)%20(2).webp "The Night Journey and Ascension (Isra and Mi'raj)") |
| The Night Journey and Ascension (Isra and Mi'raj) |
This incredible journey, filled with awe and divine encounters, would mark a turning point in the Prophet’s mission, reaffirming his status as the chosen Messenger of Allah and providing a message of hope and perseverance for the early Muslims.
The Beginning of the Journey
It was a calm, serene night in Makkah when the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) lay resting near the Ka'bah, contemplating the trials he had faced. He felt the weight of grief upon his shoulders. In the stillness of the night, the Angel Jibril (Gabriel) appeared before him, awakening him gently. Jibril brought with him a special creature, a white steed called Buraq, whose speed surpassed anything known on Earth. The Prophet (PBUH) mounted Buraq, and with Jibril by his side, they began their miraculous journey.The journey first took them to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, known as Bayt al-Maqdis. The speed of Buraq was extraordinary, covering vast distances in the blink of an eye. As they arrived in Jerusalem, the Prophet (PBUH) was greeted by an assembly of previous prophets, including Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), and Isa (Jesus) (peace be upon them all). It was a gathering of the chosen messengers of Allah, who had conveyed His divine message throughout history.
Jibril led the Prophet (PBUH) to the front, where he was asked to lead the prayer. This moment was profound, signifying the unity of the divine message across all prophets and affirming Muhammad (PBUH) as the final messenger. After the prayer, Jibril presented the Prophet (PBUH) with two vessels, one filled with wine and the other with milk. The Prophet chose the milk, to which Jibril remarked, "You have chosen the natural, pure fitrah (disposition). This is the path of guidance for you and your Ummah."
Following the prayer, Jibril guided the Prophet (PBUH) towards the heavens, marking the beginning of the Mi'raj, the spiritual ascension. They rose from the earth, ascending through the seven heavens, each filled with wonders beyond imagination.
As they entered the first heaven, Jibril sought permission from the gatekeeper, who asked, "Who is with you?" Jibril replied, "It is Muhammad (PBUH)." The gatekeeper welcomed them warmly, saying, "He is most welcome."
In the first heaven, the Prophet (PBUH) met Prophet Adam (AS), the father of humanity. Adam (AS) greeted him, recognizing him as a noble descendant. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) saw two groups of people on either side of Adam; those on his right were the souls of his righteous descendants, and those on his left were the souls of his disobedient descendants.
They then ascended to the second heaven, where the Prophet (PBUH) met Prophet Isa (Jesus) and his cousin, Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist). Both prophets welcomed Muhammad (PBUH) with joy and blessings. It was a beautiful encounter filled with warmth and brotherhood.
In the third heaven, they met Prophet Yusuf (Joseph), whose beauty was legendary. Yusuf (AS) welcomed the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and the encounter served as a reminder of the trials and resilience that both prophets had shown in their lives.
The Prophet (PBUH) then ascended to the fourth heaven, where he met Prophet Idris (Enoch). Jibril informed Muhammad (PBUH) that Idris had been raised to a high place by Allah, a reflection of his righteousness and piety.
In the fifth heaven, the Prophet (PBUH) met Prophet Harun (Aaron), the brother of Musa (Moses). Harun (AS) welcomed the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) warmly, and the two shared a moment of mutual recognition of the trials they faced with their respective people.
The sixth heaven brought the Prophet (PBUH) face to face with Musa (Moses). Musa (AS) welcomed him but then wept. When asked why he was crying, Musa said, "I weep because there will come a prophet whose followers will enter Paradise in greater numbers than mine."
Finally, they ascended to the seventh heaven, where the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) met Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), who was leaning against the Ka'bah of the heavens, known as Al-Bayt al-Ma'mur. It is said that seventy thousand angels enter it every day, never to return. Ibrahim (AS) welcomed his descendant Muhammad (PBUH), affirming the continuity of their mission to spread the message of monotheism.
Jibril then guided the Prophet (PBUH) to a place known as Sidrat al-Muntaha, the Lote Tree of the Farthest Boundary. This was a point beyond which no creation had ever ventured. Jibril stopped and told the Prophet (PBUH), "This is my limit. I cannot go beyond this point."
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) continued alone, ascending to the divine presence of Allah. It was a moment of unparalleled significance. There, Allah spoke directly to him, and it was during this meeting that the five daily prayers were ordained. Initially, fifty prayers were prescribed, but upon the Prophet's descent, he encountered Musa (AS), who advised him to request a reduction because his followers would not be able to perform so many.
The Prophet (PBUH) returned to Allah multiple times, each time seeking a reduction, until the prayers were reduced to five daily prayers. Allah declared, "These are five prayers, but they will be counted as fifty in reward. My word does not change."
The Prophet (PBUH) then returned to Jerusalem, where he remounted Buraq for the journey back to Makkah. The entire journey, from the Night Journey to the Ascension and back, took place in a single night. As he awoke, the memories of the journey were vivid in his mind, filled with divine encounters and powerful visions.
He shared this miraculous experience with his companions, but the news spread quickly among the Quraysh. They mocked him, unable to believe that someone could travel such vast distances in a single night. They demanded proof, asking for details about Jerusalem, which the Prophet (PBUH) described with precision, even recounting details of a caravan he had seen on his journey.
The disbelief and ridicule of the Quraysh contrasted sharply with the reaction of Abu Bakr (RA). When people rushed to tell him about the Prophet's claim, hoping he would also doubt, Abu Bakr responded firmly, "If he said it, then it is true." His immediate acceptance earned him the title As-Siddiq, the Truthful.