Malfuzat – Volume X — Page 481
15 MAY 1908 481 The Reality of Mi'raj Then a question was asked about the Mi'raj [Spiritual Ascension]. The Promised Messiahas said: In Şahih al-Bukhārī, which is the most authentic book after the Book of Allah [the Holy Quran], the entire episode of the Mi'raj is mentioned and at the end the word فَاسْتَيْقَظَ ]then he woke up'] is written. Now, you can determine for yourself what it was. In the Holy Quran also, the word vision is used: 2. وَمَا جَعَلْنَا الرُّؤْيَا الَّتِيِّ أَرَيْنَكَ Current Sects in Islam Then the other person asked, "There are other sects in Islam, such as Hanafi, Shafi'i, Naqshbandi, Chishti, Qaderi etc. Is this a sect like them with similar differences or is there something more to it?' The Promised Messiahas said: In my view all these sects, in their current conditions, are far removed from the teachings of Islam that the Holy Prophet sas provided. They are mired in a variety of sundry innovations. They have invented different forms of durud [invoking bless- ings on the Holy Prophetsas], wazaif [formalized forms of benedictions], and zikr [remembrance of Allah], that are not proven to be from the Holy Prophetsas. One form of such zikr can result in hectic fever. And some go insane and then people 1. Şahih al-Bukhārī, Kitabut-Tauhid, Bab wa Kallamallāhu Mūsā Taklīmā, Hadith 7517 [Publisher] 2. And We made not the vision which We showed you [but as a trial for men. . . ] (Surah Bani Isrā'īl, 17:61). [Publisher]