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الاسراء والمعراج The night of Ascension
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
In the Surah al-Isra (Surah 17 - also known as Bani Isra'il), it is mentioned:
سُبۡحَـٰنَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَسۡرَىٰ بِعَبۡدِهِۦ لَيۡلاً۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡحَرَامِ إِلَى ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡأَقۡصَا ٱلَّذِى بَـٰرَكۡنَا حَوۡلَهُ ۥ لِنُرِيَهُ ۥ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِنَآۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡبَصِيرُ
"Glory be to Him Who made His servant (Prophet Muhammad) to go on a night from the Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Haram) to the Farthest Mosque (Masjid al-Aqsa) of which We have blessed the precincts, so that We may show to him some of Our signs; surely He is the Hearing, the Seeing." (Qur'an, 17:1)
Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi Wassallam) was granted the Night Journey of al-Israa’ wal Mi’raaj,on the night of Rajab 27th, he was transported by angel Gibarael on a heavenly ride Buraq from Masjid al-Haraam to Masjid al-Aqsa and then onwards he ascended to the Heavens and Allaah spoke to him as He willed, and enjoined the five daily prayers upon him.
This is definitely part of our Aqeedah (belief). It says so in the Qur’aan [al-Isra':1]
The word Isra is referred to as "walking in night" and the root word of Miraj is Arooj which means; "going to a higher place". During this blessed night, Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) journeyed to sky level to meet Allah (Glorious is He), and for this particular reason in Islamic history this journey is recognized to be as "The night of Isra and Miraj".
Most accepted saying is that Miraj happened 1 year before Migrating to Madina, Similarly the most accepted saying is that this journey occurred on the night of 27th Rajab,
This journey consist of 3 stages:
1. FROM AL HARAM TO AL AQSA MOSQUE
2. FROM AL AQSA MOSQUE TO SIDRA TUL MUNTAHA
3. FROM SIDRA TUL MUNTAHA TO QAAB O QOSAIN
and
4. RETURN
1. FROM AL HARAM TO AL AQSA MOSQUE
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon Him) was taken miraculously from al Haram to Al Aqsa in Jerusalem where he led the prayers of all prophets and then ascended to heavens. It’s a long tale and most of our sisters must know about it. The incredible aspect is that all happened in a short period of time and the human mind cannot encompass its reality and grandeur. The ride which was used by Prophet (SAW) was Burraq , which might have travelled much faster than the speed of light or It may be as the time was stopped by the orders of Alah swt . It’s all part of our belief in the unseen ( Iman Bilghaib) and trust in the words of Prophet (SAW). When Prophet (SAW) told his companions that he has visited heavens, hell and paradise, met and talked to Prophets and went quite close to Allah swt .
2. Some of this miraculous journey is described in surah Al Najam.
I am just giving a few Narrations about the last part.
The 3rd stage of the journey commenced.
3-FROM SIDRA TUL MUNTAHA TO QAAB O QOSAIN
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon Him) informed us that when the journey beyond Sidra tul Muntaha started, Jabreel (as) stopped at a place. He asked him why he stopped. He replied "If i will go beyond this place even as the distance of an ant, my wings will burn."
Al Yawakeet wal Jawahir (3:34)
According to another saying he said "Now it’s up to you and your Lord (Allah). This is my limit and i can’t go beyond this."
The Prophet of Mercy (peace be upon Him) asked Jabreel (as) that if he needs some thing or have any wish that he wants to ask Allah?
Jabreel (as) said "O Muhammad (peace be upon Him)! please ask Allah to grant me the rite to stand on the Sirat Bridge (which is said to be sharp as sword and thin as hair) with my wings open so that your ummah (nation) will cross the bridge safely walking on my wings."
(53:7): "And he (Muhammad [blessings and peace be upon him]) was on the uppermost horizon (of the realm of creation during the Ascension Night i.e., on the apex of the created cosmos)."
Then he got closer in Al Najam, Quran it is said
(53:8,9): "Then He (the Lord of Honor) drew closer (to His Beloved Muhammad [blessings and peace be upon him]) and then drew even closer. Then a distance measuring only two bow-lengths was left (between Allah Unveiled and His Esteemed Beloved), or even less than that (in extreme nearness)."
At that place Allah revealed to his beloved Prophet, whatever he wanted to reveal, in Quran it is only mentioned as
(53:10): So (on that station of nearness) He (Allah) revealed to His (Beloved) servant whatever He revealed.
And Prophet Muhammad didn't say the details of that conversation either. Only few things about that are known;
Allah Said "O Prophet! Peace be upon You and mercy and blessings of Allah"
Prophet Muhammad Replied "Peace be upon Me and on righteous people of Allah"
Meeraj Al-Naboowa (3:149)
"Allah appeared to me in a very beautiful form. That moment we heard angels of skies were talking on some matter. Allah said "O Muhammad". I said " Here I am, O Allah, at Your service; here I am at Your service". Allah asked "what angles are talking about?". I said "O Allah! i don't know."
So Allah placed his hand between my shoulders and i felt its coolness in my chest. And then every thing was revealed to me." (Jamia Turmadi)
After that Allah made obligatory for me fifty prayers every day and night. And then Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) came back with 50 prayers and revolution to Sidra tul muntaha, were Jabreel was waiting for him. Jabreel hold my hand and we came down very quickly. When we reached near Prophet Mosa, He asked me "What your Lord had made compulsory for you?" I told him about 50 prayers.
