There are two viewpoints about this great incident. One group believes that the Ascension of the Holy Prophet was physical and that he had bodily ascended to the seven Heavens. The other school of thought maintains that the ascension of the Prophet was spiritual and not physical.

Suti Sarmad Says:

"The Zaheris, that is those who believe in the literal interpretation of the faith, say that Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s.) went up  the heavens but Sarmad says that the heavens descended into him."


Physically, the existence of man is bound within space and time, and spiritually, it is spaceless and timeless. Almighty Allah Himself is beyond time and space. To gain a glimpse of Allah, one does not have to traverse space. Rather, His Vision is obtained within one's heart. Hence, when the Holy Prophet was engaged in worship, an enormous kind of spiritualism was experienced by him. The veils enshrouding the spirit were drawn aside and the hidden secret of the mystery of mysteries was made manifest to him.

Thus, it may be stated that the incident of Mi'raj is the greatest spiritual experience of the Prophet which serves as an example for mankind. The spiritual ascension of the Prophet presents the concept of a universe far superior to this material one and indicates the possibility that the earthly spirit can, with prayer and worship, attain to the meeting with Allah.