Signs & Science: Muhammad ﷺ – Ascension & Return

On the Day we are resurrected, Allah will question the descendants of Adam of their covenant:

وَأَنِ اعْبُدُونِي هَٰذَا صِرَاطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ ...
... And that you worship Me? This (is) a Path Straight. [Al-Quran 36:61]

Mission of the Messengers-XVIII

Abstract

The belief in the ascension and return of Muhammad ﷺ as an extension of the belief in Adam عليه السلام ’s descent, Enoch (Idris عليه السلام) and Jesus (Isa عليه السلام)’ ascent and Moses (Musa عليه السلام)’ conversation with God.

Understanding and identifying the sacred months in the context of ascension and pilgrimage.

Appended Slides

The Correct Religion
Surah al-Isra: Precepts of Wisdom
Surah al-Isra: Establish Prayer

Full Text

Many Muslims believe that Muhammad ﷺ physically ascended to meet Allah ﷻ and returned within the same night. Muslims also believe that Adam عليه السلام was sent from The Garden to Earth. They also believe that Jesus (Isa عليه السلام) was raised alive and is yet to return. Jews, Christians and Muslims also believe that God spoke with Moses (Musa عليه السلام). It is also believed that when the time comes, the Believers who have been forgiven will be able to leave Earth and ascend to inherit The Gardens, as an ever-lasting reward by Allah ﷻ the Most-Compassionate, the Ever-Merciful, the Most-Appreciative!

The ascension of Muhammad ﷺ is mentioned in the very first ayat of Surah al-Isra:

سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلًا مِّنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَقْصَى الَّذِي بَارَكْنَا حَوْلَهُ لِنُرِيَهُ مِنْ آيَاتِنَا إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ

Glory to (God) Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest Mosque, whose precincts We did bless,- in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the One Who heareth and seeth (all things ).

[Al-Quran 17:1, Translation: Yusuf Ali]

Physical Journey

As can be seen in the usage of the word across The Quran, the word is used to mean to go from one place to another:

Screenshot from corpus.quran.com

The Prophet’s journey was a physical journey, not an OBE (out-of-the-body) experience, simply because both The Bible and The Quran state that the human is made of dust. The human is essentially the dust he/she is made of, as explored in another post Human: Body or Soul? Therefore, it must be a physical journey that involved transportation of the body from The Sacred Mosque to The Farthest Mosque.

Farthest Mosque

The Quran describes the Earth as situated within the innermost layer of the seven concentric skies/heavens, and the Throne of God above it. Therefore the farthest mosque from Earth must be at or very near The Mighty Throne, possibly Bait-ul-Mamoor whose oath has been taken in Q52:4.

A common misconception is that alMasjid alAqsa in Q17:1 refers to the mosque in Jerusalem. The subsequent ayaat of the same surah clarify that the Temple of Solomon had already been completely destroyed and didn’t exist then. Masjid alAqsa is supposed to have been built later, by a Muslim ruler, on the empty site where Caliph Umar رضي الله عنه had prayed after conquering Jerusalem during his caliphate. There was no Masjid alAqsa in Jerusalem, at the time of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ ’s ascension.

Show Signs

Q17:1 states that the reason for the Ascension was to show signs. Then, we read in Q17:60:

وَمَا مَنَعَنَا أَن نُّرْسِلَ بِالْآيَاتِ إِلَّا أَن كَذَّبَ بِهَا الْأَوَّلُونَ وَآتَيْنَا ثَمُودَ النَّاقَةَ مُبْصِرَةً فَظَلَمُوا بِهَا

وَمَا نُرْسِلُ بِالْآيَاتِ إِلَّا تَخْوِيفًا

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لَكَ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ أَحَاطَ بِالنَّاسِ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا الرُّؤْيَا الَّتِي أَرَيْنَاكَ إِلَّا فِتْنَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَالشَّجَرَةَ الْمَلْعُونَةَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ

وَنُخَوِّفُهُمْ فَمَا يَزِيدُهُمْ إِلَّا طُغْيَانًا كَبِيرًا

And not stopped Us that We send the Signs except that denied them the former (people) And We gave Thamud the she-camel (as) a visible sign, but they wronged her.

And not We send the Signs except (as) a warning.

And when We said to you, "Indeed, your Lord has encompassed the mankind." And not We made the vision which We showed you except (as) a trial for mankind, and the tree the accursed in the Quran.

