The Significance of ‘Isra and Miraj in Islam
By Habib Siddiqui
‘Isra and Miraj were the most miraculous and dignified journeys of the
Prophet (Sal-lal-lahu alayhi wa sal-lam), which took place in the Shab-e-Miraj (or the Night of Miraj) in the month of Rajab before his
migration to Madinah. This miraculous journey was Allah’s
wonderful response to the Prophet’s (S) sad state in the year, which is
commonly known as “the year of great sadness” in which he (S) lost his beloved
wife Khadija (Radi-Allahu Anha) and uncle Abu Talib, leaving him completely
alone with no protection for him and his small band of Muslims against the
hostile Quraysh (blasphemers) in Makkah; he (S) was also mercilessly persecuted
by pagan Arabs in at-Ta’if when he invited them to Islam.
It was during
these trying times, when circumstances had reached desperate proportion, that
Allah sent Angel Jibril (Alayis Salam) to take Rasulullah (S) on the most
glorious journey ever experienced by anyone on earth.
On that blessed night,
Muhammad (S) was taken physically from the Grand Mosque in Makkah to al-Aqsa
Mosque in Jerusalem [Al-Quds], a month’s journey of 1230 Km (for a
caravan). And this part of the journey is called ‘Isra.
After reaching Jerusalem, the Prophet (S) entered the Masjid
al-Aqsa where Allah had assembled for him all the Prophets
– from Adam (AS) to Isa (AS). Prophet Muhammad (S) led them in
the prayer.
The second part of the
nocturnal journey, which is called Miraj,
took Muhammad (S) from Jerusalem to the heavens when he passed the boundaries
of the physical universe to be in divine presence of Allah, and witness the
Great Signs (al-Ayat ul-Kubra).
The supernatural journey is mentioned in the Qur’an:
“Glorified (and
Exalted) is HE (above all that they
associate with HIM) WHO took HIS slave (Muhammad
(S)) for a journey by night from
Al-Masjid-al-Haram (at Makkah) to
Al-Masjid-al-Aqsa (in Jerusalem, the neighborhood) whereof WE have blessed, in order that WE might show him [Muhmmad
(S)] of our Ayat (proofs, evidence,
lessons, signs, etc.). Verily, HE is the
ALL-HEARER, ALL SEER.” [Surah Al Isra, 17:01]
On
his (S) onward journey to the Heaven to meet with Allah (SWT), first, Muhammad
(S) met with Adam (AS) in the 1st Heaven (1st sky). Then
he (S) went to the 2nd Heaven (2nd sky) and met with
Yahya (AS) and Isa (AS). Then he went to the 3rd Heaven and met with Yusuf (AS). Then he
(S) went to the 4th Heaven and met with Idris (AS). Then he (S) went
to the 5th Heaven to meet with Haroon (AS). Next, he (S) went to the
6th Heaven where he (S) met with Musa (AS). The Prophet (S) was then
taken to the 7th Heaven where he (S) met Ibrahim (AS). Then he (S)
reached SIDRATUL MUNTAHA, the boundary demarcating
tree beyond which no creature is ever permitted to cross over! [Note: Sidrah in Arabic means the lote-tree and muntaha the extreme edge or limit. Thus,
literally, sidrat-al-muntaha means
the lote-tree that is situated on the extreme edge or limit.]
After
reaching SIDRATUL MUNTAHA, Jibril (AS) informed the Prophet (S) that this was
his (AS) end point beyond which he (AS) was restricted and thus requested the
Prophet (S) to proceed alone.
“(This was) when the lote-tree was
covered with that which covered it [i.e., its splendor and glory
exceeds all description. The divine glory and effulgence was such as can
neither be conceived by man nor can any human language depict it adequately]. The sight (of the Prophet)
did not swerve, nor did it transgress (its limit). Indeed, he (S) did see one of the greatest Signs of his LORD
(Allah).” [Surah An-Najm, 53: 16-18]
The
Prophet (S), thus, proceeded alone and prayer at 50 times a day was prescribed
upon his (S) ummah (community) by
Allah. Later, upon request from Muhammad (S) the number of prayer times was
reduced to five times a day (with the reward of 50 times).
During
his heavenly journey, the Prophet (S) was shown among other things the
followings: the Angel In-Charge of
Hell, the punishment that awaits the sinners who (i) devour the property of
orphans, (ii) devour interests on money, and (iii) commit adultery.
