A057
Surah: 019 - Ayah: 057
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19:57
The following verse of Hakim Sana'i is worth reflecting on:
Bi-mir ay dust pish az marg agar umr-i abad khwahi
Kih Idris az chunin murdan bihishti gashtah pish az ma
O friend! If you want the eternal life, die before (compulsory) death,
Because by doing so before us, Idris became a Paradise dweller.
Referring to this God says about Idris in verse (19:57): "And We raised him to an exalted station (Paradise of spirituality)".
Physical Body is not Everlasting
Q.81. God raised Hazrat Idris to paradise with this physical body (19:57), Hazrat Khidr became everliving in this world with his physical body and God raised Hazrat 'Isa' to the heaven with this body. Are these allegories or realities? Whatever may be the case, please explain them clearly.
A. These are the allegories of wisdom and wisdom and reality lie in understanding them. Thus it should be known that God showed Hazrat Idris the paradise of spirituality and made it known to him in the life of this world, just as His Prophets, friends and the righteous servants have always been observing it (in this life) by His mercy (47:6). This shows that God had raised Hazrat Idris to the place of spirituality. Then, when the appointed time came, he entered the eternal paradise leaving the physical body in this world. Since numerous difficulties are attached to the physical body, therefore, it cannot remain in the eternal paradise, even though the selected servants of God can observe, experience and recognise the spiritual paradise in this body before death.
If there is any sound tradition or an allegory regarding the everliving state of Hazrat Khidr, then the ta'wil of it is that, he had become immortal spiritually (and not physically). For, God does not like His selected servants to carry the burden of the physical body more than the appointed time. This explanation also answers the question regarding Hazrat 'Isa. For details, study the article "Is Hazrat 'Isa Soul or Body?" in "Panj Maqalah, II".
Miraj (Miraj of Hazrat Idris, a highly exalted place)
It is said about Hazrat Idris in verse (19:57): "And We raised him to an exalted station (i.e. the miraj of spirituality)." When God mentions His favour to one of His Prophets, it is indeed a very great favour. Thus, here by the exalted station is meant the place of miraj which Hazrat Idris had attained in his personal world.
This verse has been referred 3 times.