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(May Peace, Mercy and Blessings of Allah be on all of you)
One of the greatest miracles of the Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) is the miracle of Night Journey (Isra) and Ascension (Miraj), which is mentioned and narrated by the Quran, authentic hadith and history resources.
What is Mairaj?
Mairaj is travel of Prophet Mohammad (Peace be Upon Him) from Masjid Al-Haram (Khana Kabah) towards Masjid Al Aqsa in Jerusalem and from there he ascended the heavens through the miraculous power of Allah. This was the unique honor conferred by Allah to the Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) alone. It was the climax of the spiritual progress which is not obtained by any other human except him. No doubt the night in which he was blessed with this unparalleled honor was one of the greatest nights in the history of this world.
The Reason of Mairaj
The reason of this travel is told by ALLAH in Qur'an, was to show Him different signs and miracles from Allah, this was also a miracle that this long journey has been done within shortest time which is not possible by any human by his own self in this world.
Mairaj Mentioned in Qur'an
Glory to (Allah) Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest Mosque, whose precincts We didbless,- in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the One Who heareth and seeth (all things).(Bani Israel Verse 1)
Then he drew near, then he came closer.
Till he was (at a distance of) two bows' length or even nearer (qaba qawsayni aw adna)
Now He revealed to His bondman whatever He revealed.
The heart (of the Prophet) lied not in what he saw.
Will you then dispute with him concerning what he saw?
And indeed he saw him in another descent.
By the lote-tree of the utmost boundary (over the seventh heaven).
Near to which is the Paradise of Abode. (Jannatul Ma'wa)
When that which covers did cover the lote-tree.
The sight (of the Prophet) turned not aside nor exceeded the limit.
Certainly, he (the Prophet) saw of the greatest Signs of his Lord. (53: Verses 8-18)
Parts of Mairaj Travel
The travel had two parts
1 Isra'a (from Masjid Haram to Masjid Aqsa)
2. Mairaj, From Masjid Aqsa to skies which is called Mairaj
Important Fact about Isra' & Mairaj Travel
From the companions of Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) ( to Taba'een (The Muslims who saw companions of Prophet (Peace be Upon Him)) and Scholars of Islam, majority had been agreed that Prophet Mohammad was taken as whole with His human body and that Mairaj was not a dream or a spiritual travel.
Quick Review of Events on Mairaj Night
1. Prophet Mohammad (Peace be Upon Him) went to Masjid Aqsa, offer 2 rakat Salah (prayer).
2. Then went to skies
3. Met several Prophets (may peace be upon them) on different skies, including Prophet Eesa (Jesus) Yahya (John), Yousaf (Joseph) and Prophet Ibraheem (Abraham) May Peace be upon all of Them.
4. He went to Sidra tul Muntaha (which is below the 7th sky).
5. He was honored with a direct contact with his Creator
at a place where even the angels had no access.6. Prayers became obligatory for Muslims (as a gift) which were initially 50 prayers but on the request of Prophet Mohammad (Peace be Upon Him) , the obligatory 50 prayers were reduced to 5 prayers a day, but still the person who will offer 5 prayers a day, will get the reward of saying 50 prayers.
(The extract from a long hadith on Mairaj travel from Muslim, Book of Faith Hadith 309)
8. Prophet Mohammad (Peace be Upon Him) saw the Kauthar (river from Jannah) which was given to Him by Allah. ( Bukhari Volume 8, Book 76, Number 583)
(There are many other incidents but I am mentioning only those whose references were available)
Gifts of Mairaj granted to Prophet Mohammad
It is narrated on the authority of Abdullah (b. Umar) that when the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was taken for the Night journey, he was taken to sidrat-ul-Muntaha, which is situated on the sixth heaven, where terminates everything that ascends from the earth and is held there, and where terminates every- thing that descends from above it and is held there. (It is with reference to this that) Allah said:" When that which covers covered the lote-tree" (al-Qur'an, Iii. 16). He (the narrator) said: (It was) gold moths. He (the narrator further) said: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was given three (things):
1. he was given five prayers
2. he was given the concluding verses of Sura al-Baqara,
3. and remission of serious Sins for those among his Ummah who associate not anything with Allah (Muslim Book 1, Hadith 329)
Date and Time of Mairaj Travel
It is generally believed that the great event of Mi'raj (ascension of the Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) to the heavens) took place in the night of 27th of Rajab. Therefore, some people celebrate the night as "Lailatul- Mi'raj" (the night of ascension to heavens). However, we don't have the exact date of that travel. We found 17th Rabi ul awal, 27th of Rajab or some other month.(Ref to Tafsir Fateh alqadeer)
Celebration of Mairaj Night?
