THE JOURNEY OF ISRAA AND MI'RAAJ ... 1/5

‘Praise and Glory are due to Allah, Who took His servant for a journey by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa which We have blessed, to show him from Our signs. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.’ (17:1)

Thus says Allah in the Qur’aan of the miracle of the Israa and Mi’raaj, or ‘The Night Journey and the Ascension to Heaven’. It was the most magnificent and dangerous trip ever taken it was a journey from Earth to Heaven, from the Lower Assembly to the Exalted Assembly; rather, it was a journey from the created to the Creator.

I wonder how great was the happiness that filled the Prophet’s heart in the presence of Allah, in a place never reached except by him, Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam. Oh Allah! All thanks and praise is unto You for allowing us to be among the followers of this great Prophet, whom You have blessed with this so high a station.

With the Israa and Mi’raaj, the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), became the first and only human to cross the barrier between the seen and the unseen. He then returned to tell us about what he saw, and what was made obligatory on us. He returned to confirm the truthfulness of Allah’s previous messages and to tell us of what is going to happen in the distant future, things that would occur on the Last Day and beyond.

And while this miracle represented the first serious trial for the companions’ faith in Allah, it has remained until today a test of all believers’ faith in Allah and in the unseen. Allah Ta’ala says, ‘And We made not what We showed you but a trial for mankind.’ (17:60) A test that ascertains one’s faith. And for those who succeed in it, the Israa and Mi’raaj presentes an endless source of inspiration and motivation with regard to the Deen, this life and the Hereafter.

ISRAA AND MI’RAAJ AS RELATED IN SAHIH MUSLIM

Anas ibn Maalik (Radhiallaahu Anhu) reported that the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, ‘I was bought the Buraaq, a long white beast slightly bigger than a donkey but smaller than a mule, which, when trotting , would place its next step as far as its eyesight can reach.’ The prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, ‘I mounted it till I reached al-Quds, Jerusalem. There, I tied it up to the same ring used by the prophets. Then I entered the Musjid, offered two Rakaats after which I went out where Jibraaeel (Alayhis salaam) came to me with a pot of wine and another of milk. I chose to drink the milk, and Jibraaeel (Alayhis salaam) said, ‘You chose Fitrah.’

Then, he took me to heaven, Jibraaeel (Alayhis salaam) then asked (for the gate of heaven) to be opened and he was asked who he was. He replied, Jibraaeel. He was again asked, ‘Who is with you?’ he said, ‘Muhammad’. It was said, ‘Has he been sent for?’ Jibraaeel replied, ‘He has indeed been sent for.’ And (the door) was opened for us and then we saw Aadam. He welcomed me and prayed for my well being.

Then we ascended to the second heaven. Jibraaeel (Alayhis salaam) asked (for the door of heaven to be opened), and he was asked who he was. He answered, Jibraaeel. He was again asked, ‘Who is with you?’ He replied, ‘Muhammad’. It was asked, ‘Has he been sent for?’ He replied, ‘He has indeed been sent for.’ Then the gate was opened. When I entered, Eesa ibn Maryam and Yahya ibn Zakariyya (Alayhimas salaam), cousins from the maternal side, welcome me and prayed for my well being.

Then I was taken to the third heaven and I saw Yusuf, who had been given half of the (world’s) beauty. He welcome me and prayed for my welcome, and he ascended with us to the fourth heaven, and Idris was there. Allah, the Exalted, and Glorious says about him, ‘We elevated him (Idris) to the exalted position.’ (19:57). The he ascended with us to the fifth heaven, and then I was with Harun. He welcomed me and prayed for my wellbeing. Then I was taken to the sixth heaven, and there I was with Musa. He welcomed me and prayed for my wellbeing. Then I was taken up to the seventh heaven, and there I found Ibraaheem reclining against al-Baytul Ma’mur (the much-frequented house), into which seventy thousand angels (who will never visit it again) enter everyday.

Then I was taken to Sidratul Muntaha, who leaves were like elephant ears and its fruit like big earthenware vessels. And when it was covered by the Command of Allah, it underwent such a change that none amongst the creation has the power to praise its beauty.

Then Allah revealed to me a revelation, and He made obligatory for me fifty Salaats every day and night. Then I went down to Musa who asked, ‘What has your Lord enjoined upon your Ummah?’ I said, ‘Fifty Salaats’. He said, ‘Return to your Lord and beg for reduction (in the number of Salaat), for your community shall not be able to bear this burden. As I have been put to test by the children of Israel and tried them (and found them too weak to bear such a heavy burden).’ The Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, ‘I went back to my Lord and said, My Lord, make things lighter for my Ummah.’ (The Lord) reduced the number by five Salaats. I went down to Musa and said, ‘(The Lord) reduced it by five (Salaats) for me’. He said, ‘Verily your Ummah shall not be able to bear this burden; return to your Lord and ask Him to make things lights.’ I then kept going back and forth between my Lord, Blessed and Exalted, and Musa, until He said, ‘There are five Salaats everyday and night O Muhammad, each being credited as ten, so that makes them fifty Salaats. He who intends to do a good deed and does not do it will have a good deed recorded for him; and if he does it, it will be recorded for him as ten. Whereas he who intends to do an evil deed and doesn’t, it will not be recorded for him; and if he does it, only one evil deed will be recorded. I then came down and when I came to Musa and informed him, he said, ‘Go back to your Lord and ask Him to make things lighter.’ Upon this, the Messenger of Allah remarked, ‘I returned to my Lord until I felt ashamed before Him.’

cont'd ...

Last modified: July 19, 2007

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