Today, Thursday, is a public holiday in the UAE and most of the
Gulf and Middle East.
Many have been counting down to the long weekend (although I will
be working). But very few people I asked knew why we were off work, so I
decided to find out.
It is Al-Isra’ wal Mi'raj -- الإسراء والمعراج -- an important observance day in the Muslim calendar. It falls on 27 Rajab in the Hijri calendar, corresponding to 6 June this year.
It is Al-Isra’ wal Mi'raj -- الإسراء والمعراج -- an important observance day in the Muslim calendar. It falls on 27 Rajab in the Hijri calendar, corresponding to 6 June this year.
It marks the two
parts of a physical and spiritual night
journey that, according to Muslim tradition, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) took
during a single night circa the year 621.
I found a brief sketch of the story in Sura 17 Al-Isra
of the Holy Quran. Other details come from the hadiths or supplemental writings about
the life of the Prophet.
Surat Al-Isra’ (The
Night Journey), also called Surat Bani
Isra'eel (Children of Israel), is the 17th chapter of the Quran with 111
verses.
According to the hadith,
the journey goes like this:
The Prophet Muhammad travels on the steed Buraq to "the Farthest Mosque,” where he leads other prophets
in prayer. He then ascends to Heaven where he speaks to God, who gives
Muhammad instructions to take back to the faithful regarding the details of
prayer.
The exact location of "the Farthest Mosque” is not specified,
although the first verse refers to Muhammad being taken from the “Sacred
Mosque” to the “Farthest Mosque”:
Glory to (Allah) Who did take
His servant for a journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest
Mosque, whose precincts We did bless -- in order that We might show him some of
Our Signs: for He is the One Who heareth and seeth (all things).
It is generally agreed the “Farthest Mosque” refers to al-Aqsa
Mosque in Jerusalem and the “Sacred Mosque” refers to al-Haram in Mecca.
The Sura was revealed in
the last year before the Hijra. Its main theme is salat (daily prayers), whose number was fixed at five during the Mi’raj that it alludes to. The Sura also forbids adultery, calls for
respect for father and mother and for patience and control in the face of the
persecutions the Muslim community was facing at the time.
According to traditions, the journey is associated with Lailat
al-Mi'raj, one of the most significant events in the Muslim calendar.
The Night Journey starts with the appearance of the Archangel
Gabriel (who was bringing the revelation of the Quran). Gabriel leads Muhammad
to a white mule with wings attached to its thighs. This mule had carried other
prophets, including Abraham, and was the buraq
or spirit horse. Muhammad gets on and goes high into the sky.
He arrives at Jerusalem where he meets many prophets including
Abraham, Moses and Jesus. The Prophet is quoted as saying Abraham “looked like
no one else, but also no one did not look like him.” Moses was “tall, tanned,
slim and with a hooked nose and curly hair.” Jesus was “red skinned of medium
height with straight hair and many moles on his face.” He also looked like “he
had come out of a bath. His hair looked wet although it was not wet.”
Muhammad is asked to lead them in prayer and did.
Three dishes are placed in front of Muhammad containing water, wine
and milk. Muhammad said he knew of the prophecy that if he chose water the
Muslim community would drown, if he chose wine they would leave the true path,
and if he chose milk they would follow the true religion of the one God. He
chose milk and drank from it. Gabriel confirmed the prophecy.
Then Muhammad lifts up to the first gate of Heaven guarded by the Angel
Ishmael (first son of Abraham) who was in charge of 12,000 more and each of
those had 12,000 of their own. All these 144,000,001 angels guarded the one
gate. Ishmael asked Gabriel if Muhammad was the one sent to deliver God's
message to humankind and Gabriel confirmed this, so Muhammad was let through.
Muhammad passes through seven heavenly realms.
In the First Heaven he sees Adam being shown the souls of his
descendents both good and bad.
In the Second Heaven he sees Jesus and John, son of Zachariah.
In the Third Heaven he sees Joseph, son of Jacob.
In the Fourth Heaven he sees Idris, the prophet from before the
flood.
In the Fifth Heaven he sees Moses' older brother, Harun, with his
long white beard.
In the Sixth Heaven Muhammad meets a tall man with a hooked nose
and Gabriel says it is Moses.
In the Seventh Heaven Muhammad sees an old man seated by the gate
to Paradise where 70,000 angels pass through each day but do not return until
Judgment Day. Gabriel identifies him as Abraham.
Gabriel then takes Muhammad into Paradise where he speaks to God
who tells him the importance of regular prayers.
On the way back Moses asks how many prayers have been commanded and
Muhammad says 50 a day. Moses tells him to go back to God and get the number
cut. God reduces the number to 10 a day but Moses again says this is too many.
Muhammad returns to God and they are reduced to five times a day. Moses says
this is still too many, but Muhammad tells Moses he is too embarrassed to
return to God again.
The Prophet is also shown Sidrat
al-Muntaha (a Lote Tree of the utmost boundary [Quran 53:14]). He
says, “I saw its Nabk fruits which
resembled the clay jugs of Hajr
(near Medina) and its leaves were like the ears of elephants and four rivers
originated at its root -- two of them were apparent and two were hidden. I
asked Gabriel about those rivers and he said, 'The two hidden rivers are in
Paradise and the apparent ones are the Nile and the Euphrates’.”
Sidrat al-Muntaha marks
the end of the Seventh Heaven, the boundary where no creation can pass,
according to Muslim beliefs.
Muhammad then returns to Mecca.
When he describes his journey to followers, many don’t believe he
had gone to Jerusalem in one night, seen the Seven Heavens and had spoken with
God.
Some of the disbelievers went to Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (one of the
senior companions – Sahabi -- and
father-in-law of Muhammad and the first Muslim Caliph following Muhammad's
death).
Abu Bakr asked the Prophet to describe Jerusalem. He did and Abu
Bakr declared all the details were accurate and so Muhammad must have been
there.
Exalted is He who took His Servant by night
from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have
blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
Quran, Chapter 17 (Al-Isra), Verse 1
So today, we celebrate the miracle of Al-Isra’
wal Mi’raj, the night journey and ascension of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Have a wonderful day and enjoy the long weekend.