Its is confirmed that the journey took place before hijrat (migration from Makkah to Madinah) when Prophet Mohammed (Peace be Upon Him) was in Makkah, as the Surah Bani Israel / Surah Isra'a (2nd name of Surah Bani Israel) was revealed by the end of Makkah period but Prophet Mohammad (Peace be Upon Him) or his companions (may Allah be pleased with all of them) never celebrated this night as a prayer night after this travel or fast for this day.
(If some one is willing to go through details)
It is narrated on the authority of Anas b. Malik May Allah be pleased with Him that the Messenger of Allah said: 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 version. 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, and then came out and Gabriel brought me a vessel of wine and a vessel of milk. I chose the milk, and Gabriel said: You have chosen the natural thing. Then he took me to heaven. Gabriel then asked the (gate of heaven) to be opened and he was asked who he was. He replied: Gabriel. He was again asked: Who is with you? He (Gabriel) said: Muhammad. It was said: Has he been sent for? Gabriel replied: He has indeed been sent for. And (the door of the heaven) was opened for us and lo! we saw Adam. He welcomed me and prayed for my good. Then we ascended to the second heaven. Gabriel (peace be upon him) (asked the door of heaven to be opened), and he was asked who he was. He answered: Gabriel; and was again asked: Who is with you? He replied: Muhammad. It was said: Has he been sent for? He replied: He has indeed been sent for. The gate was opened. When I entered 'Isa b. Maryam and Yahya b. Zakariya (peace be upon both of them), cousins from the maternal side. welcomed me and prayed for my good Then I was taken to the third heaven and Gabriel asked for the opening (of the door). He was asked: Who are you? He replied: Gabriel. He was (again) asked: Who is with you? He replied Muhammad (may peace be upon him). It was said: Has he been sent for? He replied He has indeed been sent for. (The gate) was opened for us and I saw Yusuf (peace of Allah be upon him) who had been given half of (world) beauty. He welcomed me prayed for my well-being. Then he ascended with us to the fourth heaven. Gabriel (peace be upon him) asked for the (gate) to be opened, and it was said: Who is he? He replied: Gabriel. It was (again) said: Who is with you? He said: Muhammad. It was said: Has he been sent for? He replied: He has indeed been sent for. The (gate) was opened for us, and lo! Idris was there. He welcomed me and prayed for my well-being (About him) Allah, the Exalted and the Glorious, has said:" We elevated him (Idris) to the exalted position" (Qur'an xix. 57). Then he ascended with us to the fifth heaven and Gabriel asked for the (gate) to be opened. It was said: Who is he? He replied Gabriel. It was (again) said: Who is with thee? He replied: Muhammad. It was said Has he been sent for? He replied: He has indeed been sent for. (The gate) was opened for us and then I was with Harun (Aaron-peace of Allah be upon him). He welcomed me prayed for my well-being. Then I was taken to the sixth heaven. Gabriel (peace be upon him) asked for the door to be opened. It was said: Who is he? He replied: Gabriel. It was said: Who is with thee? He replied: Muhammad. It was said: Has he been sent for? He replied: He has indeed been sent for. (The gate) was opened for us and there I was with Musa (Moses peace be upon him) He welcomed me and prayed for my well-being. Then I was taken up to the seventh heaven. Gabriel asked the (gate) to be opened. It was said: Who is he? He said: Gabriel It was said. Who is with thee? He replied: Muhammad (may peace be upon him.) It was said: Has he been sent for? He replied: He has indeed been sent for. (The gate) was opened for us and there I found Ibrahim (Abraham peace be upon him) reclining against the Bait-ul-Ma'mur and there enter into it seventy thousand angels every day, never to visit (this place) again. Then I was taken to Sidrat-ul-Muntaha whose leaves were like elephant ears and its fruit like big earthenware vessels. And when it was covered by the Command of Allah, it underwent such a change that none amongst the creation has the power to praise its beauty.
