MI'RAJ UN-NABI ﷺ: {Part 1} PHYSICAL (jismaani), SPIRITUAL (roohani) AND MUHAMMADI (haqqi)
Mi'raj Un-Nabi ﷺ is the ascension of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ towards the sky and into the Heavens. Mi'raj is an Arabic word that means a ladder because one uses a ladder to ascend or to go towards heights. It is narrated in a hadith, that Prophet ﷺ said, 'I was ascended towards the skies and the Heavens'. (Bukhari).
The Mi'raj of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is mentioned in The Holy Quran and Prophet ﷺ himself mentioned it on many occasions, and are recorded in the books of hadith. Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq(Radi Allaahu Anhu) was the first person to confirm and certify the Mi'raj of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The event of Mi'raj, is for sure, and indisputable because thirty-four companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) have narrated hadith on this topic.
In his Prophethood, Prophet ﷺ had thirty-four Mi'raj. Thirty-three of which were spiritual (roohani), and one physical (jismaani). The conflict amongst the ummat is on the physical Mi'raj.
On the night of Mi'raj, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was transported on Buraq from the Kabah in Mecca to Masjid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem. The speed of the Buraq was such that in a single stride it could reach as far as eye could see. Before ascending towards the skies and the Heavens, Prophet ﷺ performed Namaaz in Masjid Al-Aqsa, as the imaam in the congregation of all the prophets (more or less one-hundred and twenty-four thousand). On this journey of Mi'raj, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ ascended towards the skies and travelled beyond the seven skies, Arsh wa Kursi. Loh o Qalam, Jannat, and beyond.
The Mi'raj of Prophet ﷺ was physical. This was not a narration of a dream, nor the ascension of the spirit or ruh.
Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Awliya(Rahmatulllah Alaih) narrates that the Mi'raj of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was in three stages; isra, mi'raj, and iraj. Isra is the journey from the Masjid Al-Haram to the Masjid Al-Aqsa. Mi'raj is from Masjid Al-Aqsa to the Arsh, and iraj is from the Arsh to the La Makaan. He(Rahmatullah Alaih) narrates that these three stages are mentioned in The Holy Quran.
'Holy is who carried His Bondsman by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Aqsa Mosque around which We have put blessings that We may show him our grand signs. No doubt, He is the All-Hearing and All-Seeing'
(Surah Bani Israel. verse 01)
This verse mentions the first stage of the Mi'raj of Prophet ﷺ, i.e. isra- 'from the Sacred Mosque (Masjid Al-Haram) to the Aqsa Mosque'. The expression 'Holy is He who carried His Bondsman' can only be used to describe the incredible unique incident, i.e. the physical Mi'raj as opposed to Mi'raj of Prophet ﷺ in form of dreams.
'Near the farthest Lote Tree'
'Close to which Paradise of Eternity'
(Surah An-Najm. Verse 14,15)
These verses refer to the second stage of the Mi'raj of Prophet ﷺ-from Masjid Al-Aqsa to the Arsh. Lote Tree is one berry tree whose root is in the sixth Heaven and its branches are in all the Heavens. In height, it is beyond the seventh Heaven. This is one of the stages of the Paradise.
'The Lord of Mighty Strength, who manifested this ascendance (Of Muhammad)'
'And he was on the highest horizon (to see Splendid Divine Sight)'
'Then the splendid vision drew nearer, and then he came closer'
(Surah An-Najm. verse 06,07,08)
In these verses, the third stage of physical Mi'raj of Prophet ﷺ is mentioned. Prophet ﷺ went through the high regions of the seven Heavens to come to the Empyrean Throne of Allah Ta'ala. At Sidratul Muntaha, Hazrat Jibreel(alaihis salaam) could not go beyond the Heavenly Tree, but Prophet ﷺ went further. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ came very close to the Divine Light or the Light of Allah Ta'ala came close to Prophet ﷺ.
The stages of Mi'raj of Prophet ﷺ being physical (jismaani), spiritual (roohani), and Muhammadi (haqqi) is in The Holy Quran:
'Say you, 'apparently in facial outlook of a man, I am like you. I receive revelations that your God is one God, then whosoever hopes to meet his Lord, he should do nobel deeds, and associate not any one in the worship of his Lord'.'
(Surah Al-Kahf. verse 110)
Only in outer appearances does the Messenger of Allah ﷺ reflect human nature, but in reality he is the resplendent light of Allah.
