The Meeting of Prophets during the Mi’raj in the First Three Heavens

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The following is adapted “From the Gardens of Tafsir” by Shaykh Ibrahim ibn ‘Abdullah Niyas al-Kawlakhi, (q.s.). 

Why did the Prophet (s.a.w.) see the prophets he saw, and why did he see the ones he saw on those various levels of Paradise?  Whatever an ‘arif of Allah (s.w.t.) sees externally is a reflection of his spiritual state.  And the other prophets the Prophet (s.a.w.) on the Isra’ wa al-Mi’raj was a reflection of his inner state. 

On the first level of Paradise, he saw our father, Adam (a.s.).  Adam’s (a.s.) home and all he knew was Paradise.  He lived in Paradise, which was his home until his enemy, Shaythan, drove him to leave his home to then dwell in a new and strange place which was the world, dunya.  The same it was with the Prophet (s.a.w.) who was from Makkah.  And Makkah was his home until his enemies drove him to leave Makkah and go to a strange place he was not familiar with and made to dwell therein, which was Yatsrib, known now as Madinah al-Munawarah.  This is why he saw Prophet Adam (a.s.) on the first level of Paradise. 

After arriving in Madina, he was met with more enemies who tried him and tested him even more than the Quraysh of Makkah.  When the Prophet (s.a.w.) entered Madina, he was met with harsh opposition of the Jews.  The Jews were well known for their harsh treatment and even killing and attempted murders of past prophets such as, ‘Isa (a.s.) and Yahya (a.s.).  And this is why he saw these two cousins on the second heaven. 

After returning to Makkah victorious, the Prophet (s.a.w.) opened Makkah and all his enemies who were actually near kin, who tried to kill and abuse and plot against him for so long, were made to submit to his authority.  And with that, he forgave his near kin the same as Yusuf (a.s.), who was plotted against by his brothers, but he returned as a victorious authority, he forgave them all.  And this is why the Prophet (s.a.w.) saw Yusuf (a.s.) on the third heaven.