Shab-e-meraj and
the mysterious personality
By: Khurshid
Imam
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Shab-e-meraj or the night of Journey is an important
event in the life of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). ‘Shab’ in Persian means night and ‘mera’j means ‘ascension’ / ‘to gain
height’ / ‘to rise high’. It refers to the journey which Prophet Muhammad
((Peace be upon him) undertook on a night and went to distant places in the universe.
This event is
described in Quran (Word of GOD) as well as Hadith
collection (books that contain words or actions of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be
upon him)).
The event in
short is that Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was taken to Jerusalam, Bayt al-Muqaddas. Later he was taken up in the universe. At the
highest horizon he saw someone whose identity remains a subject of curiosity.
Then he came back.
Some people say
that this journey was merely a spiritual journey.
Some say that
the whole event is allegorical and in actual sense nothing happened as understood.
Some scholars
are of the view that whole event was a dream.
As per our best
understanding the journey was neither
purely physical nor purely spiritual. This event was not allegorical as is claimed
by the Qadiyanis.
Many ayah
related to this event make it clear that it was not a dream, rather it was a
reality.
وَمَا
جَعَلْنَا الرُّؤْيَا
الَّتِي أَرَيْنَاكَ إِلَّا فِتْنَةً لِّلنَّاسِ
… And We
did not make the sight
[vision] which We showed you except as a trial for the people .. Quran
17:60.
Arabic word ‘Ru’ya’ is used in Quran most of the time for ‘seeing’.
A few times it is used for ‘vision’. To
translate ‘Ru’ya’ as ‘dream’ in above ayah
[17:60] will be incorrect because Quran 53:11-13 proves clearly that it was not
a dream.
مَا
كَذَبَ الْفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰ
The
(Prophet's) (mind and) heart in no way
falsified that which he saw. Quran 53:11
أَفَتُمَارُونَهُ
عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ
Will you then dispute with him concerning
what he saw? Quran 53:12
وَلَقَدْ
رَآهُ نَزْلَةً
أُخْرَىٰ
For indeed he
[prophet] saw him at a second descent. Quran 53:13
Had the prophet
seen all these events in a dream then it would make no sense:
1.
To
say that his heart did not lie. It indicates that his seeing was in sync with
the reality. His mind, his senses confirmed what he was seeing through his
eyes.
2.
To
emphasize so much that he saw something important.
3.
To
make very clear that he saw something at his second descent.
We know from ahadith that before and after the event
of meraj there were some changes done to his body. Why? So that he could
undertake the journey across the universe. Normal human body could not have borne
the heat and other other waves; hence some changes were required in his body.
Arch angel Jibriel along with two other angels
visited the holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) one night, while he was asleep in
the Hateem part of Ka’abah. The angel then operated upon
his heart and body and made some changes; probably because the material body
could not withstand the space travel with the required velocity without certain
protection. The related part of the hadith (narration) reads:
“... Jibriel
among them took upon himself to make a cut from the throat down to a part below
the heart of the Prophet till he emptied the chest and the stomach. Then with
his hands he washed it with Zamzam water till the stomach was cleaned. Then was
brought a golden tray in which was a golden light filled with faith and wisdom.
Pouring it inside, the chest and the veins of throat were filled up. Then the
opened part was closed...”. Sahih
Bukhari
By incorporating
the changes in the body system, his body was probably converted from material
into Noorani (luminous) body to
withstand the journey of space. It may be remembered that the material bodies
of people destined for heavens would also be changed to luminous (made of
light) bodies after the Maidaan-e-Hash’r
(the place of the great gathering) before taking them to heavens”.
Also, after completion
of this journey his bodily changes were reversed back to their original
condition. So, journey of the Prophet was neither purely physical nor purely
spiritual.
Neither Asleep Nor Awake:
“The Qur’an in Surah Israa, in which the advent is
mentioned, indicates the state in which the Prophet was carried to his journey.
It says; “... And we made not the vision
which we showed you, but a trial for mankind..”. Quran 17:60
It was neither a
dream nor the state of wakefulness in the material sense. The Qur’anic word for the vision is ‘Ru’ya’
which is different from a dream. We find in one of the ahadith describing Me’raj thus:
“... They (the angels) came in such a state that the
heart (of the Prophet) was seeing them. The eyes were asleep but the heart was
awake. Likewise, the eyes of (all) the Prophets sleep but their hearts do not
sleep..” (Bukhari; Kitab-ut-Tauhid;
Narration of Abu Hurairah)
The above
narration of Me’raj in Bukhari, which is a very lengthy one,
ends with the following words; “..And
when he (Prophet Muhammad) woke up, he was in Masjid-al-Haram (Ka’abah).”
