By the setting star when it is about to set! In other words, the movement of stars in their given orbits until they set whereby people navigate their way, testifies that when the stars of the Rabb^-SWT do not err, how could His^-SWT Messenger stray from the right path? He^-SW is a person who^-SW has lived amidst you for long and to whose veracity and trustworthiness you are witness yourselves.

 

Your Companion

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 The expression Sahibukum (your companion) conveys the glad tiding that the portals of the Holy Prophet^-SW affection are open for all without discrimination. Only the one who withdraws at his own is deprived of his^-SW Barakah. This noble personage always guarantees the straight path. He^-SW neither strayed from it even by mistake, nor did he^-SW ever misconceive the wrong path as right. And he^-SW does not speak at his^-SW own but says only what Allaah^-SWT reveals to him^-SW.

 

Types of Revelation

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 Revelation is of three types, namely Quran, Hadith and Sunnah. And at times, a general rule was revealed to help take decisions through Ijtehad. The first three being authentic, any error in Ijtehad was instantly corrected through revelation and as such it is also beyond all doubts. Though a Mujtahid can be mistaken yet his effort is rewarded because of his striving in Din before coming to a conclusion to the best of his knowledge and sincerity. And the one bringing revelation to the Holy Prophet^-SW is free of any neglect or weakness whereby Satan could influence or interfere in the Divine Message. He is also very powerful and trustworthy. He neither forgets the text nor can the Satan dare venture into his proximity. The Holy Prophet^-SW's contact with this angel is not imaginary either, he^-SW has seen him in his real shape seated upright on the highest horizon, as proved by Hadith.

 

Beholding Jibril^-AS

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 The Holy Prophet^-SW was on his^-SW routine stroll in Makkah when he^-SW saw Angel Jibril^-AS in his real form, seated on a chair covering the entire space upto the heaven, though he met the Holy Prophet^-SW each time he brought a revelation. Then he drew nigh and came down from his station to a distance of two bow length or even closer. According to some reports, he then appeared before the Holy Prophet^-SW in human form and paid homage to him^-SW, just as the Arabs traditionally did by extending their bows to one another until the chords touched. The expression "two bows length" has been idiomatically used here to express nearness. And so the Glorious Rabb^-SWT , through this powerful and mighty Angel, also held in high esteem by the Holy Prophet^-SW, conveyed His^-SWT revelation to His^-SWT Messenger^-SW.

 

Did the Holy Prophet^-SW See Jibril^-AS with Physical Eye?

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 And whatever the Holy Prophet^-SW observed was also endorsed by his^-SW Qalb. In other words, he^-SW had witnessed him^-SW with his^-SW physical eyes, followed by an endorsement by his^-SW Qalb. It is strange that the infidels dispute with the Holy Prophet^-SW over what he^-SW has witnessed so clearly. He^-SW beheld Jibril^-AS in his real form again on the Night of Ascension while descending near the lote-tree.

 

Sidrat-ul-Muntaha

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 According to Hadith, Sidrat-ul-Muntaha is a lote-tree having it roots in the sixth, while its shoots extend upto the seventh heaven. The offices of the Angels are located on it. All commands from the celestial world descend here for distribution to angels concerned while the deeds of mankind first ascend here before rising to the higher Realm.

 

Jannah and the Hell

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 It is around Sidrat-ul-Muntaha that Jannah, the Abode of Allah^-SWT's bondmen is located. Both Jannah and the Hell exist now and according to the Commentators, the seventh heaven is the floor of Jannah and the Grand 'Arsh its ceiling. The Hell is in the earth covered with a hard protective layer, which will rend apart on Qayamah causing the oceans to boil and evaporate. Allaah^-SWT Knows best about the actual situation. The Holy Prophet^-SW reports that as he^-SW reached Sidrat-ul-Muntaha, countless angels waited there to greet him^-SW. Then onwards Allaah^-SWT took him^-SW to as far as He^--SWT wanted, and let him^-SW behold whatever He^-SWT desired.

 

Beholding the Divinity

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 Whatever the Holy Prophet^-SW saw was as clear as crystal. His^-SW gaze neither strayed nor did it exceed its limits. There are two opinions here, that is, whether all this pertains to his^-SW observation of Angel Jibril^-AS or Allaah^-SWT . In my humble opinion, it is clear from the Quranic account that the Holy Prophet^-SW's experience uptil Sidrat-ul-Muntaha pertains to Angel Jibril^-AS, and beyond it refers to the beholding of the Divinity. Allaah^-SWT is Omnipresent, yet human eye has not been empowered to behold Him^-SWT in this world. However, the scholars agree that in Akhirah human vision will be reinforced and the residents of Jannah will be enabled to see Him^-SWT . Here the Jannah was left behind near Sidrat-ul-Muntaha, and the Holy Prophet^-SW traversed the heights to those levels of Allah^-SWT's nearness where there was nothing to intervene between him^-SW and Him^-SWT . The power of the Holy Prophet^-SW sight may well be imagined from the fact that he^-SW ascended to these heights with his^-SW physical self and beheld Allaah^-SWT with his^-SW physical eyes. As for the vision by the Qalb, even his^-SW devoted followers are blessed with the power to behold Divine Refulgence centuries later.

 

The Divine Being^-SWT is not limited and everyone will behold Him^-SWT commensurate to his own status. The Holy Prophet^-SW saw Him^-SWT according to his^-SW own capacity and also observed many Signs of His^-SWT Magnificence. He^-SW personally and physically saw Barzakh, its rewards and retributions, the Jannah and the Hell with allied realities. Detailed accounts of his^-SW Ascension have been given in other Commentaries as against a very brief mention here.

 

 O' infidels! "Did you ever bother to find out the facts about Lat, 'Uzza and the largest idol Manat? If you discover their worth, you shall certainly abandon them. Is this your religion that you apportion daughters for Allaah^-SWT while coveting sons for yourselves? This is not only inappropriate logically, but also absurd as Allaah^-SWT is pure of any such notions. You have concocted some beliefs and named objects at random like your forefathers who were destroyed because of misguidance. Allaah^-SWT has not revealed anything to support your assumptions and baseless ideas, to which you cling in pursuance of the desires of your baser soul. And Allaah^-SWT has been so Kind as to have sent you the means of guidance in the form of His^-SWT Prophet^-SW and His^-SWT Book".

 

If a person decides to follow only his fancies, he is bound to lag behind in Din. In the Universal Order everything takes place according to Allah^-SWT's choice. It is impossible for a human being to have all his desires fulfilled as the Universal Order is not subservient to mankind. Be it this world or the next, all things are bound by His^-SWT Command. So one can only acquire guidance when he submits to Him^-SWT as against his own desires.