And We threaten them but not it increases them except (in) transgression great.

[Al-Quran 17:59 - 60]

Curiously, another term used in Q17:60 is what is translated as vision or dream. The words translated as show in Q17:1 and and vision in Q17:60 share the same root in Arabic. The following screenshots give an idea of their usage in some other ayaat of The Quran as well:

...

Screenshots from corpus.quran.com

Interestingly, a similar combination of seeing and vision is there is Surah Yusuf (Q12:4,5; Q12:100). Moreover, Q12:6 quotes Prophet Jacob (Yaqub عليه السلام) stating that God will teach Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام) the interpretation of ‘ahadith’ (narratives/statements). The Quran also uses the same word for itself:

إِذْ قَالَ يُوسُفُ لِأَبِيهِ يَا أَبَتِ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَبًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِي سَاجِدِينَ
قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تَقْصُصْ رُؤْيَاكَ عَلَىٰ إِخْوَتِكَ فَيَكِيدُوا لَكَ كَيْدًا إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لِلْإِنسَانِ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ

وَكَذَٰلِكَ يَجْتَبِيكَ رَبُّكَ وَيُعَلِّمُكَ مِن تَأْوِيلِ الْأَحَادِيثِ وَيُتِمُّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ يَعْقُوبَ كَمَا أَتَمَّهَا عَلَىٰ أَبَوَيْكَ مِن قَبْلُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْحَاقَ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ

When said Yusuf to his father, "O my father! Indeed, I I saw eleven star(s) and the sun and the moon; I saw them to me prostrating."
He said, "O my son! (Do) not relate your vision to your brothers lest they plan against you a plot. Indeed, the Shaitaan (is) to man an enemy open.
And thus will choose you your Lord and will teach you of (the) interpretation (of) the narratives and complete His Favor on you and on (the) family (of) Yaqub as He completed it on your two forefathers before - Ibrahim and Ishaq. Indeed, your Lord (is) All-Knower, All-Wise."

[Al-Quran 12:4-6]

وَرَفَعَ أَبَوَيْهِ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ وَخَرُّوا لَهُ سُجَّدًا وَقَالَ يَا أَبَتِ هَٰذَا تَأْوِيلُ رُؤْيَايَ مِن قَبْلُ قَدْ جَعَلَهَا رَبِّي حَقًّا وَقَدْ أَحْسَنَ بِي إِذْ أَخْرَجَنِي مِنَ السِّجْنِ وَجَاءَ بِكُم مِّنَ الْبَدْوِ مِن بَعْدِ أَن نَّزَغَ الشَّيْطَانُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ إِخْوَتِي إِنَّ رَبِّي لَطِيفٌ لِّمَا يَشَاءُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ
لَقَدْ كَانَ فِي قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌ لِّأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ مَا كَانَ حَدِيثًا يُفْتَرَىٰ وَلَٰكِن تَصْدِيقَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

And he raised his parents upon the throne and they fell down to him prostrate. And he said, "O my father! This (is the) interpretation (of) my dream, (of) before. Verily, has made it my Lord true. And indeed, He was good to me when He took me out of the prison, and brought you from the bedouin life after [that] had caused discord the Shaitaan between me and between my brothers. Indeed, my Lord (is) Most Subtle to what He wills. Indeed, He, He (is) the All-Knower, the All-Wise.
Verily, (there) is in their stories a lesson for men (of) understanding. Not (it) is a narration invented, but a confirmation (of that) which (was) before it and a detailed explanation (of) all things, and a guidance and mercy for a people who believe.

[Al-Quran 12:100-12:111]

تِلْكَ آيَاتُ اللَّهِ نَتْلُوهَا عَلَيْكَ بِالْحَقِّ فَبِأَيِّ حَدِيثٍ بَعْدَ اللَّهِ وَآيَاتِهِ يُؤْمِنُونَ

These (are the) Verses, (of) Allah We recite them to you in truth. Then in what statement after Allah and His Verses will they believe?

[Al-Quran 45:6]

فَبِأَيِّ حَدِيثٍ بَعْدَهُ يُؤْمِنُونَ

Then in what statement after it will they believe?

[Al-Quran 77:50]

From the little scientists know about dreams, an on-going subject of research and discovery, the brain and the senses are actively involved in dreaming. In some cases, even the body is actively engaged in the dream. Electrical activity in the brain is being mapped. Different brain waves have been measured, correlating with different states. Of special relevance to this study may be the Gamma waves.

