The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 278
Seal of the Prophets - Volume I 278 prophets, in other words, the particularity of Joseph as and Enoch as have been recorded in Ḥadīth. Joseph as was distinguished on account of his God-given beauty and Enoch as due to his exceptionally high status. 1 The purpose of bringing them into this vision was to express the intent that the Holy Prophet sa is superior and greater than these prophets, even in their particular specialties. ُ وَاللّٰه ُ اَعْلَم One scene during the Mi‘rāj relates to that special manifestation which occurred at Sidratul-Muntahā’ , 2 about which the Holy Prophet sa stated, “The power of words cannot describe its magnitude. ” This was an indication to the divine nearness of the Holy Prophet sa , in which the wonderful spectacle of the special manifestations between the beloved and lover were exhibited. Put to side its explanation, even an attempt to fathom it is useless. Albeit, it is evident that in this vision, the Holy Prophet sa witnessed a unique manifestation of God’s power, such as only an individual of that status can acquire the power to see such a thing. The four rivers that were seen flowing beneath the lote-tree, two of which were physical rivers and two hidden rivers, signified that the manifestations of God would be shown in two forms: apparently and hidden, spiritually and physically. The number four signified that the community of the Holy Prophet sa would be confronted with two eras of both physical and spiritual success each. One era of both these manifestations would be expressed in the person of the Holy Prophet sa and one in the latter days, when in their middle-era, Muslims would fall and then be raised again. As such, in both eras, by the expression of these two manifestations, four rivers would be completed. Finally, there is the sight of the ordainment of the five daily prayers. Since one portion of this relates to the obvious, it is exempt of an interpretation. However, the scene of a reduction from fifty to five is a very fine spiritual vision, which alludes to the reality that the actual number of prayers that were to be ordained were five alone, but it was also decreed that the reward of these five prayers would be equivalent to fifty. For it was the will of Allāh the Exalted that the community of Muḥammad sa was to be granted the reward of its good deeds abundantly. For this reason, the prescribed prayers were initially made compulsory in the form of fifty. Then in a subtle manner, the intent was to hint towards the compassion of Allāh the Exalted and the 1 * Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitābul-Īmān, Bābul-Isrā’i bi-Rasūlillāhi sa ilas-Samāwāti wa Farḍiṣ-Ṣalawāt, Ḥadīth No. 411 2 The farthest lote-tree (Publishers)