So, the material
body of the Prophet was in a state of sleep after the Me’raj, while during the vision his transcendental body actually
visited the places and witnessed the signs of Allah. In sleep he was taken and
to sleep he was returned before and after the journey. During the journey, he
was not asleep. He saw and witnessed everything with a transcendental body and
with eyes, which were not material. Such is the vision of Prophets.”
A normal
physical entity even if it travelled at the speed of light could not have
reached the first heaven even after 1400 years while the Prophet travelled
across all heavens and reached beyond that within a very short period of time
[some minutes or hour probably]. How is that
possible?
Scientific
discoveries have proved it to be theoretically possible. Answer lies in ‘wormhole’.
What is a worm
hole? A worm hole is a conduit for connecting two extremely far locations in
the universe. Though it is a theoretical possibility, as of now, the concept of
worm holes allow for intra universe journey
.i.e. journey across two universe or heavens.
“A wormhole is a
theoretical passage through space-time that could create shortcuts for long
journeys across the universe. Wormholes are predicted by the theory of general
relativity.
In 1935,
physicists Albert Einstein and Nathan Rosen used the theory of general
relativity to propose the existence of "bridges" through space-time.
These paths, called Einstein-Rosen bridges or wormholes, connect two different
points in space-time, theoretically
creating a shortcut that could reduce travel time and distance.
Wormholes may not only connect two separate regions
within the universe, they could also connect two different universes.
Scientists
continue to explore the concept as a method of space travel with the hope that
technology will eventually be able to
utilize them.”
For more
information on the subject, go through:
Based on
wormhole, in 2014 a science movie named ‘Interstellar’ was made in which a crew of astronauts travels
through a wormhole.
Scientists are looking
into the possibility where an entity passes through wormhole and exits into a
different universe. However, that is not practical as yet because of many
factors. In future – it may be reality. Also, in such journey time will pass
extremely slowly. Can this be said that journey of Prophet could have been
through a worm hole?
There are many
ayah of Quran that indicate about existence of wormholes or such ‘doors’ in the
universe.
Quran and
wormholes
Quran 15:14-17
وَلَوْ
فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِم
بَابًا مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ فَظَلُّوا فِيهِ يَعْرُجُونَ
Even if we opened out
to them a gate from heaven, and they were to continue ascending therein.
لَقَالُوا
إِنَّمَا سُكِّرَتْ أَبْصَارُنَا بَلْ نَحْنُ قَوْمٌ مَّسْحُورُونَ
They would only
say: "Our eyes have been intoxicated: Nay, we have been bewitched by
sorcery."
وَلَقَدْ
جَعَلْنَا فِي السَّمَاءِ بُرُوجًا وَزَيَّنَّاهَا لِلنَّاظِرِينَ
And we have placed within the heaven great stars and have
beautified it for the observers (those
who can see).
وَحَفِظْنَاهَا
مِن كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ رَّجِيمٍ
And (moreover) we have guarded them from every cursed devil.
Quran gives
clear indications of worm hole as ‘door in the heaven’ and says that one will
continue to pass through it and rise. The traveller – one who passes through
this worm hole or door of heaven – will be shocked to see the universe and how
beautifully Allah has decorated it. The traveller will find it hard to believe as
to where he has come in such short time and what he is seeing; he will feel as if he is intoxicated or bewitched.
وَفُتِحَتِ
السَّمَاءُ فَكَانَتْ أَبْوَابًا
And the heavens shall
be opened as if there were doors. Quran 78:19
Regarding the burraq or the means by which prophet was
taken into space; it is not difficult to understand that the description of burraq given in hadith is to make people of that time understand the means of
travel in simple language. Of course, people of that time would have not
understood the exact mechanism of this journey, hence some aspects were told in
simple terminologies that are captured in books of hadith.
Burraq word is derived from the Arabic word, ‘barq’ which means ‘light’.
Some terms used
in ahadith are meant for making
contemporary people understand in the way they would have understood better.
For example, the use of the word “ant” in place of DNA in context with ADAM and
his progenies. This topic is beyond the scope of this article.
With the passage
of time, with more pondering over signs of God human beings keep discovering
new things. Allah will continue to show his signs everywhere.
