for he ﷺ never saw a dream without its unfolding as clearly as the break of dawn. A similar case was mentioned in the ḥadith on the beginning of revelation: he saw in sleep exactly what later occurred to him while awake, so that this might serve as a preliminary sign, a preparation, a confirmation, and a comfort. Allah knows best.

Did the Ascension (miʿrāj) occur more than once?

Al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Kathīr, after citing the hadiths on the matter, says:

“When one surveys the entire collection of these reports—sound, fair, and weak alike—one arrives at the shared conclusion that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was taken by night from Mecca to Jerusalem only once. The narrators may differ in wording, some adding or omitting details, but any mistake lies with everyone except the Prophets, peace be upon them.

Whoever, because one report contradicts another, treats each as a separate event and so affirms several Night Journeys has gone too far, produced something strange, and found no admissible refuge for his claim.

Some later writers declared that he ﷺ was taken once from Mecca to Jerusalem only, once from Mecca straight to the heavens only, and once to Jerusalem and from there to the heavens. They rejoiced in this approach, thinking they had found a way out of the difficulties, yet it is exceedingly far-fetched; none of the early generations transmitted it. Had so many distinct occurrences taken place, the Prophet ﷺ would have informed his community, and the people would have reported them as repeated events.

Certain Ṣūfīs alleged that the Ascension happened to him ﷺ thirty times, while others said thirty-four—one with his blessed body and the rest with his soul.

Another opinion holds that the Night Journey occurred twice: once while he was awake and once in a dream. Its proponents apparently wished to reconcile Sharik’s narration, which includes the words, ‘then I awoke,’ with the rest of the reports.”