As discussed under Physical Journey above, we learn from The Quran that the human is created from dust, so the involvement of the body is essential for any physical travel. More on this under Ascension and Instantaneous Transportation below.

The Quran informs us of past and future events as dire warnings as well as glad tidings. So, perhaps, for a living person, to be taken on a physical journey to experience the otherwise unseen reality, as well be shown future (and/or past) events, as in a dream, is a combination of both the mind and body phenomena. For Muhammad ﷺ as the Messenger and the Prophet, the journey was probably experiential of the past, present and future. Allah ﷻ knows best!

Trial

Q17:60 links that which was shown to Muhammad ﷺ and the cursed tree mentioned in the Quran, explaining that both were intended as a trial for mankind! The Quran mentions the tree that Adam عليه السلام was forbidden to eat from, and it also mentions the tree of 'az-zaqqum' (شَجَرَةُ الزَّقُّومِ), growing from the core of Hell, which is meant as a trial for the unjust.

Our story on Earth begins with Adam عليه السلام ’s descent after he was tried with the tree in The Garden. The Quran details the consequence of the disobedience: Adam عليه السلام and his wife lost their natural clothing, with the evidence in our genomes. Allah ﷻ creates good everything that He creates (Q32:7) and He did perfect our forms (Q40:64). Yet, our genomes bear the evidence of many of the errors, transgressions and sins of the collective human misadventures (Q4:79, Q30:9, Q30:41). Some are manifested while most remain dormant by the grace of Allah ﷻ. We humans have gone from being created excellently to having very lowly, imperfect bodies, yet sporting the most complex brains on the planet. The descendants of Adam عليه السلام have indeed been honoured above many creatures, in many ways, and our transportation is of particular significance:

وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِي آدَمَ وَحَمَلْنَاهُمْ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَاهُم مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَفَضَّلْنَاهُمْ عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلًا

And certainly, We have honored (the) children of Adam and We carried them on the land and the sea, and We have provided them of the good things and We preferred them over many of those whom We have created (with) preference.

[Al-Quran 17:70]

Satan is the enemy. The Quran warns of the origin and objective of Satan’s enmity to Adam عليه السلام and his descendants. The Quran also informs us of the similarity in the creation of Adam عليه السلام and Jesus (Isa عليه السلام):

إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَىٰ عِندَ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ آدَمَ خَلَقَهُ مِن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ

Indeed, (the) likeness (of) Isa near Allah (is) like (the) likeness (of) Adam. He created him from dust then He said to him, "Be," and he was.

[Al-Quran 3:59]

Iblis led Adam عليه السلام to be expelled from The Garden to Earth. Jesus (Isa عليه السلام) was raised up from the Earth. At the end of our allotted time, when the Anti-Christ is supposed to be leading multitude of descendants of Adam عليه السلام astray, Jesus (Isa عليه السلام) is expected to return to help rescue the Believers. More on this in Jesus (عليه السلام) – Ascension & Return.

Enoch (Idris عليه السلام) is a famous Biblical prophet. His ascension is mentioned in the Bible. The Book of Enoch is an ancient Jewish religious work. He is also mentioned in Surah Maryam and Surah alAnbiya as Idrees.

وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتَابِ إِدْرِيسَ إِنَّهُ كَانَ صِدِّيقًا نَّبِيًّا

وَرَفَعْنَاهُ مَكَانًا عَلِيًّا

And mention Idris in the Book; surely he was a truthful man, a prophet,

And We raised him high in Heaven.

[Al-Quran 19:56-57, Translator: Shakir]

Thus a prerequisite to the belief in Muhammad ﷺ ’s ascension, and return, is the belief in Adamعليه السلام ’s coming to Earth, Enoch (Idris عليه السلام) and Jesus (Isa عليه السلام) being raised alive, and God speaking with Moses (Musa عليه السلام). All these are matters of faith as, as far as I know, there were no human witnesses who saw Moses (Musa عليه السلام) talking with God, or witnessed Enoch (Idris عليه السلام) or Jesus (Isa عليه السلام)’ ascension, or Adam عليه السلام ’s descent, or Muhammad ﷺ ’s ascension and return. Their companions took these events on faith. God showed many clear signs through Moses (Musa عليه السلام) and Jesus (Isa عليه السلام), yet those who were not to believe, rejected them all.

