Al-Isra' wal-Mi'raj: The Story of the Miraculous Night Journey
Al-Isra鈥� wal-Mi鈥檙aj (the Night Journey & Ascension) is a miracle second only to the revelation of the Qur鈥檃n, and it is therefore important that we don鈥檛 let this night slip by without reflecting on its lessons and its significance.
Many of us only know the basic story of Al-Isra鈥� wal-Mi鈥檙aj - that the Prophet (saw) was transported from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, from where he (saw) ascended to heaven. In fact, there were many stops along this incredible journey, and the story is packed with wonders and miracles. This blog will narrate the first half of the Miraculous Journey and we have included as much detail as we could. Enjoy!
Context of Al-Isra鈥� wal-Mi鈥檙aj
Al-Isra鈥� wal-Mi鈥檙aj took place during a time when the Prophet (saw) was facing intense hardship and pain. The Quraysh, who were his tribe and his family, constantly ridiculed, humiliated and oppressed the Prophet (saw) and his followers. Moreover, the Prophet (saw) had just faced the Year of Sorrow (鈥楢am al-Huzn), during which he (saw) lost his beloved wife Khadijah (ra), and his uncle Abu Talib, who was his protector and ally.
In addition to all these burdens, when the Prophet (saw) had travelled to Ta鈥檌f to spread the Islamic message, the people of Ta鈥檌f had rejected him in the most cruel way, sending their children into the streets to stone him until he left the city.
Having gone through so much grief and suffering, the Prophet Muhammad (saw) was given a truly beautiful and comforting gift. He was transported not only to the Sacred Sanctuary and through the skies, but ultimately into the Divine Presence, the source of all comfort and hope. One of the most important lessons of Al-Isra鈥� wal-Mi鈥檙aj, therefore, is that 鈥榳ith every hardship [there will be] ease鈥� (The Noble Qur鈥檃n, 94: 5). 聽
Al-Isra鈥�: From the Ka鈥檅ah to Al-Aqsa
When the Prophet (saw) was sleeping in the house of Umm Hani (ra) in Makkah he said, 鈥榯he roof of my house was opened and the Angel Jibril [as] descended鈥� (Bukhari). Scholars reconciling between various narrations, say the Prophet (saw) was then taken to the Hijr, the semi-circular wall of the Ka鈥榖ah, where the Prophet (saw) said that Jibril (as), 鈥榦pened my chest, and washed it with Zamzam water. Then he brought a golden tray full of wisdom and faith, and having poured its contents into my chest, he closed it鈥�. [Bukhari]
The Prophet (saw) continued, 鈥業 was then brought a white beast which is called al-Buraq [from the Arabic word barq, meaning lightning], bigger than a donkey and smaller than a mule. Its stride was as long as the eye could reach鈥�. [Muslim]
It is narrated by Anas (ra) that Buraq was, 鈥榮addled and reined, but he shied from him (saw). So Jibril [as] said to him, 鈥淚s it from Muhammad [saw] that you do this? For nobody has ridden you who is more honourable to Allah than him!鈥� He said, 鈥淭hen he started sweating profusely鈥濃��. [Tirmidhi]
At several points along the journey, Jibra鈥檈el (as) stopped Buraq and told the Prophet (saw), 鈥楧ismount and pray鈥�. The first stop was at 鈥榯he place of emigration鈥� i.e. Madinah - and soon after this night the Prophet (saw) would meet the Ansar and migrate to Madinah. The second stop was at Mount Sinai, where Allah (swt) revealed the Torah to Musa (as). The third stop was at Bethlehem, where 鈥業sa (as) was born.
The fourth stop was the grave of Musa (as),聽鈥業 happened to pass by Musa [as] on the night of my Night journey by the red sandhill whilst he was standing praying in his grave鈥� (Muslim). We know that his grave is located, 鈥榓 stone鈥檚 throw鈥� away from the holy land of the Blessed Masjid Al-Aqsa (Bukhari). This incident clearly shows us an example of what the Messenger of Allah (saw) said about Prophets (as) after they pass away that, 鈥楾he Prophets are alive in their graves praying鈥� (Abu Ya鈥榣a).
Arriving at Al-Aqsa
Finally, the Messenger of Allah (saw) arrived in the holy city of Al-Quds (Jerusalem) and he said, 鈥榃hen we reached Bait al-Maqdis [literally 鈥榯he holy house鈥� another name for the Blessed Masjid Al-Aqsa] Jibril (as) pointed with his finger causing a crack in the rock, and he tied the Buraq to it [at the western wall of the noble sanctuary]鈥� (Tirmidhi). Waiting inside were all 124,000 Prophets (as). Jibra鈥檈el (as) led the Prophet (saw) to the front, and he (saw) led them all in prayer in this blessed space.
Some narrations indicate that the Prophet (saw) prayed 鈥榯wo units of prayer鈥� (Muslim) to greet the Masjid (known as Tahiyyat al-Masjid). This is one of the first examples of this established Sunnah of the Prophet (saw). It is also mentioned that Jibril (as) called the Adhan (call to prayer) before this practice was even established later in Madinah and that the angels from the heavens descended to pray behind all the Prophets in this sacred place 鈥� Subhan-Allah!
When the Prophet (saw) completed the prayer, he said, 鈥榮omeone said, 鈥淗ere is Malik (as), the keeper of the Hell, so convey Salams to him鈥�. So, I turned to him, but he preceded me in Salams鈥� (Muslim).
The Messenger of Allah (saw) also said, 鈥楾he Prophets were presented to me, and Musa (as) was a thin man, it was as if he was from the men of Shanu鈥檃h [a Yemeni tribe]. And I saw 鈥業sa ibn Maryam (as), and the closest of the people in resemblance to him from those I have seen, is 鈥楿rwah ibn Mas鈥樷�燿 (ra). And I saw Ibrahim (as), and the closest of the people in resemblance to him, from those I have seen, is your companion [meaning himself]. And I saw Jibril [as], and the closest of the people in resemblance to him, from those I have seen, is Dihyah (ra)鈥� (Tirmidhi).
Part of what the Prophets (as) discussed after praising Allah was about 鈥榯he Hour鈥�. Both Ibrahim (as) and Musa (as) stated that they 鈥榙id not have any knowledge of it鈥�. Whilst 鈥業sa (as) 鈥榤entioned the Dajjal (anti-Christ) and said,
鈥淚 will descend and kill him, then the people will return to their own lands and will be confronted with Gog and Magog, who will, 鈥渟woop down from every mound鈥� [Qur鈥檃n, 21:96]鈥濃��. [Ibn Majah]
Following this, the Prophet (saw) said, 鈥楾hen I came out and Jibril (as) brought me a vessel of wine and a vessel of milk. Then I chose the milk, and Jibril (as) said, 鈥淵ou have chosen the natural state (Fitrah)鈥濃�� (Muslim).
The dominant opinion is that the Prophet (saw) alongside Jibril (as) then proceeded to the Noble Rock (as-Sakhrah al-Musharrafah) that is currently housed by the holy Dome of the Rock Masjid at the centre of the noble sanctuary (al-Haram ash-Sharif) of the Blessed Masjid Al-Aqsa. He (saw) ascended into the heavens for the next part of this incredible journey, the Mi鈥榬aj, the Ascension!
Find out what happened next in our latest blog!