Then Allah revealed to me a revelation and He made obligatory for me fifty prayers every day and night. Then I went down to Moses (peace be upon him) and he said: What has your Lord enjoined upon your Ummah? I said: Fifty prayers. He said: Return to thy Lord and beg for reduction (in the number of prayers), for your community shallnot be able to bear this burden. as I have put to test the children of Isra'il and tried them (and found them too weak to bear such a heavy burden). He (the Holy Prophet) said: I went back to my Lord and said: My Lord, make things lighter for my Ummah. (The Lord) reduced five prayers for me. I went down to Moses and said. (The Lord) reduced five (prayers) for me, He said: Verily thy Ummah shall not be able to bear this burden; return to thy Lord and ask Him to make things lighter. I then kept going back and forth between my Lord Blessed and Exalted and Moses, till He said: There are five prayers every day and night. O Muhammad, each being credited as ten, so that makes fifty prayers. He who intends to do a good deed and does not do it will have a good deed recorded for him; and if he does it, it will be recorded for him as ten; whereas he who intends to do an evil deed and does not do, it will not be recorded for him; and if he does it, only one evil deed will be recorded. I then came down and when I came to Moses and informed him, he said: Go back to thy Lord and ask Him to make things lighter. Upon this the Messenger of Allah remarked: I returned to my Lord until I felt ashamed before Him.
(MUSLIM Book 001, Number 0309)
By Malik bin Sasaa May Allah be pleased with Him: The Prophet said, "While I was at the House in a state midway between sleep and wakefulness, (an angel recognized me) as the man lying between two men. A golden tray full of wisdom and belief was brought to me and my body was cut open from the throat to the lower part of the abdomen and then my abdomen was washed with Zam-zam water and (my heart was) filled with wisdom and belief. Al-Buraq, a white animal, smaller than a mule and bigger than a donkey was brought to me and I set out with Gabriel. When I reached the nearest heaven. Gabriel said to the heaven gate-keeper, 'Open the gate.' The gatekeeper asked, 'Who is it?' He said, 'Gabriel.' The gate-keeper,' Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel said, 'Muhammad.' The gate-keeper said, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel said, 'Yes.' Then it was said, 'He is welcomed. What a wonderful visit his is!' Then I met Adam and greeted him and he said, 'You are welcomed O son and a Prophet.' Then we ascended to the second heaven. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel said, 'Gabriel.' It was said, 'Who is with you?' He said, 'Muhammad' It was asked, 'Has he been sent for?' He said, 'Yes.' It was said, 'He is welcomed. What a wonderful visit his is!" Then I met Jesus and Yahya (John) who said, 'You are welcomed, O brother and a Prophet.' Then we ascended to the third heaven. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel said, 'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is with you? Gabriel said, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been sent for?' 'Yes,' said Gabriel. 'He is welcomed. What a wonderful visit his is!' (The Prophet added:). There I met Joseph and greeted him, and he replied, 'You are welcomed, O brother and a Prophet!' Then we ascended to the 4th heaven and again the same questions and answers were exchanged as in the previous heavens. There I met Idris and greeted him. He said, 'You are welcomed O brother and Prophet.' Then we ascended to the 5th heaven and again the same questions and answers were exchanged as in previous heavens. there I met and greeted Aaron who said, 'You are welcomed O brother and a Prophet". Then we ascended to the 6th heaven and again the same questions and answers were exchanged as in the previous heavens. There I met and greeted Moses who said, 'You are welcomed O brother and. a Prophet.' When I proceeded on, he started weeping and on being asked why he was weeping, he said, 'O Lord! Followers of this youth who was sent after me will