Ascension

وَلَقَدْ صَرَّفْنَا لِلنَّاسِ فِي هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ فَأَبَىٰ أَكْثَرُ النَّاسِ إِلَّا كُفُورًا

وَقَالُوا لَن نُّؤْمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّىٰ تَفْجُرَ لَنَا مِنَ الْأَرْضِ يَنبُوعًا

أَوْ تَكُونَ لَكَ جَنَّةٌ مِّن نَّخِيلٍ وَعِنَبٍ فَتُفَجِّرَ الْأَنْهَارَ خِلَالَهَا تَفْجِيرًا

أَوْ تُسْقِطَ السَّمَاءَ كَمَا زَعَمْتَ عَلَيْنَا كِسَفًا أَوْ تَأْتِيَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ قَبِيلًا

أَوْ يَكُونَ لَكَ بَيْتٌ مِّن زُخْرُفٍ أَوْ تَرْقَىٰ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَلَن نُّؤْمِنَ لِرُقِيِّكَ حَتَّىٰ تُنَزِّلَ عَلَيْنَا كِتَابًا نَّقْرَؤُهُ

قُلْ سُبْحَانَ رَبِّي هَلْ كُنتُ إِلَّا بَشَرًا رَّسُولًا

And verily We have explained to mankind in this Quran from every example, but refused most (of) the mankind except disbelief. And they say, "Never we will believe in you until you cause to for us from the earth a spring. Or you have for you a garden of date-palms and grapes, and cause to the rivers within them abundantly. Or you cause to fall the sky, as you have claimed, upon us (in) pieces or you bring Allah and the Angels before (us). Or is for you a house of ornament or you ascend into the sky. And never we will believe in your ascension until you bring down to us a book we could read it."

Say, "Glorified (is) my Lord! "What am I but a human, a Messenger."

[Al-Quran 17:89-93]

The triliteral root rā qāf yā (ر ق ي) occurs in the Quran as follows:

Screenshot from corpus.quran.com

وَمَا مَنَعَ النَّاسَ أَن يُؤْمِنُوا إِذْ جَاءَهُمُ الْهُدَىٰ إِلَّا أَن قَالُوا أَبَعَثَ اللَّهُ بَشَرًا رَّسُولًا

قُل لَّوْ كَانَ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَلَائِكَةٌ يَمْشُونَ مُطْمَئِنِّينَ لَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ مَلَكًا رَّسُولًا

قُلْ كَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ شَهِيدًا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِ خَبِيرًا بَصِيرًا

And what prevented the people that they believe when came to them the guidance except that they said, "Has Allah sent a human Messenger?"

Say, "If (there) were in the earth Angels walking securely, surely We (would) have sent down to them from the heaven an Angel (as) a Messenger."

Say, "Sufficient is Allah (as) a witness between me and between you. Indeed, He is of His slaves All-Aware, All-Seer."

[Al-Quran 17:94-96]

The Unseen

In Q17:85 the question about the RUH is briefly addressed. Before and after Q17:93, which mentions the people’s disbelief in Muhammad ﷺ ’s ascension, wondrous concepts such as Allah ﷻ ’s command, angels, belief in the unseen are mentioned – wondrous concepts, yet made easy to trust for the believing heart.

Instantaneous Transportation

Q27:40 mentions the instantaneous transportation of an object from one country to another by a person who had been given knowledge from the The Book. As Q13:39 informs us that the Mother of the Book is with Allah ﷻ . For someone who authors and controls the software of all creation, nothing is impossible for Him! In Q66:8, we read that:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَّصُوحًا عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَن يُكَفِّرَ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيُدْخِلَكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ يَوْمَ لَا يُخْزِي اللَّهُ النَّبِيَّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ نُورُهُمْ يَسْعَىٰ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَانِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

O you who believe! Turn to Allah (in) repentance sincere! Perhaps your Lord [that] will remove from you your evil deeds and admit you (into) Gardens flow from underneath it the rivers, (on the) Day not Allah will disgrace the Prophet and those who believed with him. Their light will run before them and on their right; they will say, "Our Lord Perfect for us our light and grant forgiveness to us. Indeed, You (are) over every thing All-Powerful."

