Background
The orientalist Goldziher was the first to claim that Zoroastrianism significantly influenced Islam, particularly in relation to the incident of Mi’raj (Ascension). This claim was further propagated by a group of orientalists such as Tisdall, Ibn Warraq, and Steven Masood. They alleged that the Mi’raj described in the Qur’an was actually derived from a Zoroastrian book titled Arda Viraf Namag. According to them, this book was authored centuries before Islam, specifically around 275 CE. However, no concrete evidence has ever been provided to substantiate this claim.
Introduction to Arda Viraf Namag
Arda Viraf Namag is a book of the Zoroastrian faith in which a fictional character named Arda Viraf embarks on a spiritual journey and visits Paradise and Hell. During this journey, Viraf encounters Ahura Mazda (the Zoroastrian deity), who reveals various spiritual visions to him.
Historical Doubts About the Zoroastrian Text
Though it is claimed that Arda Viraf Namag was composed in 275 CE, the book mentions individuals who lived after this period:
- Adurbad-i Maraspandan (309–379 CE)
- Veh Shapur (531–579 CE)
This contradiction clearly indicates that the book was actually compiled in the 9th or 10th century CE.
Scholarly Research
The English translator Fereydun Vahman clarified that historical alterations were made to the book to lend it an air of authenticity:
“This book was compiled in the 9th or 10th century, and its introductory chapters contain post-Islamic historical references.” (Vahman, p. 11)
Similarly, scholars like Walter Belardi, David Flattery, and Martin Schwartz also emphasized that the book does not belong to the early era, but was compiled after the advent of Islam.
Furthermore, Encyclopaedia Iranica and P. Gnoli have also affirmed this conclusion:
“This book is a literary creation of the 9th or 10th century CE, and its objective was to serve as anti-Islamic propaganda.”
Refutation of the Comparative Analysis Between Mi’raj and Arda Viraf Namag
Orientalists assert that there are similarities between the story of Mi’raj and that of Arda Viraf Namag. However, reliable Islamic scholars and researchers have proven that:
① The present version of Arda Viraf Namag belongs to the post-Islamic era; therefore, the claim that Islam borrowed from it is unfounded.
② The incident of Mi’raj is clearly mentioned in the Qur’an and authentic Hadith, and its historical authenticity has been acknowledged by Islamic sources for centuries.
Conclusion
It is evident that the current form of Arda Viraf Namag was written during the 9th or 10th century CE, and was used as propaganda against Islam. The claims of the orientalists are based solely on superficial similarities and fail to meet the standards of academic research.
