ISRA WA MIRAJ

Q. (a) Outline the main events from the Prophet’s night

journey and ascension (al-isra wal-mi’raj). [10]

Paragraph 1 (Reasons)
 After the death of Abu Talib and Khadija and bad response of
the [people of Taif the Prophet was really very sad. Allah
wanted to console his messenger.
 He wanted to appreciate his efforts for Allah’s religion.
 Allah also refreshed and reenergized him through this great
journey for the future challenge.

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 Paragraph 2 (Isra)
 It was 27th night of Rajab. The Prophet was asleep either in
the house of Umm e Hani or in Hijr.
 Angel Jibril woke him up and informed him about Allah’s
invitation in His presense.
 He first opened his heart and washed it with zamzam.
Then he filled it with light.
 He was given an animal called Burraq. It was white,
shorter than a horse and bigger than a mule.
 Then the Prophet (pbuh) went from the Kaaba (Makkah)
to Masjid al-Aqsa (Jerusalem).
 This part of the journey is called Isra and mentioned in
(17:1)
 He was stopped in Yathrib, Mount Tur and Bait ul Laham
(Birth place of Jesus).

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 He reached Masjid al-Aqsa. There, he led the prophets in a
prayer of two-rak’ats.
 After that, the Prophet was brought two bowls; one of them had
wine and the other had milk. He was told, “Have either of
them!" The Prophet chose the milk. Jibril said to the
Prophet, "You chose the natural one; if you had chosen the
wine, your ummah would have gone astray after you.”
Paragraph 3 (Mi’raj)
 The Buraq was tied with the wall of the mosqe and then
through a beautiful ladder the Prophet was taken to the sky.
 He stopped by all of the layers of the sky. He met the prophets
Adam, Yahya and Isa, Yusuf, Idris, Harun , Musa and Ibrahim
(peace be upon them all) respectively.

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 On the seventh heaven he also saw a Kaba known as Bait ul
Ma’moor (52:4). He was informed that everyday seventy
thousand angels perform its tawaf and they will never get their
turn again.
 After that, he went to Sidra al-Muntaha (Lote Tree of the
Extremity) together with Jibril. Sidra al-Muntaha is a tree whose
root is in the sixth layer of the sky and whose branches are over
the seventh layer of the sky.
 Its leaves were like elephant’s ears and fruits were like big
pitchers. It was all covered with golden moths and he saw Jibrail
in his actual form here. (53:14-18)
 The Prophet (pbuh) then sat on Rafraf (green silk). The
Prophet was elevated and approached to his Lord.

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 The Prophet (pbuh) was given three things: 1. Five daily
prayers equal to the reward of fifty daily prayers. 2. The last two
verses of the Surah al-Baqara. 3. The sins of the Ummah of
Muhammad were forgiven except those who did Shirk.
 Hadrat Moosa advised him to make a request for reduction in
number of prayer as they were fifty initially.
 After that the Prophet (pbuh) was taken to Paradise and Hell
by Jibril. Then he brought him down to Masjid Aqsa and then
back to Makkah.

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 Paragraph 4 (Reactions)

 The next day Prophet informed Makkans but they made fun of
him.
 They asked many questions about building and their caravan
coming back from Syria to check his truthfulness and the
Prophet gave all answers correct but even then they didn’t
believe.
 Abu Bakr believed in him without reluctance and got the title
of “al-siddiq”.

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 Significance
 It shows Allah’s limitless powers. He can do everything nothing
is impossible for Allah.
 It shows the high rank of the Holy Prophet in the sight of Allah.
No one reached that height where Allah called His most
beloved messenger.
 He led all prophets in a prayer which signifies his position
among them.
 The event also throws light on the importance of Masjid al-
Aqsa in the Muslim beliefs.
 It strengthens our faith in the existence of Heaven and Hell.
 It also shows the importance of prayer as Allah gave it as a gift
to the Prophet by calling him in His presence.

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(b) In what way did this event give hope to the Prophet (pbuh)?
[4]

 This event reassured him of His status with God, and that God
had sent him for a specific purpose.
 It also reassured him that Allah is always with him.
 He realised his status amongst prophets, as seal of the
prophets, he led them in prayer.
 Loyalty shown by Companions such as Abu Bakr also
strengthened his heart.
 He was given renewed hopes related to his success in Yathrib.

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