Haqiqatul-Wahi (The Philosophy of Divine Revelation) — Page 50
50 HAQIQATUL-WAḤI—THE PHILOSOPHY OF DIVINE REVELATION had passed away before him. This is exactly what can be understood from the account of the mi'rāj [spiritual ascension] given by the Holy Prophets upon returning from it. It reveals that he found Ḥaḍrat Īsā in the same hallowed form in which he found all the other Prophets, and there was nothing peculiar about his appearance. The issue was really very simple and straightforward. The Jews only denied 'spiritual ascension' because it is that which stands in con- trast to the curse. However, in their naivety, the Muslims mistook the spiritual ascension for the physical ascension even though Jews have never held that someone who does not physically ascend to Heaven is not a believer. Rather, they continue to emphasize, even to this day, that someone who does not attain spiritual ascension, and for whom the doors to Heaven are not opened, is not a believer. The Holy Quran also confirms this and says: 1 لَا تُفَتَّحُ لَهُمُ ابْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ Meaning that, the gates of Heaven shall not be opened for the disbe- lievers; but, for the believers it says: مُفَتَعَةً لَّهُمُ الْأَبْوَابُ 2 Meaning that, the gates of Heaven shall be opened for the believers. The Jews argued only this, that being a disbeliever-God forbid― Hadrat Isaas could not ascend towards God. Jewish people are still around, they are not extinct; anyone can inquire from them whether a person who is crucified is prevented from physically ascending to Heaven so that his physical body does not ascend to God Almighty. Ignorance is a strange affliction. Muslims, on account of their own mis- conceptions, strayed so far-off that they began awaiting the return of a 1. Surah al-A'raf, 7:41 [Publisher] 2. Surah Ṣād, 38:51 [Publisher]