talking about the Ka’bah—I consider this very spot (the Rawdah) to be superior even to the ꜤArsh.”

The official responded, “Give evidence for this!”

The Shaykh replied, “Then listen to the proof! It is established from the holy Quran that Prophet ꜤIsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم is a grateful servant. Allah Almighty also states:

لَئِنْ شَکَرْتُمْ لَاَزِیْدَنَّکُمْ

“If you thank Me, then I shall most definitely grant you more,^[1]

Look! We have Prophet ꜤIsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم who is a grateful servant. Then we have Allah’s promise that those who are grateful will be granted even more. Now, it is established that Prophet ꜤIsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم is currently on the fourth heaven. Since he is among the grateful, it follows that he should be elevated to a place even better, higher, more superior and more honourable than where he currently resides. We know from narrations that Prophet ꜤIsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم will descend from the fourth heaven to earth, and after his passing, he will be buried beside the Mercy for the Worlds, the beloved Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

This proves that Prophet ꜤIsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم who was to be granted a higher and more excellent place as a reward for his gratefulness, will not be raised to the fifth heaven, or to the sixth, or to Sidrat al-Muntaha, or even to the supreme ꜤArsh. Rather, the loftier, more virtuous, and superior place that will be given to him beyond his current one is the blessed and illuminated resting place of the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. From this, it becomes clear that the greatness and loftiness that belongs to the blessed resting place of the Mercy to the Worlds, the noble Prophet