What is isra and miraj?, When was isra wal miraj?

Isra and Miraj are one of the miracles of the prophet (peace and blessing be upon him), that took place at a time when the prophet was facing hardship and grief.

The people of Quraysh kept treating the prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) and his followers badly, they oppressed them and humiliated them. Above all the prophet was facing deep grief of losing his wife Khadijah and his uncle Abu Talib in the year that was called the year of sorrow.

The boycott made Khadija ill and soon she died. She was the prophet’s wife, friend, and refuge. She was the one who believed in him, the first person to accept Islam and she supported the prophet through all the hardships he went through. Soon afterward, the prophet lost his uncle, Abu Talib, he was the one who protect him from the people of Quraysh. Abu Talib was one of the elders of Quraysh whom they respect and can’t do him any harm. He never accepted Islam; however, he protected the prophet against his enemies. When they both died the prophet became very sad and the year became the year of grief.

The prophet then went to Ta’if to spread Islam however the people rejected him and refused to listen; they even sent their kids to throw stones at him until he left the city.

To comfort him Allah gave him a beautiful gift, the miracle of Isra Wal Miraj where he was transported from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, and then he ascended to heaven. One of the many lessons we learned from that night is that no matter what happens and the hardships we go through it will all go away and always remember

فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا ٥

“So, surely with hardship comes ease.” [Ash-Sharh, 5]

Always have faith in Allah and trust that he will get out of the hardships and sorrows you’re going through.

What is Isra and Miraj?

Isra and Miraj is the night when the prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was transported from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, and then he ascended to heaven.

Isra refers to the night journey of the prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) from Makka to al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, Allah said in the holy Quran:

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 the One Who took His servant ˹Muḥammad˺ by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We may show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He alone is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” [surah al-Isra, 1]

Then the journey of Miraj where the prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) ascended to heaven. There is a dispute about when the night of Isra and Miraj happen but some say it happened in the year 621 AD, before the migration of the prophet to Madina by one year on the 27th of Rajab.

Isra and Miraj story

The prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) was sleeping one day when the roof of the house opened, he said: “The roof of my house was opened and the Angel Jibril [as] descended” (Bukhari).

There’s a narration that says that the prophet was taken to the wall of Kabah, and the prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: “Jibril (as) opened my chest, and washed it with Zamzam water. Then he brought a golden tray full of wisdom and faith, and having poured its contents into my chest, he closed it”. [Bukhari]

The Prophet (saw) continued, ‘I was then brought a white beast which is called al-Buraq [from the Arabic word barq, meaning lightning], bigger than a donkey and smaller than a mule. Its stride was as long as the eye could reach. [Muslim]

Anas (ra) narrated, “Buraq was, ‘saddled and reined, but he shied from the prophet (peace and blessing be upon him). So Jibril [as] said to him, “Is it from Muhammad [peace and blessing be upon him] that you do this? For nobody has ridden you who is more honorable to Allah than him!” He said, “Then he started sweating profusely”’. [Tirmidhi]

The prophet was taken to several points along the journey where the angel Jibra’eel stopped Buraq and told the prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) to Dismount and pray. The first stop was Madinah, and the second stop they went to was Mount Sinai where the Torah was revealed to the prophet Musa. The third was at Bethlehem, the place where the prophet Isa was born. The fourth stop was the grave of the prophet Musa.

The prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: “I happened to pass by Musa [as] on the night of my Night journey by the red sandhill whilst he was standing praying in his grave” (Muslim).

Then the prophet arrived at the holy city of Al-Quds, he said: “When we reached Bait al-Maqdis [literally ‘the holy house’ another name for the Blessed Masjid Al-Aqsa] Jibril (as) pointed with his finger causing a crack in the rock, and he tied the Buraq to it [at the western wall of the noble sanctuary]’ (Tirmidhi). Waiting inside were all 124,000 Prophets (as). Jibra’eel (as) led the Prophet (saw) to the front, and he (saw) led them all in prayer in this blessed space.”

Some narrations say that Jibril (as) called the Adhan (call to prayer) then when the prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) led the prayer all angels descended to pray behind all the Prophets in this sacred place.

The prophet said: “When he finished the prayer someone said to me “Here is Malik (as), the keeper of the Hell, so convey Salams to him”. So, I turned to him, but he preceded me in Salams” (Muslim).

The prophet of Allah (peace and blessing be upon him) said: “The Prophets were presented to me, and Musa (peace be upon him) was a thin man, it was as if he was from the men of Shanu’ah [a Yemeni tribe]. And I saw ’Isa ibn Maryam (peace be upon him), and the closest of the people in resemblance to him from those I have seen, is ‘Urwah ibn Mas‘†d (ra). And I saw Ibrahim (peace be upon him), and the closest of the people in resemblance to him, from those I have seen, is your companion [meaning himself]. And I saw Jibril [as], and the closest of the people in resemblance to him, from those I have seen, is Dihyah (ra)” (Tirmidhi).

The prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said that he asked the prophets about ‘the Hour’. “Ibrahim (as) and Musa (as) stated that they ‘did not have any knowledge of it’. Whilst ’Isa (as) ’mentioned the Dajjal (anti-Christ) and said,

“I will descend and kill him, then the people will return to their own lands and will be confronted with Gog and Magog, who will, “swoop down from every mound” [Qur’an, 21:96]”’. [Ibn Majah]

Then the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said, ‘Then I came out and Jibril (as) brought me a vessel of wine and a vessel of milk. Then I chose the milk, and Jibril (as) said, “You have chosen the natural state (Fitrah)”’ (Muslim).

According to narrations the prophet then was taken to the Noble Rock (as-Sakhrah al-Musharrafah), which is currently at the holy Dome of the Rock Masjid at the center of the noble sanctuary (al-Haram ash-Sharif) of Masjid Al-Aqsa, then ascended into heavens.

What happened in Isra Wal Miraj night?

What we know about the night of Isra Wal Miraj is that Jibril a.s. took the prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa on a heavenly creature called Buraq.

The prophet described Buraq as “a white creature that is larger than a donkey but smaller than a mule, who would place its hoof (step) a distance equal to the range of his vision.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

The speed of the heavenly creature Buraq exceeds anything that we can think of. According to many narrations Jibril a.s. told the prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) to dismount and pray along the journey at several points.

The first stop was at Taybah which we know as Madinah. The second stop was Mount Sinai, where Prophet Musa a.s received the revelation of the Torah from Allah s.w.t. The third stop was Bethlehem, the place where Prophet Isa a.s. was born.

The second part of the journey is the ascension to the heavens which is known as Miraj where he met many of the prophets. The prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) met Prophet Adam a.s, followed by Prophets Yahya a.s and Prophet Isa a.s, and then with Prophet Yusuf a.s, Prophet Idris a.s, Prophet Harun a.s, Prophet Musa a.s, and lastly, Prophet Ibrahim a.s.

When he reached the highest level in the heavens, he was brought into the Divine Presence of the Almighty Allah s.w.t, alone. That’s when he was given the Divine Decree for the believers to establish daily prayers.

The beautiful journey ends with the prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) descending back to Masjid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem. And on his way back to Makkah he saw he saw various caravans on the outskirts heading toward the city. He later described to the people of Quraysh to prove that he made the journey of Isra and Miraj.

When did Isra and Miraj happen?

There is a dispute about when the night of Isra and Miraj happened but some say it happened around the year 621 AD, before the migration of the prophet to Madina by one year.

Miraj in Quran verse

Here is some Quranic verses that mention the night of Isra and Miraj:

Isra and Miraj were also mentioned in surah Najm:

عَلَّمَهُۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلْقُوَىٰ ٥

He has been taught by one ˹angel˺ of mighty power

ذُو مِرَّةٍۢ فَٱسْتَوَىٰ ٦

and great perfection, who once rose to ˹his˺ true form

وَهُوَ بِٱلْأُفُقِ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ ٧

while on the highest point above the horizon,

ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ ٨

then he approached ˹the Prophet˺, coming so close

فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَىٰ ٩

that he was only two arms-lengths away or even less.

فَأَوْحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبْدِهِۦ مَآ أَوْحَىٰ ١٠

Then Allah revealed to His servant what He revealed ˹through Gabriel˺.

مَا كَذَبَ ٱلْفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ ١١

The ˹Prophet’s˺ heart did not doubt what he saw.

أَفَتُمَـٰرُونَهُۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ ١٢

How can you ˹O pagans˺ then dispute with him regarding what he saw?

وَلَقَدْ رَءَاهُ نَزْلَةً أُخْرَىٰ ١٣

And he certainly saw that ˹angel descend˺ a second time

عِندَ سِدْرَةِ ٱلْمُنتَهَىٰ ١٤

at the Lote Tree of the most extreme limit ˹in the seventh heaven˺—

عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلْمَأْوَىٰٓ ١٥

near which is the Garden of ˹Eternal˺ Residence—

إِذْ يَغْشَى ٱلسِّدْرَةَ مَا يَغْشَىٰ ١٦

while the Lote Tree was overwhelmed with ˹heavenly˺ splendours!

مَا زَاغَ ٱلْبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ ١٧

The ˹Prophet’s˺ sight never wandered, nor did it overreach.

لَقَدْ رَأَىٰ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلْكُبْرَىٰٓ ١٨

He certainly saw some of his Lord’s greatest signs.” [surah Najm, 5:18]

Isra and Miraj hadith

Narrated Malik bin Sasaa: 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 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 gatekeeper, ‘Open the gate.’ The gatekeeper asked, ‘Who is it?’ He said, ‘Gabriel.’ The gate-keeper asked, ‘Who is accompanying you?’ Gabriel said, ‘Muhammad.’ The gatekeeper said, ‘Has he been called?’ Gabriel said, ‘Yes.’ Then it was said, ‘He is welcomed. What a wonderful visit this 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 this 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 this 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 bringing Bani Israel to obedience. Your followers cannot put up with such an 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.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari 4:429]

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What is isra and miraj?