Decoding the Miracle of Miraj: Time Dilation, Folded Space, and Divine Presence

DREAMS WISDOM / SPECIAL REPORT — JAN. 4, 2026

In his seminal work Risale-i Nur, specifically the treatise on Miraj (The 31st Word), the renowned Islamic scholar Bediüzzaman Said Nursi approaches the Ascension of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from a unique perspective. He explains this miraculous journey—from the Masjid al-Haram to the Masjid al-Aqsa, and then through the layers of the heavens to the "Sidrat al-Muntaha" and the station of "Qaba Qawsayn"—not merely as a matter of dogma, but within a framework of intellect, logic, and wisdom that challenges the boundaries of modern science regarding "time and space."

For centuries, the Miraj has occupied a special place in the hearts of believers, yet it has also prompted the intellectual question: "How did it actually happen?" Nursi defines the Miraj as "a light derived from the lights of the pillars of faith," addressing his explanation not to those who deny it, but to believers who may be confused or plagued by doubts.

Here are the striking analyses from Said Nursi's perspective on the "Why," "How," and "With What" of the Miraj miracle:

1. The Fundamental Question: If Allah is Closer to Us than Our Jugular Vein, Why the Long Journey?

One of the first questions that comes to mind regarding the Miraj is: "Cenâb-ı Hak (God) is closer to everything than anything else. Why was it necessary for the Prophet to traverse a distance of thousands of years to meet with Him beyond the heavens?".

Nursi explains this subtle mystery using the metaphors of a "Sultan" and a "Mirror":

• Two Types of Communication (The Sultan Analogy): A Sultan has two modes of communication. One is speaking with a citizen via a private telephone regarding a personal matter. The other is speaking under the title of "Grand Sultan," via an envoy, to disseminate commands concerning the entire realm, communicating with the full majesty of his sovereignty.

• Miraj is a General Audience: Saints (Awliya) can communicate with Allah within their hearts via a "private telephone" (private supplication). However, the Miraj was a reception where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was invited to receive a trust concerning the entire universe and to meet his Lord under the title of "Creator of All Existence".

  
  

• The Mirror Analogy: There is a difference between observing the sun reflected in a small mirror and approaching the Sun itself to witness its full majesty without barriers. The Miraj is a direct, unmediated meeting.

2. The Reality of Miraj: A Tour of the Universe's Administration Centers

According to Said Nursi, the Miraj was not just an ascent; it was an observation by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) of the administrative centers of the universe and the sovereignty of Allah's "Rububiyah" (Lordship).

Just as a Sultan takes an official he intends to empower on a tour through different departments—Judiciary, Civil Administration, Military—to show how the state functions, God took the Prophet through the layers of the heavens, which represent the different strata of the universe.

• A Different Manifestation in Every Heaven: Every layer of heaven is a different center of Divine administration. For instance, in the heaven where Prophet Jesus (Isa) resides, the Divine Name "Al-Qadir" (The All-Powerful) is dominant. In the heaven of Prophet Moses (Musa), the title "Al-Mutakallim" (The Speaker) prevails. Prophet Muhammad passed through all these circles to reach the station of "Qaba Qawsayn" (the station of two bows' length), the boundary between the realm of possibility and the Divine.

3. Speed Defying Logic: How Was This Possible with a Human Body?

The point that most baffles the modern mind is: "How can a human body traverse light-years of distance and return in such a short time?" Nursi explains this using both physical laws and the "relativity of time."

• The Earth's Speed as a Reference: Nursi argues, "Can the Power that spins this massive earth like a slingshot stone and makes it travel a distance of 25,000 years in one year, not bring a human being to the Arsh (Divine Throne)?" referencing the immense movement already present in the cosmos.

• Different Speeds: The speeds of light, sound, and electricity are different. The Prophet's body, being "latif" (subtle/refined), became subject to the speed of his spirit during the Miraj and moved at the speed of the spirit.

Time Dilation and the Theory of Relativity

Said Nursi explains the phenomenon of the Miraj happening in a short duration while covering vast periods using a magnificent "Clock Analogy":

"Imagine a clock with ten hands. One counts the hours. Another counts the minutes... Another the seconds... and another counts the 'ashira' (a split second). Let us assume these hands are on a massive, orderly dial."

According to this analogy, there is a mountain of difference between the distance covered and the things seen by a person riding the hour hand versus a person riding the split-second hand, within the same timeframe. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), mounted on the "Burak of Divine Grace," rode on the dimension where time flows fastest (like the split-second hand), toured the entire universe in a moment, and returned.

4. Why Didn't Just the Spirit Go? Was the Bodily Journey Necessary?

Contrary to some views, Said Nursi defends that the Miraj occurred "both in spirit and body." The wisdom behind this is:

• Eyes and Ears are Keys: Allah wished to show His wonders of art and the realms of the Hereafter. To see, one needs eyes; to hear, one needs ears. These organs belong to the body.

• The Example of Paradise: In Paradise, the spirit will be accompanied by the body because pleasure and worship are experienced not just by the spirit, but also by the body. Therefore, the Prophet's blessed body accompanied his spirit on this sublime journey.

5. Is It an Event Without Precedent?

Addressing atheist or skeptical approaches asking, "Is there any precedent for this so we can believe it?" Nursi provides examples from daily life:

• Speed of Sight: Our eyes can travel from the ground to Neptune in a second.

• Speed of Thought: Scientists can travel behind the stars in a minute with their minds.

• Prayer: Every believer experiences a "type of Miraj" during prayer (Salah).

• Angels: Angels, beings of light, ascend and descend from the Throne to the earth constantly.

These examples demonstrate that the Miraj of the Prophet, whose body gained "luminousness" (light-like quality), is logically possible and has actually occurred.

Conclusion: According to Bediüzzaman, the Miraj is the meeting of the Owner of the Universe with Man (in the person of Prophet Muhammad), who is the most select fruit of that universe. It is the pinnacle point where prayer was brought back as a gift, the door to the Hereafter was opened, and faith was transformed into a visible truth.

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