The Physical (Body and Soul) Me'raj
by Mufti Zubair Bayat |
Among the many fascinating incidents and dazzling miracles of Nabi (S.A.W.), the journey of Me'raj holds an exceptionally exalted position. Nabi (S.A.W.) was called up to the heavens, travelling through the seven skies and treading in such realms where even angels were not allowed entry. The closest that any creation of Allah could have been to Allah. This dignity and honour was granted to Nabi (S.A.W.) on this night. Never before had anyone in physical form attained such heights. Every aspect of this journey is miraculous and defies the limited intellect and puny mental capacity of man. However, when people of Imaan, transcend the narrow and confined world of crass intellectualism; they are blessed by the faculty of Iman - divine conviction which supercedes all human faculties of the sensory and cerebral type.
INCREDIBLE SPEED OF ME'RAJ
Looking at it from the distance aspect - it is a mind boggling feat. From Makkah to Jerusalem and from Jerusalem to outer space, up into the skies, through the seven firmaments and well beyond, to Jannah, Jahannum, and the other secrets of the universe and then back home ..... in a short span of time. Relying on the strength of the puny human intellect, many have rejected this incident outright, starting from Abu Jahl and company right down to the bright sparks of present times.
This incredible speed could have been doubted in those times, but today with scientific achievements and advances in technology, man has already reached the moon and beyond and will achieve much more as science and technology move ahead with leaps and bounds....
According to Einstein, speed conquers space, thus the faster the journey, the shorter the space. If these types of feats can be achieved by man through his limited intelligence and resources, then has not Almighty Allah, the Supreme, Master and Creator of man and man's resources the power and might to subjugate the forces of nature? Thus enabled Nabi (S.A.W.) to traverse the celestial realms at incalculable speed.
FANCIFUL INTERPRETATION: A SUBTLE REJECTION OF ME'RAJ
Another group of people have taken another stance with regard to the incident of Me'raj. They have not openly rejected the Me'raj, but have attempted to interpret it in such a manner that is tantamount to the rejection of Me'raj. This is merely a "sugar-quoted" rejection of Me'raj. While this form is more subtle, the end result being the same in both instances. They have attempted to scuttle the reality of the Me'raj to being a mere dream and not much more...
This is completely contrary to the spirit of Me'raj and an indirect contradiction of the Quranic concept of Me'raj. According to the subtle nuances of the verses relating to Me'raj (Bani Israaeel:1 and Najm:2) it is evident that this was no spiritual experience in a dream - it was a physical journey in the true sense of the word just like someone flying from say, New York to London nowadays.
If the verse of Surah-Bani Israel is studied carefully, there are manifest indications that this was a physical journey. For instance the verse commences with the word 'Subhaan' which means "Glorified be that Being - Allah"; it is a known fact that in the Arabic context and especially in the Qur'anic background, the word denotes a wondrous event; an amazing incident, a baffling occasion; a miraculous happening. The fact that Me'raj occurred in the physical sense, this is the matter that tends such incredulence to this event that to this event that its description commences with the word 'Subhaan' in the Qur'an. Had this been merely a spiritual / dream experience, what element of wonder is left in it anymore? Dreams are seen by all. Anyone could dream he is up in the heavens. This point alone is convincing enough for anyone that is rational and fair-minded.
If we look further in this verse, the word 'Asraa' (a journey at night) again alludes to the fact that this was a physical journey that took place at night. Never has this word been used in the context of a spiritual journey (by dream) in the Arabic language. It has always referred to a physical journey.
Then the word 'Abdihi' His servant (Muhammad SAW) is used. If this was a spiritual / dream journey as is the contention of the deniers of the physical journey then the Qur'an - the ultimate word in truth and honesty - would have used the appropriate word for the occasion. The word 'Rooh' (soul) for example may have been used. Never has the word 'Abd' been used in reference to only the soul / spirit aspect of man.
Then there are the dozens of Hadith citations that clearly prove this to be a physical journey. Almost 45 Sababas (RA) have narrated the incident of Me'raj in the books of Hadith in great detail. Just one example from the narration of hadith to prove clearly this was a physical journey. In one narration it appears that Nabi (S.A.W.) said.. "Then I arrived (returned) to Makkah" - this (his arrival in Makkah) could only happen if he had left Makkah in the first place.
For people of faith on the Qur'an and people of sound mind and reasonable intellectual prowess, these points are sufficiently convincing to prove the journey of Me'raj being a physical one. There are many other aspects of Me'raj that can all be established from conclusive evidence.
