The Essence of Islam – Volume III — Page 186
186. Essence of Islam-III place from another is described as having descended at that place. For instance, it is said that an army or a camp has descended at such and such a place. This does not mean that the army or the camp have descended from heaven. The Holy Qur'an has also employed the expression Nuzul [descent] for the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). It is also stated in a verse that iron has descended from heaven. It is thus obvious that this descent does not connote what people have imagined. 151 [Izāla-e-Auhām, Rūḥānī Khazā'in, vol. 3, pp. 132-133]. The word Nuzul is being deliberately misinterpreted. In the idiom of scriptures, he who comes from God is described as having descended from heaven (see John 1:38. ) 152 The same is indicated in the verses: 153 إنَّا اَنْزَلْتُهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ 3 ذِكْرًا رَّسُولًا 154. Common people, whose thinking is earthy, interpret everything in a physical sense. They do not stop to reflect that as according to their conception Jesus will descend from heaven in the company of angels, in the same way they also believe that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had ascended to heaven in the company of angels, indeed there was also a burrāq at his service. But did anyone observe the ascent and descent of 151 The reference is to Al-Hadid, 57:26. [Publisher] 152 John 1:30 in the New King James Version. [Publisher] 153 'Surely, We sent it down on the Night of Destiny. 'Al-Qadr, 97:2 [Publisher] 154 Allah has sent down to you a Reminder A Messenger. 'Al-Ṭalāq, 65:11-12 [Publisher]