The Meraaj of the Prophet (sa) is one of the important topics in tafseer, riwayaat, philosophy and kalam. One of them is regarding the Meraaj itself as to whether it was in person or spiritual.
The other issue is pertaining to his observations, mushahedaat and the reports of what he saw. Some of his observations are related to the Heaven and the Hell.
The reports pertaining to Jannat and Jahannam are not just riwayaat but ayaat too are an evidence.
وَلَقَدْ رَآهُ نَزْلَةً أُخْرَىٰ
[53:13] And certainly he saw him in another descent,
عِنْدَ سِدْرَةِ الْمُنْتَهَىٰ
[53:14] At the farthest lote-tree;
عِنْدَهَا جَنَّةُ الْمَأْوَىٰ
[53:15] Near which is the garden, the place to be resorted to.
The issue of Meraj is connected to the issue of Jannat & Jahannam too.
Question: Is this the Eternal Heaven & Hell or the one in Barzakh?
Answer: A safe reply would be to say that the Meraj was in person and spiritual.
With this view the reports of the Prophet (sa)’s observations (mushahedaat) can be better understood.
1. The Heaven & Hell seen by the prophet (sa) in the event of Meraaj are not the eternal ones. But a reflection of that Eternal Jahannam & Jannat.
Allamah Tabarasi is of the opinion that it were the attributes of those punished and rewarded that were seen.
2. It is the real Heaven and Hell. But that what was seen by the Prophet (sa) was Barzakhi not Qiyamati. Tafseer Nemoona states that Jannat at times is the Barzakhi, where the martyrs and the Momineen are resting in.
Another opinion which is a better one states that the Prophet (sa) saw people blessed and favored whence we know that the check in to the Eternal Heaven has not yet opened.
Ayaat, riwayaat, our faith is clear that Jannat & Jahannam are after the Qiyama and presentation of actions not immediately after death.
The opinion is as such: it is indeed the Heaven, Hell of the Qiyamat. Explanation (a & b):
a. Based upon the opinion of تجسم اعمال actions taking a form, Jahannam, Jannat, Siraat etc. are all present right now. We are in hijaab. The Prophet’s (sa) observations, his vision is looking at the reality without the hijab separating from the Hereafter.
Imam Khomeini regarding تجسم اعمال states, everything that will be evident in the Hereafter is a reflection of this world.
We are on the Siraat now. This very moment that Siraat is amidst the Hell.
For the Auliyaa (as) and the Prophets (as), the Momineen the Hell right now is put off.
For the faithless
وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمُحِيطَةٌ بِالْكَافِرِينَ
[ 29:54] … and most surely hell encompasses the unbelievers;
The Hell is surrounding the faithless this very moment. But we cannot perceive because that eye is closed. That close vision is the hijab.
The Prophet (sa) sees the reality because for him that hijab does not exist. He sees those in the heaven as in the Heaven now. Those in Behesht Barzakhi for him are in the Eternal heaven as he (sa) sees them without the hijab. The same applies to those punished.
b. The second opinion, if we deny the presence of the Eternal Hell & Heaven now and that it will not be created before the Qiyama and yet say that it was the Hell & Heaven of Ahirat that was seen by the Prophet (sa). This is possible with an all-encompassing opinion like the perfect existence of the Prophet (sa) that he saw the real Hell and Heaven spiritually.
This is if it is said that the Meraj was both spiritual and in person.
Iltemase Dua
Hayder Shirazi
See also
Words of Wisdom – The Bridge of Siraat