He said "Your followers cannot put up with such obligation. Because I had the hardest experience to bring Bani Israel to obedience. They were given only 2 prayers and they couldn't stay regular on them"
(Bukhari)
On another place it is said like "Go back to your Lord and ask to reduce and ease in it because Your followers cannot put up with such obligation.. And i have spent time with Bani Israeel"
Prophet Muhammad says that "after hearing this he went back to his Lord and there he prostrated in front of Allah and requested that "Lord of everything! for my sake make things lighter for my Ummah.""
Allah reduced 5 prayers. I came back to Mosa(as) he told him that Allah reduced it to 5 prayers. He sent me back saying "Your followers cannot put up with even such obligation. Go back to your lord and ask to reduce them even more".
He then kept going back and forth between His Lord Blessed and Exalted and Mosa (as), until Allah said: There are five prayers every day and night. O Muhammad, each being credited as ten, so that makes fifty prayers. He who intends to do a good deed and does not do it will have a good deed recorded for him; and if he does it, it will be recorded for him as ten; whereas he who intends to do an evil deed and does not do, it will not be recorded for him; and if he does it, only one evil deed will be recorded.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) then came down and when He came to Mosa (as) and informed him, he said: Go back to thy Lord and ask Him to make things lighter. Upon this the Messenger of Allah remarked: I returned to my Lord until I felt ashamed before Him.
[Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Number 309]
4. RETURN
On the same night, only several hours after he had commenced his journey, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) returned to Makkah.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) told the people about the wondrous night. He considered it his responsibility before God to convey the message, no matter the response or consequences; God was responsible for the outcome. He left the house quietly with somber contemplation, and made his way to the Holy Mosque. He met people along the way, and slowly the news of the night journey spread amongst the people.
The Prophet of Allah began to describe his journey but he became irritated. He spent only a brief amount of time in Jerusalem, and the miraculous nature of this travels had meant that he did not remember small details and descriptions. However, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) tells us that Allah showed him the details “right in front of his eyes” and he described what he had seen “stone by stone, brick by brick”.. (Saheeh Bukhari)
..
The Sweetness of Faith To those whose faith was strong and true, the Power of Allah was obvious. Abo Jahal who found the whole story difficult to believe went to see Abu Bakr, the best friend and loyal supporter of Prophet Mohammad. He asked him if he believed Prophet Muhammad traveled overnight to Jerusalem, and back to Makkah. Without hesitation Abu Bakr replied, “If the messenger of Allah said so, then it is true”. It was because of this occasion that Abu Bakr earned the title As-Siddeeq (the foremost believer).
This was a turning point for many Muslims; after already facing the physical torture and abuse of the disbelievers, they now had to grapple with a concept beyond their wildest imaginings. Some failed, but many soared to new heights and were able to taste the sweetness of true submission to the Oneness of Allah.
The journey by night, from the Holy Mosque in Makkah to the furthest Mosque in Jerusalem, and the ascension through the heavens and into the presence of Almighty Allah was a miracle granted by Allah to His final slave and Prophet, Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon him, and one of the greatest of honors bestowed upon any human.
Let us see did he instruct the Sahaabah to do any celebrations about his Night Journey?
Did he tell them to celebrate that night as a ’special night’ for worshipping Allaah?
Did he tell them to specifically fast the next day because it was ‘the day after the Journey’?
And what were the actions of the Sahaabah themselves?
Did THEY do any of the above??
The answer to all of the above is a big resounding NO!
Surely the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi Wassallam) did not omit or forget anything in the deen! Surely he did not hide anything from mankind!
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi Wassallam) said, “There is nothing that brings you closer to Jannah except that I have informed you about it and there is nothing that brings you closer to the fire of Hell except that I have warned you against it.” (at-Tabaraani–Saheeh)
Then why do we not have ANY Saheeh reports of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi Wassallam) or the Sahaabah worshipping Allaah especially on this night and fasting the next day?
ANSWER: BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT THE PRACTICE OF RASUL ALLAAH (Sal Allaahu Alaihi Wassallam) OR HIS SAHAABAH!
If celebrating it was something that is prescribed in Islam, the Messenger (Sal Allaahu Alaihi Wassallam) would certainly have told his ummah about it, either in word or in deed. If any such thing had happened, it would have been well known, and his companions would have transmitted the information to us. They narrated from the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi Wassallam) everything that we need to know, and they did not neglect any aspect of the religion, rather they were the first ones to do anything good. If celebrating this night had been prescribed in Islam, they would have been the first people to do so.
There are no recommended specific worship, prayers or fasting the next day for that night. If someone has the regular habit of nightly prayer, he/ she should do it on that night too, if someone regularly fasts on Mondays and Thursdays and it falls on those days he can fast as regular. Otherwise there is no recommended fast. We should follow the ways of prophet (SAW) and should not innovate new rituals in Deen because it comes in Bidaa and bidaa is going astry.
May Allah save us from innovations and keep us on right path.
عابدہ
۸۸۸۸۸۸۸۸۸۸۸۸۸۸۸۸۸۸۸
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