al-Najm

أفَتُمَارُونَهُ عَلَی مَا يَرَی

وَلَقَدْ رَآهُ نَزْلَةً اُخْرَی

عِندَ سِدْرَةِ الْمُنْتَهَی

عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ الْمَأوَی

12. Will you then dispute with him about what he saw?

13. And indeed he saw him at another descent.

14. Near Sidrat al-Muntaha.

15. Near it is the Paradise of Refuge.

The Arabic verbal form fa-tumarunahu

("will you dispute with him")

is derived from mira’ ("dispute accompanied with doubt"). Nazlatan designates "being revealed in whole." Sidrat al-Muntaha is the name of a place close to the promised Paradise abounding in Divine Favors and according to traditions, none, but the Noble Prophet of Islam (S) was the only one who reached it. According to traditions, Sidrat al-Muntaha is applied to the last state of the ascent of angels. It is also reflected in traditions that Sidrat al-Muntaha is the name of a Lote Tree with any one of whose leaves an angel glorifies God Almighty.

Since many people entertained doubts regarding the Ascent of the Noble Prophet (S) and it seemed incredible to them, God Almighty said in Surah al-Isra¹⁰:

"Glorified is He Who took His servant for a journey at night from Masjid al-Haram to Masjid al-Aqsa, the neighborhood whereof We have blessed, so that We might show him Our Signs."

The blessed Verse is saying that he is not exposed to error and there is a very exalted cause for Ascent.

"Will you then dispute with him about what he saw?"

Disbelievers indubitably may not believe in the Revelations of the saints of God Almighty and engage pessimistically in disputes with them. It is worthy of note that Sidrat al-Muntaha is so significant that Paradise with all its greatness stands beside it and there is a state still higher than Paradise.

“Near Sidrat al-Muntaha. Near it is the Paradise of Refuge."

Although God Almighty bestows His Grace upon all people, but He at times provides certain people with further privileges.

“And indeed he saw him at another descent"

indicates that upon His Messenger's (S) Ascent, God Almighty bestowed special privileges upon him in the same manner that God Almighty is with all people;

("and He is with you"),

but His being with His Messenger (S) is certainly different.

"Indeed Allah is with those who fear [Him]."

Divine Grace and being with His servants are at times general and at times particular. He invited His Messenger (S) to the heavens and provided him with special privileges beside Sidrat al-Muntaha and the Promised Paradise.¹¹

Footnotes

1. 10. 17:1
2. 11. Majma‘ al-Bayan; Hidaya;Atyab al-Bayan; Safi; Burhan.