Miraaj: Physical or Spiritual?

[Yaseen]

asalamu'alykum

As I am sure you are aware its the month oif Rajab al Murajab and the Prophet(saw) went on the miraaj during this blessed month-I was wondering whether there is a difference of opinion regarding whether the journey was physical or spiritual amongst the ahl us Sunnah Wal Jama'ah.

wasalaam

[Shaykhs-Pir Sahib]

as salamu alaykum

i always was taught and thought it was completely physical and real, and while he was awake - according to ahl al-sunna wal jama'a... and part of correct aqida.

check out point 39 of Imam Tahawi's statements of aqida.

Allahu a'lam

[Saleel]

Al-Mi'raj (the Ascent through the heavens) is true. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was taken by night and ascended in his bodily form, while awake, through the heavens, to whatever heights Allah willed for him. Allah ennobled him in the way that He ennobled him and revealed to him what He revealed to him,

`and his heart was not mistaken about what it saw' (al-Najm 53:11).

Allah blessed him and granted him peace in this world and the next.

--Aqidah al-Tahawiyya

EDIT: Posted at same time as Shaykhs-Pir Sahib.

[Yaseen]

Jazakallah khair for the responses that have cleared up the view of the Ahl us Sunnah regarding the m'iraaj being a physical journey and not a dream as some people believe.
I would be grateful if the members will also give their opinions regarding the Prophet(saw) seeing Allah(swt). It is just something I am curious about as there is difference of opinion over whether the Prophet(saw) saw Allah(swt) despite the ayah that the learned Brother saleel quoted-is this difference of opinion valid in light of the Ahl us Sunnah wal Jama'ah beliefs regarding this aspect of M'iraaj.
My knowledge is very basic on M'iraaj and thus I would be grateful if the members could enlighten me further on the miraculous journey of M'iraj.

Wasalaam

[Shaykhs-Pir Sahib]

as salamu alaykum

there has been difference of opinion on this, but here is a good article on it:

http://www.livingislam.org/n/bvis_e.html

[talib al-habib]

salaams

as has been stated by my learned colleagues , the mi`raj was in body and spirit; and it is this that distinguishes it from the ascensions reported by other great Sufis such as Abu Yazid Bistami. This point, as I understand it, is also one of the divergences between Mu`tazili and Ahl as-Sunna aqida.

The issue of the vision of Allah is adddressed by Shaykh Muhammad bin Alawi al-Maliki, the muhaddith of the Holy Cities, in an upcoming book on the mi`raj translated by Gibril Haddad. Shaykh Muhammad simply states, 'then he (s) saw Allah most high...' Gibril Haddad adds a comprehensive appendix on this point explaining both views, which are transmitted by sahaba. He does not reach a conclusion, leaving it open (out of adab for the sahabas), but does cite Imam Nawawi's conclusion that, 'the majority of the Ahl as-Sunna subscribe to the belief that Rasulullah (s) did see Allah.' or something like that. And Allah knows best

was salam