In Islamic tradition, the Night Journey, Isra and Mi’raj, are the two parts of a journey that the Islamic prophet Muhammad took in one night on a winged horse, around the year 621. Most Muslims consider it a physical journey while others say it happened spiritually through a metaphorical vision. Some others say that when Muhammad ascended it was a physical journey until he reached the farthest lote tree, a tree in the Seventh Heaven beyond which no angel is allowed to cross, on the other side of which is the throne and footstool of God. Also in the Seventh Heaven there is a Ka’bah of sorts for the angels. It is said since the dawn of time 70,000 angels entered and were never seen again. The angel Ka’bah is in direct conjunction with the Ka’bah on earth. The comparison from each have to the next was said to be like a ring in the desert. But some scholars consider it a dream or vision. A brief sketch of the story is in verse 1 of one of the Qur’an chapters (#17: sura Al-Isra), and other details were filled in from the supplemental writings, the ahadith. The Lailat al Miraj, one of the most significant events in the Islamic calendar.
Religious Belief
The Isra begins with Muhammad resting in the Kaaba in Mecca, when the archangel Gabriel comes to him, and brings him the winged steed Buraq.The buraq was said to be longer than a donkey but smaller than a mule it was also said that each stride of the buraq would take you to the horizon. It was the traditional lightning steed of the prophets. The Buraq then carries Muhammad to the Masjid Al Aqsa the “Farthest Mosque”, which many Muslims believe is “the Noble sanctuary” in Jerusalem. Muhammad alights, tethers Buraq to the Western Walland leads the other prophets such as Moses, Jesus and Adam in prayer. He then re-mounts Buraq, and in the second part of the journey, the Mi’raj (an Arabic word that literally means “ladder”), he is taken to the heavens, where he tours the circles of heaven, and speaks with the earlier prophets such as Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), and Isa (Jesus), and then is taken by Gabriel to God. According to traditions, Allah instructs Muhammad that Muslims must pray fifty times a day; however, Moses tells Muhammad that it is very difficult for them and they could never do it, and urges Muhammad to go back several times and ask for a reduction, until finally it is reduced to five times a day.
After Muhammad returned to Earth and told his story in Mecca, the unbelieving townspeople regarded it as absurd. Some go to Muhammad’s companion Abu Bakr and said to him, “Look at what your companion is saying. He says he went to Jerusalem and came back in one night.” Abu Bakr in replies, “If he said that, then he is truthful. I believe him concerning the news of the heavens—that an angel descends to him from the heavens. How could I not believe he went to Jerusalem and came back in a short period of time—when these are on earth?” It was for this that Abu Bakr is said to have received his famous title “As-Siddiq”, The Truthful.
Buraq
A Buraq is a mythological winged horse described commonly as a creature which carried the Islamic prophet Muhammad from Mecca to al-Aqsa during the Isra and Mi’raj or “Night Journey”. The journey in itself was a physical ascension (from the start of the journey in Mecca to Al-Aqsa and eventually departing from Al-Aqsa to the Heavens. An excerpt from a translation of Sahih al-Bukhari describes a buraq:
I was brought by the Buraq, which is an animal white and long, larger than a donkey but smaller than a mule, who would place its hoof at a distance equal to the range of vision.
Masjid al-Aqsa, the farthest mosque
The term “the farthest mosque” ( al-Masjidu al-Aqsa), from sura Al-Isra, is traditionally interpreted by Muslims as referring to the site at the Noble Sanctuary in Jerusalem. This interpretation is agreed with by even the earliest biographer of Muhammad—Ibn Ishaq—and is supported by numerous ahadith. The term used for mosque, “masjid”, literally means “place of prostration”, and includes monotheistic places of worship, which in verse 17:7 (in the same sura) is described as a masjid.
Many Western historians, such as Heribert Busse and Neal Robinson, agree that Jerusalem is the originally intended interpretation. It is also true that initially Muslims used to pray while facing towards bait-ul-moqaddas which was always a mosque during the Prophet Muhammad’s lifetime. Later on this direction, the Qibla, was changed to Mecca while prayers were in progress.
The Al-Aqsa mosque was indeed present during Muhammad’s lifetime and this ‘farthest mosque’ is referred to in the Quran. Umayyads built an extended new mosque on the Al Aqsa compound.
Glory to (Allah) 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).
