This book examines how an elite group of traditionalists, historians and theologians shaped Muslims' perceptions of their prophet, their community and their behaviour by retelling and interpreting the story of Muhammad's ascent to heaven (the mi'raj). Although the 'facts' surrounding Muhammad's ascent are lost to historians, the legacy of his journey remains, and has contributed greatly to the construction of shared Islamic history, memory and meaning. Focusing on issues of interpretation, this book collects and translates a number of medieval mi'raj accounts. The narratives of Muhammad's...

This book examines how an elite group of traditionists, historians and theologians shaped Muslims' perceptions of their prophet, their community and their behavior by retelling and interpreting the story of Muhammad's ascent to heaven (the mi'raj).