AL-Isra' Wa Al-Miraj I (The Night Journey and Ascension to Heaven)

Heidi Mahmoud Kheyamy

30 Jul 2018

"Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from Al-Masjid Al-Haram to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing." [Al-Isra, 1]

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was moved by the Almighty during part of the night from the Sacred Mosque in Makkah to the Mosque of Al-Aqsa in Palestine. The journey was to show the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) the signs of Allah's great power. Travelling from the Sacred Mosque in Makkah to Al-Aqsa Mosque would take place in forty nights, that's why the Mosque is called Al-Aqsa, which means in Arabic "the furthermost", but the journey of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) happened during only a part of the night, and this is one of Allah's miracles. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) went on the journey while he was awake and he was physically present at Al-Aqsa Mosque. This was the first part of the journey, which is called Al-Isra', in accordance with the saying of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH): "I was brought al-Buraq Who is an animal white and long, larger than a donkey but smaller than a mule, who would place his hoof a distance equal to the range of vision. I mounted it and came to the Temple (Bait Maqdis in Jerusalem), then tethered it to the ring used by the prophets. I entered the mosque and prayed two rak'ahs in it," [Sahih Muslim, 162 a, Book 1, Hadith 318]

When Quraish refused to believe the story of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), he described Al-Aqsa Mosque to them as proof that he went there.

Then the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was ascended to paradise until he reached the Seventh Heaven. He saw the paradise and hell; as it is mentioned in the Holy saying he witnessed the residents of hell: "When I was taken up to heaven I passed by people who had nails of copper and were scratching their faces and their breasts. I said: Who are these people, Gabriel? He replied: They are those who were given to backbiting and who aspersed people's honour." [Sahih (Al-Albani), Sunan Abi Dawud 4878, Book 43, Hadith 106]

In addition to this, he saw the frequented House which is the house the angels walk around it as people walk around Ka'ba. He also went to the Lote Tree where the Seventh Heaven exists. It is the place where angels abide and the souls of the martyrs and the pious settle. This is related in the Holy Quran: "And he certainly saw him [Gibreel] in another descent, At the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary –", " Near it is the Garden of Refuge –", "When there covered the Lote Tree that which covered [it].", " The sight [of the Prophet] did not swerve, nor did it transgress [its limit]", "He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord. "[An-Najm, 13, 18]

Want to know more? Check part II