The secrets of Meraj and the vision of Allah Taala

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]