Meraj, a physical journey and the vision of Allah Ta'ala

Allah Ta’ala has sent down Prophets for the guidance of the creation.  Each Prophet has been granted miracles based on the requirements of their times.  Whatever area of knowledge/field that the Ummah excelled in, the Prophets would express such a miracle in that very area that everybody would be astonished. 

 

The whole humankind until the Qiyamah is the Ummah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Allah Ta’ala has granted Him miracles on this basis.  Today science is at such a peak that human beings are trapping and utilizing the rays of the sun, are traveling in space and have even landed on the moon.  In spite of all this, the astronomers, space/rocket scientists, etc. cannot even begin to imagine the heavenly journey (Meraj) of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). 

 

The progress of science is unraveling the truths of Islam.  Today, people with superficial and incomplete knowledge object that how is it possible that such a long journey could be completed in a small part of a night?  It is clear to them that the speed of “light” is such that it travels 300,000 kilometers in a second.  When the “light” created by the creation is so powerful, then who can imagine the swiftness and ascent of the One (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) who is absolute radiance?

 

On the night following the 26^th of Rajab (the night before 27^th), Allah Ta’ala took the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), in a wakeful state, from Makkah to Baitul Muqaddis, from Bait Ul Muqaddis to the seven heavens, Jannah, hell, ‘Arsh (throne) of Allah and beyond it, until where He desired.  He favored Him with His special closeness and granted Him the privilege of seeing Him.  Through the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), the Ummah got the great gift of Salaat. 

 

Meraj, as a physical journey, is established by the Holy Quran.  Allah Ta’ala says:

 

Holy (free of any imperfection, weakness and insufficiency) is He Who took His (most beloved and intimate) Servant in a small portion of a night from the Sacred Mosque to the al-Aqsa Mosque, whose surroundings We have blessed, in order that We might show him (the Perfect Servant) Our Signs. Surely He is the One Who is All-Hearing, All-Seeing. Surah Bani Israil (17:1)

 

The clearest proof that Meraj was a physical journey is the word ‘Abdihi.  The Mufassirin (experts in interpretation of the Holy Quran) say about this that the soul and body together are called ‘Abd (Lit. slave).  It is not given to only the soul or only the body.  This shows that Meraj was physical journey, with both, the blessed body of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and His blessed soul.  As given in Tafseer Razi, Surah Bani Israil-1. 

 

Burraq is also mentioned in the Sahih (rigorously-authenticated) Hadith.  (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 429; Al Mustadrak Alas Sahihain Lil Hakim, Hadith No. 8946; Tahzeeb Ul Aathaar Lit Tabari, Hadith No. 2771; Mustakhraj Abi ‘Awana, Hadith No. 259; Musnab Abi Ya’ala, Hadith No. 3281; Muskhil Ul Aathaar Lit Tahawi, Hadith No. 4377; Jame’ Ul Ahadith, Hadith No. 553; Musnad Imam Ahmed, Hadith No. 12841; Majma Uz Zawaaid Wa Mamba ‘Ul Fawaid, Hadith No. 237).  Obviously, a mount like Burraq is for the blessed body and not for the blessed soul.

 

Hadhrat Mulla Jivan (May Allah shower His mercy on him) writes about the journey of Meraj in Tafseeraat Ahmadiya:

 

Translation: The most authoritative opinion about Meraj is that it occurred in a wakeful state, for both the blessed body and the soul.  This is the position of the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jama’ah.  Therefore, the person who says that Meraj is only for the body or while sleeping, is an innovator in religion (Bida’ati), misguided, one who misguides and is out of the fold of obedience.  (Tafseeraat Ahmadiya, Pg. No. 330)

 

Hadhrat Mulla Jivan (May Allah shower His mercy on him) also writes:

 

