The Prophet's meeting with Musa

Q 1: The Qur’an mentions that our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was taken up to the heavens on the Night Journey from Al-Masjid Al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque in Makkah) to Al-Aqsa Mosque and from there he was taken up to Sidrat Al-Muntah (The Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary over the Seventh Heaven beyond which none can pass). According to one of the Hadiths, the Prophet (peace be upon him) met with our master Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) who advised him that he should entreat Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) to reduce the number of the daily Salahs (Prayers) from fifty to five. Another Hadith states that when our Prophet (peace be upon him) was on his journey to Al-Aqsa Mosque, he met Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) in his grave. I think that the Jews fabricated this Hadith to exalt Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) and show that he was preferred over our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Please satisfy our thirst for the truth from your deep knowledge of Islam.

A: It is confirmed by the Qur’an and Hadith Mutawatir (a Hadith reported by a significant number of narrators throughout the chain of narration, whose agreement upon a lie is impossible) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was taken on a Night Journey (Isra’) from Al-Masjid Al-Haram to Al-Aqsa Mosque, and then up to the Seventh Heaven (Mi‘raj). There he saw some prophets, some astonishing scenes, Jannah (Paradise) and Hellfire. There Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) spoke to the Prophet (peace be upon him) with no intermediary and enjoined on him fifty Salahs. But the Prophet (peace be upon him) kept on returning to His Lord, asking Him to lighten the duty, until Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) reduced it to five Salahs in practice, but fifty in reward. (Part No. 1; Page No. 175) All praise and thanks are due to Allah Alone!It is confirmed in the Hadith Sahih (a Hadith that has been transmitted by people known for their uprightness and exactitude; free from eccentricity and blemish) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) saw Musa (peace be upon him) in the Sixth Heaven and it was he who advised our Prophet (peace be upon him) that he should go back to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) to ask Him to reduce the number of Salahs. This is confirmed in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim) and others.It is also authentically reported in "Sahih Muslim", "Musnad Imam Ahmad", "Sunan Al-Nasa’y", and "Sahih Ibn Hibban", on the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “I passed by Musa near the red mound on the night I was taken on the Nightly Journey (Isra’), and he was standing in prayer in his grave.” All this is truth, which Muslims must believe in and acknowledge. It is confirmed that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saw Musa (peace be upon him) in his grave performing Salah and that he also saw him in the heavens, and Allah has power over all things. It is not permissible to deny what has been confirmed in the authentic texts reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) due to bewilderment of minds at it, comparing the world of the Ghayb (the Unseen) or Barzakh (period between death and the Resurrection) to life in this world, or by claiming that they are just fabricated by the Jews. All of this is error, misguidance and deviation from the Straight Path. (Part No. 1; Page No. 176) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.