If Meraj Was A Dream Then Why Did Quran Call It A Trial (Fitna)?
All of this has been discussed in the 23 Questions Series : Discussion 45425 __ Please also use our Ghamidi GPT tool for questions related to 23 Questions Series and give feedback as well. I asked the same question to it and it gave a very good answer – in line with Ghamidi Sahab’s understanding : https://www.ghamidi.org/gpt/ __ Response by Ghamidi GPT ( vetted by me ): The incident of *Isra* and *Meraj* being a dream (*Ru’ya*) is a perspective derived from the Quran itself, as the word *Ru’ya* is explicitly mentioned in Surah Bani Israel (17:60). According to Ghamidi’s understanding, the nature of a *Ru’ya* (dream) is often allegorical, and its interpretation is not always explicitly provided in the Quran. Instead, the purpose and significance of the dream are emphasized. ### Interpretation of the Dream: The Quran does not provide a detailed interpretation of the *Ru’ya* of *Isra* and *Meraj*. However, based on Ghamidi’s explanation, the dream was a symbolic representation of the Prophet’s mission, his spiritual elevation, and the challenges he would face. It served as a means to strengthen the Prophet’s resolve and to convey profound truths about his journey as a messenger of Allah. The allegorical nature of dreams, as seen in the Quran (e.g., the dreams of Prophet Yusuf), often requires interpretation, but the exact details of the interpretation of *Isra* and *Meraj* are not explicitly mentioned in the Quran. ### Why was it a Test (*Fitnah*)? The Quran states in Surah Bani Israel (17:60): > “And [remember] when We told you, ‘Indeed, your Lord has encompassed the people.’ And We did not make the vision (*Ru’ya*) which We showed you except as a trial (*Fitnah*) for the people…” This verse highlights that the *Ru’ya* was made a test for the people. The test lies in the reaction of the people to the Prophet’s recounting of the dream. For the believers, it was a source of faith and conviction, as they trusted the Prophet’s truthfulness and the divine nature of his experiences. For the disbelievers, however, it became a point of ridicule and rejection, as they mocked the idea of such a journey, even in a dream. The likes of Abu Jahl and others used this as an opportunity to challenge the Prophet’s credibility, thus exposing their disbelief and arrogance. The test was not about the physical occurrence of the event but about the people’s willingness to accept the Prophet’s message and trust in the unseen realities conveyed through him. The *Ru’ya* served as a means to distinguish between those who had faith and those who rejected the truth. ### Conclusion: The *Isra* and *Meraj* being a *Ru’ya* aligns with the Quranic mention of it as a dream. Its interpretation, while not explicitly detailed in the Quran, symbolizes the spiritual and prophetic journey of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The test (*Fitnah*) was in the people’s reaction to the Prophet’s recounting of the dream, which revealed their true stance towards his message. This incident, therefore, served as a significant moment in the Prophet’s mission, highlighting the divide between belief and disbelief.