The interpretive narratives of Isra and Mi'raj in The Encyclopaedia of Islam

Abstract

This article deals with the interpretive narratives of Isra and Mi'raj in The Encyclopaedia of Islam. This Encyclopaedia is considered the largest work by orientalists who gathered everything related to Islamic heritage. According to it, three interpretations were mentioned in Isra and Mi'raj. The focus of orientalists in The Encyclopaedia mainly dealt with Israa, in view of the spatial symbolism of the Israa to “Al – Masjid Al-Aqsa”, plus considering the miraculous remoteness of crossing that great distance between the Masjid al-haram and Al -Aqsa in a short time. For Orientalists, this is impossible to happen, especially according to human measurements, except that if it is a dream. Actually, their dependence ,in their interpretation, on some of the received narratives and not others in a selective view really supports their skeptical ideas about the accuracy of what was stated about Isra and Mi'raj.