Al-Isra Wal Miraj: The Night of Miracles

Al-Isra Wal Miraj: The Night of Miracles

The entire incident of the Night Journey and the Prophet (PBUH)'s ascension to the 7 heavens was a miraculous event during which he travels to 3 significant places, from Masjid Al-Haram to Masjid Al-Aqsa before ascending to heaven, all in one night. Though the event of Al Isra Wal Miraj encompasses great significance in Islamic history, many wonder what led up to it. 

After he was bestowed with prophethood and given the order to openly preach for One Lord, the treatment of the Quraysh became from bad to worse. Plagued with corruption, and idol worship, the elites reveled the luxuries and refused to give weight to the Prophet's teachings. In an attempt to deter him from mission, the Quraysh started to verbally and physically abuse the Prophet (PBUH) and his followers, by constantly ridiculing, humiliating and oppressing them, the Quraysh's treatment towards the Prophet and his followers grew worse day by day. 

Trying to branch out and spread the word of Islam the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) decided to travel to the city of Ta’if. Sadly, the people of Ta'if responded with such hostility and malice that the Prophet (PBUH) was forced to flee for his safety.

To top it all off, this was the year the Prophet (PBUH) beared the loss of his beloved wife, Khadija (RA) and his uncle, Allbu Talib. 

Khadija (RA) was his first wife who loved and supported him through major struggles of his life. When the Prophet(PBUH) was frazzled and discombobulated after witnessing Angel Jibreal (AS) at Cave Hira, it was Khadija (RA) who comforted and consoled him. 

Similarly, After the tragic death of his mother and father, the now orphaned Prophet (PBUH) went under the care of his paternal uncle, Abu Talib. Abu Talib was deeply connected with the Prophet (PBUH) and showed the utmost attention to his upbringing. Playing a vital role in nurturing, protecting and loving the Prophet (PBUH), even when times got rough after his prophethood, Abu Talib never soured his behavior towards him. His uncle would take care of him and teach him the basics of life. Needless to say, Abu Talib proved to be a significant father figure in the Prophet's life. 

Needless to say, their role solidified their position as significant pillars of support in the Prophet's life. Hence, their death served as a major blow to the Prophet (PBUH) and the accumulation of all these sorrowful events caused the Prophet to fall into a deep depression, this year was also given the name of Aam Al-Huzn (Year of Sorrow) 

Aside from the miraculous aspect of the incidents of the night journey, the importance of the event is amplified as it represented as a source of hope, comfort and encouragement for the Prophet (PBUH) from Allah (SWT). It clearly validates the common theory, which is also found in the Holy Quran, that states, 

EVENTS OF THE NIGHT JOURNEY

In the 11th year of prophethood, Allah (SWT) sent Jibreal (AS) to the prophet (PBUH) while he rested in the house of his relative, the angel descended and took the Prophet (PBUH) to Al bait- Al-haram ( Masjid Al Haram) to visit the Kaaba. According to reported narrations, the angel purified the heart of the prophet with ZamZam water. Soon after the purification process, the Prophet was told to get on a magical animal, described as a mixture of a mule and donkey, called 'Buraq'. The Buraq took the Prophet from Masjid Al-Haram all the way to Masjid Al- Aqsa in Jerusalem. This journey of the Prophet (PBUH) was called ‘Al- Isra’ and it has an entire surah named after it, 

Upon his arrival, he was blessed with the opportunity to meet some of the most significant prophets of Islam from the past. There he was instructed to lead the prophets in a 2 rakat prayer. Upon the completion of the prayer, the beloved messenger of Allah (PBUH) was taken up to the heavens accompanied by the Angel Jibreal (AS). Prior to his ascent the Prophet (PBUH) was offered with 2 glasses, one containing wine while the other contained milk, and he was told to choose between the two. A hadith that described this incident was narrated by Abu Huraira, as he said,

“On the night Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was taken on a night journey (Miraj) two cups, one containing wine and the other milk, were presented to him at Jerusalem. He looked at it and took the cup of milk. Gabriel said, "Praise be to Allah Who guided you to Al-Fitra (the right path); if you had taken (the cup of) wine, your nation would have gone astray." [Sahih al-Bukhari 5576]

