Question Summary:
Was the Mi‘raj Physical or Spiritual?

Question Detail:

Was the journey (Miraj) of Prophet (PBUH) to the heavens spiritual in nature or did the Prophet (PBUH) ascended to the Arsh of Allah in body and soul? 

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

The Mi‘raj of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was in body and soul.[1]

Imam Tahawi (rahmatullahi ‘alayhi) states:

وَالْمِعْرَاجُ حَقٌّ، وَقَدْ أُسْرِيَ بِالنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَعُرِجَ بِشَخْصِهِ فِي الْيَقَظَةِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ ثُمَّ إِلَى حَيْثُ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْعُلَا

The Ascension is true. The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was taken by night and ascended in person and consciously to the heavenly realm, and from there to wherever Allah willed in the celestial heights.[2]

And Allah Ta‘ālā Knows Best.

Lutfi Alam

Student, Darul Iftaa

New York, USA

Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

______

[1]

شرح الطحاوية ت الأرناؤوط (١/٢٧٠) 

ثُبُوتُ الْإِسْرَاءِ وَالْمِعْرَاجِ لَهُ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِالْيَقَظَةِ

قَوْلُهُ: (وَالْمِعْرَاجُ حَقٌّ، وَقَدْ أُسْرِيَ بِالنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَعُرِجَ بِشَخْصِهِ فِي الْيَقَظَةِ، إِلَى السَّمَاءِ. ثُمَّ إِلَى حَيْثُ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْعُلَا وَأَكْرَمَهُ اللَّهُ بِمَا شَاءَ، وَأَوْحَى إِلَيْهِ مَا أَوْحَى، مَا كَذَبَ الْفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَى. فَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ وَالْأُولَى) .

شرح العقائد النسفية (ص: ٣٣٥)

والمعراج لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في اليقظة بشخصه إلى السماء...

(٣٣٦)

وكان المعراج للروح والجسد جميعا

[2] Hamza Yusuf, The Creed of Imam al-Tahawi, p. 58 (adapted)