A survey on Michael Sell's research on ascension [night journey]

The present article gives an introductory and analytical account of the entry “Ascension” in Leiden Encyclopedia of the Quran. Michael Sells puts forth arguments to underestimate the Quranic foundation of the Prophet's night journey [ascension]. He while pointing at the first verse of chapter al-Isra studies the prophet's from perspective of origin and destination. Moreover, he touches the first verses of chapter al- Najm and finds an inter-textual link between the verses of the two chapters. The given article comprises many positives and negatives. The points that can be argued are as following: the Quranic foundation of ascension, the prophet's claim that he had no other miracle, ascension in the sleep, in the night of destiny either the angel is revealed or the Quran and that chapter al-Najm describes the event of ascension and night of destiny.