- God’s Supreme Mercy:
- Our Fitra Is Originally Pure:
- Competition in the Cause of God
The concept of journey throughout human history has always been associated with achieving certain level of personal growth and spiritual advancement, and The Night Journey and Ascending of our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) is certainly no exception …
“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 All Hearing, the All Seeing.”—Qur’an 17:1
The concept of journey throughout human history has always been associated with achieving certain level of personal growth and spiritual advancement, and The Night Journey and Ascending of our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) is certainly no exception, besides other miraculous connotations that are the essence of its purpose as set by the divine wisdom of Allah.
It was a journey that is both physical and spiritual which took our beloved Muhammad (pbuh) from Al Masjid Al Haram to al- Masjid al Aqsa and from earth through the seven Heavens in one single night on Al Buraq. It was a journey of enlightenment, as he received the command of the Five obligatory prayers. It was also a reward given to him at a time when his enemies’ harm and annoyances reached their levels. It was during the Miraj (the ascension to the Seven Heavens) that the Prophet saw Allah (SWA). And it is during the Esra’a (the night journey), that that he led the noble prophets who preceded him in prayer. The journey in its entirety is an assertion to his esteemed position amongst God’s creations in general and amongst the Prophets on a more specific level. Peace be upon Muhammad, the Best of God’s creation and the Seal of the Prophets.
Some dispute the account that the Prophet did see Allah in an explicit manner arguing that no human is ever said to have seen Allah except from behind a veil. However, and according to some scholars, Prophet Muhammad took part in this journey in a form different than that of a human.
Imam Ahmad (may Allah be pleased with him) recorded Anas as saying that al-Buraq was brought to the Prophet (peace be upon him) on the Night of the Isra’ with his saddle and reins ready for riding. The animal shied, and Jibril said to him: “Why are you doing this? By Allah, no one has ever ridden you who is more honored by Allah than him. At this, al-Buraq started to sweat. – This Hadith is also narrated by At-Tirmidhi who described it as Gharib.
Besides the glory and splendor of the experience the Prophet lived through that journey, he (pbuh) was exposed to the people of Paradise and those of Hellfire, provided with knowledge of what earned each party its fateful end. And through that which he was told by Jibril about what brought people to Hell and others to Jana (Paradise) we learn about the deeds that will earn us a seat in eternal Paradise or eternal Hell (God forbids).
The spiritual and mental advancement that was mean for Prophet during this journey exposes us to bounteous attributes of Allah Almighty and the elevated stature God granted Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Similarly it introduces us, in a parable like- sequence of events to many truths about Islam, its law, a glimpse of eye-witness description of the prophets. Over and above it adds to us good perception of our existence and how our deeds in this life will determine our end.
Warm up
Before the journey commences and before Jibril takes the Prophet to the Buraq to ride, Allah prepared the Prophet for the journey and warmed him up for its magnificence, to fully live its impact, vividness and sweetness.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with them both) said that Malik bin Sasaah told him that the Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) told them about the night in which he was taken on the night journey. He said:
“While I was lying down in Al-Hatim (or may be Qatadah said, in Al- Hijr) someone came to me and said to his companion, ‘The one who is in the middle of these three.’ He came to me and opened me.”
I [one of the narrators] heard Qatadah say ‘split me-from here to here,’ Qatadah said: “I said to Al- Jarud, who was beside me, ‘what does that mean?’ He said, ‘From the top of the chest to below his navel,’ and I heard him say, from his throat to below his navel.’ The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“He took out my heart and brought a golden vessel filled with faith and wisdom. He washed my heart then filled it up and put it back, then a white animal was brought to me that was smaller than a mule and larger than a donkey.”
Al- Jarud said, ‘Was this Al Buraq, O Abu Hamzah?’ He said, ‘Yes, and its stride covered a distance as far as it could see.’
The Night Journey (Full Account)
The Prophet (pbuh) said:
“I was mounted upon it and Jibril brought me to the First Heaven, and asked for it to be opened. It was said. ‘Who is this?’ He said, ‘Jibril.’ It was said, ‘Who is with you?’ He said, ‘Muhammad.’ It was said, ‘Has his Mission started?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ It was said, ‘Welcome to him, blessed is the one who comes.’ So it was opened for us and when I entered, I saw Adam. (Jibril) said, ‘This is your father Adam, greet him.’ So I greeted him, and he returned the greeting then said, ‘Welcome to the righteous son and righteous Prophet.’
“Then I was taken up to the Fifth Heaven and (Jibril) asked for it to be opened. It was said, ‘Who is this?’ He said. ‘Jibril.’ It was said, ‘Who is with you?’ He said, Muhammad.’ It was said, ‘Has his Mission started?’ He said, ‘Yes’. It was said, ‘Welcome to him, blessed is the one who comes.’ So it was opened for us and when I entered, I saw Harun. (Jibril) said, ‘This is Harun, greet him.’ So I greeted him, and he returned the greeting then said, ‘Welcome to the righteous brother and righteous Prophet.’
