahu anhu who narrates from Hadrat Maalik bin Sa'sa'a radi Allahu anhu that verily the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu 'alayhi wa Sallam explained to the Sahaba-e-Kiraam about that night when' in which he was raised into the skies. He Salla Allahu 'alayhi wa Sallam said, 'I was in the Hateem (and sometimes the narrator says 'I was in the Hujra) that I was resting on my side then came to me one person (Hadrat Jibra'il). He then split open my chest and removed my heart and then a tray was brought near me which was filled with Imaan. My heart was then washed (with it) and it was filled with Great Imaan and Wisdom and it was then returned (in other words the hearts was put back in its place).'It has been narrated in one narration as follows, 'Then my stomach was rinsed with 'Aab-e-Zam Zam' and Imaan and wisdom was instilled and then a means of transport was brought to me that was shorter than a mule and taller than a donkey. It was white and it was called the Burraq. It used to keep his foot at the distance of sight. I was made to sit on it and then I was taken by Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam until we reached the first sky (which is the lowest sky). Hadrat Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam requested for the Door of the sky to be opened. It was said, (In other words the Gatekeeper of the sky said) who is this? He said; it is I, Jibra'il. It was asked, who is with you? Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam said, it is Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam. The door of the sky was then opened.' When, I reached the first sky, I saw that Adam 'alayhis-salaam was there. Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam said this is your Forefather Adam 'alayhis-salaam. Send salaam to him. I did so and replied to my salaam and said, Welcome to the pious son and the Pious Prophet. Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam then took me further and we went to the second sky. It was said, (In other words the Gatekeeper of the sky said) who is this? He said; it is I, Jibra'il. It was asked, who is with you? Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam said, it is Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam. It was said, Was he invited? Jibra'il said, yes. The Answer was, what a wonderful invitation it is and the door was opened. When I entered the second sky, I saw Hadrat Yahya and Hadrat Isa 'alayhis-salaam (In other words both these Prophets were standing there). Both of these Prophets are maternal cousins. Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam said, This is Yahya 'alayhis-salaam and Isa 'alayhis-salaam, Please send salaam to them. I did so and they both responded to my salaam. Both Hadrat Yahya alayhis salaam and Isa 'alayhis-salaam said, Welcome Pious Brother, Welcome Pious Nabi. Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam then took me to the third sky. It was said, (In other words the Gatekeeper of the sky said) who is this? He said; it is I, Jibra'il. It was asked, who is with you? Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam said, it is Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam. It was said, Was he invited? Jibra'il said, Yes. The Answer was, What a wonderful invitation it is and the door was opened. When I reached the third sky, I saw Hadrat Yusuf 'alayhis-salaam (standing there). Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam said, It is Yusuf 'alayhis-salaam, Please say salaam to him. I made salaam to him and he replied. Yusuf 'alayhis-salaam said, Welcome O' Pious Brother, O' Pious Nabi. Then, Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam took me into the fourth sky. It was said, (In other words the Gatekeeper of the sky said) who is this? He said; it is I, Jibra'il. It was asked, who is with you? Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam said, it is Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam. It was said, Was he invited? Jibra'il said, Yes. The Answer was, What a wonderful invitation it is and the door was opened. Here, I saw Hadrat Idrees 'alayhis-salaam (standing). Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam said. It is Idrees 'alayhis-salaam please say salaam to him. I conveyed Salaam to him and he replied and said, Welcome O' Pious Brother, O Pious Nabi. Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam then took me towards the fifth sky. It was said, (In other words the Gatekeeper of the sky said) who is this? He said; it is I, Jibra'il. It was asked, who is with you? Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam said, it is Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam. It was said, Was he invited? Jibra'il said, Yes. The Answer was, What a wonderful invitation it is and the door was opened. When I reached the fifth sky, I saw Hadrat Haroon 'alayhis-salaam. Hadrat Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam said that I should make salaam to him so I did and he replied to my salaam and said, Welcome o pious brother, O' Pious Nabi. Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam then took me towards the sixth sky. It was said, (In other words the Gatekeeper of the sky said) who is this? He said; it is I, Jibra'il. It was asked, who is with you? Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam said, it is Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam. It was said, Was he invited? Jibra'il said, Yes. The Answer was, What a wonderful invitation it is and the door was opened. When I reached the sixth sky, I saw Hadrat Moosa 'alayhis-salaam (standing there).' Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam told me that it was Hadrat Moosa 'alayhis-salaam and that I should make salaam to him, so I did and he replied to my salaam. He said, Welcome O' Pious Brother, O' Pious Nabi.' As I was leaving (and got up to go) Hadrat Moosa 'alayhis-salaam began to weep.� It was asked why he was crying and what had caused him to cry and he said, I am crying for this reason, that a young person was sent to the people after me and most of his Ummah will enter paradise compared to those of my Ummah. Hadrat Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam then ascended with me towards the seventh sky. It was said, (In other words the Gatekeeper of the sky said) who is this? He said; it is I, Jibra'il. It was asked, who is with you? Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam said, it is Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam. It was said, Was he invited? Jibra'il said, Yes. The Answer was, What a wonderful invitation it is and the door was opened. When I reached the seventh sky, I saw Hadrat Ibraheem 'alayhis-salaam (standing there). Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam said, This is your father (Forefather) Ibraheem 'alayhis-salaam. Please convey salaam to him. I conveyed salaam to him. He replied to my salaam and said, Welcome of Son of The Pious, O' Pious Nabi. I was then raised towards Sidratul Muntaha. I saw its fruit as huge as the clay pots of Hijr (a Place near Madinah where huge pots were made), its leaves were as huge as the ears of elephants. Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam said that this was Sidratul Muntaha.' I saw four streams there. Two hidden and two apparent. I asked Jibra'il about the hidden and apparent rivers and he said that hidden ones are of Jannat [heaven] and the evident ones river Nile and River Euphrates. I was then shown the 'Baitul Ma'moor' which was made clear to me. I was then given a vessel of wine, milk and honey (so that I may choose what I wish). I took the vessel of milk (and drank it). Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam said, Milk is in your nature (in other words it's a sign of Islam). You and your Ummah will remain steadfast on it. Then, fifty Namaaz [salaah, ritual prayer] was made Fard upon me. I then returned with this Namaaz and I met on the way with Hadrat Moosa 'alayhis-salaam. He asked what I was commanded and I said, fifty Namaaz a day. Moosa 'alayhis-salaam said, By Allah! Verily your Ummah will not have the strength to read fifty Namaaz per day. Allah tested those before them and the Bani Israeel too have been tested. They will not be able fulfill this and will leave out their Namaaz. Go back into the Court of Allah and request a reduction. For the sake of my Ummah, I returned into the court of Allah and requested reduction and ten was reduced. I then returned and met Moosa 'alayhis-salaam and he said as he had said before. I went back into the court of my Creator and requested reduction and ten more were reduced. On the way back I met Hadrat Moosa 'alayhis-salaam again and he said the same again and I went back and ten more were reduced. On my way I met Moosa 'alayhis-salaam again and he said the same and I went back and ten more were reduced. On my return I met him again and he said the same and I went back and five were reduced until only five were left. Again I met Hadrat Moosa 'alayhis-salaam and he told me how his nation was tested and could not fulfill their duties. He said that my Ummah was too weak and will not be able to fulfill this, but I was ashamed and too modest now to go back into the court of Allah and ask for a further reduction, so I accepted five for my Ummah. I then heard a voice which said, I have commanded five and have made light the weight of the servants. (In other words five Namaaz were made Fard and we receive the sawaab [reward] of fifty Namaaz). '

