Investigating Epiphany Levels in the Miqat (the Stated Place) of Moses (PBUH) and the Ascension of Muhammad (PBUH) from Mystic's Perspectives

Epiphany is one of important concepts in the Islamic Mystics. One of the grounds of the mystics’ studies on this concept, is the issue of prophets’ epiphany and particularly two Quranic stories of the Miqat (the Stated Place) of Moses (PBUH) and the Ascension of Muhammad (PBUH). Therefore, the aim of the present study is the investigation of mystics’ perspectives about the Epiphany levels and status of Moses and Muhammad in their epiphany exposures. Under this aim, Sufis’ answers about the reasons of Muhammad’s observing God at the Ascension Night and Moses’ not seeing God, in spite of his demand, are analyzed. The researchers, by referring to the most important mystical prose texts (from the beginning to the 8th century AH), explained the issue. By investigating mystical ideas, it was identified that they considered the differences of the two messengers in these issues that Muhammad has the attributes of “Blessings abstractor, desired, master, seeker fascinated, beloved,” and enjoys the statuses such as: docility, fondness, awareness, and peace of mind. In contrast, Moses is “future, seeker, disciple, fascinated seeker, and lover” and enjoys the statuses such as: distress and mental disturbance, awe, ecstasy, confusion of mind, and patio in the Path of God. In general, the factor of Muhammad’s superiority over Moses is in the issue of epiphany, i.e. he has freed from the world veil, while Moses lives in this veil.