BY THAJ ALUVA
“GLORY to (God) Who did take His servant for a journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque, whose precincts We did Bless, in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the one Who heareth and seeth (all things).”
— Holy Quran, 17:1
AL ISRAA Wal Mairaj was a very important event in the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The Arabic word Al Israa literally means night journey and Al Mairaj means ascension referring to the passage of the Prophet from the Sacred Mosque (in Makkah) to the Farthest Mosque (Al Aqsa in Jerusalem) in a night and his ascension to the seven heavens in the same night where he was shown some of the signs of God.
On the night of Al Israa, the Prophet was in the house of his cousin Hind, daughter of Abu Talib, who was also called Umm Hani. Hind related that “The Messenger of God spent the night prayers and went to sleep. Just before dawn, the Prophet of God awoke us and we all offered the Fajr (dawn) prayers together. Following the prayers, Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, ‘O Umm Hani, I offered the night prayer in this place with you and then I went to Jerusalem and I prayed there, and as you see, I have just finished praying with you the dawn prayer.’ I answered, ‘O Prophet of God, do not tell this to the people, for they will not believe you and harm you.’ He said, ‘By God, I shall tell them.”
The Hadith literature and the Prophet’s biographies offer a detailed account of this miraculous but real journey, which drew criticism from polytheists of Makkah. Even some of those who followed Muhammad (peace be upon him) and believed in him began to have their doubts (about the journey).
Al Israa Wal Mairaj as narrated in Hadith literature and biographies was: On the night of Al Israa, the Prophet was awakened by Angel Gabriel who led a fantastic steed, called Buraq (lightning); it approached the Prophet, allowed him to mount and was off like an arrow over the mountains of Makkah and the sands of the desert toward the North.
The archangel accompanied them on this prodigious flight. When they reached Jerusalem, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) prayed in Al Aqsa Mosque along with other Prophets of God who preceded him. Then, he mounted to the seven heavens. There he met the angels and was taken near the Throne of God. Holy Quran records the event thus: “By the Star when it goes down, your Companion is neither astray nor being misled, nor does he say (aught) of his own desire. It is no less than inspiration sent down to him: He was taught by One Mighty in power, endued with wisdom: for He appeared (in stately form) while He was in the highest part of the horizon. Then he approached and came closer; and was at a distance of but two bow-lengths or (even) nearer; So did (God) convey the inspiration to His Servant – (conveyed) what He (meant) to convey. The (Prophet’s) (mind and) heart in no way falsified that which he saw. Will ye then dispute with him concerning what he saw? For indeed he saw Him at a second descent, near the Lote-tree beyond which none may pass; near it is the Garden of Abode. Behold, the Lote-tree was shrouded (in mystery unspeakable!). His sight never swerved, nor did it go wrong!. For truly did he see, of the great signs of his Lord.” (Holy Quran, An-Najm, 1-18).
It was during this heavenly encounter that the Prophet received the command from Allah that all believers must offer five prayers each day. Before returning to the earth, Gabriel also took the Prophet to Paradise where the faithful would rejoice after their resurrection, and was shown scenes from the hell where various types of punishments were being meted out to the sinful.
The period that preceded Al Israa was the most difficult time in the life of the Prophet and the Muslims. The disbelievers of Makkah went too far in torturing the Muslims and forcing them twice to migrate to Abyssinia. The deaths in that year of Prophet’s uncle, Abu Talib, who protected Muhammad (peace be upon him) from his enemies, and his wife Khadija, who had been of much help to him during all his difficulties, had been a major shock to the messenger of Allah.
However, he remained steadfast and kept reminding the faithful that the atrocities against them were actually a test from Almighty Allah Who wants to prepare them for the sacred mission of spreading His message of truth the world over by themselves becoming a living example of Islam.
The Al Israa experience at this crucial point of time came as a blessing from God for the Muslims. Their faith in Allah and Islam was fortified by Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) journey to the presence of God. This helped them remain steadfast in their commitment to Islam’s message. The divine command during Al Mairaj that the believers must pray five times a day was an eternal tribute to the Prophet’s rendezvous with God.
The prayer itself is a form of the faithful’s dialogue and communication with the Creator. Al Israa wal Mairaj was thus a landmark and turning point in the life of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. The experience enabled him to fully grasp the unity of being in all its totality and perfection.
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Email: tajaluva@gmail.com
Blog: tajaluva.blogspot.com
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