Glory be to Him Who
took His devotee (Muhammad) one night from Masjid-al-Haram (in Makkah) to
Masjid-al-Aqsa (in Jerusalem), whose vicinity We have blessed, so that We may
show him some of Our signs: surely He is the One Who is the Hearer, the
Observer Surah 17.1.
In the night of 27th Rajab in the 12th year of his mission in 620 C.E., when the Holy Prophet felt sad and disconsolate, he was uplifted to the Heavens, and there he was assured of the destiny of Islam.
The Holy Prophet declared publicly about the previous night’s experience that he had been bodily carried from Makkah to Masjid al Aqsa at Jerusalem, and from there he had ascended to the heavens. Mairaj (Ascension), was a real bodily one and not only a vision. It was at this time that Allah ordered the Muslims to pray the five daily prayers.
The distance so covered on earth is about 1300 KM. Quraish had often visited Masjid-e-Aqsa and also knew that the holy Prophet صل الله عليه و على الهى و had never gone there. So they disbelieved and regarded it as an absurdity, as they knew that a caravan took two months to reach and return from Jerusalem. They further held it to be fantastic to ascend the heavens. Some Muslims also wavered in their belief about the ascension. Allah's Messenger described his Night Journey saying: "While I was lying in Al-Hatim or Al-Hijr, suddenly someone came to me and cut my body open from here to here." (from throat to upper part of waist). The Prophet further said, "He then took out my heart. Then a gold tray of Belief was brought to me and my heart was washed and was filled (with Belief) and then returned to its original place. Then a white animal which was smaller than a mule and bigger than a donkey (Buraq) was brought to me.". Details of this journey as are available in 'Bukhari' have been omitted to shorten the narration.
1. Journey towards the skies.
In Masjid-e-Aqsa the Buraq was tied with a nail and an elevator of Noor was provided to ascend up to the heavens. The description of further journey towards first heaven goes on as under:-
I was carried on it, and Gabriel set out with me till we reached the nearest heaven. "When he asked for the gate to be opened, it was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel answered, 'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has Muhammad been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!' The gate was opened, and when I went over the first heaven, I saw Adam there. Gabriel said (to me): 'This is your father, Adam; pay him your greetings.' So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said: 'You are welcomed, 0 pious son and pious Prophet.'
From one heaven to anther, the holy Prophet صل الله عليه و على الهى و سلم was carried on the feathers of the angles.
In this manner, the Prophet reached the second heaven and saw John (Yahya) and Jesus (Isa), who were cousins of each other. They returned his greetings with the words: 'You are welcomed, 0 pious brother and pious Prophet.'
Over the third heaven the Prophet saw Joseph (Yusuf) who greeted him and said: 'You are welcomed, 0 pious brother and pious Prophet.
Over the fourth heaven, Enoch (Idris) greeted him and said: 'You are welcomed, 0 pious brother and pious Prophet.'
Over the fifth heaven, Harun (Aaron) greeted him and said: 'You are welcomed, 0 pious brother and pious Prophet.'
Over the sixth heaven, Moses (Musa) greeted him and said: 'You are welcomed, 0 pious brother and pious Prophet.'
The Holy Prophet narrates:" When I left him (i.e. Moses) he wept. Someone asked him: 'What makes you weep?' Moses said: 'I weep because after me there has been sent (as Prophet) a young man whose followers will enter Paradise in greater numbers than my followers.'
Over the seventh heaven, Abraham (Ibrahim) greeted him and said: 'You are welcomed, 0 pious son and pious Prophet.'
2. Journey beyond heavens. معرراج
The journey from the heavens to Sidrat-ul-Muntaha was on the wings of Hz. Jibrael عليه السلام where the holy Prophet صل الله عليه و على الهى و سلم was made to ascend. Sidrat-ul-Muntaha the Tree of the utmost boundary is a place where Hz. Jibrael عليه السلام lives to receive and carry out Devine orders and beyond which he is not permitted to ascend. It's fruits were like the jars of Hajr (i.e. a place near Medina) and its leaves were as big as the ears of elephants. There ran four rivers, two were hidden and two were visible. As for the hidden rivers, they are two rivers in Paradise and the visible rivers are the Nile and the Euphrates.'
The holy Prophet صل الله عليه و على الهى و سلم narrated: 'Then Al-Bait-ul-Mamur (i.e. the Sacred House) was shown to me and a container full of wine and another full of milk and a third full of honey were brought to me. I took the milk. Gabriel remarked: 'This is the Islamic religion which you and your followers are following'. Jibrael عليه السلام showed inability to go further saying that my feathers would burn if I take one more step.
The journey beyond this place was performed on RAFRAF the speed ROPHET which was more than that of the carriers so far used, taken to gather. By this the holy Prophet صل الله عليه و على الهى و سلم was alighted at somewhere which is beyond description and imagination. There was just noor and noor every where and nothing else. The holy Prophet صل الله عليه و على الهى و سلم narrates the I heard sound asking me to come closer. When I took first step I covered the destination so far covered taken to gather. I was again asked to come closer and that next step covered the destination so far covered taken to gather and so on till there was closeness was like that of two arches. Then my Lord reveled me whatever He wanted.'
3. Prayers enjoined
Worship at fixed
hours hath been enjoined on the believers. Surah 4.103
The holy Prophet صل الله عليه و على الهى و سلم goes on 'Then the prayers were enjoined on me: they were fifty prayers a day. When I returned, I passed by Moses, who asked (me): 'What have you been ordered to do?' I replied: 'I have been ordered to offer fifty prayers a day.' Moses said: 'Your followers cannot bear fifty prayers a day, and by Allah I have tested people before you, and I have tried my level best with Bani Israel (in vain). Go back to your Lord and ask for reduction to lessen your follower's burden.' So I went back, and Allah reduced the prayers for me. Then again I came to Moses, but he repeated the same as he had said before. Again and again he sent me back and Allah reduced the prayers till they remained five times a day.
"When I came back to Moses, he said: 'What have you been ordered?' I replied: 'I have been ordered to observe five prayers a day.' He said: 'Your followers cannot bear five prayers a day, and no doubt, I have got an experience of the people before you, and I have tried my level best with Bani Israel, so go back to your Lord and ask for reduction to lessen your followers' burden.' I said: 'I have requested so much of my Lord that I feel ashamed, but I am satisfied now and surrender to Allah's Order.' When I left, I heard a voice saying: 'I have passed My order and have lessened the burden of My worshipers."
4. 620 AD. Foreigners attracted
The Holy Prophet's ascension to the Heavens (Mairaj), proved to be a turning point in the history of Islam and had its repercussions on the life of Ali. After this the clouds began to lift, and things became easier for the Muslims. The tribes around Makkah divided in their opinions and some persons out of them accepted the new faith.
When most of his fellow citizens did not care to listen to him, he turned his attention to the strangers arriving in the city on commerce or pilgrimage. But the Quraish made attempts to frustrate his efforts. They hastened themselves to meet the strangers first on the different routes, to warn them against holding any communication with the Prophet, whom they represented as a dangerous magician.
When the pilgrims or traders returned to their homes, they carried with them the news of the advent of the bold preacher who was inviting the Arabs loudly - at the risk of his own life - to abandon the worship of their dear idols.
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