—Qur’an, Sura Al-Isra
Modern observance
This celebrated event in Islam is considered to have taken place before the Hijra and after Muhammad’s visit to the people of Ta’if. It is considered by some to have happened just over a year before the Hijra, on the 27th of Rajab; but this date is not always recognized. In Shi’a Iran for example, Rajab 27 is the day of Muhammad’s first calling or Mab’as.
The Lailat al Miraj ( Lailatu ‘l-Mi‘raj), also known as Shab-e-Miraj (Šab-e Mi’râj) in Iran, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, and Miraç Kandili in Turkish, is the Muslim festival celebrating the Isra and Mi’raj. Some Muslims celebrate this event by offering optional prayers during this night, and in some Muslim countries, by illuminating cities with electric lights and candles. The celebrations around this day tend to focus on children and the young. Children are gathered into a mosque and are told the story of the Isra and Mi’raj. The story focuses on how Muhammad’s heart was purified by an archangel (Gabriel) and filled him with knowledge and faith in preparation to enter the seven levels of heaven. After prayer (Salat, where the children can pray with the adults if they wish) food and treats are served. Not all Muslims commemorate the event with festivities, as there is no evidence it was celebrated at the time of Muhammad and neither celebrated by his companions after his death. This mainstream view reflects the principle of Islam that there are only 2 days of celebration – being the 2 Eids. Esoteric interpretations of Islam emphasise the spiritual significance of Mi’raj, seeing it as a symbol of the soul’s journey and the potential of humans to rise above the comforts of material life through prayer, piety and discipline.
Qur’an and hadith
The event of Isra and Mi’raj are referred to in the Quran. For greater detail, they have been discussed in supplemental traditions to the Qur’an, known as hadith literature. Within the Qur’an itself, there are two verses in chapter 17, which has been named after the Isra, and is called “Chapter Isra” or “Sura Al-Isra”. There is also some information in Sura An-Najm, which some scholars say is related to the Isra and Mi’raj.
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 did bless,- in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the One Who heareth and seeth (all things).
—Qur’an, Sura Al-Isra
Behold! We told thee that thy Lord doth encompass mankind round about: We granted the vision which We showed thee, but as a trial for men,- as also the Cursed Tree (mentioned) in the Qur’an: We put terror (and warning) into them, but it only increases their inordinate transgression!
—Qur’an, Sura Al-Isra
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 Signs of his Lord, the Greatest!
—Qur’an, Sura An-Najm
Hadith
Of the supplemental writings, hadith, two of the best known are by Anas ibn Malik, who would have been a young boy at the time of Muhammad’s journey.
The following hadith, which have all been authenticated by Muslims, also clarify that Masjid al-Aqsa (the farthest mosque) is indeed located in Jerusalem:
- Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas: (regarding the Verse) “And We granted the vision (Ascension to the heavens “Miraj”) which We showed you (O Muhammad as an actual eye witness) but as a trial for mankind.’ (17.60): Allah’s Apostle actually saw with his own eyes the vision (all the things which were shown to him) on the night of his Night Journey to Jerusalem (and then to the heavens). The cursed tree which is mentioned in the Qur’an is the tree of Az-Zaqqum.
- Narrated Abu Huraira: On the night Allah’s Apostle was taken on a night journey (Miraj) two cups, one containing wine and the other milk, were presented to him at Jerusalem. He looked at it and took the cup of milk. Gabriel said, “Praise be to Allah Who guided you to Al-Fitra (the right path); if you had taken (the cup of) wine, your nation would have gone astray.”
- Narrated Jabir bin ‘Abdullah: That he heard Allah’s Apostle saying, “When the people of Quraish did not believe me (i.e. the story of my Night Journey), I stood up in Al-Hijr and Allah displayed Jerusalem in front of me, and I began describing it to them while I was looking at it.”
Prayer Command
At Isra ‘Mi’raj, God gave the command obligatory prayers. Subuh prayer is prayer and who first told. Since the events of Isra ‘Mi’raj itself occurs at night. When dawn Rasulullah has arrived back in place. Maybe it’s also wise for us all, because prayer is the prayer of Fajr is difficult to implement, where at that time many people are still asleep in her sleep. Before ordered five obligatory prayers at this time, as the Prophet Abraham to perform their prayers.
We are not only commanded to do their prayers, but also enforce the prayers. Prayer is not everything, but everything begins with prayer, said a religious teacher.