“Then I was taken up to the sixth heaven, and (Jibril) asked for it to be opened. It was said, ‘Who is this?’ He said, ‘Jibril’. It was said, ‘Who is wth you?’ He said, ‘Muhammad’. It was said, ‘Has his Mission started?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ It was said, ‘Welcome to him, blessed is the one who comes.’ So it was opened for us and when I entered, I saw Musa. (Jibril) said, ‘This is Musa, greet him.’ So I greeted him, and he retuned the greeting then said, ‘Welcome to the righteous brother and righteous Prophet.’ When I was passed by him, he wept, and it was said to him, ‘Why are you weeping?’ He said, ‘I am weeping because a young man was sent after me and more people from his Ummah than form mine will enter Paradise.’
“Then I was taken up to the Seventh Heaven, and (Jibril) asked for it to be opened. It was said, ‘Who is this?’ He said, ‘Jibril’. It was said, ‘Who is with you?’ He said, ‘Muhammad’. It was said, ‘Has his Mission started?’ He said, ‘Yes’. It was said, ‘Welcome to him, blessed is the one who comes.’ So it was opened for us and when I entered, I saw Ibrahim. (Jibril) said, ‘This is Ibrahim, greet him.’ So I greeted him, and he returned the greeting and said, ‘Welcome to the righteous son and righteous Prophet.’
“Then I was taken up to Sidrat Al- Muntaha whose fruits were like the clay jugs of Hajar (a region in Arabia) and its leaves were like the ears of elephants. (Jibril) said, ‘This is Sidrat Al-Muntaha.’ And there were four rivers, two hidden and two visible. I said, ‘What is this, O Jibril?’ He said, ‘The two hidden rivers are rivers of Paradise, and the two visible rivers are the Nile and the Euphrates.’ Then I was shown Al- Bayt Al- Ma’mur.”
Qatadah said: Al- Hassan told us narrating from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (pbuh) saw Al- Bayt Al –Ma’mur. Each day seventy thousand angels enter it, then they never return form it. Then he continued to narrate the Hadith of Anas;
“Then I was brought a vessel of wine, a vessel of milk and a vessel of honey. I chose the milk, and he [Jibril] said, ‘This is the Fitra (natural instinct) on which you and your Ummah will be.’
“Then the Prayer was enjoined upon me, fifty prayers each day. I came down until I reached Musa, who said, ‘What did your Lord enjoin upon your Ummah?’ I said, ‘Fifty prayers each day.’ He said. Your Ummah will not be able to do fifty prayers each day. I tried the people before you, I had to deal with the Children of Israel and it was very difficult for me. Go back to your Lord and ask Him to reduce the burden on your Ummah.’
“So I went back, and the number was reduced by ten. I came back to Musa and he asked, ‘What were you commanded to do?’ I said, ‘Forty prayers each day.’ He said, ‘Your Ummah will not be able to do forty prayers each day. I tried the people before you, I had to deal with the Children of Israel and it was very difficult for me. Go back to your Lord and ask Him to reduce the burden on your Ummah.’
“So I went back, and the number was reduced by ten. I came back to Musa and he asked, ‘What were you commanded to do?’ I said, ‘I was commanded to do thirty prayers each day.’ He said, ‘Your Ummah will not be able to do thirty prayers each day. I tried the people before you, I had to deal with the Children of Israel and it was very difficult for me. Go back to your Lord and ask Him to reduce the burden on your Ummah.’
“So I went back and the number was reduced by ten. I cam back to Musa and he asked. ‘What were you commanded to do?’ I said, ‘Twenty prayers each day.’ He said, ‘Your Ummah will not be able to do twenty prayers each day. I tried the people before you, I had to deal with the Children of Israel and it was difficult for me. Go back to your Lord and ask Him to reduce the burden on your Ummah.’
“So I went back, and the number was reduced by ten more. I came back to Musa and he asked, ‘What were you commanded to do?’ I said, ‘Ten prayers each day.’ He said, ‘Your Ummah will not be able to do ten prayers each day. I tried the people before you, I had to deal with the Children of Israel and it was vey difficult for me. Go back to your Lord and ask Him to reduce the burden on your Ummah.’
“So I went back, and I was commanded to do five prayers every day. I came back to Musa and he asked, ‘What were you commanded to do?’ I said, ‘Five Prayers each day.’ He said, ‘Your Ummah will not be able to do five prayers each day. I tried the people before you, I had to deal with the Children of Israel and it was very difficult for me. Go back to your Lord and ask Him to reduce the burden on your Ummah.’ I said, ‘I have asked my Lord until feel too shy. I accept this and submit to Him.’ Then a voice called out: My order has been decreed and I have reduced the burden on My servants.’”
—Similar Narrations were recorded in the two Sahihs
Lessons Learned