315. The space journey called Mehraj.
Prophet Muhammad on a particular night, was taken on a journey from Makkah to Jerusalem and onwards to the heavens, where he witnessed a number of events bearing testimony to the signs of the Almighty.
People with wrong ideologies refute the the hadiths that have recorded Mehraj as an event.
In verse 17:1 of the Quran Allah talks, only about Prophet Muhammad being taken from Makkah to Jerusalem. Based on this, these people argue the hadiths that speak about the journey from Jerusalem into space are contradicting the Quran, and point out being the reason they refute the space journey from Jerusalem.
Verse 17:1, no doubt talks only about the journey from Makkah to Jerusalem, but the space journey Meraj, on which the Prophet was taken into the heavens, recorded in the hadiths, is not against the Quran nor contradicts it, but gives additional details about the travel into space.
In the hadiths regarding Mehraj we come to know about Prophet Muhammad meeting Prophet Musa, and on whose guidance the 50 times worshipping a day, was reduced to 5 times a day, from the Almighty.
Verse (32:23) testifies to this truth about the meeting between Prophet Muhammad and Prophet Musa.
This verse tells Prophet Muhammad not to be suspicious about him meeting Prophet Musa.
Prophet Musa passed out of this world several thousand years before Prophet Muhammad, and there is no way they would have met each other in this world.
The living could never come to meet someone dead long long ago, but here the Almighty to exhibit His omnipotence takes Prophet Muhammad on this space journey.
Where he comes face to face with Prophet Musa. This is the meet the Almighty refers to here in verse (32:23)
Allah tells Prophet Muhammad in this verse not to cast doubts about the meeting he had with Prophet Musa, and gives the message, indeed he did meet Prophet Musa, and reassures Prophet Muhammad that he met Prophet Musa all the same.
In this verse (32:23) we have translated as “Do not doubt about your meeting with him”. The ‘him’ refers to Prophet Musa here, since the verse talks of Prophet Muhammad being met by Prophet Musa during his space journey.
Some translators refer the ‘him’ to the Almighty. When Prophet Musa demanded the Almighty’s appearance he was thrown into unconsciousness. The explanation given by these people is against the tenets of the Quran. More on this subject can be seen explained in point No;21.
Still some others say, reference to ‘him’ is regarding Prophet Muhammad’s meeting with the Almighty, but there are evidences to prove that Prophet Muhammad did not come face to face with God. Since the arguments by these people is against all proofs that are available, these cannot be accepted. We have explained more about this in our explanation point No;482.
Most of the translators mention as “ Do not doubt about your meeting with ‘Him’, referring to meeting the great God in the hereafter.
This is a wrong connotation because Prophet Muhammad talks of this verse, only while on his space journey.
Prophet Muhammad said ‘ When I was taken on a space journey, during the night, I passed by Prophet Musa the son of Imran, he appeared like one belonging to the Shanuaa tribe, wheatish in color, tall, and with curler hair. And I also saw Esa (AS) son of Mary. He was of middle height, with a skin color that seemed a mixture of fair and pink, with hanging locks of hair. I was shown the guard of hell gate Maalick, and Dajjal. ’All these were shown to me by Allah as testimony’ and Prophet Muhammad recited the verse (32:23) of the Quran as follows; “ Do not be skeptical about your meeting with him”.
This was narrated by Ibn Abbas (RA)
Hadith Book Muslim: 267.
We do not need to turn towards those who translate against the meanings offered by Prophet Muhammad regarding a verse of the Quran.
This stands as a clear evidence proving the event of Miraj.
Verses 53:13-18, of the Quran confirm the hadiths regarding Mehraj are are not against the Quran.
Please refer to explanation nos 263, 267, 362 to know more.
