Al-Isra’ wal-Mi’raj (the Night Journey & Ascension) is a miracle second only to the revelation of the

Qur’an, and it is therefore important that we don’t let this night slip by without reflecting on its lessons
and its significance.

Many of us only know the basic story of Al-Isra’ wal-Mi’raj - that the Prophet (saw) was transported
from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, from where he (saw) ascended to heaven. In fact, there
were many stops along this incredible journey, and the story is packed with wonders and miracles. This
blog will narrate the first half of the Miraculous Journey and we have included as much detail as we
could. Enjoy!

Context of Al-Isra’ wal-Mi’raj

Al-Isra’ wal-Mi’raj took place during a time when the Prophet (saw) was facing intense hardship and
pain. The Quraysh, who were his tribe and his family, constantly ridiculed, humiliated and oppressed the
Prophet (saw) and his followers. Moreover, the Prophet (saw) had just faced the Year of Sorrow (’Aam
al-Huzn), during which he (saw) lost his beloved wife Khadijah (ra), and his uncle Abu Talib, who was his
protector and ally.

In addition to all these burdens, when the Prophet (saw) had travelled to Ta’if to spread the Islamic
message, the people of Ta’if had rejected him in the most cruel way, sending their children into the
streets to stone him until he left the city.

Having gone through so much grief and suffering, the Prophet Muhammad (saw) was given a truly
beautiful and comforting gift. He was transported not only to the Sacred Sanctuary and through the
skies, but ultimately into the Divine Presence, the source of all comfort and hope. One of the most
important lessons of Al-Isra’ wal-Mi’raj, therefore, is that ‘with every hardship [there will be] ease’ (The
Noble Qur’an, 94: 5).

Al-Isra’: From the Ka’bah to Al-Aqsa

When the Prophet (saw) was sleeping in the house of Umm Hani (ra) in Makkah he said, ‘the roof of my
house was opened and the Angel Jibril [as] descended’ (Bukhari). Scholars reconciling between various
narrations, say the Prophet (saw) was then taken to the Hijr, the semi-circular wall of the Ka‘bah, where
the Prophet (saw) said that Jibril (as), ‘opened my chest, and washed it with Zamzam water. Then he
brought a golden tray full of wisdom and faith, and having poured its contents into my chest, he closed
it’. [Bukhari]

The Prophet (saw) continued, ‘I was then brought a white beast which is called al-Buraq [from the Arabic
word barq, meaning lightning], bigger than a donkey and smaller than a mule. Its stride was as long as
the eye could reach’. [Muslim]

It is narrated by Anas (ra) that Buraq was, ‘saddled and reined, but he shied from him (saw). So Jibril [as]
said to him, “Is it from Muhammad [saw] that you do this? For nobody has ridden you who is more
honourable to Allah than him!” He said, “Then he started sweating profusely”’. [Tirmidhi]

At several points along the journey, Jibra’eel (as) stopped Buraq and told the Prophet (saw), ‘Dismount
and pray’. The first stop was at ‘the place of emigration’ i.e. Madinah - and soon after this night the
Prophet (saw) would meet the Ansar and migrate to Madinah. The second stop was at Mount Sinai,
where Allah (swt) revealed the Torah to Musa (as). The third stop was at Bethlehem, where ’Isa (as) was
born.

The fourth stop was the grave of Musa (as), ‘I happened to pass by Musa [as] on the night of my Night
journey by the red sandhill whilst he was standing praying in his grave’ (Muslim). We know that his grave
is located, ‘a stone’s throw’ away from the holy land of the Blessed Masjid Al-Aqsa (Bukhari). This
incident clearly shows us an example of what the Messenger of Allah (saw) said about Prophets (as)
after they pass away that, ‘The Prophets are alive in their graves praying’ (Abu Ya‘la).

Arriving at Al-Aqsa

Finally, the Messenger of Allah (saw) arrived in the holy city of Al-Quds (Jerusalem) and he said, ’When
we reached Bait al-Maqdis [literally ‘the holy house’ another name for the Blessed Masjid Al-Aqsa] Jibril
(as) pointed with his finger causing a crack in the rock, and he tied the Buraq to it [at the western wall of
the noble sanctuary]’ (Tirmidhi). Waiting inside were all 124,000 Prophets (as). Jibra’eel (as) led the
Prophet (saw) to the front, and he (saw) led them all in prayer in this blessed space.
Some narrations indicate that the Prophet (saw) prayed ‘two units of prayer’ (Muslim) to greet the
Masjid (known as Tahiyyat al-Masjid). This is one of the first examples of this established Sunnah of the
Prophet (saw). It is also mentioned that Jibril (as) called the Adhan (call to prayer) before this practice
was even established later in Madinah and that the angels from the heavens descended to pray behind
all the Prophets in this sacred place – Subhan-Allah!

When the Prophet (saw) completed the prayer, he said, ‘someone said, “Here is Malik (as), the keeper of
the Hell, so convey Salams to him”. So, I turned to him, but he preceded me in Salams’ (Muslim).

The Messenger of Allah (saw) also said, ’The Prophets were presented to me, and Musa (as) was a thin
man, it was as if he was from the men of Shanu’ah [a Yemeni tribe]. And I saw ’Isa ibn Maryam (as), and
the closest of the people in resemblance to him from those I have seen, is ‘Urwah ibn Mas‘†d (ra). And I
saw Ibrahim (as), and the closest of the people in resemblance to him, from those I have seen, is your
companion [meaning himself]. And I saw Jibril [as], and the closest of the people in resemblance to him,
from those I have seen, is Dihyah (ra)’ (Tirmidhi).

Part of what the Prophets (as) discussed after praising Allah was about ‘the Hour’. Both Ibrahim (as) and
Musa (as) stated that they ‘did not have any knowledge of it’. Whilst ’Isa (as) ’mentioned the Dajjal (anti-
Christ) and said,

“I will descend and kill him, then the people will return to their own lands and will be confronted with
Gog and Magog, who will, “swoop down from every mound” [Qur’an, 21:96]”’. [Ibn Majah]

Following this, the Prophet (saw) said, ‘Then I came out and Jibril (as) brought me a vessel of wine and a
vessel of milk. Then I chose the milk, and Jibril (as) said, “You have chosen the natural state (Fitrah)”’
(Muslim).

The dominant opinion is that the Prophet (saw) alongside Jibril (as) then proceeded to the Noble Rock
(as-Sakhrah al-Musharrafah) that is currently housed by the holy Dome of the Rock Masjid at the centre
of the noble sanctuary (al-Haram ash-Sharif) of the Blessed Masjid Al-Aqsa. He (saw) ascended into the
heavens for the next part of this incredible journey, the Mi‘raj, the Ascension!