Yet the hadiths concerning the Ascension found in the authentic collections contain none of the reports that mention the vision. Reports of the vision occur only in Medinan hadiths and concern a dream, such as the hadith of Mu'ādh ibn Jabal:

“Last night my Lord came to me in the best form,”

and so on. This was a dream he had(1) in Medina. All similar visions likewise occurred in dreams in Medina(2), whereas the Ascension took place in Mecca, as established by the explicit text of the Quran and the consensus of Muslims.

Even hadith reports whose falsity is more obvious than this may gain currency among some people, such as the report that the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—displayed such ecstasy that his mantle fell off him. By consensus of the experts, this is a fabricated lie. Yet some deem it true because Muhammad ibn Tāhir al-Maqdisī narrated it in his discussion of spiritual audition. Abū Hafs al-Suhrawardī also narrated it, but said:

“I have an inward sense that this hadith is no less firmly established than the meeting of the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—with his Companions.”

What he merely surmised and felt stir within him is, for others, a certainty that has permeated their hearts, for hadith scholars unanimously agree that this is a lie against the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him.

More serious still is the belief held by some that Ahl al-Suffa fought the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—and that it is permissible for Allah’s allies to fight the prophets if treachery has been committed against them. Although this is among the gravest forms of unbelief and falsehood, it has gained currency among many who lay claim to spiritual states, spiritual knowledge, and ultimate realities. In truth, their states are satanic. The devils that attach themselves to them(3), staying with them, may tell them of some hidden matters and carry out some of