🔊 Listen to this

𝐀 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐬𝐫𝐚 𝐖𝐚’𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐢’𝐫𝐚𝐣-𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐭 𝐌𝐮𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝’𝐬 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧?

Mohamad Mostafa Nassar
Twitter:@NassarMohamadMR

Northern Lights are seen in Alaska, North Canada, Iceland, Norway, but impossible in desert of Arabs

You may have seen the Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights, which can be seen in the sky from the Northern Hemisphere of the earth. The people who live in Alaska, North Canada, Iceland, Norway can easily witness the Northern Lights.

However, it was quite impossible for a person living an Arabian desert before 1500 year ago to know about the Northern Lights/ Aurora borealis.

But, it’s only possible for a true Prophet of God who has been shown the power and amazing creations & signs of the Almighty God, Allah, to make him understand that he is the true prophet of God and how powerful his Lord is! And it also proves that there is only one God, Allah, Who is able to do anything whatever He wants.

However, the word رفرف أحضر RafRaf Akhdar means green carpet/ wave/flap/hover etc. Our beloved Prophet Muhammed peace be upon him says that he has seen the Green RofRof (Wave, Carpet, flap …) spread all over the horizon of the sky during his journey to the Lord, which is known as Me’raaj. Allah is the Greatest !!! It’s a great proof of his being a true prophet of Allah.

Al-Isra’ wal-Mi’raj (Prophet Muhammed peace be upon him Physical Night Journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and the Ascension from Jerusalem to Heaven to speak to Allah Exalted Here, where Pillars of Islam were ordained in particular the pillar of praying) is a miracle second only to the revelation of the Qur’an, and it is therefore important that we don’t let this night slip by without reflecting on its lessons and its significance.

During The Israʾ and Miʿraj Prophet Muhammed peace be upon him Physical Night Journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and the Ascension from Jerusalem to Heaven, Allah has shown him some of the greatest signs and that was recorded in the Glorious Quran and the authentic Hadith/Statements of Prophet Muhammed. Which has scientific evidence to it.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐫𝐚 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞

𝐄𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐐𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧 -𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐡 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐇𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐐𝐮𝐫’𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐬:

“𝐇𝐞 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐰 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝’𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬.𝟏” 𝐐𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧 (𝟓𝟑:𝟏𝟖)

𝐄𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐇𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐡/𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐭 𝐌𝐮𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐄𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐫𝐚 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬

Narrated `Abdullah:

Regarding the Verse: “Indeed he (Muhammad) did see. Of the Signs of his Lord, The Greatest!” (53.18) That the Prophet (ﷺ) had seen a green carpet spread all over the horizon of the sky.

Reference	: Sahih al-Bukhari 3233
In-book reference	: Book 59, Hadith 44
USC-MSA web (English) reference	: Vol. 4, Book 54, Hadith 456

𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐡 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐇𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐐𝐮𝐫’𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐭 𝐌𝐮𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐌𝐞𝐜𝐜𝐚 𝐭𝐨 𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐦

Glory be to the One Who took His servant ˹Muḥammad˺ by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We may show him some of Our signs.¹ Indeed, He² alone is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” Quran (17:1)

𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐡 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐇𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐐𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐣/𝐀𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐭 𝐌𝐮𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲

“And he certainly saw that ˹angel descend˺ a second time,at the Lote Tree of the most extreme limit ˹in the seventh heaven˺—near which is the Garden of ˹Eternal˺ Residence—while the Lote Tree was overwhelmed with ˹heavenly˺ splendours!The ˹Prophet’s˺ sight never wandered, nor did it overreach.He certainly saw some of his Lord’s greatest signs.¹ Quran (53:13-18)

As reported in hadith literature that Prophet ﷺ traveled from Makkah to Jerusalem on a winged creature called Buraq in the company of Archangel Gabriel (alaihi salaam=peace be upon him) and from there they ascended up to the seven heavens, traversed all of them and reached the highest place called sidratal muntaha.

Seven Heavens in Arabic is called sab’aa samawaat where sab’aa means “seven” or “several” and samaa (singular of samawaat) means “anything and everything that is above us” i.e. in our space such as planets, solar systems, stars, galaxies, basically the entire cosmic system.

Samawaat, plural of samaa, means more than one cosmic system, hence sab’aa samawaat means “several cosmic systems and universes”. Thus the Prophet’s ascension to the seven heavens was his journey through several cosmic systems and universes or multiverses.

Science may be a bit far from that level of advancement where it can fully explain the Prophet’s Isra Wa’al Mi’raj (Night Journey & Ascension) experience, however, there are some scientific theories that shed light on better understanding this event and confirm our conviction in it.

𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐪 – 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

For instance, the following prophetic hadith narrates some interesting characteristics of the animal that was the transportation vehicle used by the Prophet ﷺ to travel from Makkah to Jerusalem and from there to the nearest heaven: “Then a white animal which was smaller than a mule and bigger than a donkey was brought to me.” (On this Al-Jarud asked, “Was it the Buraq, O Abu Hamza?” I (i.e. Anas) replied in the affirmative).

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The animal’s step (was so wide that it) reached the farthest point within the reach of the animal’s sight. I was carried on it, and Gabriel set out with me till we reached the nearest heaven.”[1]

The Arabic term used by the Prophet ﷺ to refer to this animal is called buraq which means “lightning”, “gleaming”, “intense lightning” or “flaming”. All these meanings imply that this unseen creature, whose appearance is “smaller than a mule and bigger than a donkey” may have been created of a special form of light or radiation normally invisible to our external sight.

The animal being “white” may imply the brightness of its appearance is only perceivable beyond normal sense perceptions. The human retina cannot detect many rays (radiations) and frequencies that exist within our electromagnetic spectrum but other creatures such as birds and animals can detect them due to special receptors.

Such as sunlight falls under the visible frequency spectrum for human eyes while ultraviolet rays of sunlight do not fall under the visible frequency hence they are invisible to human sight but visible to birds which may explain why Prophet ﷺ said: “when you hear the crowing of the roosters, then ask Allah of His bounty, for verily they have seen an angel.”[2]

Islam teaches that angels are created of nur (light or energy). The most basic form of light travels at the speed of 186000 miles/second! Therefore, it makes sense as told by the Prophet ﷺ that each step of the Buraq was so wide that it “reached the farthest point within the reach of the animal’s sight.”

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥

Another startling scientific fact revealed is that the higher we go in altitude the more difficult it becomes to breathe due to the lack of oxygen on earth at great heights. Mountain trekkers who traverse great heights to reach K-2 and Everest and similar peaks carry oxygen masks and tanks on their journey.

In fact, if one continues going higher and enters space there are no oxygen and extreme freezing temperatures if a person does not have the necessary equipment and gear, as usually worn by astronauts, they will instantly die as soon as exposed to such an environment.

The Quran also confirms this fact in one of its verses: (Al Quran 6:125) “…his chest He causes to be tight and constricted as if he were climbing unto the skies…”[3]

In ahadith pertaining to this extraordinary event we find that the blessed chest of the Prophet ﷺ was cut open and underwent a sort of a surgical operation whereof it was filled with abstract notions such as “wisdom” and “faith” by Archangel Jibraeel (Gabriel) (alaihi salaam) before the commencing of his journey:

“A golden tray full of wisdom and belief was brought to me and my body was cut open from the throat to the lower part of the Abdomen and then my Abdomen was washed with Zamzam water and (my heart was) filled with wisdom and belief…When I reached the nearest heaven. Gabriel said to the heaven gatekeeper, ‘Open the gate.’ .”[4]

It seems that the Prophet ﷺ was prepared and strengthened internally in a way so that his blessed body may endure the extreme harshness of the space environment and not perish. The washing of the abdomen with zamzam, a blessed water known for miraculous healing properties.

Filling up his chest and heart with “wisdom” and “faith” may imply calmness and strength given to his body, through some spiritual source and connection, so he is prepared before entering the difficult environment of space, and Allah ﷻ knows best.

American physicist William Edelstein who was part of the team that built the first full-body MRI scanner claimed that if our bodies managed to attempt interstellar travel on a spaceship that runs at a speed of light, required to traverse light distances, will destroy bodies of the travelers and the spaceship due to radiation of hydrogen atoms. 

𝐌𝐢’𝐫𝐚𝐣 (𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬) 𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬?

Further research into interstellar space and travel has brought forward interesting theories by modern theoretical physicists such as Hermann Weyl & John Wheeler, of something called wormholes which might be extremely necessary to achieve such travel ambition.

Wormholes are openings or doorways in our space environments that connect with others possibly existing openings in faraway points in our universe. If one is to enter anyone of these openings they will be taken to another side of our universe.

Being a Muslim, who believes in the Prophet’s ascension, I would agree with this theory, especially in what the Quran says that there are stages and steps that lead towards Allah ﷻ: (Al Quran 70:3-4) “… the Lord of the ascending steps (ma’aarij), by which the angels and the Spirit (Angel Gabriel) ascend to Him in one Day the duration of which is fifty thousand years.”[5]

The Arabic term Ma’aarij plural of Mi’raj means “ascending steps of a ladder or staircase for reaching high places”. These steps or ways of ascent may be defined in modern terminology as “wormholes” by which angels travel deeper into space and reach the other side of the universe closer into Allah’s presence or reach other higher levels.

