سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلًا مِّنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَقْصَى الَّذِي بَارَكْنَا حَوْلَهُ لِنُرِيَهُ مِنْ آيَاتِنَا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ
“Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al- Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing” {Al-Isra: 1}
In the first Ayah of surah Isra, Allah (سبحانه وتعالىصلى) refers to the blessed Night Journey which he sent the beloved Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) on. It was the 27 Rajab near the end of the Prophet’s time in Makkah (before the Hijrah to Medina),that the Prophet was taken on this miraculous journey. In one night he was taken to Al Quds (Jerusalem) and taken into the heavens before being returned back to Makkah. During the journey the Prophet witnessed some amazing things and he would later narrate them to us in numerous ahadith. To understand this significant event and to learn lessons from it we must appreciate the situation of the Muslims in Makkah at the time.
Situation in Makkah at the time of the Night Journey
The Night Journey took place near to the end of the Prophet’s time in Makkah, before (or just after) the first pledge of Aqaba. This was probably one of the most difficult times for the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and the early Muslims. The blessed call to Iman had been launched around 12 years beforehand and during this time the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and his followers had withstood the harsh treatment of the Quraysh towards them. During this time, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and his early followers had withstood slander, mockery, torture, physical attacks, boycotts and even murder.
Initially the Prophet’s (صلى الله عليه وسلم) call was met with a verbal propaganda on the part of the Quraysh. They mocked him(صلى الله عليه وسلم) for claiming to receive revelation from the heavens, they accused him of practising witchcraft and separating father from son, brother from brother or even a man from his clan. They launched a huge media campaign against the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) during the Hajj seasons, where they would meet and warn the many tribes visiting Makkah from listening to the Prophet’s (صلى الله عليه وسلم) call.
When the propaganda campaign against the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) failed to stop people accepting his(صلى الله عليه وسلم) call, the Quraysh then resorted to physical abuse and torture to try and stop the spread of Islam. The Quraysh shamelessly tortured Muslims who didn’t have a strong backing from a tribe and so the likes of Bilal Ibn Rabah and Khabaab Ibn Al-Aratt were mercilessly tortured. This torture even reached to the level of murder when Sumayah Umm Yasir was speared to death by Abu Jahl. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) himself was not spared physical abuse. He had his path regularly littered with thorns, he was attacked while making Sajood at the Kabbah and even had the dirty entrails of an animal thrown over him (صلى الله عليه وسلم). However all of this abuse did not stop the call to Tawheed.
The Quraysh then resorted to boycotting the two tribes that were protecting the Prophet(صلى الله عليه وسلم) in Makkah, Bani Hashim and Bani Muttalib. During a brutal three year boycott the remaining tribes of Makkah refused to trade, marry or have any social relations with the two tribes protecting the Prophet(صلى الله عليه وسلم). This caused a huge hardship for these tribes and the Muslims, leading them to the brink of starvation. The boycott was eventually ended, however it took its toll on some of the closest supporters of the Prophet(صلى الله عليه وسلم). It was soon after the end of this boycott that Abu Talib and Khadijah(ra) passed away. Abu Talib had been the Prophet’s father figure supporting him since childhood and Khadijah had been his first wife and mother of his children who had strengthened him from the beginning of his Prophethood. Such a loss would have undoubtedly have affected the blessed Prophet(صلى الله عليه وسلم) very much, together with the harsh treatment of the Quraysh towards his call, this possibly was one of the most trying times of his messengership.
It was in this context and situation that the miraculous Night Journey occurred and the Prophet would have his resolve renewed by the amazing things he would witness.
Isra Wal Mi’raj (Night Journey and Ascent)
On the 27th night of the holy month of Rajab the Prophet(صلى الله عليه وسلم) was taken from Masjid Al Haram in Makkah to Masjid Al Aqsa in Al Quds (Jerusalem). He(صلى الله عليه وسلم) was taken upon a horse called Buraq by Angel Gibraeel. It was here that the Prophet(صلى الله عليه وسلم) led the previous Prophets in Prayer before he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was taken up to the heavens. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was taken to each of the seven heavens where he met a Prophet including Adam (as), Yahya(as), Isa(as), Yusuf(as), Idris(as), Haroon(as), Musa(as) and Ibrahim (as). Each of these Prophets offered their salutations to Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and confirmed their belief in his Prophethood.
It was then that the Prophet(صلى الله عليه وسلم) was taken further to Sidrat-al-Muntaha (the remotest Lote tree) and the Prophet(صلى الله عليه وسلم) was shown Al Bait-al-Ma’mur (the much frequented house). This is said to be like the Kabah and is visited by seventy thousand angels each day, each never to return until the day of judgement.
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was then given the most honourable thing that could possibly be given to any of mankind and was taken to the presence of his Lord, Allah(سبحانه وتعالىصلى ). It was here the Prophet(صلى الله عليه وسلم) received the commandment of the daily prayers. It is narrated he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was initially prescribed fifty daily prayers but on his return was advised by Musa (as) to ask for a reduction. The Prophet did return back to his Lord, Allah( سبحانه وتعالىصلى ), a number of times and had the number of prescribed daily prayers reduced to five.
Other significant occurrences of the Night Journey were the Prophet’s heart being removed and washed with the water of Zam Zam by Gibraeel (as), the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) being brought two gold vessels and the Prophet(صلى الله عليه وسلم) choosing to drink milk instead of wine, the Prophet
(صلى الله عليه وسلم) being shown the Nile and the Euphrates and the spread of his message to these areas and the Prophet being shown the Hell fire and the punishments of the people within it.