[Al-Quran 66:8]

Is this ayat informing us of teleportation? Does 'perfection of light (نُورُ) mean complete conversion into energy, which will be beamed to The Gardens along the correct trajectory (الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ), to be restored back into matter upon arrival there? Surah alIsra itself declares that Allah ﷻ, who separated us into individuals before, is able to recollect us:

قُلْ كُونُوا حِجَارَةً أَوْ حَدِيدًا

أَوْ خَلْقًا مِّمَّا يَكْبُرُ فِي صُدُورِكُمْ فَسَيَقُولُونَ مَن يُعِيدُنَا قُلِ الَّذِي فَطَرَكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ فَسَيُنْغِضُونَ إِلَيْكَ رُءُوسَهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هُوَ قُلْ عَسَىٰ أَن يَكُونَ قَرِيبًا

Say, "Be stones or iron.

Or a creation of what (is) great in your breasts." Then they will say, "Who will restore us?" Say, "He Who separated you (the) first time." Then they will shake at you their heads and they say, "When (will) it (be)?" Say, "Perhaps that (it) will be soon."

[Al-Quran 17:50-51; Translation edited (in italics)]

In this era of science and technology, when there are theories about the multiverse, theories about quantum teleportation, when interstellar travel no longer seems like an improbable dream, when there is active search for a hospitable planet to migrate to; it is far easier to believe that the Creator of Everything can and did transport Adam عليه السلام , Enoch (Idris عليه السلام), Jesus (Isa عليه السلام) and Muhammad ﷺ .

Travel to Meet God

مِّنَ اللَّهِ ذِي الْمَعَارِجِ

From Allah, Owner (of) the ways of ascent.

[Al-Quran 70:3]

Adam عليه السلام descended; Enoch (Idris عليه السلام) and Jesus (Isa عليه السلام) ascended. Muhammad ﷺ ascended and descended. The Quran doesn't seem to explicitly state the details of these travels, such as vehicle, time taken, route, etc. All these travels happened as per the Will and Command of Allah ﷻ . However, when Pharaoh attempted to reach God:

وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ يَا أَيُّهَا الْمَلَأُ مَا عَلِمْتُ لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرِي فَأَوْقِدْ لِي يَا هَامَانُ عَلَى الطِّينِ فَاجْعَل لِّي صَرْحًا لَّعَلِّي أَطَّلِعُ إِلَىٰ إِلَٰهِ مُوسَىٰ وَإِنِّي لَأَظُنُّهُ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ

And Firaun said, "O chiefs! Not I know for you any god other than me. So kindle for me O Haman! Upon the clay and make, for me a lofty tower so that [I] I may look at (the) God (of) Musa. And indeed, I [I] think that he (is) of the liars."

[Al-Quran 28:38]

وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ يَا هَامَانُ ابْنِ لِي صَرْحًا لَّعَلِّي أَبْلُغُ الْأَسْبَابَ

أَسْبَابَ السَّمَاوَاتِ فَأَطَّلِعَ إِلَىٰ إِلَٰهِ مُوسَىٰ وَإِنِّي لَأَظُنُّهُ كَاذِبًا
وَكَذَٰلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِفِرْعَوْنَ سُوءُ عَمَلِهِ وَصُدَّ عَنِ السَّبِيلِ

وَمَا كَيْدُ فِرْعَوْنَ إِلَّا فِي تَبَابٍ

And said Firaun, "O Haman! Construct for me a tower that I may reach the ways

(The) ways (to) the heavens so I may look at (the) God (of) Musa; and indeed, I [I] surely think him (to be) a liar."
And thus was made fair-seeming to Firaun (the) evil (of) his deed, and he was averted from the way.

And not (was the) plot (of) Firaun except in ruin.

[Al-Quran 40:36 - 37]

Surah al-Isra categorically states:

قُل لَّوْ كَانَ مَعَهُ آلِهَةٌ كَمَا يَقُولُونَ إِذًا لَّابْتَغَوْا إِلَىٰ ذِي الْعَرْشِ سَبِيلًا

Say: If there had been (other) gods with Him, as they say,- behold, they would certainly have sought out a way to the Lord of the Throne!

[Al-Quran 17:42, Translator: Yusuf Ali]

Much as we desire to escape and ascend to The Gardens, we will not be able to do so until Allah ﷻ permits it:

يَا مَعْشَرَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنسِ إِنِ اسْتَطَعْتُمْ أَن تَنفُذُوا مِنْ أَقْطَارِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ فَانفُذُوا

لَا تَنفُذُونَ إِلَّا بِسُلْطَانٍ

O assembly (of) the jinn and the men! If you are able to pass beyond [of] (the) regions (of) the heavens and the earth, then pass.