سَنُرِيهِمْ
آيَاتِنَا فِي الْآفَاقِ وَفِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ
الْحَقُّ
“We will show them our Signs in the (furthest) regions (of
the earth), and in their own selves, until it becomes manifest to them that
this is the Truth”. Quran 41:53
D. Whom did Prophet see on meraj - Allah or Angel Jibriel or someone else?
Some people say that the Prophet saw angel Jibriel on meraj. The Prophet had seen angel Jibriel on numerous occasions, so there was nothing extra-ordinary in seeing him on meraj. Some people say that the Prophet saw Jibriel in his ‘original form’ but this is without any proof, without any evidence. Traditions say that angel jibrael could not go beyond a certain point and when prophet ‘saw’ someone special then Jibriel was not with him.
D. Whom did Prophet see on meraj - Allah or Angel Jibriel or someone else?
Some people say that the Prophet saw angel Jibriel on meraj. The Prophet had seen angel Jibriel on numerous occasions, so there was nothing extra-ordinary in seeing him on meraj. Some people say that the Prophet saw Jibriel in his ‘original form’ but this is without any proof, without any evidence. Traditions say that angel jibrael could not go beyond a certain point and when prophet ‘saw’ someone special then Jibriel was not with him.
It is an anticlimax of a very extraordinary miracle described with
much importance by Qur’an and Hadith.
Seeing Hazrat Jibriel, a frequent
visitor to the Prophet (even in his original form) would not have been such a
big event.
Some people
mistakenly think that Prophet actually “saw” Allah. Both groups have their set
of narrations for their support. Quran – the furqaan – clarifies when there are contradictory narrations. Nowhere
Quran says that the Prophet saw Allah on meraj.
The ayah related
to meraj event itself categorically
rejects this idea.
لَقَدْ
رَأَىٰ مِنْ آيَاتِ رَبِّهِ الْكُبْرَىٰ For truly did he see, of the Signs of his Lord, the Greatest! Quran 53:18
Allah is beyond comprehension. Prophet did not see Allah on meraj.
Quran 17:1 also says that Allah showed his ‘signs’ to the Prophet.
لِنُرِيَهُ
مِنْ آيَاتِنَا … in order that We
might show him of our signs.. Quran 17
Note: Allah communicated with the Prophet
when he went for meraj. That does not
imply that God lives above 7th heaven or at a particular place. God
communicated with prophets when they were in different parts of the world.
Allah asked Prophet Moses to come to Mount Tur and communicated with him then that does not mean that Allah was present physically over mount tur. Allah communicates to his creatures but that does not mean God is present physically in any time and space. Almighty God is beyond time and space and He can’t be confined to it.
“We (Almighty God) are nearer to him than (his) jugular vein”. Quran 50:16
Do we mean that God is ‘physically’ present
near our jugular vein? The answer is ‘No’.
Let us analyze the ayah that talks about the Prophet seeing someone very important. Let’s name him
as ‘mysterious personality’ for some time:
1.
Whom did prophet see? Quran 53:1-14,18
وَالنَّجْمِ
إِذَا هَوَىٰ By the star when it goes down (or vanishes).
مَا
ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمْ وَمَا غَوَىٰ Your companion neither (has) gone astray nor has erred.
وَمَا
يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ Nor does he speak of (his own) desire.
إِنْ
هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ It is only a Revelation revealed.
عَلَّمَهُ
شَدِيدُ الْقُوَىٰ He (Prophet) has been taught (this Qur'an) by one mighty in power [mysterious personality]
ذُو
مِرَّةٍ فَاسْتَوَىٰ One of soundness. And he [mysterious personality] rose
وَهُوَ
بِالْأُفُقِ الْأَعْلَىٰ While he [mysterious
personality]
was in the highest part of the horizon
ثُمَّ
دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ Then he [mysterious personality] approached and
came closer
فَكَانَ
قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَىٰ And was at a distance of two bows' length or
(even) nearer
فَأَوْحَىٰ
إِلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ مَا أَوْحَىٰ So (Allah) revealed to His slave whatever He
revealed
مَا
كَذَبَ الْفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰ The (Prophet's) heart lied not in what he (Muhammad) saw
أَفَتُمَارُونَهُ
عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ Will you then dispute with him (Muhammad) about what
he saw
وَلَقَدْ
رَآهُ نَزْلَةً أُخْرَىٰ And indeed he (Muhammad) saw him [mysterious
personality]
at a second descent
عِندَ
سِدْرَةِ الْمُنتَهَىٰ Near Sidrat-ul-Muntaha
Then Ayah Number 18
clearly says that Prophet saw ‘signs’
of Allah and NOT Allah itself.
