Chapter 2 - Is'ra and Mikraj Rasulullah ﷺ

 

Graphic Illustration, only Allahﷻ is the Knower of the unseen. Please continue reading

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The journey of the Prophet ﷺ to the heavens: 'Mi'raaj' took place in Makkah. This beautiful event took place a year before the migration of the Prophet ﷺ from Makkah to Madinah. The angel Jibrail (Gabriel) came at night, met the Prophet ﷺ and took him to the 'Masjid al-Aqsa' in Baitul Maqdis on a Buraq (a horse-like animal). The Prophet ﷺ met some of the Prophets there and led the prayer. After that, the angel Jibrail led the Prophet ﷺ to ascend to different layers of the heavens where he met some of the glorified Prophets and observed Paradise and Hell. After that, the Prophet ﷺ ascended and ascended to Allah Rabul Jalalluh, who blessed him, issued some guidance and made the five 'prayer' obligatory. After that, the Prophet ﷺ descended to Baitul Maqdis and returned to Makkah {Mak'kah) safe and sound. The Quran mentions it in the following words:

سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِۦ لَيْلًۭا مِّنَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ إِلَى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْأَقْصَا ٱلَّذِى بَـٰرَكْنَا حَوْلَهُۥ لِنُرِيَهُۥ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِنَآ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ ١

"Glory be to Him who made His servant travel by night from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest Mosque whose precincts We have blessed, that We may show him of Our signs. He is the Hearing, the Seeing.

[SURAH aL iSRA: aYAT 1]

From this verse, we come to the conclusion that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ his descendants and his descendants traveled with a physical body (servant) through the world of Isra and Mi'raj. Furthermore, with the greatness of the hidden power of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was able to complete this journey in a very short period of time across time or time, beyond the limits of space or time on each layer of the sky through the virtual world. Which is certainly not possible to do logically by the human mind on earth. However, humans must agree, Allahﷻ, the ruler of all the worlds, can do it very easily.

The journey of Isra 'or Night, the horizontal journey, which is the journey of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ from Masjid al Haraam to Masjid al Aqsa - this is the journey that is clearly mentioned in the Quran, in the verses mentioned above.

Mi'raj (Ascension) is the vertical journey of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to Heaven.

Where the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ascended through the heavens by the will and majesty of Allah ﷻ from Baitul Maqdis, the Golden Dome of The Rock, through various layers of the sky until he reached what is known as Sidrat-ul-Muntaha, or the farthest tree.

When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) ascended to the seventh heaven, he met our Messenger, Ibrahim (a.s.). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saw Ibrahim (a.s.) with his back against al-Bayt al-Ma'mur. Every day 70,000 angels go there; then leave there, and never return. The next day another 70,000 angels go, leave there, and never return. This will continue until the Day of Judgment.

Sidra or the shady tree and lote in classical Arabic lexicology is also a metaphor for the intellect, so as we see in this journey much of what he experienced in the physical had a metaphorical dimension as the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) literally transcended - a point that can be understood by the human intellect; a point reserved for him in a meeting or encounter with his Rabb. He visited Jannah (heaven) and Hell, also met the Prophets, the angels (Huur ul 'ain), and met Allahﷻ . Sidrat al-Muntaha a very large sidr tree. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) ascended to a place that exceeded the seven heavens; he entered Jannah (Paradise)..

In referring to the Mi'raj, the Qur'an says:

ولقد رآه نزلة أخرى * عند سدرة المنتهى * عندها جنة المأوى * إذ يغشى السدرة ما يغشى * ما زاغ البصر وما طغى * لقد رأى من آيات ربه الكبرى

And indeed he (Muhammad/Rasulullahﷺ) saw him [Jibrael (Gabriel)] in the second generation (i.e. at another time). Near Sidrat-ul-Muntaha [the lotus tree of the highest limit (beyond which nothing can pass)], Near it is the Paradise of residence. When the covering of the lotus tree covers it! The sight of (the Messenger of Allahﷺ) did not turn (right or left), nor did it exceed the limit (destined for it). Indeed he (Muhammad/Rasulullahﷺ) saw, of the Greatest Signs, of his Lord (Allahﷻ).

This journey, the lesson of which is an important part in gaining the readiness to do so.

As stated by Ibn Abbas ra, the Messenger of Allahﷺ was a guest of Allahﷻ during the conversation on the day of Mi'raj and is considered the correct view as to whether the Messenger of Allahﷻ had met Allahﷻ or not. The following hadith is narrated from Ibn Abbas ra:

رأيت ربي تبارك وتعالى

This hadith clearly states: "I saw my Lord".

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was granted five prayers for his people from Allah (ﷺ) during this conversation and this has been proven by a number of hadiths. The five daily prayers are the most important acts of worship that every Muslim must perform, the first and foremost of which Allah (ﷺ) will ask about in the Hereafter, a crucial point that determines the difference between a true Muslim and another (according to a hadith) and a very important act of worship that even the most unhealthy, sick and disabled people are not excused from, but are obliged to perform five times in the best possible manner such as Ishaarah. One of the main characteristics and main virtues of this act of worship is that it is a direct conversation between a person and Allah (ﷺ) and therefore, it can be logically concluded that, it was given to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) for his followers to have a direct conversation (Munaajath).

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) met Allah (ﷺ) and that made him a unique, incomparable and greatest human being who ever lived. Rasulullah ﷺ has been glorified and taken to the heavens, the galaxy and all the boundless spaces of the universe that even any advanced technology will surely fail to find a way above.

Saiyidina Ali Bin Abi Talib Qarmllah Wajha said:

"ان الله خلق العرش ديرهاراً لقدرته ولم يتخذه مكاناً لذاته"

Meaning: "Allahﷻ created the Throne to show His Power and did not make it a place for Him.

May Allahﷻ bestow His mercy on the Muslims and protect them from the tribulations of the Dajjal.

May we be able to take lessons and wisdom from Isra and Mi'raj

Allahumma Shalli 'ala sayyidina Muhammad wa' ala aalihi wa shahbihi wa sallam.

(Source: AMuslima)