AL ISRA WAL MIRAJ (SHAB E MIRAJ) (A Night Journey and Ascension)

Al Isra wal Miraj is the night of 27th of the Islamic month of Rajab in which Muhammad (SAW) embarked on the famous night journey and ascension, also known as Shab-e-Miraj, about which Quran mentioned as “Glorious is He Who made his servant travel by night from Al Masjid ul Haram to Al Masjid ul Aqsa whose surrounding We have blessed, so that We let him see some of Our signs. Surely, He is the Hearing, the All Seeing”. (Quran: Surah Bani Israel 17 - Verse 1), and then further expanded and interpreted within the? hadiths.

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The story of this night journey and ascent are marked as one of the most celebrated in the Islamic calendar that has no parallel in human history and portrays the power of Allah (SWT) that is beyond the horizons of human comprehension. The?Isra??and?Miraj?are the two parts of a?Night Journey?that Muslims?believe the Islamic prophet Muhammad?(SAW) (AD?570–632) took during a single night around the year?AD 621?(1 BH?– 0 BH). The majority of Islamic scholars claim that the journey was both a physical and spiritual one.

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After returning from the blessed journey of Miraj, Muhammad (SAW) narrated the following whole events of Miraj to His companions. All his companions believed Him wholeheartedly because they all knew undoubtedly that He is the most “SADIQ” and “AMEEN” person in the entire world:

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01. It all started when Hazrat Jibrael (AS), on the command of Allah (SWT), went to Muhammad (SAW) to take him on the journey to the heavens and woke up him from Kabba of Macca, cleaned his heart with Zam Zam?(holy water) and led him to a white beast named Buraq (a winged horse-like bird) and commenced his journey to Masjid Al – Aqsa as mentioned in Quran. When he got there, He met Allah’s messengers in Bait-ul-Muqaddas (Masjid e Aqsa), and Hazrat Jibrael asked Muhammad (SAW) to lead the prayer (Two Rakats) for the Messengers of Allah (SWT) and every Prophet from the time of Hazrat Adam (AS) till the time of Hazrat Isa (AS) will pray behind him as a sign of accepting the superiority of Muhammad (SAW);

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02. After leading the Prayer in Bait-ul-Muqaddas, they took Muhammad (SAW) upon the heavens on Shab-e-Miraj. And the messengers of Allah (SWT) were taken up in the heavens before Muhammad (SAW) to welcome Him in Heavens on Shab-e-Miraj;

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03. After visiting Masjid E Aqsa Muhammad (SAW) began his journey with Hazrat Jibrael (AS) toward Heaven. They were asked a few questions before opening the door at each Heaven. He met eight Prophets on the seven Heavens and all of them greeted Muhammad (SAW) with gratitude and huge respect by?saying ‘Welcome, O pious Prophet and pious brother!’. (Adam (A.S.) and Ibrahim (A.S.), however, welcomed him as a ‘pious son’) (Sahi Bukhari 3207 and 7517). Door of first Heaven opened they went there where Muhammad (SAW) met Hazrat Adam (A.S), the first creation, the first Human being, the father of humankind. Hazrat Adam (A.S) met Muhammad (SAW). In the Second Heaven Muhammad (SAW) met two Messengers of Allah Hazrat Isa (A.S) and Hazrat Yahya (A.S). They went up towards the third Heaven where they met Hazrat Yusuf (A.S). They proceeded upon the Fourth Heaven and they met Hazrat Idrees (A.S). On the fifth Heaven, Hazrat Haroon (A.S) welcomed the Messenger of Allah Muhammad (SAW). They went up to the sixth Heaven, where they were welcomed by Hazrat Musa (A.S). They moved to the next Heaven, where they met Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S), the father of many Prophets who came after Him, including Muhammad (SAW). He is on the highest Heaven;

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04. After crossing the seven heavens, Muhammad (SAW) had the honor of meeting ALLAH SWT – an honor that was not given to any prophet except Muhammad (SAW). When Muhammad (SAW) was taken to Al Bait Al Mamur ( the house of ALLAH on the top of all heavens), he asked Jibrael (AS) about the place on which Jibrael answered:“This is Al Bait- Al-Mamur where 70,000 angels perform prayers daily and who attends it never will never be able to again attend this blessing”. (Sahih Bukhari: 3207);