(It must be noted that this is a simplified explanation of the narration and there are numerous other narrations on the same issue of Me'raj. Each one has some difference in it). In another Hadith of Bukhari and Muslim, which is narrated by Hadrat Anas radi Allahu anhu, the journey of the Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam is also explained in it.

In another Narration of Muslim Shareef it is mentioned that the Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam went on a Burraq and tied it at the entrance of Masjid-e-Aqsa where the Prophets used to tie there travel animals and that he entered the Masjid and prayed two rakaats salaah [two cycles of prayer].

It is in Ash'atul Lam'aat that he led the prayer in Musjid-e-Aqsa and the congregation was made up of the Prophets. In the same Muslim Shareef there is also a narration about� going to Sidratul Muntaha and receiving revelation from Allah where it is said 'Fa Awha ila Abdihi Ma Awha' And He Revealed to (His chosen servant) what he revealed.' In explaining this in Ash'atul Lam'aat, it has been mentioned that None understands this like Allah and His Rasool Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam and the best thing is to accept the issue of the Wahi (revelation) and not dwell in trying to understand the realities of it.' The secret of this revelation was so great that the heart of no other person can bear to withstand it. This was a unique power that was blessed upon the heart of the Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam that only his heart could withstand it.

It is as follows on page 142 of Tafseer Roohul Bayaan: 

'Allama Baqaali rahmatullahi alayh has mentioned that Almighty Allah has kept hidden the secrets of this special revelation from Arsh up to the rest of the creation by saying 'What he revealed� Allah did not explain anything about what He revealed that night upon His beloved Nabi Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam. This is the secret between the One who loves, and the Beloved and it is them alone that know it and none other does. I think that if even one portion of this revelation was made apparent to the people, then they would die if their hearts receive what the Heart of the Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam received as they will never withstand it. Almighty Allah bestowed a very unique power to the heart of the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam so that it may be able to withstand this majestic revelation and if this power were not bestowed then even one portion of it could not be carried. If even one word of that divine revelation were to be made apparent, then all bodies and souls will perish. In other words everything would destruct and the mind and intelligence would not have the capacity to ever understand and withstand it. Peace and Salutation upon the Beloved Messenger of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam.

It is mentioned in Mualimut Tanzeel about the verse 'Thumma Dana Fata dal'la Fa Kaana Kaaba Qawsain Aw Adna' The Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam was asked to come closer to his Creator, Allah Almighty and he went even closer, so close that closer than two bows length and even closer. We have been informed concerning the Me'raj from Shuraik bin Abdullah who in turn narrated from Hadrat Anas radi Allahu anhu that Almighty Allah was so close to the Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam that it was two bows length and even closer.

It is on page 142 of Roohul Bayaan as follows:

It is in one narration that the Most Beloved to Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam says, 'On the night of Me'raj I came so close to my Creator that it felt like a distance of two bows length or even less than that.' Just as Allah 'That which was revealed' and hid the actual revelation, in the same way Allah speaks of the closeness and keeps a secret the reality of how close. This only Allah and His Rasool Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam know.

IN CONCLUSION it must be said that the Most Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam saw amazing and divine things outside this universe that none other has seen and he attained millions, but actually countless blessings and bounties on this journey.' His heart was filled with numerous gems and excellences. In other words from head to toe he is Noor and he returned once again to earth after attaining certain blessings, just as Hadrat Abdullah ibn Mas'ood radi Allahu anhu has mentioned three things in the Hadith Shareef: 'The Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam was blessed with three things on the night of Me'raj. Firstly the five daily Salaah, Secondly the end verses of Surah Baqarah in other words from Amaanar Rasool until the end of the Surah and the major sins of that person will be forgiven who did not associate partners with Allah.' These few have been mentioned because they are related to the Ummat, otherwise, there are countless blessings that have been bestowed upon him just as it has been explained as follows on page 561 of Ash'atul Lam'aat.' It is also on page 560 of Ash'atul Lam'aat as follows: 

'None has gone further than Sidratul Muntaha like our Nabi Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam, where there is no space or place, beyond Sidratul Muntaha, Arsh and the Kursi. Allah took his beloved Rasool Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam to the heights of skies up to where He willed.

Interpretations of the Sunnah Part 3

By Khalifa-e-Aala Hadrat, Allama Maulana Mahmood Jaan Peshawari alayhir rahman

Translated by a humble servant of ALLAH : Muhammad Afthab Cassim Razvi Noori [South Africa]