Isra and Miraj - folder for articles

Society Religion & Philosophy
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Insha’Allah this will be a folder for articles regarding the Night of Ascension. Shab-e-Miraj is coming up, (perhaps on 3rd/4th October). This is not meant to be a discussion thread, just a source of information regarding al-Miraj. If the article is really long, then i won’t be reading all of it, so IF there are any inaccuracies in the article please do point it out to me. Otherwise, umm hehe, i would really appreciate it if this did not turn into a discussion thread.

Muchas gracias.

Isra and Miraj: what are they and why are they important to Muslims
http://www.soundvision.com/Info/Jerusalem/isra&miraj.asp

He was depressed and dejected.

His beloved wife Khadija, a source of comfort and support, was dead.

His uncle Abu Talib, his “second father”, a pillar of strength who defended him against the vicious attacks of his enemies, was also gone.

His mission to Taif had been unsuccessful. He had tried to invite the people to Islam, but in hateful and humiliating retaliation, they had sent their children after him, throwing rocks on him until he bled.

It was truly a Year of Sorrow. It was in this context that the Prophet Mohammed (peace and blessings be upon him) was taken up to the heavens in a miraculous and profound journey Muslims know as Isra and Miraj. This took place on the 27th day of the month of Rajab.

Isra and Miraj in the Quran and Hadith

“Glorified be He Who carried His servant by night from the Inviolable Place of Worship to the Far Distant Place of Worship, the neighborhood whereof We have blessed, that We might show him of Our tokens! Lo! He is the Hearer, the Seer” (Quran 17:1).

This is how Allah describes this journey. It is also referred to in chapter 53 of the Quran, verses 1 to 18.

Its mention is not just relevant to the specific journey but also for its description of Masjid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem and its “neighborhood” as blessed. Masjid Al-Aqsa is Islam’s third holiest mosque in Islam.

In one Hadith, the Prophet 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). These facts clearly indicate with the sacredness and holiness of this area for Muslims.

Isra and Miraj can be divided into two parts.

Isra - Isra refers to the Prophet’s journey from his home in Makkah to Masjid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem and back in one night, something that was considered unthinkable in a time and place where the only means of long-distance transportation was the camel and it took months to make this journey.

Here’s what happened: the Prophet rose in the middle of the night to visit the Kaba in Makkah. After worshipping for a period of time, he fell asleep near the Kaba.

The Angel Gabriel (peace be upon him) came and woke him up, taking the Prophet to the edge of the Kaba, where a white beast with wings, called al-Buraq, was waiting.

The Prophet mounted al-Buraq and traveled with amazing speed northwards with Gabriel, towards Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

When they reached Jerusalem the Prophet prayed in the area of Masjid Al-Aqsa with Abraham, Moses, Jesus and other prophets, peace be upon them all. The Prophet Mohammed led this prayer. It was from the rock inside what is known as the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem today, that the Prophet began the next stage of his journey: Miraj.

Miraj - Miraj refers to the ascension of the Prophet from this rock to the Upper Heavens and his return to his home in Makkah in the same night. The Miraj took place on the same night as the Isra.

It was during this second part of the journey that the Prophet directly spoke with Allah, Who instructed the Prophet that Muslims must pray five times daily. The Prophet was taken by angel Gabriel up through the heavens, where he witnessed a number of scenes from Paradise and Hell. These are documented in a number of the Prophet’s traditions.

The Makkans had a hard time believing the Prophet about the journey. Even a number of Muslims had their faith shaken, as they could not understand how he could have completed this journey in one night. For the disbelievers, it only made them more stubborn in their disbelief. But for the true believers, it only strengthened their faith.

For example, the Prophet’s trusted Companion, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) didn’t flinch when confronted with this miracle. He firmly believed in it. It was because of this conviction that he was given the title “as-Siddiq” (the truthful one).

Given today’s advances in technology, where jumbo jets can send us across the ocean in a span of mere hours, how can we deny this miracle of travel, especially from the Being Who has no limits, whether those are of time or distance?

As well, those who object to the possibility of such a journey taking place are forgetting the story of Prophet Sulayman (peace be upon him), who lived several centuries prior to Prophet Mohammed. It was during his lifetime that the throne of the Queen of Sheba was transported about 1500 miles to his kingdom.

This blessed journey is definitely one 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.

