Al-Israa’ wa Al-Mi‘raaj

24-4-2011 | IslamWeb

Question:

Will you please mention the Hadeeth (narration) of Al-’Israa’ wa Al-Mi‘raaj?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

 

‘Anas ibn Maalik narrated on the authority of Maalik ibn Sa’sa’ah back to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, that he told them about the night of Al-'Israa’ saying that while he was lying down at Al-Hijr beside the Ka'bah  Jibreel (Gabriel) came to him and cut from the top of his chest down to the bottom of his belly and took out his heart. Jibreel brought a gold vessel filled with faith and washed the heart of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and then filled it with wisdom and faith, and replaced it.  Al-Buraaq, a white animal, smaller than a mule but larger than a donkey which could reach as far as it could see, was brought to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and he mounted it.

The Prophet then  set out with Jibreel . When they reached the nearest heaven, Jibreel asked for permission to enter. The gatekeeper asked him who was there. "Jibreel," answered Jibreel. The gatekeeper asked, "Who is with you?" Jibreel answered, "Muhammad." The gatekeeper said, "And has he been sent with a message (to humans and Jinn)?" Jibreel answered, "Yes." The  Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was welcomed in.  When the gate was opened, Jibreel introduced the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to his father Aadam (Adam) who welcomed the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and described him as "the righteous son" and "the righteous Prophet".

When they reached the second heaven, Jibreel asked for permission to enter. The gatekeeper asked him who was there. "Jibreel," he answered. The gatekeeper asked, "Who is with you?" Jibreel answered, "Muhammad." The gatekeeper said, "And has he been sent with a message (to humans and Jinn)?" Jibreel said, "Yes."  The  Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was welcomed in. When the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, entered,  Jibreel introduced him to Prophet Yahya (John) and his cousin Prophet 'Eesaa (Jesus), may Allaah exalt their mention. They welcomed the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and described  him as "the righteous brother" and "the righteous Prophet".

When they reached the third heaven, Jibreel asked for permission to enter. The gatekeeper asked him who was there. "Jibreel," he answered. The gatekeeper asked, "Who is with you?" Jibreel answered, "Muhammad." The gatekeeper said, "And has he been sent with a message (to humans and Jinn)?" Jibreel said, "Yes."  The  Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was welcomed in. In that third heaven, Jibreel introduced the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to Prophet Yoosuf (Joseph) who welcomed him and described him as "the righteous brother" and "the righteous Prophet".

When they reached the fourth heaven, Jibreel asked for permission to enter. The gatekeeper asked him who was there. "Jibreel," he answered. The gatekeeper asked, "Who is with you?" Jibreel answered, "Muhammad." The gatekeeper said, "And has he been sent with a message (to humans and Jinn)?" Jibreel answered, "Yes."  The  Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was welcomed in. In the fourth heaven, Jibreel introduced the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to  Prophet Idrees who welcomed the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and described  him as "the righteous brother" and "the righteous Prophet".

When they reached the fifth heaven, Jibreel asked for permission to enter. The gatekeeper asked him who was there. "Jibreel," he answered. The gatekeeper asked, "Who is with you?" Jibreel answered, "Muhammad." The gatekeeper said, "And has he been sent with a message (to humans and Jinn)?" Jibreel anwered, "Yes."  The  Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was welcomed in.  Jibreel introduced the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to Prophet Haaroon (Aaron) who welcomed the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and described him as "the righteous brother" and "the righteous Prophet".

When they reached the sixth heaven, Jibreel asked for permission to enter. The gatekeeper asked him who was there. "Jibreel," he answered. The gatekeeper asked, "Who is with you?" Jibreel answered, "Muhammad." The gatekeeper asked,"And has he been sent with a message (to humans and Jinn)?" Jibreel answered, "Yes."  The  Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was welcomed in. In the sixth heaven, Jibreel introduced the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to Moosaa (Moses) who welcomed the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and described him as "the righteous brother and the righteous Prophet".

When the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, passed by Moosaa Moosaa wept. When he was asked why, he explained, "Because that young man -- referring to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam -- was sent after me, yet  his followers will outnumber mine in Paradise."

When they reached the seventh heaven, Jibreel asked for permission to enter. The gatekeeper asked him who was there. "Jibreel," he answered. The gatekeeper asked, "Who is with you?" Jibreel answered, "Muhammad." The gatekeeper asked, "And has he been sent with a message (to humans and Jinn)?" Jibreel said, "Yes."  The  Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was welcomed in. In the seventh heaven, Jibreel introduced the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to Ibraheem (Abraham) who welcomed the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and described him as "the righteous son" and "the righteous Prophet."

Then, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ascended to Sidratil Muntaha (the Farthest Lote Tree), which bore very large fruit  and its leaves were like the ears of elephants.

 

The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, saw four rivers: two were hidden and two were apparent. The two hidden rivers were in Paradise, and the two apparent ones were the Nile and the Euphrates. Then the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was shown Al-Bayt Al-Ma'moor (the Frequented House).

Afterwards, he was offered a cup of wine, a cup of milk and a cup of honey. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, chose the milk, and it was said to him that he had chosen what represented  the religion of  Fitrah (natural disposition of man); meaning Islam, which is the religion of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and his nation.

Fifty daily prayers were enjoined on the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and his Ummah (nation).  As he returned, he passed  by Moosaa (Moses) who asked him about the obligation of prayer and advised him to ask Allaah The Almighty to reduce the number, for he had experienced the offspring of the Children of Israel who had not been able to bear performing prayers. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, returned to Allaah The Almighty, Who reduced them to forty. Then, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, returned passing by Moosa who repeated the same question and advised him to ask Allaah The Almighty to further reduce the number. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did so until Allaah The Almighty reduced them to five daily prayers. Moosaa (Moses) again asked him to go back and ask for a less number of prayers. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, told him that he was too shy to ask Allaah The Almighty for a further reduction. Then, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, heard a caller saying that the obligation has been decreed, and alleviated for the servants of Allaah The Almighty. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

For more details about Al-'Israa’ wa Al-Mi‘raaj, refer to books of Seerah (biography) and the commentary at the beginning of Soorah Al-'Israa’.

Allaah Knows best.