enter Paradise in greater number than my followers.' Then we ascended to the seventh heaven and again the same questions and answers were exchanged as in the previous heavens. There I met and greeted Abraham who said, 'You are welcomed o son and a Prophet.' Then I was shown Al-Bait-al-Ma'mur (i.e. Allah's House). I asked Gabriel about it and he said, This is Al Bait-ul-Ma'mur where 70,000 angels perform prayers daily and when they leave they never return to it (but always a fresh batch comes into it daily).' Then I was shown Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (i.e. a tree in the seventh heaven) and I saw its Nabk fruits which resembled the clay jugs of Hajr (i.e. a town in Arabia), and its leaves were like the ears of elephants, and four rivers originated at its root, two of them were apparent and two were hidden. I asked Gabriel about those rivers and he said, 'The two hidden rivers are in Paradise, and the apparent ones are the Nile and the Euphrates.' Then fifty prayers were enjoined on me. I descended till I met Moses who asked me, 'What have you done?' I said, 'Fifty prayers have been enjoined on me.' He said, 'I know the people better than you, because I had the hardest experience to bring Bani Israel to obedience. Your followers cannot put up with such obligation. So, return to your Lord and request Him (to reduce the number of prayers.' I returned and requested Allah (for reduction) and He made it forty. I returned and (met Moses) and had a similar discussion, and then returned again to Allah for reduction and He made it thirty, then twenty, then ten, and then I came to Moses who repeated the same advice. Ultimately Allah reduced it to five. When I came to Moses again, he said, 'What have you done?' I said, 'Allah has made it five only.' He repeated the same advice but I said that I surrendered (to Allah's Final Order)'" Allah's Apostle was addressed by Allah, "I have decreed My Obligation and have reduced the burden on My slaves, and I shall reward a single good deed as if it were ten good deeds." (BUKHARI, VOL 4, BOOK 54, NUMBER 429)
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira May Allah be pleased with Him that the Apostle of Allah said: When I was taken for the night journey I met Moses peace be upon him). The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) gave his description thus: He was a man, I suppose-and he (the narrator) was somewhat doubtful (that the Holy Prophet observed): (Moses) was a man erect in stature with straight hair on his head as it he was one of the men of the Shanu'a; and I met Jesus and the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) described him as one having a medium stature and a red complexion as if he had (just) come out of the bath He observed: I saw Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and amongst his children I have the greatest resemblance with him. He said: There were brought to me two vessels. In one of them was milk and in the other one there was wine. And it was said to me: Select any one you like. So I selected the vessel containing milk and drank it. He (the angel) said: You have been guided on al-fitra or you have attained al-fitra. Had you selected wine, your Ummah would have been misled. (Muslim Book 001, Number 0322)
By Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with Him): The Prophet said: "While I was walking in Paradise (on the night of Mi'raj), I saw a river, on the two banks of which there were tents made of hollow pearls. I asked, "What is this, O Gabriel?' He said, 'That is the Kauthar which Your Lord has given to you.' Behold! Its scent or its mud was sharp smelling musk!" (The sub-narrator, Hudba is in doubt as to the correct expression. (Bukhari Volume 8, Book 76, Number 583)
for reading and your time.
PS: The post is made to clear misunderstandings about Mairaj Night and for reviewing the knowledge about it. You all are requested to remember me in your prayers.
PSS: Post credit to Temptations. from IF CC Team for asking and letting me write for you all.
PSSS: You all are most welcome to share, no obligation.
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