Not you (can) pass except by authority.

[Al-Quran 55:33]

To eventually leave this planet and ascend again, we need to earn Allah ﷻ ’s forgiveness, as detailed in the scriptures:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَأَخْبَتُوا إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

Indeed, those who believe and do good deeds and humble themselves before their Lord, those (are the) companions (of) Paradise, they in it (will) abide forever.

[Al-Quran 11:23]

يَوْمَ تَرَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَسْعَىٰ نُورُهُم بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَانِهِم بُشْرَاكُمُ الْيَوْمَ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ

يَوْمَ يَقُولُ الْمُنَافِقُونَ وَالْمُنَافِقَاتُ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا انظُرُونَا نَقْتَبِسْ مِن نُّورِكُمْ قِيلَ ارْجِعُوا وَرَاءَكُمْ فَالْتَمِسُوا نُورًا

فَضُرِبَ بَيْنَهُم بِسُورٍ لَّهُ بَابٌ بَاطِنُهُ فِيهِ الرَّحْمَةُ وَظَاهِرُهُ مِن قِبَلِهِ الْعَذَابُ

(On the) Day you will see the believing men and the believing women, running, their light before them and on their right, "Glad tidings for you this Day - gardens flowing from underneath it the rivers, abiding forever therein. That [it] (is) the success the great."

(On the) Day will say the hypocrite men and the hypocrite women to those who believed, "Wait for us, we may acquire of your light." It will be said, "Go back behind you and seek light."

Then will be put up between them a wall, for it a gate its interior, in it (is) mercy but its exterior, facing towards [it] the punishment.

[Al-Quran 57:12-13]

سَابِقُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا كَعَرْضِ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ أُعِدَّتْ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ذَٰلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ
Race to (the) forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden its width (is) like (the) width (of) the heaven and the earth, prepared for those who believe in Allah and His Messengers. That (is the) Bounty (of) Allah, He gives (to) whom He wills. And Allah (is) the Possessor of Bounty, the Great.
[Al-Quran 57:21]

Pilgrimage in the Sacred Months

إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِندَ اللَّهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ
مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ
وَقَاتِلُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ كَافَّةً كَمَا يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ كَافَّةً وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِينَ

Indeed, (the) number (of) the months with Allah (is) twelve months in (the) ordinance (of) Allah (from the) Day He created the heavens and the earth;
of them, four (are) sacred. That (is) the religion the upright, so (do) not wrong therein yourselves.
And fight the polytheists all together, as they fight you all together. And know that Allah (is) with the righteous.

[Al-Quran 9:36]

إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِي بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًا وَهُدًى لِّلْعَالَمِينَ
فِيهِ آيَاتٌ بَيِّنَاتٌ مَّقَامُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمَن دَخَلَهُ كَانَ آمِنًا وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ

Indeed, (the) First House set up for the mankind (is) the one which (is) at Bakkah, blessed and a guidance for the worlds.
In it (are) signs clear, standing place of Ibrahim, and whoever enters it - is safe. And (due) to Allah upon the mankind (is) pilgrimage (of) the House (for one) who is able to [it] (find) a way. And whoever disbelieved then indeed, Allah (is) free from need of the universe.

[Al-Quran 3:96-97]

وَأَذِّن فِي النَّاسِ بِالْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍ

And proclaim to [the] mankind [of] the Pilgrimage; they will come to you (on) foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every mountain highway distant.

[Al-Quran 22:27]

Pilgrimage (alHajj) to the Kaaba in Makkah has been ordained for all people. The dates for alHajj fall in the month of Dhu-al-Hijjah, which is preceeded by Dhu-al-Qadah and followed by Muharram. Surah alBaqarah mentions the new moons, sacred months, and pilgrimage directives, and fighting prohibition and permission during the pilgrimage months from Q2:189 till Q2:218. Though alHajj is performed on fixed dates, the dates and months for the pilgrimage have been well-known from ancient times. Even in Moses (Musa عليه السلام)' agreement for work, the number of years were discussed in numbers of Hajj (حِجَجٍ) as in Q28:27.

