How Did the Prophet (PBUH) Meet God on the Night of the Miʿraj?

It is difficult to determine the nature and quality of the encounter, but it was certainly not visual. What is meant by “seeing” is witnessing the greatest signs of God. Seeing implies encompassing, whether through physical sight, the heart, or the intellect; and He alone encompasses all things. Moreover, He has no need to be seen.

Without a doubt, the Messenger of God’s encounter on the Night of the Ascension was beyond an encounter of majesty or beauty. Our understanding and comprehension cannot conceive of the Prophet’s encounter! For the sovereign of the Most Beautiful Names of God attains the encounter with His Lord. In other words, “the majesty of God, the perfection of God, the light of God, the beauty of God, His servant and His worshipper …” goes to behold God—a being who is the sovereign of the blessed name al-Baṣīr, the All-Seeing! For knowledge ranks above sight, and the Prophet possesses the city of knowledge. In truth, the city of knowledge—the abode of wisdom—goes to behold God. Surely the meaning of this vision and encounter transcends the limits of our reason and thought. And there is no doubt that this encounter does not mean beholding the Divine Essence, for God’s Holy Essence is far beyond any being attaining an encounter with Him or seeing Him. He, too, has no need to be seen.

The Noble Messenger (PBUH) beheld what cannot be seen.

We are certain that the Prophet beheld God’s greatest signs. But what were those signs? That is the innermost secret. Were they the reality of the supreme signs of ʿAlī? Allah knows!

النجم : 11 ما کذب الفؤاد ما رأى‏

His pure heart did not deny what it saw.

النجم : 18 لقد رأى‏ من آیات ربه الکبرى‏

He certainly beheld some of the greatest signs of his Lord.

عن ابى العالیه قال: سئل رسول الله صلى الله علیه و آله هل رأیت ربک لیله المعراج؟
قال: رأیت نهرا و رأیت وراء النهر حجابا، و رأیت وراء الحجاب نورا لم أر غیر ذلک.
تفسیر نور الثقلین، ج‏5، ص: 153

He says: “And indeed he saw him another time.” Abū al-Ḥasan (peace be upon him) said: After this verse comes what makes clear what he saw, where God says: “The heart did not deny what it saw.” That is, Muḥammad’s heart did not deny what his eyes had seen. Then He told him what he had seen, saying: “He certainly saw some of the greatest signs”—for God’s signs are not God Himself.

عن علی بن موسى الرضا ع قال قال یا أحمد ما الخلاف بینکم و بین أصحاب هشام بن الحکم فی التوحید- فقلت جعلت فداک قلنا نحن بالصوره- للحدیث الذی روی أن رسول الله ص رأى ربه فی صوره شاب- و قال هشام بن الحکم بالنفی للجسم- فقال یا أحمد إن رسول الله ص لما أسری به إلى السماء- و بلغ عند سدره المنتهى خرق له فی الحجب مثل سم لإبره- فرأى من نور العظمه ما شاء الله أن یرى- و أردتم أنتم التشبیه دع هذا یا أحمد لا ینفتح علیک هذا أمر عظیم‏
تفسیر القمی، ج‏1، ص: 21

عن علی بن أبی حمزه قال: سأل أبو بصیر أبا عبد الله ع و أنا حاضر فقال جعلت فداک کم عرج برسول الله ص فقال مرتین فأوقفه جبرئیل موقفا فقال له مکانک یا محمد فلقد وقفت موقفا ما وقفه ملک قط و لا نبی إن ربک یصلی فقال یا جبرئیل و کیف یصلی قال یقول سبوح قدوس أنا رب الملائکه و الروح سبقت رحمتی غضبی فقال اللهم عفوک عفوک قال و کان کما قال الله قاب قوسین أو أدنى‏ فقال له أبو بصیر جعلت فداک ما قاب قوسین أو أدنى‏ قال ما بین سیتها «1» إلى رأسها فقال کان بینهما حجاب یتلألأ یخفق «2» و لا أعلمه إلا و قد قال زبرجد فنظر فی مثل سم الإبره «3» إلى ما شاء الله من نور العظمه فقال الله تبارک و تعالى یا محمد قال لبیک ربی قال من لأمتک من بعدک قال الله أعلم قال علی بن أبی طالب أمیر المؤمنین و سید المسلمین و قائد الغر المحجلین «4» قال ثم قال أبو عبد الله ع- لأبی بصیر یا أبا محمد و الله ما جاءت ولایه علی ع من الأرض و لکن جاءت من السماء مشافهه.
الکافی (ط - الإسلامیه)، ج‏1، ص: 443

ʿAlī ibn Abī Ḥamzah relates: Abū Baṣīr asked Abū ʿAbd Allāh (peace be upon him), while I was present: “May I be your ransom, how many times was the Messenger of God taken on the Ascension?” He replied, “Twice.” Gabriel brought him to a certain place and said, “Stay here, Muḥammad. You have reached a place where no angel or prophet has ever stood. Your Lord is at prayer.” The Prophet asked, “Gabriel, how does He pray?” He replied, “He says: ‘Glorified, Holy am I, Lord of the angels and the Spirit. My mercy has preceded My wrath.’” The Prophet said, “O God, I ask Your forgiveness; I ask Your forgiveness.” The Imam continued: It was as God says: “He was at a distance of two bow-lengths or nearer.” Abū Baṣīr asked, “May I be your ransom, what does ‘two bow-lengths or nearer’ mean?” He replied, “The distance from the bow’s grip to its head.” Then he said: Between them there was a veil that shimmered and flickered—I believe he said it was made of emerald. Through what was like the eye of a needle, the Prophet beheld as much of the light of majesty as God willed. Then God, Blessed and Exalted, said, “Muḥammad!” He answered, “At Your service, my Lord.” God asked, “Who will lead your community after you?” He replied, “God knows best.” God said, “ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib: the Commander of the Faithful, the master of the Muslims, and the leader of those radiant with light.” Then Abū ʿAbd Allāh (peace be upon him) said to Abū Baṣīr, “Abū Muḥammad, by God, ʿAlī’s authority did not come from the earth; it came directly from heaven.”
أصول الکافی / ترجمه مصطفوى، ج‏2، ص: 330

عن أبی الحسن الرضا ع فی قوله «عم یتساءلون ... إلخ» قال قال أمیر المؤمنین ع ما لله نبأ أعظم منی- و ما لله آیه أکبر منی، و قد عرض فضلی على الأمم الماضیه على اختلاف ألسنتها- فلم تقر بفضلی‏
تفسیر القمی، ج‏2، ص: 401