Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "On the night of my Ascension to Heaven, I saw (the prophet) Moses who was a thin person with lank hair, looking like one of the men of the tribe of Shanua; and I saw Jesus who was of average height with red face as if he had just come out of a bathroom. And I resemble prophet Abraham more than any of his offspring does. Then I was given two cups, one containing milk and the other wine. Gabriel said, 'Drink whichever you like.' I took the milk and drank it. Gabriel said, 'You have accepted what is natural, (True Religion i.e. Islam) and if you had taken the wine, your followers would have gone astray.' "
The Night Journey & Heavenly Encounter
This profound narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 3394 describes the Prophet's miraculous Night Journey (Isra') and Ascension (Mi'raj), where he encountered previous prophets in their celestial forms and received divine guidance.
Descriptions of the Prophets
Moses (Musa) is depicted as thin with lank hair, resembling the men of Shanu'a tribe - indicating his ascetic nature and the hardships he endured leading Bani Israel through the wilderness.
Jesus (Isa) is described as of average height with reddish complexion, appearing as if he just emerged from a bath - symbolizing purity and the miraculous nature of his birth without human intervention.
Abraham (Ibrahim) is noted as having the closest resemblance to Muhammad - emphasizing the spiritual lineage and the continuity of the message of pure monotheism (Tawhid).
The Symbolic Choice
The two cups represent the fundamental choice between the natural, pure path (milk) and deviation (wine). Milk symbolizes the fitrah - the innate disposition towards truth, while wine represents alteration of the natural state and misguidance.
The Prophet's choice of milk confirms Islam as the religion of natural disposition, completing and perfecting the previous revelations while maintaining their essential truth.
Scholarly Insights
Classical commentators note that this vision establishes the Prophet's direct connection to the chain of prophethood and confirms his authority as the final messenger.
The description of prophets in their heavenly forms demonstrates that while their physical missions differed, their essential message of Tawhid remained consistent throughout history.
This narration also emphasizes the importance of following the natural disposition (fitrah) in matters of faith, avoiding innovations and deviations that lead communities astray.