The secrets of Meraj and the vision of Allah Taala

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) seeing Allah Ta'ala with His physical eyes

On the night following the 26th of Rajab (the night before 27th), 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.