'O people of the Book! There has come to you Our Messenger who makes clear to you much of that which you had hidden, in the Book and he pardons you much. Indeed, there has come to you from Allah a light and a luminous Book (The Quran)'
(Surah Al-Ma'ida. verse 15)
'And say, 'Truth has come and the falsehood has vanished. Undoubtedly the falsehood was certain to vanish'.'
(Surha Bani Israel. verse 81)
The Muffasireen (commentators of The Holy Quran) say that indisputable (Haqqi) refers to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. One of the names of Prophet ﷺ is Haqq.
Prophet ﷺ said, 'whosoever sees me in his dream witnesses the truth as the devil (shaitaan) cannot take my form' (Bukhari)
Khwaja Alawud'in Samnani(Rahmatullah Alaih) narrates that he got inspiration from the court of Allah Ta'ala that the Mi'raj of Prophet ﷺ was in three stages:
From Masjid Al-Haram to the Masjid Al-Aqsa- physical
From Masjid Al-Aqsa to the Lote Tree (Arsh)- spiritual
From Arsh to La Makaan- haqqi
It has to be noted that the physical Mi'raj of Prophet ﷺ was in Masjid Al-Aqsa where Prophet ﷺ led all the prophets in Namaaz as their imaam. This is the physical Mi'raj. Thus, amongst the humans, Prophet ﷺ is the most exalted human (bashar).
The spiritual (noorani) Mi'raj was when Prophet Muhammad ﷺ reached Baitul Ma'mur. The qibla of the angels is in Baitul Ma'mur, which is in the seventh Heaven. Here, Prophet ﷺ led the angels in a Namaaz as their imaam. This is the spiritual Mi'raj. Thus, Prophet ﷺ is the most exalted noor.
In the first stage of his Mi'raj, Prophet ﷺ led all the prophets in Namaaz as their imaam, and in the second stage of his Mi'raj, Prophet ﷺ led all the angels in Namaaz as their imaam. Hazrat Jibreel(alihis salaam) is the imaam of all the angels. But in this stage of Mi'raj, even Jibreel(alaihis salaam) stood behind Prophet ﷺ in the Namaaz. Hence, Prophet ﷺ became the imaam of Jibreel(alihis salaam), i.e. the nooraniyat of Prophet ﷺ' is such exalted that he becomes the imaam of the imaam of the angels.
When Prophet ﷺ arrived with Jibreel(aliahis salaam) at Sidratul Muntaha (the Lote Tree) on the seventh sky, Jibreel(alaihis salaam) stopped. When Prophet ﷺ enquired why he had stopped, Jibreel(alihis salaam) said, 'this is my limitation. I cannot go beyond this. If I cross this point, my wings will burn. From here onwards you will have to proceed alone'. Prophet ﷺ took leave of Jibreel(alaihis salaam) and proceeded beyond Sidratul Muntaha all alone by himself until he finally met Allah Ta'ala.
A point to note is how did Prophet ﷺ' (as a human-a bashar) cross the Sidra while Jibreel(alaihis salaam), being the light could not cross it. The light (noor) of Jibreel(alaihis salaam) was going to burn if he tried to cross the Lote Tree. Yet, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ crossed Sidartal Muntaha unharmed.
Prophet ﷺ is a bashar, the most exalted bashar, and he is also noor, the most exalted noor.
The noor of Jibreel(alaihis salaam) reached its limitation, but Prophet ﷺ went beyond that limit. Where the limitation of bashiriyat and nooraniyat ends, from here the reality (haqqi) of Prophet ﷺbegins. The truth and the reality of Prophet ﷺ cannot only be described as bashiriyat and nooraniyat, but it is Muhammadiyat.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ progressed into solitude (khalwat), and heard Allah Ta'ala 'udnu minni'-come closer to me. Prophet Muhammed ﷺ reached where no one, nothing can reach.
This is the third stage of his Mi'raj. Haqqi' Mi'raj is when Prophet ﷺ reached the La Makaan. Where it was only Allah Ta'ala and His Beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
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This article is an abridged English translation of an Urdu sermon delivered by his eminence, Peer Syed Imroz Dean Saifi, Hanfi, Maturidi of Masjid Anwaar e Madina, Surrey BC Canada
If there is an inaccurate translation, please pardon it and not let it be a means to negatively reflect on the honoured presenter.
