I like to ask the following questions as below regarding Muhammad (Sallallahoo Alyhay walahi Wasallim)s MIRAJ.
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
(May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked
this question:
Assalam O Alykum
I m very thankful to
I like to ask the following questions as below regarding Muhammad (Sallallahoo
Alyhay walahi Wasallim)’s MIRAJ.
1-Miraj by Ruhani or Physical..?
2-He saw or not to ALLAH SUBHANAUTALLAH…?
3-Where is Sidratulmuntaha?
4-Where Muhammad (Sallallahoo Alyhay Walyhi Wasallim) Stay/Spend time with
ALLAH SUBHANAUTALLAH.??
3-How many time/period spend there..??
4-Where I can find-out in Quran/Hadees about Miraj..?
I believed but our some Muslim people says “when he went on Miraj, He stop
& stay till Sidratulmuntaha,
Kindly provide evidence though Quran & Hadees?
Waiting
Regards,
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errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from
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confidentiality.)
Answer:
Details of mairaj
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His
help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide,
and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear
witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear
witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His
Messengers.
Q-1: Miraj by Ruhani
or Physical..?
Allah
Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 17 Surah Israa verse 1:
1 Glory to (Allah) Who did take His servant (Prophet Mohamed (saws))
for Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque (in Makkah) to the Farthest Mosque
(Masjid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem) whose precincts We did Bless in order that We
might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the one Who Hears and Sees (all
things).
Although these are a few scholars who hold the opinion
that the ‘mairaaj’ or ascension to the heavens of the Prophet (saws) on the
night of ‘Al-Israa wal-Mairaaj’ was spiritual alone; the vast majority of the
scholars and jurists in Islam are of the opinion that the ascension of the
Prophet (saws) was in body and in soul, physical and spiritual….And Allah Alone
Knows Best.
Q-2: He saw or not to
ALLAH SUBHANAUTALLAH…?
Allah Says
in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anaam verse 103:
103 No vision can grasp Him (Allah Subhanah), but His Grasp is over all
vision: He is above all comprehension, yet is
acquainted with all things.
Allah Subhanah Declares in the
Glorious Quran that there is ‘No vision can grasp Him’ ; thus it is evident from the
above Aayah that there is no one in creation who can or has seen the Lord, Most
Majestic, Most Supreme!
Sahih Al-Bukhari
Hadith 6.378 Narrated by Masruq
I said to Aisha,
"O Mother of the Believers! Did Prophet Muhammad (saws) see his Lord (on
the Night of Mairaaj)?" Aisha
said, "What you have said makes my hair stand on end! Know that if somebody tells you one of the
following three things, he is a liar: Whoever tells you that Muhammad
(saws) saw his Lord, is a liar; and whoever tells you that the Prophet
(saws) knows what is going to happen tomorrow, is a liar; and whoever tells you
that Muhammad (saws) concealed (some of Allah's orders), is a liar."
In light of the above authentic narration it
is evident that the Messenger of Allah (saws) did not see the Majestic Lord on
the Night of Mairaaj or at any other time of his life; for there is none in
creation who has or can see the Majestic and Supreme Lord.
3-Where is Sidratulmuntaha?
Allah Says
in the Holy Quran Chapter 53 Surah Najm verses 11-18:
11 The (Prophet's (saws) mind and) heart in
no way falsified that which he saw.
12 Will ye then dispute with him concerning
what he saw?
13 For indeed he (the Prophet (saws)) saw him (Hadrat Jibrael (a.s.))
at a second descent.
14 Near the ‘Sidratal-Muntaha’ (Lote-tree beyond which none may pass)
15 Near it is the
16 Behold the ‘Sidra’ (Lote-tree) was
shrouded (in mystery unspeakable!)
17 (The Prophet’s (saws)) sight never
swerved nor did it go wrong!
18 For truly did he see of the Signs of his
Lord, The Greatest!
The literal meaning of ‘Sidra’ is a lote-tree, and
‘Muntaha’ is the extreme, abject, edge or limit of something.
In light of the above guidance of the Glorious Quran, the
‘Sidratal-Muntaha’ is apparently a ‘Lote-Tree’ at the abject and ultimate end
of creation, near the ‘Jannat al-Ma’wa’ or the Garden of Abode; a boundary
beyond which none in creation is permitted to venture or pass.