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Isra and Miraj

Isra and Miraj are events where the Prophet Muhammad was taken by the Angel Gabriel for a night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem, and from the rock now located in the Dome of the Rock, to heaven. This is not a religious holiday in the conventional way as there are not any celebrations or festivities associated with it, however, it is a time for reflection and prayer and some choose to fast during the day.

It was during this journey that it was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad that the Muslims should pray 5 times a day to God, a cornerstone of the Islamic faith. Also, as with other Islamic events and holidays, the exact day regresses on our solar calendar as the Islamic calendar is based on lunar cycles, like the Chinese.

The Quran, Islam’s holy scripture, describes the events: “Glorified be He (God) who took his servant (Muhammad) for a journey by night from al-Masjid al-Haram (in Mecca) to al-Masjid al-Aqsa (in Jerusalem), whose precincts we have blessed…” “Masjid” is the Arabic word for “mosque.” Masjid Al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock are located on “Haram Al-Shareef,” or the “noble enclosure” in Jerusalem’s Old City. Jerusalem is one of Islam’s holiest sites, after Mecca and Medinah in the Arabian Peninsula. It was home to many of the shared prophets of Islam, Judaism and Christianity, including David, Solomon and Jesus. It was Islam’s first “Qibla,” or direction in which Muslims pray to during their daily prayers.

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Miracle Of Al-Isra & Al-Miraj (The night journey and the ascension of Prophet Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him)

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, the One Who exists without a place. To Him belong the endowments and proper commendations. May Allah raise the rank of Prophet Muhammad and his kind Companions and protect his nation from what he fears for them. May the Lord of Heavens and Earth grant us the sincere intentions and guide us to the acceptable deeds.

Thereafter, Allah sent the prophets as a mercy to the slaves and supported them with miracles to indicate the truthfulness of their message. Of all the prophets, our Prophet, Muhammad, was blessed with the most miracles. Al-Isra’ and al-Mi^raj are among the many miracles of Prophet Muhammad.

The miracle of al-Isra’ is confirmed in the Qur’an. In Surat al-Isra’, Ayah 1, Allah said:

http://www.gupistan.com/gallery/1/01isra.gif

which means: [Praise be to Allah Who enabled His slave, Muhammad, to make the journey at night from Masjid al-Haram in Makkah to Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem, which is surrounded a blessed land.] This journey is also confirmed in the sahih hadith. As such, there is scholarly consensus (ijma^) Prophet Muhammad journeyed in body and soul the night of al-Isra’ from Masjid al-Haram in Makkah to Masjid al-Aqsain Jerusalem. Moreover, these scholars indicated the person who denies al-Isra’ is a blasphemer for belying the explicit text of the Qur’an.

Before the Prophet took this night journey, the ceiling of the house in which he was staying was opened, and Jibril descended. He cut open the chest of Prophet Muhammad and washed that open area with Zamzam water. Then he emptied something from a container into the chest of the Prophet to increase his wisdom as well as the strength of his belief. This was done to prepare the Messenger of Allah for that which he had yet to see in the upper world from among the wonders of the creation of Allah.

**Al-Isra’ ** - After the Prophet performed the Evening Prayer (^Isha’), Jibril came to him with a white animal, slightly larger than a donkey yet smaller than a mule. This animal was the buraq,–one of the animals of Paradise. Jibril held the buraq by his ear and told the Prophet to mount it. When the buraq was mounted, the Prophet set forth.

The buraqis a very fast animal; the length of the buraq’s stride is the farthest distance it’s eye can see. The Prophet and Jibril arrived to a land with palm trees. Jibril told the Prophet to dismount and pray, so the Prophet dismounted the buraq and prayed two rak^as. Jibril asked him, “Do you know where you prayed?” and the Prophet answered, “Allah knows best.” Jibril told him, "This is Yathrib; this is Taybah. “.” (These are two names for the city of al-Madinah.) Before the Prophet emigrated to al-Madinah, it was called Taybah and Yathrib. It earned the name al-Madinah after the Prophet emigrated to it.

The buraq continued with the Prophet and Jibril until they reached another place. Again Jibril told the Prophet to get down and pray. The Prophet dismounted there and prayed two rak^as. Jibril informed the Prophet of the name of that place; it was Tur Sina’.

Once again the buraq took off with the Prophet and Jibril. Once again it stopped, and the Prophet dismounted and prayed two rak^as. This was in Bayt Lahm, where Prophet ^Isa (Jesus) was born. Then the buraq continued with the Messenger of Allah until they entered the city of Jerusalem. There the Prophet went to Masjid al-Aqsa. Outside was a ring used by the Messengers of Allah to tie their animals. The Prophet tied his buraq to this ring. Then the Prophet entered the masjid where Allah assembled for him all the Prophets - from Adam to ^Isa. Prophet Muhammad moved forward and led them all in prayer. This is an indication the Prophet is higher in status than all the rest of the prophets and messengers.