They would cover such distances in one heavenly (astronomical) day which equals “fifty thousand years” implying an unimaginable great amount of time. Despite Angels being created of an unknown nur (a form of radiation or energy), and all radiation travels at the speed of light (186000 miles/second), they still must be required to enter these wormholes to cut large cosmic distances short to reach another side of the universe, without which would take them billions of light years!

It may have been one of these openings in the cosmic region nearest to our earth where Prophet Muhammad ﷺ reached the back of Buraq and entered it. From there onwards he went into subsequent spaces before reaching the highest place (sidratal muntaha) across multiverses (plural of the universe):

“I was carried on it, and Gabriel set out with me till we reached the nearest heaven.”[6] “When I reached the nearest heaven. Gabriel said to the heaven gatekeeper, ‘Open the gate.’ The gatekeeper asked, ‘Who is it?’ He said, ‘Gabriel.’ The gatekeeper,’ Who is accompanying you?’ Gabriel said, ‘Muhammad.’ The gatekeeper said, ‘Has he been called?’

Gabriel said, ‘Yes.’ Then it was said, ‘He is welcomed. What a wonderful visit his is!'”[7] Allah ﷻ informs us that if we wish to traverse space with  our technological potential then we will not be able to do so without His permission: (Al Quran 55:33) “Jinn and mankind, if you can pass beyond the regions of heavens (samawaat) and earth, then do so: you will not pass without Our authority.”[8]

This is why Quran teaches that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was invited by Allah ﷻ to be taken to this journey and not that he himself chose to go to Jerusalem and the heavens: (Al Quran 17:01) “Glory to Him who made His servant travel by night from Al-Masjid-ul-Haram (in Makkah) to Al-Masjid-ul-Aqsa (in Jerusalem)…”[9] and also: (Al Quran 53:11) “While he was in the highest part of the horizon (sidratal muntaha)….. And thus did [God] reveal to His servant whatever He deemed right to reveal”[10]

Thus the Prophet’s ascension to the seven heavens was his journey through several cosmic systems and universes beyond which he witnessed the angelic world, the world of souls (barzakh), the Prophets that came before, trials of hell, paradise and its indescribable treasures, and all the way beyond till he reached the direct presence of Allah ﷻ.

As science continues to observe the universe and discover more, we hope that we can insha’Allah better understand in the light of newer revelations many more aspects of this event.

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐬𝐫𝐚ʾ 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐢ʿ𝐫𝐚𝐣 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐭 𝐌𝐮𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐌𝐞𝐜𝐜𝐚 𝐭𝐨 𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬

Allah knows Best.

Are there any contradictions between: we have chosen some of those messengers above others from the noble quranic verse quran (2:253) and we make no distinction between any of his messengers. In this noble quranic verse- quran (2:285)And why Muslims Claim Prophet Muhammed Best of all Prophets and Messengers of Allah

Muhammed is dead, Jesus is Alive Isn’t Jesus Superior to Muhammed (peace be upon them)?  

Are the Prophets Equal?

Preferring some Messengers over others

The superiority of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to all of creation Quran (2:253) and Quran (2:285)

Prophet Muhammad is better than other Prophets?

Is Prophet Muhammad Superior to Other Prophets?

Are the Prophets Equal?

What is the High Status of Prophet Muhammed (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) Quran (17:78-79)?

Evidence for the superiority of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) over other Prophets

Refutation of those who claim that Prophet Muhammed’s story of the Isra= Journey of the night from Mecca to Jerusalem and Miraj= Ascending to the sky is a myth.

Why is Jerusalem (Quds) important for Jews and Christians?

Al-Isra, The Night Journey” With PROOF From Christian Sources

Prophet Muhammad’s Night Journey To Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa – The Farthest Mosque

Refuting the Claim that Miraj was Plagiarized from the Zoroastrian Book- Arda Viraz or ARDĀ WĪRĀZ

Prophet Muhammad’s Night Journey To Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa – The Farthest Mosque in Jerusalem – Existence Of Masjid Al-aqsa During Isra’ Wal Miraj

References:

[1] Sahih Al Bukhari Vol. 5, Book 58, Hadith 227

[2] Jami Tirmidhi Vol. 6, Book 45, Hadith 3459

[3] Al Quran 6:125 – Asad Translation

[4] Sahih Al Bukhari Vol. 4, Book 54, Hadith 429

[5] Al Quran 70:3–4

[6] Bukhari, Hadith 227

[7] Bukhari, Hadith 429

[8] Al Quran 55:33

[9] Al Quran 17:01

[10] Al Quran 53:07–10

Source: br. Zaid Shah