Heavenly Journeys, Earthly Concerns: The Legacy of the Mi'raj in the Formation of Islam (Religion in History, Society and Culture-Outstanding Dissertations)

This book examines how an elite group of traditionists, historians and theologians shaped Muslims' perceptions of their prophet, their community and their behavior by retelling and interpreting the story of Muhammad's ascent to heaven (the mi'raj). Book Cover......Page 1 Half-Title......Page 2 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Series Editors’ Foreword......Page 7 Acknowledgments......Page 9 Introduction......Page 12 DEFINITIONS AND SOURCES......Page 13 HADITH (TRADITIONS)......Page 16 EARLY COMPARATIVE STUDIES......Page 17 EARLY ISLAMICISTS’ STUDIES......Page 19 MOVING FROM “AUTHENTICITY” TO “LEGACY”......Page 20 A CHAPTER OUTLINE: ORGANIZATION, CONTENT, AND THESIS......Page 24 A NOTE ON TRANSLITERATION......Page 26 Chapter One Constructing the Prophet of God: Confirmation and Initiation in the Mi‘raj......Page 28 Previous Scholarship......Page 29 The Cleansing of the Breast Paired with the Isra and Mi‘raj......Page 33 THE TRIALS FACED BY MUHAMMAD......Page 36 Before the Ascent: The Trial of Drinks as Initiation......Page 37 After the Ascent: The Trial of Drinks as Confirmation......Page 38 Multiple Trials and the Conflation of Initiation and Confirmation......Page 40 GABRIEL AND THE PROPHET: DISPENSING HEAVENLY KNOWLEDGE......Page 43 Gabriel and the Grand Tour: The Knowledge of Space......Page 45 The ‘Ifrit......Page 46 Dajjal and Malik......Page 47 CONCLUSION......Page 50 THE STRUGGLE FOR COMMUNAL AND......Page 52 MEETING THE PREVIOUS PROPHETS: ROOTS AND DEPARTURES FROM MONOTHEISTIC PAST......Page 54 REACHING THE PROPHETS: THE ROLE OF THE LADDER AND BURAQ......Page 55 The Ladder......Page 56 Buraq......Page 58 Adam......Page 62 Idris......Page 63 Joseph......Page 65 Aaron......Page 66 Abraham......Page 67 SETTING THE BELIEVERS APART: THE DISTINCTION OF THE PROPHET’S COMMUNITY......Page 69 Jesus......Page 70 MOSES AND THE PREEMINENCE OF MUHAMMAD’S COMMUNITY......Page 72 MOSES AND THE DISTINCTIVE PRACTICE OF M UHAMMAD’S COMMUNITY......Page 75 CONCLUSION......Page 83 Chapter Three Communal Reaction: Trials, Betrayal, and True Belief......Page 86 SCENE ONE: SETTING THE STAGE FOR DISBELIEF......Page 88 SCENE TWO: THE MOMENT OF HUMILIATION AND CONFRONTATION......Page 93 Evidence Alone Confirms the Prophet’s Journey......Page 97 The Testimony of Abu Bakr as Vindication......Page 100 Testimony and Evidence of the Journey......Page 102 CONCLUSION......Page 106 Chapter Four The Formation of Communal Morality: The Moral Concerns of the Medieval Elite......Page 108 THE RIGHTEOUS BELIEVERS: THOSE WORTHY OF REWARD......Page 109 Group Salvation: Prophets and Their Communities......Page 110 Those Who Eschew Magic and Omens......Page 113 Exemplary Men In Heaven......Page 114 Zayd b.Haritha......Page 115 Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, and Those Who Love Them......Page 117 Exemplary Women in Heaven......Page 118 Mothers in Heaven......Page 120 Masheta: Pharaoh’s hairdresser......Page 122 THE SINNERS: THOSE DESERVING PUNISHMENT......Page 124 Those Who Slander Others......Page 125 Wayward Preachers and Those Who Speak Temptation:......Page 127 Financial Sins......Page 128 Those who take advantage of orphans......Page 129 Those who take interest (riba)......Page 130 The Sexual Sins......Page 131 CONCLUSION......Page 132 THE LEGACY OF THE MI‘RAJ: AN ONGOING STORY......Page 134 IMPLICATIONS AND DIRECTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH......Page 135 The Legacy’s Continuance: Ibn ‘Arabi as a Case Study......Page 136 The mi’raj as Protection......Page 137 Sufis and Other Beings......Page 139 Masters and Disciples......Page 140 Ibn ‘Arabi and Prophethood......Page 142 Summary of Ibn ‘Arabi’s Case Study......Page 145 CONCLUDING REFLECTIONS: SCHOLARSHIP AS LEGACY......Page 146 NOTES TO INTRODUCTION......Page 148 NOTES TO CHAPTER ONE......Page 152 NOTES TO CHAPTER TWO......Page 158 NOTES TO CHAPTER THREE......Page 166 NOTES TO CHAPTER FOUR......Page 171 NOTES TO EPILOGUE......Page 176 PRIMARY SOURCES......Page 180 Index......Page 188

focusing On Issues Of Interpretation, This Book Collects And Translates A Number Of Medieval Mi'raj Accounts. The Narratives Of Muhammad's Heavenly Journey Offer A Prism Through Which To View The Medieval Elite's Communal, Political And Theological Motives. These Accounts Reveal The Historiographic Process In Which A Single Event Becomes A Focal Point For Those Struggling To Define The Past And Establish A Communal, Confessional And Political Identity By Reporting The Apparant Facts About A Particular Moment In Time. In Other Words, These Tales Have Real Stakes For Both Their Authors And Their Audiences, And Shed Light On Muslim Communal Concerns From The Late Eighth Through To The Fourteenth Century. Brooke Olson Vuckovic's Groundbreaking Study Provides Readers Access To The Documentation And Translation Of These Lesser-known Arabic Texts, And Uncovers Their Role In Building A Meaningful, Cohesive And Coherent Muslim Community In Medieval Times.

Constructing the prophet of God The miʻraj and the early Muslims' communal and confessional identity Communal reaction The formation of communal morality.