Is the raising mentioned in the verse about Idrees, “And We raised him to a high station”, raising in a literal or symbolic sense?
Question

                Allah, may He be exalted, says concerning Idrees (peace be upon him): “And We raised him to a high station” [Maryam 19:57 – interpretation of the meaning]. What is the interpretation of this verse? What is the evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah?
Praise be to Allah.
    Idrees (pace be upon him) is one of the 
    Prophets, whom Allah mentioned in His holy Book, as He says (interpretation 
    of the meaning): “And mention in the Book (the 
    Qur’an) Idrees (Enoch).Verily! He was a man of truth, (and) a Prophet. And 
    We raised him to a high station” [Maryam 
    19:56-57]. 
    That is: mention by way of respect and honour, and with attributes of 
    perfection, “Idrees (Enoch).Verily! He was a man of truth, (and) a 
    Prophet” Allah combined in him truthfulness, which is a high level of 
    faith, perfect knowledge, steadfast certainty and righteous deeds, with 
    choosing him to receive His revelation and to receive His message.

    End quote from Tafseer as-Sa‘di (p. 
    496) 

    And Allah praised him by saying 
    (interpretation of the meaning): “And We raised him to a high station”. 

    The commentators differed concerning the 
    interpretation of this verse; there are two opinions: 

    1.That what is meant 
    by raising in this verse is symbolic raising; in other words, We raised him 
    to a lofty status among people, namely the status of Prophethood which is 
    the highest status and standing.

    Al-Baydaawi (may Allah have mercy on him) 
    said: “And We raised him to a high station” means: the noble status 
    of Prophethood and closeness to Allah.

    End quote from Anwaar at-Tanzeel wa 
    Asraar at-Ta’weel (4/22) 

    Al-‘Allaamah as-Sa‘di (may Allah have 
    mercy on him) said: “And We raised him to a high station” means: 
    Allah raised his reputation among all nations and raised his status among 
    those who are near to Him, so he was held in high esteem and was given a 
    high status. 

    End quote from Tayseer al-Kareem 
    ar-Rahmaan (p. 496) 

    2.That what is meant 
    by raising in this verse is raising in a literal, real sense.

    This is the view of the majority of 
    commentators, but they differed concerning the place to which he was raised, 
    and the reason for it and the story behind it. They also differed as to 
    whether he died: was he raised and his soul taken in death, or was he still 
    alive? 

    Ibn Jareer at-Tabari (may Allah have mercy 
    on him) said: What is meant is that he was taken up to a high, lofty place. 
    Some of the scholars said: He was taken up to the sixth heaven. Others said 
    that it was the fourth heaven.

    End quote from Jaami‘ al-Bayaan (18/212) 

    Al-Haafiz Ibn katheer (may Allah have 
    mercy on him) said: Sufyaan said, from Mansoor, from Mujaahid: “And We 
    raised him to a high station” – he said: He was taken up to the fourth 
    heaven. 

    Al-‘Awfi said, narrating from Ibn ‘Abbaas: 
    “And We raised him to a high station” – he said: He was taken up to 
    the sixth heaven and died there. This was also stated by ad-Dahhaak ibn 
    Muzaahim. 

    Al-Hasan and others said concerning the 
    words “And We raised him to a high station”: (That is,) Paradise. 

    End quote from Tafseer al-Qur’an al-‘Azeem 
    (5/240-241) 

    Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy 
    on him) said: The idea that Idrees was alive when he was taken up is not 
    proven in any strong, marfoo‘ report (i.e., it cannot be attributed to the 
    Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)).

    End quote from Fath al-Baari 
    (6/375) 

    What is most likely to be correct is: 

    These words are to be understood in the 
    light of what is mentioned in the hadeeth of Anas (may Allah be pleased with 
    him) about the Isra’ (Prophet’s night journey) in which it says: “… Then we 
    were taken up to the fourth heaven. Jibreel (peace be upon him) asked for it 
    to be opened. It was said: Who is this? He said: Jibreel. It was said: And 
    who is with you? He said: Muhammad. He said: Has (revelation) been sent to 
    him? He said: It has been sent to him. So it was opened for us, and I saw 
    Idrees; he welcomed me and prayed for good for me. Allah, may He be 
    glorified and exalted, said (interpretation of the meaning): ‘And We 
    raised him to a high station.’” Narrated by Muslim (259) 

    This indicates that he is in the fourth 
    heaven; that does not contradict the idea of being raised in a symbolic or 
    metaphorical sense, that resulted from Prophethood. 

    Ibn Jizziy described this view as being 
    more well-known, then he said: The hadeeth makes it more likely to be 
    correct. 

    End quote from al-Tasheel (3/7) 

    Al-Haafiz Ibn Katheer said in al-Bidaayah 
    wa’n-Nihaayah (1/100): Allah, may He be exalted, says: “And We raised 
    him to a high station”, and it is proven in as-Saheehayn in the 
    hadeeth about the Isra’, that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of 
    Allah be upon him) passed by him in the fourth heaven… And the agreed-upon 
    hadeeth which states that he is in the fourth heaven is more saheeh. End 
    quote. 

    And Allah knows best.