A. T. M. Nurun Nabi :
Literally the word ‘Miraj’ means vision. But in the case of the Prophet Muhammad (SM), Miraj means ascension to the utmost boundary in the seventh heaven beyond which neither men nor Jinn can pass.
Eight verses (5-12) of the Surah Najm, an early Meccan Surah, give a description of the Prophet’s vision of the Holy Spirit Jibreel in his original form on the Mt. Hera (in 610 A.D).
Whereas, five verses (14-18) of the same Surah are generally accepted as a reference to the Prophet’s journey through seven heavens for vision of some of the greatest signs of Allah such as the Lote-Tree, the unspeakable mysterious light shrouding the Lot-Tree, the Paradise Mawa and Archangel Jibrail in his original form.
The first occasion when Jibreel appeared in a visible form was near the Mountain of Light immediately after he brought His Lord’s first revelation beginning with Iqra. The 2nd one was during the Prophet’s Miraj or Ascension. These are the two occasions when Jibreel appeared in visible form. The Miraj appearance was near the Lote-tree in the 7th heaven above which is the Arash i.e. the Throne of God.
The symbolism of the Lote-tree is that the furthest Lote-tree marks the boundary of heavenly knowledge as revealed to the Prophet.
However, the Verse No. 16 is the most significant. The text is: When that which shrouds did enshroud the Lot-tree. The Sufis interpret the Lot- Tree at the utmost boundary to be what the Burning Bush in the valley of Tuwa was to Hazrat Moses (AS). In the case of Moses, it was the symbolic divine effulgence in this earth, while in the case of Hazrat Muhammad (SM), it was the Divine Glory in the 7th heaven itself witnessed by the Prophet in person and it was shrouded in mystery unspeakable. It was indeed the greatest of the Signs of Allah (Reference Abdullah Yusuf Ali, the Glorious Quran).
What did the Prophet see by the Lot-tree, denotes his magnificence. Allah carried him to the utmost boundary to show him some of His Greatest Signs in the heaven. It was not mere a pleasure trip, nor a vision. And since the Prophet Muhammad was standing by the Lot-Tree covered by a mysterious Light, he was no more a human being like us but gained the status of an Angel.
Six verses (9-14) of Surah Taha, five verses (7-11) of Surah An-Naml, and five verses (29-33) of Surah Al Qasas deal with Hazrat Moses’ (AS) vision of a greatest sign of Allah at the valley of Tuwa in the Sinai Desert of Egypt. All these verses are almost identical. The story is that after fulfilling the terms set by the father-in-law, Moses was travelling with his wife for Egypt. When he stepped into the Tuwa valley, he saw a fire at a distance on a tree and said to his wife: I shall bring you a tidings or a firebrand that you may warm yourselves.
And when he reached there, he was called from the right side of the valley in the blessed field. Blessed is whosoever is in the fire and whosoever is about it. And Glorified be Allah, the Lord of the worlds. Lo! I, even I, am Allah. There is no God save Me. So, serve Me and establish worship.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali explains that the fire which Hazrat Moses saw was not an ordinary fire. It was the glory of Angels, a reflection of the Glory of Allah. Moses was transported into an entirely new world. What he had taken to be an ordinary fire was the gleam of the Spiritual world and rays from the Angels of light. His own stick or staff was no longer a dead piece of wood that had hitherto supported him. It became instinct with life-a life that moved with power of offence and defence.
About who was in the fire and who was about it, many commentators say the Archangel Jibreel was in the fire and Moses was outside it. The Voice which the prophet heard came from Jibreel on behalf of Allah; it is because nothing of Him is like men.
On the other hand, the Prophet saw the Lot-Tree shrouded (in mystery unspeakable). It was the Divine Glory in heaven itself and it was indeed “the Greatest of the Signs of Allah.” What Moses saw in the earth, Muhammad saw by the Lot-Tree in the seventh heaven at the utmost boundary. There nothing is dead.
As per verse No. 17/1, Allah first carried His servant to Jerusalem by night to show him some of His Signs which none other had this opportunity.
Miraj gives us an opportunity to study about the relation between Allah and Jibreel, Allah and Angels, Allah and Hazrat Muhammad (SM), Jibreel and Angels, Jibreel and Hazrat Muhammad, Jannatul Mawa, Lote-tree and the mysterious light covering the Lote-Tree.
There are millions of heavenly bodies, including stars, above our heads. Each of them is under the command of an Angel. There are seven heavens- each heaven is under the command of an Angel, and again one heaven is under another.
(A.T.M. Nurun Nabi is a
senior journalist).
