Miraj journey of the Prophet

26-2-2003 | IslamWeb

Question:

Could you please tell me what happened during the Mi'raj journey of the Prophet SAWS in detail?
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 ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

 

The details of the night of Al-Mi'raaj (the Ascension) are reported in Al-Bukhari and Muslim. Here we present the translation of the text as reported in the collection of narrations by Al-Bukhari may Allaah have mercy upon him.

Anas ibn Maalik may Allaah be pleased with him narrated from Maalik ibn Sasaah may Allaah be pleased with them both, said that the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) described to them his Night Journey saying: "While I was lying in Al-Haatim or Al-Hijr, suddenly someone came to me and cut my body open from here to here." I [Anas] asked Al-Jarud who was by my side, 'What does he mean?' He said, 'It means from his throat to his pubic area,' or said, 'From the top of the chest.'

"The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) further said: 'He then took out my heart. Then a gold tray of Faith was brought to me and my heart was washed and was filled (with Faith) and then returned to its original place. Then a white animal which was smaller than a mule and bigger than a donkey was brought to me.' (On this Al-Jarud asked, "Was it the Buraaq, O Abu Hamzah?" I (i.e. Anas) replied in the affirmative).

"The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said:

'The animal's step (was so wide that it) reached the farthest point within reach of the animal's sight. I was carried on it, and Jibreel (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?' Jibreel answered, 'Jibreel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Jibreel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has Muhammad been called?' Jibreel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit is his!' The gate was opened, and when I went over the first heaven, I saw Aadam (Adam) there. Jibreel said (to me), 'This is your father, Aadam; pay him your greetings.' So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, 'You are welcome, O pious son and pious Prophet.'

Then Jibreel ascended with me untill we reached the second heaven. Jibreel asked for the gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Jibreel answered, 'Jibreel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Jibreel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Jibreel answered in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit is his!' The gate was opened. When I went over the second heaven, there I saw Yahya (i.e. John) and 'Eesa (i.e. Jesus) who were cousins of each other. Jibreel said (to me), 'These are Yahya and 'Eesa; pay them your greetings.' So I greeted them and both of them returned my greetings to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.'

Then Jibreel ascended with me to the third heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Jibreel replied, 'Jibreel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Jibreel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Jibreel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed, what an excellent visit is his!'

The gate was opened, and when I went over the third heaven, there I saw Yoosuf (Joseph). Jibreel said (to me), 'This is Yoosuf; pay him your greetings.' So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.' Then Jibreel ascended with me to the fourth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Jibreel replied, 'Jibreel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Jibreel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Jibreel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed, what an excellent visit is his!'

The gate was opened, and when I went over the fourth heaven, there I saw Idrees. Jibreel said (to me), 'This is Idrees; pay him your greetings.' So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.' Then Jibreel ascended with me to the fifth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Jibreel replied, 'Jibreel.' It was asked. 'Who is accompanying you?' Jibreel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Jibreel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed, what an excellent visit is his!'

So when I went over the fifth heaven, there I saw Haaroon (i.e. Aaron), Jibreel said, (to me). This is Haaroon; pay him your greetings.' I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.'

Then Jibreel ascended with me to the sixth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Jibreel replied, 'Jibreel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Jibreel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Jibreel replied in the affirmative. It was said, 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit is his!' When I went (over the sixth heaven), there I saw Moses. Gabriel said (to me),' This is Moosa (Moses); pay him your greeting. So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.' When I left him (i.e. Moses) he wept. Someone asked him, 'What makes you weep?' Moosa 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.'

Then Jibreel ascended with me to the seventh heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Jibreel replied, 'Jibreel.' It was asked,' Who is accompanying you?' Jibreel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Jibreel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit is his!'So when I went (over the seventh heaven), there I saw Ibraaheem (Abraham). Jibreel said (to me), 'This is your father; pay your greetings to him.' So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious son and pious Prophet.'

Then I was made to ascend to Sidratul-Muntaha (i.e. the farthest Lote Tree). Behold! Its fruits were like the jars of Hajr (i.e. a place near Madeenah) and its leaves were as big as the ears of elephants. Jibreel said, 'This is the farthest Lote Tree.' Behold! There ran four rivers; two were hidden and two were visible. I asked, 'What are these two kinds of rivers, O Jibreel?' He replied, 'As for the hidden rivers, they are two rivers in Paradise and the visible rivers are the Nile and the Euphrates.' Then Al-Baitul-Ma'moor (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. Jibreel remarked, 'This is the Islamic religion which you and your followers are following.' Then the prayers were enjoined on me: They were fifty prayers a day.

When I returned, I passed by Moosa who asked (me), 'What have you been ordered to do?' I replied, 'I have been ordered to offer fifty prayers a day.' Moosa said, 'Your followers cannot bear fifty prayers a day, and by Allaah, I have tested people before you, and I have tried my level best with Bani Israa'eel (in vain). Go back to your Lord and ask for reduction to lessen your followers' burden.'

So I went back, and Allaah reduced ten prayers for me. Then again I came to Moosa, but he repeated the same as he had said before. Then again I went back to Allaah and He reduced ten more prayers. When I came back to Moosa and he said the same, I went back to Allaah and He ordered me to observe ten prayers a day. When I came back to Moosa, he repeated the same advice, so I went back to Allaah and was ordered to observe five prayers a day. When I came back to Moosa, 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 experienced people before you, and I have tried my level best with Bani Israa'eel, 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 Allaah's Order.' When I left, I heard a voice saying, 'I have passed My Order and have lessened the burden of My worshipers.'"

For more details please read the books of Seerah (biography of the Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) and the explanation of Chapter Al-Israa' (Chapter 17) in the books of Tafseer (Quranic exegesis).

Allaah Knows best.

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