The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 275
VIII - Expansion of Preaching 275 illustrious rank of the Holy Prophet sa and the high status of his community has been made. In addition to the other indications, in both of these visions, the Holy Prophet’s sa meeting with the past prophets, and then surpassing them, or to be their leader in prayer, were insinuations to this very reality. In these visions, the selection of various prophets to meet the Holy Prophet sa in particular also possesses a deeper connotation. In actuality, these prophets were those whose communities were soon to come into contact with that of the Holy Prophet sa , or these prophets possess special qualities. In these visions, the purpose was to express the reality that the person of the Holy Prophet sa was greater and superior to these prophets even in their exclusive attributes. With relation to their communities, from one perspective, Jesus as and Moses as possess a particular distinction from Abraham as and Adam as. It is for this reason that both during the Isrā’ and Mi‘rāj , these prophets were shown more prominently. Jesus as was the central point of the Christian people, who even at that time had gathered significant power. Moses as was not only the founder of Judaism, which the Holy Prophet sa was soon to be confronted by, rather, he was a messenger to such a religious law, which in its compilation, appointment and revelatory nature, is quite similar to the Islāmic law. In addition to being a grandfather to the vast peoples of Syria, Abraham as was a commonly revered personality in Christianity, Juddaism, Hanīfīyat and Islām. Finally, the person of Adam as was as if the common point of all of mankind. From this vantage point, the purpose behind selecting these particular prophets in the Mi‘rāj and Isrā’ was to indicate that in the blessed personage of the Holy Prophet sa that magnificent being had been commissioned, who was chief of the children of Adam as , the pride of the first and the last. Furthermore, it had been decreed by God the Almighty that the community of the Holy Prophet sa would remain superior to all others. Being the founder of an illustrious dispensation, Moses as was well acquainted with such signs. He immediately understood the reality of this spiritual flight of the Holy Prophet sa , and due to this natural envy, which is a characteristic of human nature (not on the basis of jealousy), this vision temporarily put him to grief, that a young man from behind him is surpassing him. During the Isrā’ for Abraham as , Moses as , and Jesus as to call upon the Holy Prophet sa by the names, Awwal , Ākhir and Ḥāshir , also hints towards the very fine point, that, O crown of the prophets, we have understood that although you have been raised at the very end of all the prophets, with respect to your status, it is you that is the first, it is you who are the common foundation of all the children of Adam,