Ibn Jarir and Ibn Kathir in their commentary of this verse
of the Glorious Quran have stated regarding the ‘Sidratal-Muntaha’ as thus: ‘At
this point, the knowledge of everyone in creation comes to an end! Whatever is beyond this ‘Muntaha’ is known to
none save Allah Subhanah wa Taala.’
Where is the exact geographical location of the
‘Sidratal-Muntaha’, or what lies beyond it is amongst the knowledge of the
‘unseen’ which is known to none save Allah Subhanah Alone. If its geographical location or the contents
of what lies beyond this ultimate and abject mark in creation were important
for the guidance of mankind, Allah Subhanah would surely have made it known to
His Messenger (saws), and the Messenger of Allah (saws) would have explained it
to the believers!
The believers are content and satisfied with the knowledge
that their Lord has chosen to bestow upon them regarding the location of the
‘Sidratal-Muntaha’, which is beside the ‘Jannat al-Ma’wa’ or the
Q-4: Where Muhammad
(Sallallahoo Alyhay Walyhi Wasallim) Stay/Spend time with ALLAH
SUBHANAUTALLAH.??
What is evident from
the guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah is that Allah Subhanah invited and
arranged for the ‘Night Journey’ of the Prophet Mohamed (saws) from Makkah to
What is indeed known with certainty from the authentic
narrations of the Prophet (saws) is that this whole journey from Makkah to
Jerusalem, and from Jerusalem to the Heavens and back to Makkah took no longer
than one night.
Q-4:
Where I can find-out in Quran/Hadees about Miraj..?
The literal meaning of the Arabic term ‘israa’ means
journey, and ‘mairaaj’ means ascension.
When the term ‘israa wal mairaaj’ is used in the Islamic terminology, it
means the Night Journey of the Messenger of Allah (saws) with Hadrat Jibrael
(a.s.) from the Sacred Mosque in Makkah to Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem, and
then the ‘mairaaj’ or ascension from the precincts of the Masjid al-Aqsa to the
heavens.
Allah Says in the Holy
Quran Chapter 17 Surah Israa verse 1:
1 Glory to (Allah), Who did take His Servant (Prophet Mohamed (saws))
for Journey by night (Israa) from the Sacred Mosque (in Makkah) to the Masjid
al-Aqsa, whose precincts We did Bless; in order that We might show him some of
Our Signs: for He is the One Who Hears and Sees (all things).
There are several authentic and
long narrations from the Messenger of Allah (saws) which describes in various
ways what exactly transpired on his Night Journey and Ascension to the Heavens
with Hadrat Jibrael (a.s.), the most comprehensive amongst them is the
narration narrated by Hadrat Anas ibn Maalik (r.a.):
Sahih Al-Bukhari
Hadith 5.227 Narrated by Anas bin
Malik
Malik bin Sasaa
said that Allah's Messenger (saws) described to them his Night Journey saying,
"While I was lying in Al-Hatim or Al-Hijr, suddenly someone came to me and
cut my body open from here to here."
I asked Al-Jarud who was by my side, "What does he mean?" He said, "It means from his throat to
his pubic area," or said, "From the top of the chest." The Prophet (saws) further said, "He
then took out my heart. Then a gold tray of Belief was brought to me and my
heart was washed and was filled (with Belief) and then returned to its original
place. Then a white animal which was smaller than a mule and bigger than a
donkey was brought to me." (On this Al-Jarud asked, "Was it the
Buraq, O Abu Hamza?" I (i.e. Anas) replied in the affirmative). The Prophet (saws) said, "The animal's
step (was so wide that it) reached the farthest point within the reach of the
animal's sight. I was carried on it, and Gabriel set out with me till we
reached the nearest heaven.
When he asked for
the gate to be opened, it was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel answered, 'Gabriel.'
It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was
asked, 'Has Muhammad been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed. What an
excellent visit his is!' The gate was opened, and when I went over the first
heaven, I saw Adam there. Gabriel said (to me). 'This is your father, Adam; pay
him your greetings.' So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and
said, 'You are welcomed, O pious son and pious Prophet.' Then Gabriel ascended with me till we reached
the second heaven. Gabriel asked for the gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who
is it?' Gabriel answered, 'Gabriel.' It
was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?'
Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel answered in the affirmative. Then it
was said, 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!' The gate was opened.
When I went over
the second heaven, there I saw Yahya (i.e. John) and 'Isa (i.e. Jesus) who were
cousins of each other. Gabriel said (to
me), 'These are John and Jesus; pay them your greetings.' So I greeted them and both of them returned
my greetings to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious
Prophet.' Then Gabriel ascended with me to the third heaven and asked for its
gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?'
Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel.' It
was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?'
Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it
was said, 'He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his is!' The gate was
opened, and when I went over the third heaven there I saw Joseph. Gabriel said (to me), 'This is Joseph; pay
him your greetings.' So I greeted him
and he returned the greeting to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother
and pious Prophet.' Then Gabriel ascended with me to the fourth heaven and
asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied,
'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied,
'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the
affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his
is!'
The gate was
opened, and when I went over the fourth heaven, there I saw Idris. Gabriel said
(to me), 'This is Idris; pay him your greetings.' So I greeted him and he
returned the greeting to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and
pious Prophet.' Then Gabriel ascended
with me to the fifth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked,
'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel.' It was asked. 'Who is accompanying
you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel
replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed, what an
excellent visit his is!' So when I went
over the fifth heaven, there I saw Harun (i.e. Aaron), Gabriel said, (to me).
This is Aaron; pay him your greetings.' I greeted him and he returned the
greeting to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.'
Then Gabriel ascended with me to the sixth heaven and asked for its gate to be
opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel.' It was asked,
'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he
been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. It was said, 'He is welcomed.
What an excellent visit his is!'
When I went (over
the sixth heaven), there I saw Moses. Gabriel said (to me),' This is Moses; pay
him your greeting. So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and
said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.' When I left him
(i.e. Moses) he wept. Someone asked him, 'What makes you weep?' Moses said, 'I
weep because after me there has been sent (as Prophet), a young man whose
followers will enter
So when I went
(over the seventh heaven), there I saw Abraham.
Gabriel said (to me), 'This is your father; pay your greetings to him.'
So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said, 'You are welcomed,
O pious son and pious Prophet.' Then I
was made to ascend to Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (i.e. the Lote Tree of the utmost
boundary) Behold! Its fruits were like the jars of Hajr (i.e. a place near
Then
Al-Bait-ul-Ma'mur (i.e. the Sacred House) was shown to me and a container full
of wine and another full of milk and a third full of honey were brought to me.
I took the milk. Gabriel remarked, 'This is the Islamic religion which you and
your followers are following.' Then the prayers were enjoined on me: They were
fifty prayers a day. When I returned, I passed by Moses who asked (me), 'What
have you been ordered to do?' I replied, 'I have been ordered to offer fifty
prayers a day.' Moses said, 'Your followers cannot bear fifty prayers a day,
and by Allah, I have tested people before you, and I have tried my level best
with Bani Israel (in vain). Go back to your Lord and ask for reduction to
lessen your followers' burden.' So I went back, and Allah reduced ten prayers
for me. Then again I came to Moses, but he repeated the same as he had said
before. Then again I went back to Allah and He reduced ten more prayers. When I
came back to Moses he said the same, I went back to Allah and He ordered me to
observe ten prayers a day. When I came back to Moses, he repeated the same
advice, so I went back to Allah and was ordered to observe five prayers a day.
When I came back to
Moses, he said, 'What have you been ordered?' I replied, 'I have been ordered
to observe five prayers a day.' He said, 'Your followers cannot bear five
prayers a day, and no doubt, I have got an experience of the people before you,
and I have tried my level best with Bani Israel, so go back to your Lord and
ask for reduction to lessen your follower's burden.' I said, 'I have requested
so much of my Lord that I feel ashamed, but I am satisfied now and surrender to
Allah's Order.' When I left, I heard a voice saying, 'I have passed My Order
and have lessened the burden of My Worshipers."
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only
due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me
alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is
the Only Source of Strength.
Your brother and
well wisher in Islam,
Burhan
