A Comparative Study on "Israand Meraj" in Attar and BousirisProphetic Eulogies

Isra is the earth journey and Meraj is the sky journey of the Prophet (PBUH), which both have been taken place over a single night. The Prophet, accompanied by Jibril, is summoned by Allah to set out from Masjed Al-Haram (Sacred Mosque) to Masjed Al-Aqsa (Farthest Mosque) and makes his journey to the heavens (skies); then, passing Sedrat Al-Muntaha (the tree of utmost), reaches seventh heaven and meets Allah. This story is considered as a milestone in the Prophet’s life, mentioned by Holy Quran in chapters of "Isra" and "Najm". Isra and Mearaj have largely attracted the attention of vast majority of Muslim writers and poets. Bousiri and Attar are two Moslem poets who have described Meraj in their prophetic Eulogies. They have also beautifully depicted his departure to the heaven, meeting other prophets and passing from Sedrat Al-Muntaha. Although Attar has not mentioned Prophet's Isra, Bousiri has pointed to this section andhas proposed the Imamate of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) over all other prophets. Bousiri’s statements on Meraj and Isra are not considered fully poetical and mostly they contain narrations and Quranic verses. But Attaardesigns it in the form of a mystical story and proposes it as a model for Spiritual Journey, passing mystical stages and reaching the status of being lost in Allah. Attar’s ode about Meraj (MerajNameh) is romantic, whileBousiri’s oneis mostly epic. This study, using descriptive and content analysis methods, seeks to studyIsra and Meraj of the Holy Prophet in prophetic eulogiesof Bousiri and Attar Neishabouri.