…]

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http://www.soundvision.com/info/jerusalem

What Happened in Miraj?
Was it Real or a Dream?

The Miraj took place on the same night as the Isra on the 27th day of the Islamic month of Rajab about one year before the Prophet’s migration to Madinah from Makkah.

Anas bin Malik, one of the Prophet’s Companions narrated a Hadith in Sahih Bukhari which details what the Prophet encountered during the Miraj.

With Gabriel, the Prophet traveled from the nearest heaven, where he met Prophet Adam, then to the second one, where he met Prophets John and Jesus.

From there, he preceded to the third heaven, where he met Joseph, then the fourth heaven, where he met Prophet Idris.

In the fifth heaven, he met Prophet Harun (Aaron), in the sixth heaven, Moses, and in the seventh heaven, Ibrahim. Peace be upon on all of these Prophets.

Past the seventh heaven, he stood in the presence of Allah, who ordered the obligatory prayers Muslims are required to perform daily. Initially, 50 prayers were ordered. However, upon the persistent insistence of Prophet Moses, who met with the Prophet when he was returning down through the heavens, the number was reduced to five prayers every day.

During the Miraj, the Prophet also saw visions of beauty, as well as of horror. For example, according to another Hadith, narrated by Abu Huraira, the Prophet came upon a group of people whose bellies were like houses. They were full of snakes which could be seen from outside their bellies. The Prophet asked Gabriel who they were, and he told the Prophet that they were the people who had practiced Riba (Interest). This Hadith has been narrated in Ahmad and Ibn Maja.

While some scholars are of the opinion that Isra and Miraj were a dream, the majority do not agree.

As scholar Syed Abul Ala Maududi notes, in his Tafseer (exegesis) of verse 1 of Surah 17 of the Quran, that “The Quran tells us, in clear terms, that the Prophet (peace be upon him), went from Makkah to Jerusalem and then returned to Makkah during the night (obviously, without the use of anything resembling an aircraft), owing to God’s power. Now, if we believe this to be possible, what justification can there be to reject as inherently impossible the additional details of the event mentioned in the traditional source?”

Maududi also adds, quoting this verse, that “For quite obviously, to be able to perceive the kind of things mentioned in connection with the event, either in a dream or by means of intuition, is not so wondrous that it should be prefaced by the statement: ‘Holy is He Who carried His servant by night…’; a statement which amounts to proclaiming that God was free from every imperfection and flaw. Such a statement would make absolutely no sense if the purpose of it was merely to affirm that God had the power to enable man to have either visions in the course of a dream, or to receive intuitively.”

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http://islamicity.com/mosque/isra/Israa_Miraj_Hadith.shtml

Narrated Anas bin Malik

The night Allah’s Apostle was taken for a journey from the sacred mosque (of Mecca) Al-Ka’ba: Three persons came to him (in a dreamy while he was sleeping in the Sacred Mosque before the Divine Inspiration was revealed to Him. One of them said, “Which of them is he?” The middle (second) angel said, “He is the best of them.” The last (third) angle said, “Take the best of them.” Only that much happened on that night and he did not see them till they came on another night, i.e. after The Divine Inspiration was revealed to him. (Fateh-Al-Bari Page 258, Vol. 17) and he saw them, his eyes were asleep but his heart was not----and so is the case with the prophets: their eyes sleep while their hearts do not sleep. So those angels did not talk to him till they carried him and placed him beside the well of Zam-Zam. From among them Gabriel took charge of him. Gabriel cut open (the part of his body) between his throat and the middle of his chest (heart) and took all the material out of his chest and abdomen and then washed it with Zam-Zam water with his own hands till he cleansed the inside of his body, and then a gold tray containing a gold bowl full of belief and wisdom was brought and then Gabriel stuffed his chest and throat blood vessels with it and then closed it (the chest). He then ascended with him to the heaven of the world and knocked on one of its doors.

