لطفا منتظر باشید ...
Ali's
role in Meraj
The most amazing instances of the
exaltation of Ali are to be found in the descriptions of the Meraj
or Ascension of the Prophet to Heaven, in accordance with the
Verse of the Quran (xvii.1): "Glory to him who carried His servant
by night from the sacred temple (of Mecca) to the temple that is
more remote, whose precinct We have blessed, that We may show him
our signs."
The second volume of Majlisi's
Hayatu-l-Kulub has been translated into English under the title
the Life and Religion of Muhammad,' by Rev. James L. Merrick,
Majlisi says (P. 190) that both Shia and Sunni traditions declare
that the Ascension was bodily, and not merely in the Spirit; itt
the state of wakefulness, not of sleep. On this point, among the
old Ulama of the Shias there is no disagreement. The doubts which
sonic have entertained on whether the Ascension was in body or
merely in spirit have arisen from lack of knowledge of the
subject, or from lack of belief in its Divine Attestations, and
from listening to people who are without faith themselves. In his
portrayal of all that the Holy Prophet Muhammad heard and saw on
this great night journey through the seven heavens, Majlisi
mentions what was heard and soon of Ali:
"It is related that Muhammad
declared that on the night of Ascension, the Most High commanded
me to inquire of the past prophets for what reason they were
exalted to that rank, and they all testified, "We were raised up
on account of your Prophetical Office, and the Imamate of Ali Ibn
Abu Talib, and the Imams of your posterity". A divine voice then
commanded, look on the right side of the empyrean'. I looked and
saw the similitude of Ali, and Hasan, and Husain, and Ali ibn al-Husain,
and Muhammad Bakir, and Jafar as-Sadiq, and Musa Kazim, and Ali
ibn Musa-ar-Reza, and Muhammad Taki, and Ali Naqi, and Hasan
Askhari, and Mahdi all performing prayers in a sea of light.
These', said the Most High, "are my proofs, Vicegerents, and
friends, and the last of them will take vengeance on my enemies."
The Prophet declared that when
he performed the Ascension, the angels inquired very particularly
about Ali. When I arrived,' he continued, at the fourth heaven,
I saw the angel of death, who said that it was his office to take
the soul of every creature by God's command; but in the case of
you and Ali, I will have to take your consent.' When I came under
the empyrean, I saw Ali ibn Abu Talib standing there, and said to
him, O Ali have you got there before me?' Whom are you
addressing', asked Gabriel. My brother', I replied. This is not
Ali,' said he, but an angel of the Merciful God, whom he created
in the likeness of Ali and when those of us privileged to
approach near the Deity wish to behold Ali, we visit this angel."
And so Jesus and Moses and
Abraham all inquired about Ali and congratulated Muhammad on
having left so good a Caliph in his place. The Apostle further
related, "On the night of MERAJ, on every one of the curtains of
light and on every one of the pillars of the empyrean to which I
came, I saw written; there is no God but Allah, Muhammad is the
Apostle of God, and Ali ibn Abu Talib is the commander of the
Faithful."