Translation: For this reason, the whole Ahle Sunnah Wal Jama’ah agrees that the journey of Meraj from Bait Ul Muqaddis is established by the Holy Quran and the journey of the heavens is established by Hadith Mashoor (i.e. a chain of narration (Sanad) in which in every era after the Sahabah, 3 or more than 3 persons report that Hadith) and beyond the seventh heaven is established by Khabr Wahid (a chain of narration in which in every era after the Sahabah, 1 person reports that Hadith).  Thus, the person who denies/rejects the journey up till Masjid Aqsa from Masjid Haraam is a straightforward disbeliever, the person who denies the journey of the heavens is a Bid’ati and misguides others (innovator) and the person who denies the journey beyond the seven heavens is a sinner (Fasiq, Fajir).  (Tafseeraat Ahmadiya, Pg. No. 328)

 

Seeing Allah Ta’ala in Meraj

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) journeyed through the heavenly worlds and saw the signs of Allah’s power and was privileged with the vision of Allah Ta’ala.  This is mentioned in the Holy Quran and the Hadith, at some places indirectly and at other directly.  Thus, Allah Ta’ala says about this:

 

(His) heart did not take it contrary to what (his) eyes beheld. Surah Najm (53:11)

 

And assuredly he saw Him (Allah Unveiled) the second time (again and you argue only about seeing Him once). Surah Najm (53:13)

 

And his eye neither inclined aside nor overstepped the limit; (it gazed in ecstasy at Whom it was to gaze).  Surah Najm (53:17)

 

Surely he saw the Greatest Signs of His Lord (during the Ascension Night). Surah Najm (53:18)

 

There is a Hadith in the canons of Hadith on the authority of Hadhrat Anas Bin Malik (May Allah be well pleased with him):

 

Translation of Hadith: Allah Ta’ala granted Him closeness and granted Him even more closeness to the extent that He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was as close as 2 bows or even closer.  (Sahih Bukhari, Kitab Ut Tauheed, Hadith No. 7517; Mustakhraj Abi ‘Awana, Kitab Ul Iman, Hadith No. 270; Jame’ Ul Usool Min Ahadithir Rasool, Kitab Un Nubuwwah, Hadith No. 8867)

[Allah Ta’ala is beyond the confines of time, space, etc. and cannot be compared to anything.  Here “close as 2 bows” means that in Arabia, when two tribes wanted to show their unity and friendship, the chiefs would join their bows and shoot 1 arrow with it.  The Holy Quran was revealed to Arabs, so Allah Ta’ala uses the idioms and expressions which were familiar to Arabs to explain things]

There is a Hadith in Sahih Muslim, Sahih Ibn Hibban, Musnad Abi Ya’ala, Al Jame’ Ul Kabeer, Majma Uz Zawaaid, Kanz Ul Ummal, Mustahraj Abi ‘Awana:

 

Translation of Hadith:  Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Shaqeeq (May Allah be well pleased with him) says: I told Hadhrat Abuzar (May Allah be well pleased with him) that if I had the honor of seeing the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), I would have certainly asked Him.  He asked: What would you have asked? Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Shaqeeq said: I would have asked the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), did He see His Lord.  Hadhrat Abuzar Ghifari (May Allah be well pleased with him) said: I asked the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) about this and He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: I have seen Him, He is all Noor.  (Sahih Muslim, Kitab Ul Iman, Hadith No. 462; Mustakhraj Abi ‘Awana, Kitab Ul Iman, Hadith No. 287; Sahih Ibn Hibban, Kitab Ul Isra, Hadith No. 58; Jame’ Ul Ahadith, Harf Ur Ra, Hadith No. 12640; Jam Ul Jawami’ (Jame’ Ul Kabir Lis Suyuti) Harf Ur Ra, Hadith No. 12788; Majma Uz Zawaaid, Hadith No. 13840; Musnad Abi Ya’ala, Hadith No. 7163; Kanz Ul Ummal, Harf Ul Fa, Hadith No. 31864)

 

There is a Hadith in Sahih Muslim, Musnad Imam Ahmed, Sahih Ibn Hibban, Musnad Abi Ya’ala, Mo’jam Ausat Lit Tabarani, Jame’ Ul Ahadith, Al Jame Ul Kabir, Kanz Ul Ummal, Mustakhraj Abi ‘Awana:

 

Translation of Hadith: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abuzar Ghifari (May Allah be well pleased with him): I asked the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam): Did you see your Lord? He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: He is Noor, indeed I see Him.  (Sahih Muslim, Kitab Ul Iman, Hadith No. 177; Musnad Imam Ahmed, Musnad Abi Bakr, Hadith No. 21429/21351). 

