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Mairaj - The Ascent

Questions:

Q: Give description of Prophet (P.B.U.H.), journey of Al-Isra and Mairaj?

Q (a): Trace the events that led up to Prophet’s journey of Al- Isra and Mairaj.
(b): Explain the significance of this journey.

Introductory Paragraph:

In the 10th year of Prophet Hood after the boycott the Prophet’s uncle Abu-Talib died
who always shield and protected the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) from the evils of Quraish.
Soon after the death of Abu-Talib the Prophet’s (P.B.U.H.) wife, Hazrat Khadijah (R.A.)
also died who was a great source of moral strength to him after these heart breaking
events, the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) went to Taif in the hope of spreading Islam but was
maltreated (ill-treated) by the inhabitants of Taif. All these events were of great
disappointment to the Prophet. So Mairaj was infact a way of hope and strength to
prepare him for the second period of his life, which was to come.

Meaning:

Mairaj means ‘To reach upwards, towards a height.’ Here it refers to the sacred and
auspicious journey of our Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) to the heavens. When he was invited
by Allah to visit Him. This unique event took place in 12th year of Prophet Hood one year
before the migration of Madinah. It occurred in two stages on the 27 th night of Rajab. In
the first stage, he journeyed from Masjid-e-Haram (Kabah) to Masjid-e-Aqsa (Bait-ul-
Muqaddas) this is known as ‘Asra’. In the next stage he went through all the various
skies and reached the presence of Allah Al-Mighty, which is known as Mairaj. The Quran
says in Surah Bani-Israeel, verse 1: ‘Glory to be Him who made his servant to go on a
night from the sacred Masjid to the remote Masjid 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. (Surah bani Israeel verse 1)

The Auspicious journey or event of Mairaj:

Near the Kaabah there is a small, low semi-circular wall; the space between these walls
of Kaabah is known as ‘Hateem-e-Kaabah’. On the 27th night of Rayab the Holy Prophet
(P.B.U.H.) was sleeping in this area, when Hazrat Jibraeel (A.S.) came and woke him up,
saying the Almighty Allah had sent for him. In this regard there is a well-known tradition
quoted by Bukhari, the Prophet starts his narrative with these words, “I lay on the
ground next to the Kaabah. There came unto me an angel and cut open my breast and
took out my heart. Was brought unto me, and my heart was washed (there in) and was
filled (with faith), then it was restored to its place.”
Then Hazrat Jibraeel presented him a horse named Buraaq, which could fly as fast as
lightening. It took him to Jerusalam (The temple of Suleman) called farthest mosque,
Masjid-e-Aqsa. It is a sacred place to both the Jews of Christian. The precious Qibla of
Muslims also, here all the previous Prophets had assembled and the Holy Prophet
(P.B.U.H.) led two Rakaat prayers and they all prayed. Hazrat Jibraeel (A.S.) then brought
two vessels; one was filled with wine and the other with milk. The Prophet chose milk,
and drank from it. Jibraeel said, “You have been guided to the Fitra” (Sahi Bukhari)
Then Hazrat Jibraeel started ascending toward the Heavens with Holy Prophet
(P.B.U.H.). On the first sky he met Hazrat Adam, on the 2nd he met Hazrat Isa, Hazrat
Yahya, on the 3rd sky he met Hazrat Yousuf, on the 4th Hazrat Idrees, 5th Hazrat Haroon,
the 6th Hazrat Musa,. Finally on the seventh sky he met Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S.).
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The journey continued onward and he says the stream of Kauser, Paradise and various
scenes of reward and punishment. Finally he reached Sidratul-Muntaha or the Lote Tree
as mentioned in Surah-Najm. “He beheld him once again at the farthest Lote Tree near
it is the garden of Abode”
Hazrat Jibraeel told him to go ahead, as he could not accompany him any further for
his feathers would get burnt. So Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) went by himself. Allah spoke to
him directly, here the last verses of Surah Al-Baqarah were revealed and Allah promised
that the major sins of his followers would be forgiven, if they don’t commit shirk, fulfill
the right of fellow human being and avoid arrogance. Salah was made obligatory for
Muslims 50 times a day on his return Prophet Musa told the Prophet to have the Prayers
reduced as his people would not be able to offer 50 prayers. The Prophet went back to
Allah and the numbers were reduced by 10, again Prophet Musa urged Prophet
(P.B.U.H) to have the number reduced until it came down to five times a day, he again
asked for further reduction but Prophet (P.B.U.H.) said: “I have asked my Lord till I am
ashamed to face Him” (Sahi Bukhari). Allah said I will give the reward for 50 prayers.
After this Hazrat Jibraeel showed him the whole of Paradise and Hell. Finally they
returned to Masjid-e-Aqsa and then Makkah Mukarrama.

Makkans Reaction:

In the morning after Fajr Prayers, he related the entire incident to Hazrat Umm-e-Hani
his paternal uncle Abu Talib’s daughter and Hazrat Ali’s sister who lived near Harm-e-
Kaabah. She advised him not to say to others as they would not believe him. But Holy
Prophet (P.B.U.H) said: “I swear by my Allah that I will narrate this to others.”
After returning from there he met Abu Jahl and told him. Abu Jahl collected people
around him and they all together made fun of him by saying how it was possible that
Holy Prophet went there and returned in one night? Some people went to Abu Bakr and
related about the incident of Mairaj Hazrat Abu Bakr said to them, “If he has said this,
then it is true.” He himself went to Kaabah and after hearing it from Prophet (P.B.U.H)
he said “I confirmed that this event happened.” After confirming he was given the title of
“Siddique” by the prophet. Some non believers asked the prophet to describe Masjid-e-
Aqsa since, he had seen it. The Holy Prophet told exactly, he even told them about the
various caravans he had seen on his route. The non believers were ashamed and
embarrassed.

Significance of the Journey:

 This Journey proves that Allah’s knowledge comprehends all things, without any
barriers of his knowledge.
 The combination of two sacred houses of worship is meant to show that the
Quran does not inaugurate a new religion but it represents a continuation and
the ultimate development of the same Divine Message which was preached by
the prophets who came before Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H). of time or space. Mairaj
or the ascension of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) was a reflection
 The object of this journey is to show some of the Allah’s signs to the Prophet
(P.B.U.H) further details are given in the hadiths.
 According to traditions all the past prophets ranged themselves behind the
Prophet supports the doctrine that Islam as preached by the Prophet (P.B.U.H) is
the fulfillment and perfection of mankind’s religious development that he was
the Last and greatest of Allah’s Messengers.
 For the Prophet it was a source of comfort and consolidation.
 Prophet’s heart was filled with belief.
 Gift of prayers was given to him and his followers.
 This event proved the superiority of God and His power.