Can Allah raise ordinary people, other than prophets, to Himself? And is the account of Thabit Al-Bunani's ascension true, and is it related to the ascension of Idris (peace be upon him) mentioned in Surah Maryam?
The text emphasizes that Allah Almighty is not incapacitated by anything, citing the noble verse: "And Allah is not to be incapacitated by anything in the heavens or on earth. Indeed, He is ever Knowing and Competent."
The text denies the existence of any evidence that Allah raises ordinary people to Him, and considers stories about some people flying to Paradise or the Kaaba to be the work of Satan, citing Ibn Taymiyyah's statement that devils may carry people and mislead them from performing legitimate rituals, making them believe that what they did were miracles or acts of devotion.
The text recounts a story from Ibn al-Haj in "Al-Madkhal" about a sheikh and a disciple, where the latter claimed to perform his daily prayers in Paradise with the help of a bird. The sheikh eventually revealed that the place was a dump, and that Satan was the one who misled the disciple.
Regarding Thabit al-Bunani, the text indicates that there is no evidence of him supplicating to ascend to the heavens. However, there is a verified narration about his supplication to pray in his grave, and it was reported that he was seen praying in his grave after his death.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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