In this Hadith also, it is clearly mentioned that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saw Allah Ta’ala. 

 

Translation of Hadith: The Sahabah asked the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam): Did you see your Lord? In reply, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: He is Noor, I see Him. 

 

This Hadith is present in various canons of Hadith with different wordings:

 

1.        (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 177; Musnad Imam Ahmed, Hadith No. 21429/21351). 

2.       Translation of Hadith:  The manner in which I saw Him, He is all Noor.  (Musnad Imam Ahmed, Hadith No. 21567)

3.       Translation of Hadith: I have seen Noor.  (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 178; Mustakhraj Abi ‘Awana, Kitab Ul Iman, Hadith No. 287; Sahih Ibn Hibban, Kitab Ul Isra, Hadith No. 58; Tabarani Mo’jam Ausat, Hadith No. 8300;p Musnad Imam Ahmed, Hadith No. 21357; Jame’ Ul Ahadith, Harf Ur Ra, Hadith No. 12640; Jam Ul Jawami’ (Jame’ Ul Kabir Lis Suyuti), Hadith No. 12788; Sahih Ibn Hibban, Kitab Ul Isra, Hadith No. 255; Majma Uz Zawaaid, Hadith No. 13840; Musnad Abi Ya’ala, Hadith No. 7163; Kanz Ul Ummal, Harf Ul Fa, Hadith No. 31864

 

The meaning and purport of the Hadith of Hadhrat Aisha Siddiqua (May Allah be well pleased with her)

 

There is a Hadith in Sahih Bukhari:

 

Translation of Hadith: Masrooq says: Hadhrat Aisha (May Allah be well pleased with her) says: Whoever tells you that Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saw His Lord, as He is, lies.  Allah Ta’ala says: No sight can grasp His vision but He has encompassed all vision and eyesight. He is the All-Penetrating Viewer, All-Aware. Surah An’aam (6:103)

(Sahih Bukhari, Kitab Ut Tauheed, Hadith No. 7380)

 

This Hadith does not negate “seeing” Allah Ta’ala, but negates seeing Allah Ta’ala, as He is, as Allah Ta’ala and His attributes (qualities) are beyond all measure and boundless.  Seeing Allah Ta’ala, as the Lord is, is impossible. 

 

There is a Hadith in Jame’ Tirmidhi, Musnad Imam Ahmed, Al Mustadrak Alas Sahihain, Umdatul Qari Sharh Sahih Bukhari, Tafseer Ibn Katheer, Subul Ul Huda War Rashad:

 

Translation of Hadith: Hadhrat Akrama (May Allah be well pleased with him) says: Hadhrat Abdullah in Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with them) says: Hadhrat Muhammad Mustafa (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saw His Lord.  I said: Did not Allah Ta’ala say, “No sight can grasp His vision”:

 

He said: I am surprised you! This is when Allah Ta’ala expresses His that Noor, which is boundless.  Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) did see His Lord 2 times.  (Jame’ Tirmidhi, ABwab Ut Tafseer, Hadith No. 3590; Umdatul Qari Sharh Sahih Bukhari, Kitab Ut Tafseeril Quran, Surah Najm-5, Vol. 7, Pg. No. 442; Subul Ul Huda War Rashad, Vol. 3, Pg. No. 61; Mustadrak ‘Alas Sahihain, Kitab Ut Tafseer, Surah An’aam, Hadith No. 3191; Musnad Imam Ahmed, Mo’jam Kabeer, Tafseer Ibn Abi Hatim, Surah An’aam, Hadith No. 7767)

 

Translation of Hadith: Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with them) said: The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saw His Lord.  (Jame’ Tirmidhi, Vol. 2, Pg. No. 164, Hadith No. 3202). 

