General argument for Islam.

[Mystic]

I think it's because the Prophet wanted to manifest his path was that of desire towards God. That of attraction of the beloved.

It wasn't simply that of honoring God or loving him, but that of his desire being attracted to God.

Also, it's not simply a metaphor, but a metaphysical reality. The station of intermediary between this world and the final destination of the next world, has metaphysical realities, in which our actions are alive and form a part of who we are. We have a metaphysical form and so does our desire.

In the beginning, we must kill our "desire" or "nafs", but it's only so it can be reborn into a buraq that will make us ascend the higher realms.