The Expression of Ascent, al-Mi’raj

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The following is a transcript of a discourse delivered by Mawlana Wafi’ Muhammad. 

As we welcome the auspicious occasion of the Mi’raj, we acknowledge, from our point of view, that it is the greatest thing that happened since Allah (s.w.t.) Created the universe and mankind.  In the beginning the angels and the jinn thought that it was such an impossibility for a lump of mud, man, to be a true representative of Allah (s.w.t.) on earth, and an undeserving host of the knowledge Allah (s.w.t.) was going to Bestow upon them.  Only Allah (s.w.t.) has Knowledge of all things and Allah (s.w.t.) Demonstrated there and then, while the angels and jinn were having their reservations, why Adam (a.s.) was special as he demonstrated knowledge that they did not have.  Knowledge is so important that Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ آل عِمرَان

شَهِدَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّهُ ۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةُ وَأُوْلُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ ... (١٨) 

There is no god but He: that is the witness of Allah, His angels and those endued with knowledge... (Surah Ali ‘Imran:18) 

How can the knowledgeable ones bear witness to Allah’s (s.w.t.) Oneness?  One way is to look at the Creation.  If we understand anything of the working of nature, we will see there are no flaws in it, and it has to be One of Real Knowledge Who is able to Bring into being these things out of nothing.  This is one way, but there is also another special way that is reserved for some human beings.  And that is mi’raj. 

سُوۡرَةُ الکهف

... فَمَن كَانَ يَرۡجُواْ لِقَآءَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلۡيَعۡمَلۡ عَمَلاً۬ صَـٰلِحً۬ا وَلَا يُشۡرِكۡ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِۦۤ أَحَدَۢا (١١٠) 

“… whoever expects to meet his Lord, let him work righteousness, and in the worship of his Lord, admit no one as partner.” (Surah al-Kahf:110) 

What does it mean to meet our Lord?  Allah (s.w.t.) Says that He is Close to us; that He Moves in the chest of man.  What then is He alluding to?  Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) met his Lord on the night of the Mi’raj, and he is a human being.  He had the physical self just like anyone of us, but he had a special dimension.  He was able to refine his personality in such a way that he did not have a problem to ascend and meet his Lord in the Lord’s Presence.  For someone to ascend beyond all created things and go right up, he is indeed really perfect.  It is possible for us, here in this world, to ascend beyond the skies and heavens.  We have not yet reached that stage of spiritual realisation, but when we have that spiritual experience, we will see how beautiful a thing like mi’raj is and how possible it is in a different environment. 

We must keep striving because it is not easy.  When Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) was taken up; if he had any blemishes against his personality, Allah (s.w.t.) had Forgiven him.  We cannot meet our Lord with clouds around our heart.  But it will be possible for the believers in the hereafter after they have been Forgiven.  It is recorded in that Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said, “When the people of Paradise enter into Paradise, it will be asked of them, ‘Do you need something more?’  They will say, ‘Have You not Whitened our faces?  Have You not Entered us in Paradise and Protected us from Hell?’  Then Allah (s.w.t.) will Remove the veil.  Looking to their Lord will be lovelier to them than anything else Given to them.  And then the Prophet (s.a.w.) recited this verse: 

سُوۡرَةُ یُونس

۞ لِّلَّذِينَ أَحۡسَنُواْ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ وَزِيَادَةٌ۬‌ۖ ... (٢٦) 

To those who do right is a goodly (reward) ― yea, more (than in measure) (having the honour of glancing at the Countenance of Allah … (Surah Yunus:26) 

For a few, it is possible here in this world.  For those who strive hard, and their efforts are accepted by their Lord, He will allow them to ascend nearer to Him.  Do we think Satan will want us to achieve this?  Of course not, he will want to pull us down.  So we have to guard yourself against him.  Mi’raj is the expression of ascent.  Those who try to get close to their Lord know truly what mi’raj is.  One mashaykh once said, “I saw my Lord in my dream.”  As we have assembled here on this special night, we must try our best to experience our mi’raj in this life and let Allah (s.w.t.) Take Care of the rest, insha’Allah.