 

Musnad Imam Ahmed has the following words:

 

Translation of Hadith: Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with them) says: The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) says: I have seen my Lord.  This Hadith is mentioned in Musnad Imam Ahmed twice.  (Musnad Imam Ahmed, Hadith No. 2449/2502)

 

Hadhrat Ka’ab (May Allah be well pleased with him) says: Allah Ta’ala has divided His vision (i.e. seeing Him) and His Speech between Hadhrat Muhammad Mustafa (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and Hadhrat Moosa (peace be upon him).  Hadhrat Moosa (peace be upon him) talked with Allah Ta’ala and twice, Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saw His Lord.  (Jame’ Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 3678)

 

It is mentioned in Imam Tabarani’s M’ojam Ausat:

 

Translation of Hadith: Indeed, Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saw His Lord twice.  (M’ojam Ausat, Hadith No. 5922; Mawahib Ladunniya, Vol. 8, Pg. No. 248)

 

When Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with her) met Hadhrat Ka’ab in ‘Arafah, he asked Hadhrat Abdullah (May Allah be well pleased with him) a question.  Hadhrat Ka’ab gave such a cry that the mountains echoed with it.  Hadhrat Ibn Abas (May Allah be well pleased with them) said: Indeed! We the Sadaat from Banu Hashim, hold the belief that Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saw His Lord twice.  Then Hadhrat Ka’ab (May Allah be well pleased with him) said: Allah Ta’ala has placed His vision and His Speech between Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and Hadhrat Moosa (peace be upon him).  Hadhrat Moosa (peace be upon him) heard His speech and Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saw Him.  (Tafseer Ibn Katheer, Surah Najm-5)

 

Translation of Hadith: Hadhrat Ma’adh Bin Jabal (May Allah be well pleased with him) says: The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: I saw my Lord.  (Kitab As Shifa, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 196/197)

 

Hadhrat Imam Abdur Razzaq (May Allah shower His mercy on him) who is the teacher of Imam Bukhari’s teachers, narrates: Hadhrat Hasan Basri (May Allah shower His mercy on him) would take an oath thrice on this, that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has seen His Lord.  (Tafseer Abdur Razzaq, Hadith No. 2940; Al Mawahib Al Ladunniya, Vol. 8, Pg. No. 266)

 

It is given in “Rauzul Unf”

Translation: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Imam Ahmed Bin Hambal (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that he was asked: Did the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) see Allah Ta’ala? He said: He saw Him, He saw Him and kept saying this until he was out of breath.  (Rauzul Unf, Ruyatun Naiyyi Rabbahu)

 

 

What to do in Shab Meraj

 

In this blessed night, the Ummah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was given the gift of Salaat (namaaz), so this is very appropriate.  Muslims offer Qaza Umri, Salaat Ut Tasbeeh and other Nafl (optional) Salaat on this night.  We should also recite the Holy Quran and recite Durud a lot. 

 

Hadhrat Ghouse Azam (May Allah be well pleased with him) has narrated Hadith in his famous classic Al Ghunya Lit Talibi Tareeqil Haqqi, with his own chain of authority:

 

Translation of Hadith: Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him) narrates from the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Whoever fasts on the 27^th of Rajab, will get the reward of fasting for 60 months.  (Al Ghunya Lit Talibi Tareeqil Haqqi, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 182). 

 

Translation of Hadith: Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him) narrates on the authority of Hadhrat Salman Farsi (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: In Rajab, there is such a day and such a night that whoever fasts on that day and spends that night in Salaat will get the reward equal to that person who fasted for a 100 years and spent the nights of 100 years in worship.  Then he wrote in the interpretation of that Hadith:

 

Translation: It is the 27^th of Rajab.  (Al Ghunya Lit Talibi Tareeqil Haqqi, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 182/183)