Reaction in Makkah to the news of the Prophet’s Night Journey
Upon being returned back to Makkah the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) told the believers about his miraculous journey and the amazing things he had witnessed there. The story of his journey therefore quickly spread in Makkah and became the main focus of talk and gossip. The news of this miraculous journey was met with excitement and joy from the Muslims and was received with disdain and disbelief from the Quraysh.
The Muslims would have viewed the Night Journey as a great honour for their beloved Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and something that increased them in faith. For example when the news of the journey was conveyed to Abu Bakr, he immediately believed in the occurrence of the night journey. In fact, it was due to this immediate acceptance that Abu Bakr earned his title As-Siddiq(the verifier of truth). However, the disbelievers saw the news of the Night Journey as an opportunity to further vilify the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and it only increased them in disbelief. This is despite the fact that he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) brought them strong proofs of his miraculous journey. For example when challenged by the Quraysh to describe Masjid Al Aqsa, knowing that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) had never previously visited it, he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) described it perfectly. He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) also informed the Quraysh about the whereabouts of their caravans and that he had shouted down to one of them about the whereabouts of a lost camel, this was confirmed by the caravan days later when it reached Makkah. Despite the proofs, the Quraysh continued to deny the prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) could have gone on such a journey.
Furthermore, those Muslims with weak faith found the news too difficult to accept and the atmosphere of hostility created by the Quraysh over the journey too much to bear. Thus some of these Muslims apostatised from their new belief, falling victim to the hostile climate that existed in Makkah at the time. Despite this, the Night Journey served as a great inspiration and reinvigoration to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and the early Muslims. It drove them forward to establish the first Islamic State in Medina and continue with the propagation of the true message of Islam to the surrounding regions and tribes.
Parallels of the Night Journey
There are many parallels of the Isra Wal Mi’raj that we can see today:
Believing and upholding the truth in a hostile climate
The hostile atmosphere created by the Quraysh in the wake of the prophet’s (صلى الله عليه وسلم)Night Journey is similar to the hostile atmosphere that exists today in Western societies for Muslims. Muslims are constantly having their religion vilified and are being questioned about their beliefs and whether they believe in certain aspects of Islam or not. Some Muslims sadly fall prey to this pressure and so start to apologise for Islam or even start to change Islam so it is more pleasing to the West. This is in stark contrast to the example set by the likes of Abu Bakr (ra) who held firm to his belief’s despite the pressure that was being placed on him and the Muslims. We as Muslims living in the West must not succumb to the pressure of apologising or altering our deen, rather we most hold firmly to it, despite the hostile climate we are living in.
Seeking closeness with Allah (swt) when the call to Islam becomes difficult
After twelve years of calling to Islam, the Prophet(صلى الله عليه وسلم) and his followers may have felt weary. Furthermore some may have questioned when the victory, promised by Allah سبحانه وتعالىصلى , was going to come. We can see the victory came soon after the Night Journey had occurred, as within a few years the Muslims had established the first Islamic state in Medina and were living under the blessed rule of Islam. Similarly today, Muslims may question when the victory, promised by Allah (سبحانه وتعالىصلى), will come. We have been living without the Khilafah for over 90 years and we have seen our lands occupied, wealth taken and we have suffered under corrupt tyrannical dictatorships. At the time of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) the Muslims took solace in gaining closeness to Allah (سبحانه وتعالىصلى). Their hearts were strengthened by hearing about the promises of the hereafter and what awaited them. We too are struggling in a similar way to establish the rule of Islam on this earth and must also seek solace in our closeness to Allah (سبحانه وتعالىصلى), because this is what ultimately gives us strength and motivation. We should be as motivated as the early Muslims were when we reflect upon the events of the Night Journey and the ascension of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) to the heavens. We must use our closeness to Allah(سبحانه وتعالىصلى) as the fuel that drives us forward in this noble work.
Significance of Masjid Al Aqsa
We clearly learn from the Prophet’s (صلى الله عليه وسلم) Night Journey the significance of Masjid Al-Aqsa in Islam. Sadly today many Muslims often only remember the two holy mosques in Makkah and Medina, they forget the importance of Masjid Al-Aqsa in Al-Quds, they forget it is occupied and under siege and they forget it is no longer under the control of Muslims. Masjid Al-Aqsa and the lands surrounding it are blessed, as Allah (سبحانه وتعالىصلى) mentioned in surah Isra. Yet today there are no Muslim armies moving to liberate this blessed Masjid and bring it back to the control of the believers. Surely in the re-establishment of the Khilafah we will see the swift return of Masjid Al-Aqsa back to the control of Islam and Muslims.
The abrogation of previous guidance and the obligation to follow the final Prophet
A significant part of the Night Journey was the Prophet(صلى الله عليه وسلم) meeting a number of Prophets (as) at each of the seven heavens. As the Prophet(صلى الله عليه وسلم) met each Prophet, each sent salutations and confirmed their belief in his Prophethood. Furthermore when Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) reached Masjid Al-Aqsa it was He who led all the previous Prophets in prayer. This clearly signifies that with the coming of Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) all previous messages have been abrogated and all of mankind, including the Prophets, are obliged to accept his messengership. In contrast, today we find Muslim lands dominated by the rules of non-Islam. Thus rather than calling non-Muslims to accept the message of Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and follow the Shari’ah he has brought we are actually following the guidance and laws of other than our beloved Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). We are obliged to be follow every aspect of the Shari’ah that the Messenger brought and convey this message to the whole of mankind.
