Believing that the Ascension is a physical journey is a test for the Ummah (II)

 

Believing that the Ascension is a physical journey

– A test for the Ummah

 

Then some objectives of this incident were described in this manner:

 

And We have made the vision (of the Ascension) that We showed you but a trial for the people….  Surah Isra (17:60)

 

Thus, we have seen the results of this test that some Muslims apostatized and the disbelief of the disbelievers increased.

 

When the disbelievers asked the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) whether He had gone to Masjid Al Aqsa in the night and was present with them in the morning, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) affirmed this.  This shows that the the Ascension was undertaken with His physical body.  Otherwise, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would have replied that this was a dream, when did I go there that you are asking me:  You were present here in the morning.

 

Clapping on such an occasion is a sign of one’s success…. and they considered their success in that they would prove the lie.  Obviously, this gladness can never arise from a strange dream.  Even if disrespect is intended, the most they could do is say that it was a dream which had no meaning although not one Hadith can be presented in which an opponent termed this as a worrisome dream.

 

Asking about the signs and landmarks of Masjid Al Aqsa as a test cannot be for a dream, as one who sees a dream cannot be sure that whatever he/she has seen is the truth.  It is for this reason that interpretation of dreams is required.  If the Acension was a dream, then there would have been no occasion to ask about the landmarks of Masjid Al Aqsa neither did the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would have had to reply to it……

 

That Masjid Al Aqsa was made to appear before the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) when He was being asked about it shows that the spiritual unveiling (Kashf) was at that moment.  If the whole incident was a spiritual one, then the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would have clarified that last night Masjid Al Aqsa were made to appear before Him.

 

Thus, by carefully reflecting on this Hadith it becomes obvious that this incident occurred in complete wakefulness.

 

When the disbelievers heard this incident, they were certain that this is such a blatant lie that anyone who hears it will not be able to accept it and will end up denying it.  They thought that they should first embroil Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him).  If he turns away from the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), then no one will stay with Him.  They immediately ran to Hadhrat Abu Bakr’s (May Allah be well pleased with him) house and asked:  Your Friend claims that He went to Masjid Al Aqsa last night and came back.  Will you acknowledge this as well?  But they were talking to Siddiq whom such ill winds could not budge.  He said:  There is no hesitation in acknowledging this provided the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has said this.  (Ifaadatul Afhaam, Vol. 2, Pg. No. 204-207)