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05. When he finally reached the highest level in the heavens, he was brought into the divine presence of Allah (SWT), alone at Sidrat ul Muntaha (a boundary beyond which none may pass). It is called Sidrat ul Muntaha because the angel’s knowledge stops at that point, and no one has gone beyond except Muhammad (SAW). At Sidrat ul Muntaha, Jibrael (AS) asked Muhammad (SAW) that this point is my limit the rest of the distance you have to spend alone. Muhammad (SAW) was made to go even higher. Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (i.e. a tree in the seventh heaven) and I saw its Nabq 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 Hazrat Jibrael about those rivers and he said, 'The two hidden rivers are in Paradise, and the apparent ones are the Nile and the Euphrates. Muhammad (SAW) was then shown the Jannah where such things were available which no one had seen nor heard nor even imagined before;

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06. The end of this journey on Shab-e-Miraj brought Muhammad (SAW) into the Divine Presence, the ultimate source of strength and relief. It is impossible to visualize the beauty of this scene or how valued, praised, Muhammad (SAW) must have felt. We do not know a great about what was secretly concerned between Allah and His beloved Muhammad (SAW) with Allah. Muhammad (SAW) did not see Allah (SWT) Almighty with eyes as narrated by Hazrat Aisha (RA) because Allah says ‘No vision can grasp Him’;

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07. On the night of Shab e Miraj, Allah (SWT) blessed Muhammad (SAW) with three things as a gift: Namaz (Salah) and the last verses of Surah Baqarah. Initially, Muhammad (SAW) was given 50 Salah as a gift for him and the whole Muslim Ummah but Muhammad (SAW) requested Allah (SWT) on advice of Hazrat Musa (ES) to decrease the number of prayers so that every Muslim can offer it with ease. So the number of prayers decreased to five which are Fajar, Zuhar, Asar, Maghrib, and Isha but the reward of prayers remains like 50 prayers. Moreover, Allah (SWT) also told Muhammad (SAW) on that night that all the major sins of Muslims will be forgiven except those who associated partners with Allah. (Sahi Muslim);

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08. “On the return journey Muhammad (SAW) came down on the ladder to Bait-al Muqaddas in Jerusalem. Again, all the previous messengers were present there. Muhammad (SAW) led all of them in Fajar prayer and returned to Makkah on Buraq;

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09. Muhammad (SAW) prayed near the tree where Allah (SWT) talked with Hazrat Musa (AS), the Mount of Sinai where the Torah was revealed, the grave of Hazrat Musa (AS), and at Bethlehem where Hazrat Esa (AS) was given birth.;

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10. Anas bin Malik said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'On the night on which I was taken on the Night Journey, I passed by Musa, peace be upon him, and he was praying in his grave.' (Sunan an-Nasa'i 1634);

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11. Muhammad (SAW) saw some of Allah's greatest signs as mentioned in Quran. During his "Isra and Miraj" (Night Journey and Ascension) to the heavens on Shab-e-Miraj, Muhammad (SAW) was shown both the people of Paradise (Heaven) and the people of Hell (Jahannam), witnessing firsthand the rewards of the righteous and the punishments of the wicked;?this is considered a unique experience only granted to him while still alive. He witnessed meaningful signs from Allah (SWT) that showed him the reality of the Hereafter.?Although the Holy Quran does not explicitly mention specific details about Heaven and Hell during the Shab-e-Miraj, various hadiths provide valuable insights into what Muhammad (SAW) witnessed and conveyed about Heaven and Hell during this miraculous journey. During the journey of Al-Isra and Miraj, Muhammad (SAW) encountered many signs and wonders, one of which was a test of his wisdom and faith:

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11.01??????? Hazrat Abu Hurairah (R.A.) reported. On the Night of Al-Isra Muhammad (SAW) was presented with two drinking vessels: one full of wine and the other one full of milk. He looked at them. Then he took the vessel, which was full of milk. Thereupon, Jibrael (Gabriel) said: “Alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah) Who has guided you to that, which is in accord with Fitrah (i.e., Islamic Monotheism; pure nature of Islam). Had you selected wine, your people would have gone astray (although at that time wine was not prohibited).”?(Riyad as-Salihin 1393);

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11.02??????? Hazrat Jabir (RA) narrated. The Prophet, said, "I entered Paradise and saw a palace and asked whose palace is this? They (the Angels) said, "This palace belongs to Umar bin Al-Khattab.' I intended to enter it, and nothing stopped me except my knowledge about your sense of Ghira (self-respect (O Umar)." `Umar said, "O Muhammad (SAW)! Let my father and mother be sacrificed for you! O Allah's Prophet! How dare I think of my Ghira (self-respect) being offended by you?" (Sahih al-Bukhari 5226);

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11.03??????? Muhammad (SAW) saw two flowing rivers, while he was in the first Heaven. He asked, "What are these two rivers, O Gabriel?" Gabriel said, "These are the sources of the Nile and the Euphrates." (Sahi Bukhari 3207 and 7517);

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11.04??????? Hazrat Anas (R.A.) said: “The Prophet said: “I saw a river in Paradise, whose banks had tents made of pearl. I asked: ‘What is this, O Jibrael?’ He replied: ‘This is Al-Kauther, which Allah has granted you.'”?(Jami at-Tirmidhi 3359);

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11.05??????? Hazrat Anas (R.A.) bin Malik (R.A) reported that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “On the night on which I was taken on the Night Journey (Isra), I saw written at the gate of Paradise: ‘Charity brings a tenfold reward and a loan brings an eighteen fold reward.’ I said: ‘O Jibrael! Why is a loan better than charity?’ He said: ‘Because the beggar asks when he has something, but the one who asks for a loan does so only because he is in need.’?(Sunan Ibn Majah 2431);

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11.06??????? Hazrat Imran (R.A.) Narrated: The Prophet (SAW) said, “I looked at Paradise and saw that the majority of its residents were the poor, and I looked at the (Hell) Fire and saw that the majority of its residents were women.” (who are unthankful to the husband, and they curse frequently) (Sahih al-Bukhari 5198);

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11.07??????? Hazrat Abu Saeed narrated that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: "The poor Muhajirin will enter Paradise before the rich among them by five hundred years." (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2351);

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11.08??????? Muhammad (SAW) said: “I passed by a people whose heads were being crushed by heavy stones. I asked: O Jibrael! Who are these people? Jibrael said: These are the people on whose heads are the burden of prayer. That is, they feel the burden of prayers on themselves.”?(Ibn Majah).?Muhammad (SAW) also said: “The first thing that will be judged among a person’s deeds on the Day of Resurrection is the prayers. If they are in order, then he will have prospered and succeeded. If they are lacking, then he will have failed and lost.” (Tirmidhi);

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11.09??????? Muhammad (SAW) said that he passed by a man who had gathered a large bundle of firewood. The man, however, could not lift the bundle due to its weight. Despite this, he continued to add more firewood to it out of sheer greed. Confused Muhammad (SAW) asked the angel Jibrael (AS) about the identity of the man. In response, Jibrael (AS) informed Muhammad (SAW) that the man was from the Prophet’s Ummah (community) and he had been entrusted with something by others, but he was unable to fulfill his obligation. Instead of returning the trust to its rightful owners, the man had collected more trust, increasing the burden of his unfulfilled duties;

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11.10??????? Muhammad (SAW) said: Then I saw a group of people who were clothed in rags and eating poisonous trees and hot stones like animals. I asked: O Jibrael! Who are these people? Jibrael said:?These are the people who refused to give charity from their wealth.?Allah does not wrong His servants, but these individuals were wronging themselves through their actions;

