A COMPARISON

“The truth is that this Earth, where we live, is just a small part of God’s vast kingdom. The prophets sent to this world by God are similar to the governors or viceroys that earthly governments send to their regions. In some ways, there is a clear difference between the two.” Reading the final sentence, one might expect the “difference” between the two roles—specifically, that one pertains to worldly affairs while the other relates to the Hereafter—to be clarified. However, the following words are: “Governors and viceroys of worldly governments are appointed only to handle administrative tasks, while the leaders and viceroys of the Sovereign are chosen to teach the principles of true civilization, pure morals, and sound knowledge and actions—principles that serve as guiding lights, leading humanity along the straight path for centuries.” (Mi’raj ki Rat by Maulana Maududi) The above description of the Mi’raj is not fundamentally incorrect. My point, however, in describing it, the perspective in question chose words that made the event seem clothed in political terms. In reality, according to the details given in Quran and Hadith, the essential aspect of this event is a vision of the