لَقَدْ
رَأَىٰ مِنْ آيَاتِ رَبِّهِ الْكُبْرَىٰ Indeed he (Muhammad) did see of the Greatest Signs, of his Lord (Allah).
2.
Whom did prophet see? Quran 81:19-23
إِنَّهُ
لَقَوْلُ رَسُولٍ كَرِيمٍ Verily, this is the Word (Qur'an brought by) a most honorable messenger [mysterious personality]
ذِي
قُوَّةٍ عِندَ ذِي الْعَرْشِ مَكِينٍ Owner of power [mysterious
personality],
(and high rank) with
(Allah), the Lord of the Throne
مُّطَاعٍ
ثَمَّ أَمِينٍ Obeyed and trustworthy
[mysterious personality]
وَمَا
صَاحِبُكُم بِمَجْنُونٍ And your companion (Muhammad) is not a madman
وَلَقَدْ
رَآهُ بِالْأُفُقِ الْمُبِينِ And indeed he (Muhammad) saw him [mysterious
personality]
in the clear horizon
Yellow color text: Refers to Prophet Muhammad (Peace be
upon him).
Green
color text: Refers to the one whom prophet saw. Who is this ‘mysterious
personality’?
Attributes of
that ‘mysterious personality’ as per above
ayaah are:
ü Mighty in power [shaded ul qawa]
ü Mighty in power [shaded ul qawa]
ü Most honorable
messenger [rasul in Kareem]
ü Owner of the
power [zee quwwatin]
ü Near to / with /
closer to Allah
ü Trustworthy [Ameen]
Let us find from
the Quran who is mentioned having the above mentioned qualities.
There is a personality in Quran called ‘Ruh ul quddus’ or ‘Ruh ul
amin’ or the Holy Spirit. A big misconception is that people think that
Holy Spirit and angel Jibriel are one
and the same personality. There is no proof for this understanding. Quran has
maintained separate personality of Jibriel
and Holy Spirit. Proof for this subject is beyond the scope of this article. Holy
Spirit and angel Jibriel both act as
messengers for bringing the revelation of God. However, Holy Spirit is higher
in rank and closer to Allah. Let us see the following ayaah for proof.
نَزَلَ بِهِ
الرُّوحُ الْأَمِينُ Ruh ul Amin [The HOLY
Spirit] has brought it[revelation of God] down. Quran 26:193
قُلْ
نَزَّلَهُ رُوحُ الْقُدُسِ مِن رَّبِّكَ بِالْحَقِّ
Say! Ruh ul Qudus [HOLY Spirit] has brought it (the Qur'an) down from your
Lord with truth. Quran 16:102
وَآتَيْنَا
عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَيَّدْنَاهُ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ
.. And We gave 'Îsa (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary), clear signs
and supported him with Ruh ul Qudus [HOLY Spirit]. Quran 2:87
وَآتَيْنَا
عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَيَّدْنَاهُ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ
To Jesus- the son of Mary- we gave clear (Signs), and
strengthened him with Ruh ul Quddus [Holy Spirit]. Quran 2:253
رَفِيعُ
الدَّرَجَاتِ ذُو الْعَرْشِ يُلْقِي الرُّوحَ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ
".. One who is owner of throne [Almighty God] raises in status
does ILQA [to place to put, to reveal] to Al-Rooh [Holy Spirit]. Quran 40:15
From these ayaah we find that the description of Ruh ul Quddus or the Holy Spirit or Al Ruh or Ruh ul Amin matches exactly with the personality whom prophet saw on
meraj. Prophet did not see Allah or Jibriel but Ruh ul Qudus or the Holy Spirit. ‘What is the significance of the Holy
Spirit and what his relation with Prophet Muhammad is’ – this topic is beyond
the scope of the present article.
1.
Shab-e-meraj or night of
journey holds an important event in the house of Islam.
2.
Prophet
did go to the highest heavens and communicated with Allah.
3. The
journey of meraj is within the gamut
of possibilities for mankind.
4. The
journey was neither a dream nor purely a physical one; rather some changes were
done to the body to make it possible.
5. The
Prophet did not see Allah on meraj
rather he saw one of the greatest signs of Allah – Ruh ul Ameen or the Holy Spirit.
6. With
more discoveries and scientific advancement, exact mechanism of this journey
will be understood better.
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So many mysteries hidden in our universe and now there s theory actually its not universe we live in multiverse there are many universes yet to be identified
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