Comparison of the semantic levels of ascension of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the Journey of Alexander

The ascension of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has had a great influence on the ascensions in Sufism. Moreover, its confirmation and description in many mystical texts indicates the narrator’s faith, while the ascension was influenced by the involvement of storytellers and its connection with some folk tales has not been considered. This study compares a narration by Ibn Abbas about the ascension and the Journey of Alexander in the Tarsusi’s Darab Naameh. In Darab Naameh, Alexander is an oriental world traveler who has found theosophic dimensions. A kingly pedigree has been created for him. The Islamic community highlighted the prophethood concepts about Alexander, and attributed to him a supreme experience like what the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) experienced at the ascension night, but at a lower level. The journey of Alexander, to see the wonders and search for water, has the major foundations of ascension. The comparison of these two shows the common elements which, based on the inter-textual relationship with the Quran, illustrates the examples of “The Great Verses”. According to the Quran's value system, “verses” or signs are the illustrations of the Creator and create belief. A stream of meaning emerges in the verses that transform the “presence” of activists. The analysis of both journeys based on symbology-semantics approach, shows that in addition to the three common elements “paradise and hell”, “angelology” and “meeting God”, there are common organizational levels, functions and semantic creations among the two