Question:
Assalamu ‘alaikum Sheikh Gibril,
It has been mentioned that denying the M’iraj is not kufr. Could you explain this Sheikh because there are so many hadiths regarding this event in addition to it being well-known even to this day among common Muslims? Does this mean that the M’iraj has not reached us through tawatur? What is puzzling for me is that all of the Sahaba believed in it so how could this not be a definitively established belief.
JazakALLAH khair
Wassalaam,
Answer:
`Alaykum as-Salam,
Some of the Sahaba such as Sayyida `A’isha and Sayyidina Mu`awiya (Allah be well-pleased with them) said Mi`raj took place in a dream vision so they did not “all believe in it” in the same way. Kufr is a very big thing and a huge condemnation that targets one who denies what is obligatorily known such as everything the Qur’an mentions, which comprises Isra’. As for Mi`raj, yes, it is mentioned in many hadiths that have been said to reach the level of mass transmission, but it does not reach the level of absolute binding certitude required for the verdict of kufr against one who denies it. Consequently, it was said that to deny Mi`raj constitutes an innovation of misguidance (bid`a dalala) and corruption (fisq), but they have not agreed that it constitutes unbelief (kufr), and Allah knows best.
Hajj Gibril Haddad