The dwellers of the Heaven asked, ‘Who is it?’ He said, “Gabriel.” They said, “Who is accompanying you?” He said, “Muhammad.” They said, “Has he been called?” He said, “Yes” They said, “He is welcomed.” So the dwellers of the Heaven became pleased with his arrival, and they did not know what Allah would do to the Prophet on earth unless Allah informed them. The Prophet met Adam over the nearest Heaven. Gabriel said to the Prophet, “He is your father; greet him.” The Prophet greeted him and Adam returned his greeting and said, “Welcome, O my Son! O what a good son you are!” Behold, he saw two flowing rivers, while he was in the nearest sky. He asked, “What are these two rivers, O Gabriel?” Gabriel said, “These are the sources of the Nile and the Euphrates.”

Then Gabriel took him around that Heaven and behold, he saw another river at the bank of which there was a palace built of pearls and emerald. He put his hand into the river and found its mud like musk Adhfar. He asked, “What is this, O Gabriel?” Gabriel said, “This is the Kauthar which your Lord has kept for you.” Then Gabriel ascended (with him) to the second Heaven and the angels asked the same questions as those on the first Heaven, i.e., “Who is it?” Gabriel replied, “Gabriel”. They asked, “Who is accompanying you?” He said, “Muhammad.” They asked, “Has he been sent for?” He said, “Yes.” Then they said, "He is welcomed.‘’ Then he (Gabriel) ascended with the Prophet to the third Heaven, and the angels said the same as the angels of the first and the second Heavens had said.

Then he ascended with him to the fourth Heaven and they said the same; and then he ascended with him to the fifth Heaven and they said the same; and then he ascended with him to the sixth Heaven and they said the same; then he ascended with him to the seventh Heaven and they said the same. On each Heaven there were prophets whose names he had mentioned and of whom I remember Idris on the second Heaven, Aaron on the fourth Heavens another prophet whose name I don’t remember, on the fifth Heaven, Abraham on the sixth Heaven, and Moses on the seventh Heaven because of his privilege of talking to Allah directly. Moses said (to Allah), “O Lord! I thought that none would be raised up above me.”

But Gabriel ascended with him (the Prophet) for a distance above that, the distance of which only Allah knows, till he reached the Lote Tree (beyond which none may pass) and then the Irresistible, the Lord of Honor and Majesty approached and came closer till he (Gabriel) was about two bow lengths or (even) nearer. (It is said that it was Gabriel who approached and came closer to the Prophet. (Fate Al-Bari Page 263, 264, Vol. 17). Among the things which Allah revealed to him then, was: “Fifty prayers were enjoined on his followers in a day and a night.”

Then the Prophet descended till he met Moses, and then Moses stopped him and asked, “O Muhammad ! What did your Lord en join upon you?” The Prophet replied," He enjoined upon me to perform fifty prayers in a day and a night." Moses said, “Your followers cannot do that; Go back so that your Lord may reduce it for you and for them.” So the Prophet turned to Gabriel as if he wanted to consult him about that issue. Gabriel told him of his opinion, saying, “Yes, if you wish.” So Gabriel ascended with him to the Irresistible and said while he was in his place, “O Lord, please lighten our burden as my followers cannot do that.” So Allah deducted for him ten prayers where upon he returned to Moses who stopped him again and kept on sending him back to his Lord till the enjoined prayers were reduced to only five prayers.

Then Moses stopped him when the prayers had been reduced to five and said, “O Muhammad! By Allah, I tried to persuade my nation, Bani Israel to do less than this, but they could not do it and gave it up. However, your followers are weaker in body, heart, sight and hearing, so return to your Lord so that He may lighten your burden.”

The Prophet turned towards Gabriel for advice and Gabriel did not disapprove of that. So he ascended with him for the fifth time. The Prophet said, “O Lord, my followers are weak in their bodies, hearts, hearing and constitution, so lighten our burden.” On that the Irresistible said, “O Muhammad!” the Prophet replied, “Labbaik and Sa’daik.” Allah said, “The Word that comes from Me does not change, so it will be as I enjoined on you in the Mother of the Book.” Allah added, “Every good deed will be rewarded as ten times so it is fifty (prayers) in the Mother of the Book (in reward) but you are to perform only five (in practice).”

The Prophet returned to Moses who asked, “What have you done?” He said, “He has lightened our burden: He has given us for every good deed a tenfold reward.” Moses said, “By Allah! I tried to make Bani Israel observe less than that, but they gave it up. So go back to your Lord that He may lighten your burden further.” Allah’s Apostle said, “O Moses! By Allah, I feel shy of returning too many times to my Lord.” On that Gabriel said, “Descend in Allah’s Name.” The Prophet then woke while he was in the Sacred Mosque (at Mecca).