The Isra wal Miraj, or The Night Journey and Ascension of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, is a momentous event in Islamic history. It took place over the course of one miraculous night (most commonly believed to be the 27th night of Rajab) in which the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ travelled from Mecca to Jerusalem and then ascended through the Heavens with Allah’s ﷻ help.
This year 27th Rajab will coincide with Saturday, 18th February 2023.
The tenth year of prophecy was a particularly difficult period in the life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
He had recently lost his beloved wife, Khadija and his uncle Abu Talib, who served as his protector. This event occurred at a time when many of the Meccans were hostile to the Prophet ﷺ and actively rejected him and his message.
During this year, the Prophet ﷺ also went to the people of Taif on the outskirts of Makkah. On his journey to Taif, he was met with much hostility and rejection. The people refused to listen to his message and ordered their children to drive him out with stones and rocks.
Despite his wounds and suffering, the Prophet ﷺ never gave up hope; instead, he prayed for their guidance.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ would often spend his nights in prayer and worship within the vicinity of the Holy Kabah. During one such night, whilst he was taking a brief nap, he was approached by the Angel Jibrail, who woke him up and led him to the gates of the Holy sanctuary. There he was instructed to board a magnificent white creature – known as the Buraq – that possessed wings so powerful, it was able to travel as far the eye could see with each stride.
They travelled northwards, passing Yathrib and Khaybar until they reached Jerusalem. There the Prophet ﷺ met a congregation of Prophets and led them in prayer. Amongst them were Ibrahim, Yusuf, Isa, and others.
After this, the Prophet ﷺ was presented with two vessels, one containing milk and another containing wine. He chose the milk, to which Angel Jibrail responded: “You have chosen primordial disposition, and by doing so have also guided your people.”
Following this blessed encounter, the Prophet ﷺ once more mounted onto the Buraq with Jibrail and soared to the Heavens, traversing through each level of the sky. At every level, he encountered the same Prophets he had earlier led in prayer. Adam, Yahya and Isa, Yusuf, Idris, Haroon, Musa and Ibrahim.
He finally reached the seventh sky, where he met his father Ibrahim. After this, he went beyond the seventh sky to what is known as ‘Sidratul Muntaha,’ or the ‘Lote Tree of the Uttermost End.’
This was the furthest point, and even Jibrail was not able to traverse this point.
Here the Prophet ﷺ spoke to Allah ﷻ in an intimate conversation. No one else knows the words they exchanged. All we know about this conversation is what Allah ﷻ revealed in the Quran:
“Then Allah revealed to His servant what He revealed.” (Surah An-Najam, verse 10)
It was during this exchange that Allah ﷻ bestowed upon the Prophet ﷺ and, by extension, the entire Ummah, the gift of Salah.
At first, Allah ﷻ asked the Prophet ﷺ and his followers to pray 50 times a day. But then the Prophet ﷺ met Musa, who told him to return to Allah ﷻ and ask for fewer prayers. The Prophet ﷺ did this until there were only 5 prayers a day. Musa kept asking the Prophet ﷺ to go back and ask for even fewer prayers, but the Prophet ﷺ refused out of shyness.
Although we only perform 5 obligatory prayers each day, we still get the reward of 50. This is only through the Mercy and Kindness of our Lord.
As we approach the blessed month of Ramadan, leverage this time in Rajab (the month of Salah) to reconnect with your Lord by cultivating a steady practice of prayer. Make sure you remain steadfast and increase your devotion as best as possible!
Upon his return, the Prophet ﷺ informed the people of what had just occurred. The Quraysh mocked and belittled him. They even approached his companion Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, wanting him to render the Prophet ﷺ a madman.
His reply was very simple and acts as a lesson in faith and certainty for all of us:
“If he said it, then it must be true.”
For centuries, and even today, the Islamic world proudly honours Al Isra Wal Miraj with ceremonies that commemorate its miraculous occurrences.
The people gather to remember Allah ﷻ and His Messenger ﷺ and listen to the story of The Night Journey and Ascension. By studying the life of our great Prophet ﷺ, we can draw upon his miracles and wisdom as a means of reconnecting with him.
-Tell the story of our Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ Night Journey and Ascension to your family and children.
-Remind each other of the great gift of prayer we received on this blessed night.
-Promise to do our best to uphold the obligation of prayer.
-Introduce your children and young ones to the daily prayer and why it is important.
Al Isra Wal Miraj is a miraculous event with great significance in Islam. It serves as a reminder of Allah’s power and the Prophet’s ﷺ connection with his Lord. Not only did the Prophet ﷺ receive the gift of prayer on this day, but he also established an intimate connection with Allah ﷻ which we should all strive for. The story of Isra Wal Miraj serves as a lesson in faith and certainty, reminding us never to question our Lord’s words. By honouring this special occasion, we can better understand the importance of prayer and reconnect with our Prophet ﷺ through his miracles and wisdom. May Allah ﷻ grant us all a deeper understanding of Isra Wal Miraj! Ameen.