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11.11??????? Muhammad (SAW) said about his journey of Shab-e-Miraj:?I passed by a group of people in front of whom there was freshly roasted meat in a pot on one side and smelly (bad-smelling) meat on the other. I asked: O Jibrael! Who are these people? He (RA) said:?These are the people who have a lawful (pure) wife, and they have sexual intercourse with a wicked woman and sleep with her until morning;

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11.12??????? Muhammad (SAW) said: Then I saw a field full of terrible pigs, whose whole body was like a human being and whose face was like a pig, and whose tongue was torn out and being pulled in the opposite direction. I asked: O Jibrael! Who are these people? He said: These people? Those who have made false witnesses lose their livelihood. These people lie with incredible arrogance;

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11.13??????? Muhammad (SAW) said: Then I saw a group of women hanging upside down on their breasts and legs, and they were all being flogged with fire. I asked Jibrael: Who are these people? He said: These are the cruel and impure women who gave birth to illegitimate children and killed them to hide their crime;

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11.14??????? Muhammad (SAW) said: During this Night Journey, I saw some people from whom the angels cut meat and fed it to them, so they said: Eat the meat of your (dead) brothers as you eat meat in this world. I asked! O Jibrael! Who are these people? They are being forced to eat their flesh. He said: These are the flaws that make people more vocal;

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11.15??????? Hazrat Anas (R.A) said: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “During the Mi’raj (the Night of Ascension), I saw a group of people who were scratching their chests and faces with their copper nails. I asked, ‘Who are these people, O Jibrael?’ Jibrael replied: ‘These are the people who ate the flesh of others (by backbiting) and trampled people’s honor.’ (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 335);

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11.16??????? Muhammad (SAW) said: Then I saw that there was a forest, and there were holes in the ground, and from those holes, big bulls came out with big bodies and big horns. They are scared and want to push their horns, hands, and feet into these tiny holes. I asked Jibrael, who are these people? He said: These are the people who talk big and small in the world. And words of pride and arrogance come out of the mouth;

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11.17??????? Muhammad (SAW) said: Then I saw some people whose faces are black and blue eyes are very terrible and the lower lip is crawling on the ground and the upper lip is placed on the head. Their mouths are oozing such stinking pus and blood that the whole field is rotting. I asked Jibrael, who are these people? He said: These are the drunkards who will suffer the same punishment until the Day of Judgment;

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11.18??????? Muhammad (SAW) then saw?a group of people harvesting a crop. The more they were cutting the crop the more it was growing. Then he asked Jibrael, what is going on here? Jibrael told that they are the Mujahedin who did Jihad in the way of Allah.

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CONCLUSION

The motive behind Muhammad’s (SAW) wonderful trip to the Heavens was to show the highest status of Muhammad (SAW) in the domain of Islam; and to increase his faith and knowledge; and also to convey valuable insights to his followers about Heaven, Hell, and the Hereafter. It endorsed the unique position He held, according to Allah (SWT) and His creation.

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This incredible journey took place during a time when Muhammad (SAW) was facing intense hardship and pain in his life because his tribe stood against him and humiliated him and his companions. Apart from this, Muhammad (SAW) lost his beloved wife Khadija (RA), and his protector Uncle Abu Talib.

During the Shab-e-Miraj, Allah (SWT) warned Muhammad (SAW) about Hell (Jahannam), a terrible place of punishment for those who disobey Him and reject His guidance.

Muslims should get maximum benefits from Al Isra Wal Miraj (Shab e Miraj) visit of Muhammad (SAW) by availing gifts given to Muhammad (SAW) by Allah (SWT): pray Salah (Namaz) with focused and whole heartedly to please Allah (SWT); recite frequently Surah Baqarah to keep evils and devils away from your places; and strict your faith (iman) to oneness of Allah by doing good deeds, so to enjoy blessings of Allah (SWT). A’meen.

May Allah (SWT) grant us the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the Muhammad (SAW) and to witness the beauty of Heaven in the hereafter. A’meen.

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About the Author:

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Syed Imtiaz Abbas Hussain is a fellow member of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan and has experienced of above 28 years in different capacities. Email: [email protected] Cell: 0092 300 3572479. Karachi. Pakistan.