The Physical Ascension of the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alaiyhi Wasalam)

The Physical Ascension of the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alaiyhi Wasalam)

From:- Transalator's Introduction
The Secrets of Secrets by Hadrat Abdul -Qadir Al-Jilani (May Allah Sanctify his secret)
Interpreted by Shaykh Tosum Bayrak al-Jerrahi al-Halveti

There was a very wise and influential priest in Baghdad who had many followers. This man had vast knowledge not only of the Judaic and Christian traditions but also of Islam. He knew Islam and the Holy Qu'ran and had great love and appreciation of the the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alaiyhi Wasalam). The Caliph respected the priest and hoped that he and his followers would become Muslims one day. Indeed he was ready to accept the religion, except for one thing. The thing that prevented him which he could neither accept nor understand , was the physical ascension of the the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alaiyhi Wasalam) to the heavens during his lifetime.

The Ascension took place when one night, the the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alaiyhi Wasalam) was brought body and soul from Medina to Jerusalem and from there to the seven heavens, where he saw many things. He visited Paradise and Hell, and went beyond these to meet his Lord, who spoke ninety thousand words with him. He returned before his bed had cooled, and before a leaf which he had touched in passing had stopped trembling.

The mind of the priest could not accept the ascension of the the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alaiyhi Wasalam) and his coming back to tell about it. . Indeed when the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alaiyhi Wasalam) declared it the day after it happened, many Muslims did not believe and left their religion. This then is a test of true faith, for the mind cannot conceive such a thing.

The Caliph introduced all the wise men and teachers of his time to the priest in order to eliminate his doubts, but none of them succeeded. Then one evening he sent word to Hadrat Abdul-Qadir, asking him if he could convince the priest of the truth of the Ascension.

When Hadrat Abdul-Qadir came to the palace he found the priest and the caliph playing chess. As the priest lifted a chess piece to move it, his eyes met those of the Shaykh. He blinked his eyes….and as he opened them again he found himself drowning in a rapidly running river! He was shouting for help when a young shepherd jumped into the water to save him. As the shepherd held onto him, he realized he was naked and had been transformed into a young girl.

The shepherd pulled her out of the water and asked her whose daughter she was and where she lived. When the priest mentioned Baghdad, the shepherd said that they were then at a distance of a few months journey from the city. The shepherd honoured her and kept her and protected her., but eventually as she had nowhere to go, he married her. They had three children who grew up.

One day she was washing laundry in the same river where she had appeared many years before, she slipped and fell in. As she opened her eyes.. he found himself sitting across from the caliph, holding the chess piece and still looking up into the eyes of to Hadrat Abdul-Qadir, who said to him, "Now, venerable priest , do you still believe.?"

The priest unsure what happened to him and thinking that it was a dream, responded with the words, "What do you mean?"

"Perhaps you would like to see your family ?" the saint inquired. As he opened the door, there stood the shepherd and the three children.

Seeing this , the priest believed. He and his congregation number among the five thousand Christians who became Muslim by the hands of to Hadrat Abdul-Qadir.