... الْحَجُّ أَشْهُرٌ مَّعْلُومَاتٌ

(For) the Hajj (are) months well known, ...

[Al-Quran 2:197]

... وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ فِي أَيَّامٍ مَّعْدُودَاتٍ

And remember Allah during days numbered. ...

[Al-Quran 2:203]

Q3:97 informs us that there are clear signs at The First House set up for mankind. Q17:1 informs us that Muhammad ﷺ 's ascension from The Sacred Mosque to The Farthest Mosque was to show him signs. It is believed that the month in which the ascension took place was Rajab.

Though there is some debate on which are the four sacred months, the most popularly accepted opinion is based on a Hadith attributed to Prophet-Messenger Muhammad ﷺ . According to it, the four sacred months are: Rajab, Dhu-al-Qadah, Dhu-al-Hijjah and Muharram.

However, Surah at-Taubah, which begins with the declaration of war gives a four-month notice to the Meccans. From the fifth ayat, it seems that these are the same sacred months; and since it is a notice period, it should logically be four continuous months:

بَرَاءَةٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ إِلَى الَّذِينَ عَاهَدتُّم مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

فَسِيحُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّكُمْ غَيْرُ مُعْجِزِي اللَّهِ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ مُخْزِي الْكَافِرِينَ

وَأَذَانٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ إِلَى النَّاسِ يَوْمَ الْحَجِّ الْأَكْبَرِ أَنَّ اللَّهَ بَرِيءٌ مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ وَرَسُولُهُ فَإِن تُبْتُمْ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ وَإِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّكُمْ غَيْرُ مُعْجِزِي اللَّهِ وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ

إِلَّا الَّذِينَ عَاهَدتُّم مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَنقُصُوكُمْ شَيْئًا وَلَمْ يُظَاهِرُوا عَلَيْكُمْ أَحَدًا فَأَتِمُّوا إِلَيْهِمْ عَهْدَهُمْ إِلَىٰ مُدَّتِهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَّقِينَ

فَإِذَا انسَلَخَ الْأَشْهُرُ الْحُرُمُ فَاقْتُلُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ وَخُذُوهُمْ وَاحْصُرُوهُمْ وَاقْعُدُوا لَهُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍ فَإِن تَابُوا وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ فَخَلُّوا سَبِيلَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Freedom from obligation (is proclaimed) from Allah and His messenger toward those of the idolaters with whom ye made a treaty.

Travel freely in the land four months, and know that ye cannot escape Allah and that Allah will confound the disbelievers (in His Guidance).

And a proclamation from Allah and His messenger to all men on the day of the Greater Pilgrimage that Allah is free from obligation to the idolaters, and (so is) His messenger. So, if ye repent, it will be better for you; but if ye are averse, then know that ye cannot escape Allah. Give tidings (O Muhammad) of a painful doom to those who disbelieve,

Excepting those of the idolaters with whom ye (Muslims) have a treaty, and who have since abated nothing of your right nor have supported anyone against you. (As for these), fulfil their treaty to them till their term. Lo! Allah loveth those who keep their duty (unto Him).

Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

[Al-Quran 9:1-5, Translator: Pickthal]

A Prayer from Surah al-Isra

وَقُل رَّبِّ أَدْخِلْنِي مُدْخَلَ صِدْقٍ وَأَخْرِجْنِي مُخْرَجَ صِدْقٍ
وَاجْعَل لِّي مِن لَّدُنكَ سُلْطَانًا نَّصِيرًا
وَقُلْ جَاءَ الْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ الْبَاطِلُ إِنَّ الْبَاطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقًا

And say, "My Lord! Cause me to enter an entrance sound, and cause me to an exit sound
and make for me from near You an authority helping."

And say, "Has come the truth and perished the falsehood. Indeed, the falsehood is (bound) to perish."

[Al-Quran 17:80-81]

Concluding Ayah of Surah al-Isra

وَقُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ
الَّذِي لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًا وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ شَرِيكٌ فِي الْمُلْكِ
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ وَلِيٌّ مِّنَ الذُّلِّ
وَكَبِّرْهُ تَكْبِيرًا

And say, "All Praise (is) for Allah
the One Who has not taken a son and not is for Him a partner in the dominion,
and not is for Him any protector out of weakness.
And magnify Him (with all) magnificence."

[Al-Quran 17:111]