As the prophet entered through the gates of heaven and progressed along his way towards the seventh heaven to ultimately meet Allah (SWT), He was greatest and welcomed by some of the most influential prophets of the past on each level of heaven. In the first heaven the prophet (PBUH) met Prophet Adam(AS). In the second heaven, Prophet Muhammad was welcomed by 2 of the previous prophet for Allah. One of them was Prophet Isa (AS) and the other was Prophet Yahya, who is also known as John the Baptist. Proceeding to the next heaven, he met Yusuf (AS), known as the most beautiful human to have walked this planet. Once Prophet Yusuf welcomed and greeted him and Angel Jibreal (AS), they further proceeded to the next level of heaven where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had the opportunity to meet another messenger of Allah(SWT), Idrees (AS) who also greeted and welcomed them. In the fifth heaven, they were greeted by Prophet Haroon (AS). Moving on, one of the Prophet of Allah (SWT) who had faced a great deal of suffering and hardships, Prophet Musa (AS) gave them a warm welcome and expressex oy to have met Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). A narration states that as they started to proceed toward the next heaven, Prophet Musa (AS) started to weep stating, 

“....So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.' When I left him (i.e. Moses) he wept. Someone asked him, 'What makes you weep?' Moses said, 'I weep because after me there has been sent (as Prophet) a young man whose followers will enter Paradise in greater numbers than my followers.’....” [Sahih al-Bukhari 3887]

As they proceeded to the highest heaven, the seventh heaven, they met Prophet Ibrahim and we again warmly greeted by him, 

“....So when I went (over the seventh heaven), there I saw Abraham. Gabriel said (to me), 'This is your father; pay your greetings to him.' So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious son and pious Prophet.' Then I was made to ascend to Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (i.e. the Lote Tree of the utmost boundary)....” [Sahih al-Bukhari 3887]

As the prophet progressed beyond the seventh heaven, he arrived at a place called Sidratul Muntaha, which is described as a massive tree with its “its leaves were as big as the ears of elephants” and its fruit like “the jars of Hajr”. After witnessing such a divine creation of Allah (SWT), the Prophet (PBUH) was taken to a place called Al-Bait-ul-Ma'mur (i.e. the Sacred House), this is the Ka'bah of the angels who reside in the seventh heaven and participate in the constant worship of Allah, the All Mighty. This is also the place where the Prophet (PBUH) was entrusted with the gift of Salah by Allah (SWT). Allah (SWT) commanded the Prophet (PBUH) to observe 50 daily prayers and to convey this message to his ummah as well. To learn more on the negotiations the Prophet (PBUH) had with Allah (SWT), read one of our previous blogs; When Salah Became Compulsory

As the prophet descended back to earth and conveyed to his companions about the entire journey he had, it is well known that the prophet in his journey had a direct conversation with Allah but many also questioned whether he had the opportunity to actually see the Lord, for which a reported hadith narrated by Abu Dharr states, 

This hadith teaches us that as humans, we can’t fully grasp the greatness and power of Allah (SWT) or expect to see Him in a physical sense. But even though we can't see Him with our eyes, we’re reminded to trust in His presence and wisdom. Every day, we can feel Allah's presence through the blessings He brings into our lives, showing us that He’s always with us in ways we can sense, if not see.

Evidently, the Night Journey of the Prophet (PBUH) ranks highly in significance and it is important that as Muslims we cling onto any opportunity we get to broaden our knowledge of our religion, especially from a young age. If you are a parent or have children in your life, we at DEENIN would like to introduce you to the DEENIN Kids' Al-Aqsa Palestine Puzzle

Al Aqsa, is the compound of Islamic religious buildings that sit atop the Temple Mount, also known as the Haram al-Sharif, in the Old City of Jerusalem. Masjid Al-Aqsa is more than just a physical building; it represents unity, faith, and a profound spiritual connection for Muslims. Its rich historical background, significance in the Prophet's Night Journey, and mention in the Quran all elevate its status as one of Islam’s most sacred sites.

Given its importance, we have taken the initiative to develop a similar Jigsaw puzzle, to help parents pass down the cultural and religious significance of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and its surroundings. Not only is it perfect for your little ones but it also makes a delightful gift as a valuable addition to a child's Islamic education.