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by Syed Manzoor-Ul-Hassan (Author)
The common perception regarding the Night Journey (Isra) and Ascension (Mi'raj) is that they constitute a single journey that took place during the night, in a state of wakefulness - from Masjid al-Haram to Masjid al-Aqsa, and from there to the highest heavens. According to Javed Ahmed Ghamidi, however, this was not one event but a series of four district occurrences: the event of Isra, the event of Sidrah, the event of Qaba Qawsayn, the event of Mi'raj. Of these, two occurred in the realm of dreams two in a state of wakefulness. All four are divinely ordained. Their nature is that of divine signs, and their reality lies in revelation and inspiration.
These events, with their descriptions and extraordinary reports, are intiamtely connected to the Prophetic mission and the office of Messengership of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). They should be understood is that very context and should remain confined solerly to the understanding of the scriptural texts. No speculative opinions or fictional storytelling should be engaged in regarding them, nor should one seek to deny them on the basis of human sciences, disciplines, or empirical observations.