After his return to Makkah
from the Miraj, the Prophet (S) described to the people
what had happened to him the previous night. There were many who doubted his (S) journey thinking that
it was an illusion or a dream. The blasphemers belied
the Prophet (S) and mocked him, saying, "We need a month to get there and
back, and you are claiming to have done all this in one night?" They said
to Abu Bakr, "Look at what your companion is saying. He says he
went to Jerusalem and came back in one night." Abu Bakr told
them, "If he (Muhammad (S)) said that, then he is speaking the truth. I
believe him concerning the news of the heavens -- that an angel descends to him
from the heavens. How could I not believe he went to Jerusalem and came back in
a short period of time -- when these are on earth?" From that moment
onward, the Companion, Abu Bakr (RA), was called "as-Siddiq"
-- because of how strongly he believed all what the Prophet (S) said.
However, the truth manifested
in two ways. First, the Prophet (S) described the caravans he had
overtaken on the way home and said where they were and about when they might be
expected to arrive in Makkah; and each arrived as predicted, and the details
were as he had described.
The disbelievers questioned the Prophet (S): "If you
are truthful, then describe to us Masjid al-Aqsa and its surroundings."
They asked this because they knew Prophet Muhammad (S) had never been
there before the previous night. Allah enabled His Messenger (S) to
see Masjid al-Aqsa, and he described the masjid and its
surroundings in exact detail.
Narrated
Jabir bin Abdullah (RA) that he heard Allah’s Messenger (S) saying, “When the people of Quraysh did not believe
me (i.e. in the story of my Isra (night journey), I stood up in Al Hijr and
Allah (SWT) displayed Jerusalem in front of me, and I began describing to them
while I was looking at it.” [Bukhari]
Moreover, the Prophet said, "On my way back, I saw some
of your shepherds grazing their animals in a particular location. They were
searching for a camel they had lost." The Prophet (S) continued by giving
the description of the camel. When these shepherds came back, they told their
people what happened to them--precisely as the Prophet had already told them.
Those blasphemers in Makkah admitted that the Prophet's (S) description
was exact. And yet, they were still stubborn and rejected Islam. Unless God guides
someone, even miracles are not enough to change one’s beliefs!
It
is worth noting here that the Prophet Muhammad’s (S) ‘Isra also fulfilled the
prophetic tradition of the Book of Malachi [in the so-called Old Testament]: “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he
shall prepare the way before Me: And the Adonai (lord) whom ye seek, shall
suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye
delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the YHWH Sabaoth (Lord of the Hosts).”
(3:1)
The
Adon mentioned here in the Book of Malachi is none but Muhammad (S) who came
suddenly to visit God’s temple in Jerusalem and later punished the Levites for
their arrogance and rejection of truth, as foretold in the verse number
3. [For details on this subject: the interested readers may like to read
Rev. David Benjamin Keldani’s book - Muhammad
in the Bible.]
The
Jewish Bible in its Book of Haggai does not fall behind this prediction either:
“And I will shake all nations, and the
Ahmad [Himdah] of all nations will come; and I will fill this house with glory,
says the Lord of hosts.” [2:7] [Note: In the popular KJV of the
Bible, the Hebrew word Himdah or the Aramaic word Himada was translated as the
“desire”. The Bible contains several such irresponsible editing/translations of
names throughout its pages.] As I have noted elsewhere, the
Prophet Muhammad’s (S) other name was Ahmad. So, it is not difficult to understand
that the Prophet prophesied in the Books of Malachi and Haggai are none other
than Prophet Muhammad (S) who was suddenly brought into Jerusalem by Archangel
Gabriel (Jibril) (AS) to sanctify the Temple – Al Aqsa.
This
blessed journey of ‘Isra and Miraj is of great significance for Muslims for its
miraculous nature and, among other things, for its establishment of the second
crucial pillar in Islam: prayer five times a day. It is also important because
it clearly shows Islam’s connection to and importance to Masjid Al-Aqsa, which
is located in Jerusalem and is Islam’s third holiest mosque in Islam. In one
Hadith, the Prophet (S) said: “Journeys should not be undertaken except to
three mosques: this my mosque (in Madinah), the Sacred Mosque (in Makkah), and
Al-Aqsa mosque.” (Bukhari)
‘Isra and Miraj is celebrated in all
Muslim-majority countries when devout Muslims offer extra prayers and feed the
poor.
[Excerpted and edited from the author’s book - Muhammad
(S) & the Prescribed Highway to Peace – co-authored with M.
Siddiqur Rahman; available in amazon.com.]
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