Thekabarnews.com—The incident of Isra’ and Mi’raj is one of the greatest miracles that Allah Azza wa Jalla gave to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. After losing his beloved wife Khadijah and his uncle Abu Talib, and after being hurt by the people of Ta’if, it was a divine honor and a source of solace for the Prophet.

Table Of Content

When did the events of Isra’ and Mi’raj occur?
Isra: From Makkah to Masjid al-Aqsa
Mi’raj refers to the Prophet Muhammad’s ascent through the seven heavens
The duty of performing the five daily prayers was established
Was Isra’ and Mi’raj a physical or spiritual event?
The Quraysh’s response and Abu Bakr’s faith

When did the events of Isra’ and Mi’raj occur?

The tenth year of prophethood was when Isra’ and Mi’raj happened. Islamic scholars agree on the validity of the event, though they do not all agree on the exact date. The Qur’an and authentic Hadith conclusively prove that it is real.

There are two passages in the Qur’an where Allah Azza wa Jalla says about this wonderful journey:

سُبۡحَٰنَ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَسۡرَىٰ بِعَبۡدِهِۦ لَيۡلٗا مِّنَ ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡحَرَامِ إِلَى ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡأَقۡصَا ٱلَّذِي بَٰرَكۡنَا حَوۡلَهُۥ لِنُرِيَهُۥ مِنۡ ءَايَٰتِنَآۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡبَصِيرُ

“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.” (Surah Al-Isra:1)

“And he certainly saw him in another descent. [] At the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary. [] Near it is the Garden of Refuge. [] When there covered the Lote Tree that which covered [it]. [] The sight [of the Prophet] did not swerve, nor did it transgress [its limit]. [] He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.” (Surah An-Najm:13–18).

These passages show that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ made a night voyage from Masjid al-Haram in Makkah to Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem, and then he went up through the skies and saw some of the greatest manifestations of Allah’s power.

Real stories say that after the ‘Isha prayer, Angel Jibril approached Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, opened his chest, and cleaned his heart with Zamzam water. Thereafter, his heart was full of faith and wisdom, and it was sealed again. This spiritual preparation was the start of a wonderful adventure.

Isra: From Makkah to Masjid al-Aqsa

Buraq, a heavenly creature that is faster than any earthly mount, carried the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ during Isra. He went from Makkah to Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem) in one night. There, he prayed two rak’ahs and, according to some stories, led the other prophets in prayer, which indicated that he was the last messenger.

Angel Jibril then brought two containers, one with wine and the other with milk. Jibril answered, “You have chosen the fitrah (pure natural route),” and the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ chose milk.

Mi’raj refers to the Prophet Muhammad’s ascent through the seven heavens

During Mi’raj, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ went up through the seven heavens. He encountered one or more prophets at each level:

The first heaven was Prophet Adam.
Second: Prophet Isa and Prophet Yahya.
Third: Prophet Yusuf.
Fourth: Prophet Idris.
Fifth: Prophet Harun.
Sixth: Prophet Musa.
Seventh: Prophet Ibrahim, close to Bayt al-Ma’mur.

The trip went on to Sidrat al-Muntaha, which is the highest point of creation.

The duty of performing the five daily prayers was established

At Sidrat al-Muntaha, Allah Azza wa Jalla first made it mandatory for Muslims to pray 50 times a day. Prophet Musa told the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to ask for a lower price when he got back. This event happened over and over again until Allah Azza wa Jalla cut the number of daily prayers down to five but kept the prize at fifty.

This moment shows how important prayer (salah) is in Islam. Allah Azza wa Jalla directly requires prayer, making it the only pillar of Islam in existence.

Was Isra’ and Mi’raj a physical or spiritual event?

Most Islamic scholars, both past and present, concur that Isra’ and Mi’raj transpired with both body and soul when the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was entirely conscious. The actual wording of the Qur’an (“His servant”) and genuine Hadith back up this position. Because it was not a dream, the Quraysh strongly denied it, and some weak believers gave up their faith.

The Quraysh’s response and Abu Bakr’s faith

The Quraysh made fun of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and said he was lying when he told them about the occurrence. They challenged him by demanding detailed descriptions of Masjid al-Aqsa, and Allah Azza wa Jalla provided the necessary assistance.

Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, on the other hand, believed right away without a doubt, which is why he was given the title As-Siddiq (The Truthful). His unshakable faith represented a turning point in the history of Islam.

Important lessons from Isra’ and Mi’raj:

Tests are not indications of Allah’s desertion but rather manifestations of His wisdom.
Islam is in harmony with human fitrah, which means that people choose milk over alcohol.
All prophets share the same characteristics, and Prophet Muhammad’s death is a fact.
Salah is a gift from Allah that helps us stay away from temptations in the world.

Isra’ and Mi’raj is more than just a story from the past; it teaches us to have faith, be patient, and believe that Allah Azza wa Jalla will help us when circumstances become difficult.

It emphasizes the importance of Salah, remaining strong in the face of adversity, and trusting Allah Azza wa Jalla. Many Muslims all over the world still look to this wonderful night for inspiration, strength, and spiritual clarity.