If Meraj was not a physical journey, why would anyone deny it?

 

If Meraj was not a physical journey,

why would anyone deny it?

 

Hadhrat Shaykh Ul Islam Imam Muhammad Anwaarullah Farooqui (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) writes about the incident of Meraj:

 

Almighty Allah Himself informs us of the journey of Meraj.  Various objections are raised and evasive explanations are given that the human body is dense and cannot travel such a huge distance in such a short time.  Thus, to believe in it for formality sake the explanation is given that this is a spiritual journey.

 

Now a true believer who has absolute faith in Almighty Allah that He can accomplish whatever He wishes to with just “Be” should believe that the Lord Almighty who can make some dense bodies travel with the speed of 10.2 million miles per minute, if He makes the blessed body of our Beloved Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) which is finer than our very lives, journey the heavens in a short space of time, then what is there to disbelieve?

 

Don’t the words of Almighty Allah and the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) carry as much weight as the words of Europeans are being considered nowadays?  Our faith demands that even if a weakly-authenticated Hadith is present in this regard, it should be accepted with the thought that it is a Hadith and not someone’s tell-tale stories, even though it is established through the verses of the Holy Quran and the rigorously-authenticated Hadith.

 

However, this priceless treasure of faith is not for everyone.  The wretches would see thousands of miracles of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and still remained bereft of this bounty.  In fact, Almighty Allah Himself does not desire that this treasure become common and consequently lose its value.  That’s why the Holy Quran itself says:  ….with this many are misguided and many are guided.  Similar words are conveyed about the journey of Meraj as well.  It is mentioned:

 

Translation: Whatever we have shown you in the night of Meraj, its intent is to test others.

 

It is established through Hadith and Traditions that this verse of the Holy Quran was revealed about the Meraj of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  It is obvious that it is not for everyone to clear the test of Almighty Allah.  In such instances it is indeed a great deal if the faith of the faithful folk remains intact, let alone the faith of the disbelievers.

 

          Thus, this is what happened.  Even though the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) described Masjid Al Aqsa in detail and the disbelievers could not deny it as well, but none of them believed.  The Companions who would see the miracles of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) day and night, even they were shaken.  Some, may Allah protect us, even apostatized.  It was on acknowledging this incident beautifully that Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) was called Siddiq.  (Ifaadatul Afhaam, Vol. 2, Pg. No. 196/197)

 

The same is mentioned in Durre Manthoor that Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with him) says that when the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) went to Masjid Al Aqsa and returned in the same night.  Then He described His journey there and Masjid Al Aqsa and the caravan of the disbelievers, many people said:  O Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)!  We cannot acknowledge it and they apostatized.  Eventually, they were killed along with Abu Jahl (in battle).

 

As this incident was outwardly against logic, those people could not acknowledge it and thus, their faith was seized.  It should be thought carefully that is going to Masjid Al Aqsa in a dream so illogical that the faith of Muslims melts away on hearing about it?  A sound mind can never accept this.  This incident can be (outwardly) against logic only if it actually happened, which Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) acknowledged and became worthy of the title of Siddiq.

 

Abu Ya’ala mentions a Hadith from Durre Manthoor and says:

 

It is obvious that Almighty Allah granted the title of Siddiq to Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) on acknowledging that Meraj was a physical journey.  If this incident were a dream, even the disbelievers would not have had a problem with it as people do travel to far-off cities in their dreams.

 

Thus, in Islam, the incident of Meraj is a test.  Whoever denies it, his (or her) wretchedness is laid bare.

 

What can be more wretchedness than the fact that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) had never traveled to Masjid Al Aqsa and still described whatever was asked about it.  He also described the caravan which was seen on the way and this was also proved, even then they didn’t accept it and like all other miracles, it was attributed to magic.

 

As far as those people are concerned that this incident occurred in sleep or that it was a high-class spiritual journey, as Mirza Qadiani says, they have to deny many incidents. 

 

It is obvious that no matter how outlandish the dream, there is no hesitation in describing it and neither does the listener deny it.  On the other hand, it is established through the Hadith that describing this incident was not deemed to be prudent due to the fear of denial.  (Ifaadatul Afhaam, Vol. 2, Pg. No. 200/201)