[And the Night Journey was from the Sacred Mosque] (1).

And He said:

“By the star when it descends! Your companion has neither strayed nor erred. Nor does he speak from his own desire. It is only a revelation sent down.”

[Surah al-Najm]

—down to His words:

“Will you then dispute with him over what he sees? He certainly saw him another time, by the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary.”

[Surah al-Najm: 12–14]

—down to His words:

“Have you then considered al-Lāt and al-Uzzā?”

[Surah al-Najm: 19]

All of this was revealed in Mecca, by universal agreement.

As for his statement:

“Are you not content that your position in relation to me should be like that of Aaron in relation to Moses?”

He said it during the expedition to Tabuk, the last of the military expeditions, in the ninth year after the Emigration. How, then, can it be claimed that on the night of the Ascension the angels heard him say:

“Are you not content that your position in relation to me should be like that of Aaron in relation to Moses?”

Moreover, it is well known that serving as deputy over Medina was not unique to anyone. On every occasion when he appointed a deputy, both before and after the expedition to Tabuk, there were obedient believing men (2) in Medina over whom he appointed that deputy. At the time of the (3) expedition to Tabuk, however, the only obedient believers who remained in Medina were those whom Allah had excused because they were incapable of jihad. Thus, those over whom a deputy was appointed during the expedition to Tabuk were fewer and weaker than those over whom deputies were appointed during all his journeys and military expeditions, as well as his umrahs and Hajj.

[The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—] (4) traveled from Medina on nearly thirty occasions, appointing someone to act in his stead each time. Thus, during the expedition to al-Abwā’, he appointed Sa‘d ibn Ubāda (5) as his deputy, and for the expedition (6) to