ISRA AND MIRAJ

SIGNIFICANCE, DETAILS AND

LESSONS
 Surah Isra,17:1

• Glory to (Allah) Who did take His Servant for Journey by

night from the Sacred Mosque( in Makkah) to the Farthest
Mosque( in Jerusalem) whose precincts We did Bless in
order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is
the one Who hears and sees (all things).
Isra
Miraj
Miraj (Continued)
 When did it happen?
• 17th Ramadan, 12th Nabawi (Ibn Sa’ad)
• 17th Rabi Al Awwal, 13th Nabawi (Baihaqi)
• Shawal 12th Nabawi (Tabari)
• 20 months before Hijrah (Ibn Qutaibah)
• 16 months before Hijrah (Hakim)
• 11 months before Hijrah ( Ibnul Muneer)
• 27th Rajab,12th Nabawi ( Prevalent opinion,
Zurqani)
 Historical Background
• Prophet (S) had presented his message for 12
years.
• Opponents were putting maximum pressure
upon the Prophet (S) and the companions.
• His message had reached to every corner of
Arabia.
• A team of committed followers was prepared in
Makkah.
• In Medina, good number of Aus and Khazrij had
joined Islamic struggle.
 Short version of the incidence
• Angel Gabriel woke the Prophet at night.
• He took him on “Buraq” from Makkah to Jerusalem
• He prayed there with other Prophets
• He ascended to different heavens and met different
Prophets
• At the zenith of this ascension, he met Allah (SWT)
• He was given some commandments with obligatory
prayer 5 times a day.
• Then he returned to Jerusalem and travelled back to
Makkah.
Was this journey physical or spiritual?
• It was indeed a physical journey of the
Prophet in fully conscious state
• He was given a physical tour of the heavens to
show him the realities of the hidden world.
• Allah (SWT) has shown other hidden realities
to the previous Prophets in a similar way.
• This is to prepare the Prophets to invite others
to believe on unseen which they are shown
first hand.
 Details of the Isra and Miraj
• It happened 12th year of prophet hood when he
was 52 years of age.
• He was sleeping in his cousin’s (Umm-Hani) house
located in Shi’b Abi Talib.
• Gabriel entered the house through roof and woke
him.
• He took the Prophet to Kaaba.
• He opened his chest and washed it with zamzam.
• He filled it with knowledge, forbearance, wisdom,
faith and conviction.
 Isra or Journey to Jerusalem
• He was presented Buraq to ride.
• Buraq was white in color. It was bigger than a
donkey but smaller than mule. It ran fast like
electricity.
• When the Prophet was about to mount on
Buraq, he moved.
• Gabriel told him that no one more honorable
than the Prophet mounted on him. He
became quite and calm.
 4 stops during Isra
• 1- Medina- Prophet offered prayer here. He
was told that he will migrate to this place
• 2- Toor Sinai- This is the place where
Musa(AS) talked to Allah (SWT)
• 3- Bethlehem- This is the place where Isa or
Jesus (AS) was borne.
• 4-Jerusalem- (Baitul Maqdis)- Buraq’s journey
ended here.
 Observations During Isra
• Someone called him and he did not turn to him.
Gabriel told him this was call to Judaism
• Another person called him and again he did not
turn to him. He was told this was call to
Christianity
• A decorated woman called him and he turned his
face away. He was told this was material world.
• An old woman appeared. Gabriel told him this
tells you the world and its short age left.
• A person appeared and called him but he ignored
his call. He was told this was Satan.
 Prayer in Jerusalem
• He came down from Buraq
• He entered the place of Aqsa masjid where he found all the
prophets who came since Adam.
• Rows were formed for prayer.
• Gabriel held Prophet Mohammad’s hand and ushered him
to lead the prayer.
• He was then offered 3 cups of drinks. One had water, one
had milk and one had wine.
• He chose to drink milk. He was congratulated by Gabriel
and told he chose natural path.
• A ladder was presented to him and then he started his
ascension to heavens.
MI’RAJ First Heaven
NABI ADAM a.s.

NABI
IBRAHIM
“ as

NABI MUSA as

NABI HARUN as

NABI YUSUF as

NABI IDRIS as

NABI ISA as dan NABI YAHYA as

NABI ADAM as
 1st Heaven
• Upon arrival the door was closed.
• Guardian angels asked who is there. Gabriel
told his name.
• He was asked who is with him?
• He said, "Mohammad (SAW)”
• He was asked,” Is he invited?”
• He answered, “Yes”. Then the door was
opened and he was welcomed.
 Observations on 1st Heaven
• People cutting their harvest. The more they
cut the crop, the faster it grew.
• He asked who are these people?
• He was told these are Mujahedeen in the path
of Allah.
• People whose heads were crushed with
stones. He asked about them. He was told
these people would not get up for prayer in
the mornings.
 Observations on 1st Heaven
• People wearing clothes with patches and
grazing grass. He was told these people did
not pay Zakah or charity.
• A man collecting woods but when he could
not lift it, he added more wood in the load. He
was told he had heavy burden of
responsibilities and he would continue to add
more into his burden.
 Observations on 1st Heaven
• People whose tongues and lips were being
cut with scissors. He was told these are the
speakers of sedition (Fitna) who called people
to misguidance."
• A rock developed a small opening from which
a big bull came out. That bull tried to go back
in the opening but could not. He was told this
is the example of the bad word--once spoken,
it cannot be returned."
 Observations on 1st Heaven
• People cutting and eating their own meat. He
was told these people hurled insults and
satires on others.
• People who had sharp copper nails and they
were scratching their faces and chests. He was
told they used to do backbiting.
• People whose lips were big like camels and
they were eating fire. He was told they used to
usurp orphan’s property.
 Observations on 1st Heaven
• People with big stomachs full of snakes. Others
walked over them but they could not move. He
was told they used to devour interest or Riba.
• People who had nice roasted meat on one side
and rotten putrid meat on the other side. They
were eating rotten meat. He was told these are
men and women who used to commit fornication
while they had their lawful spouses.
 Observations on 1st Heaven
• Women who were being punished. He was told
these women had illegitimate children which
they falsely claimed to belong to their husbands.
• Meeting with Hell’s warden, Malik. Prophet
(SAW) met an angel who had harshness on his
face. He was told this is Hell’s warden (Malik).
• View of Hell-Prophet (SAW) wanted a view of
Hell. He was shown Hell with all its dreadful
scenes.
 MI’RAJ
NABI ISA a.s.
NABI YAHYA a.s.
2nd Heaven NABI
IBRAHIM
as
Prophet (S) greeted
Isa(as) and Yahya(as) NABI MUSA as
with Salaam and they
replied back with NABI HARUN as

Salaam. Then they said,

“Welcome our righteous NABI YUSUF as

brother and Nabi.”

NABI IDRIS as

NABI ISA as & YAHYA as

NABI ADAM as
 MI’RAJ
NABI YUSUF a.s.
3rd Heaven
NABI
IBRAHIM
Prophet (S) met Nabi Yusuf (as) as
here. He greeted him with
Salaam and he replied with NABI MUSA as
Salaam. He said, “Welcome to
pious brother and Nabi.”
NABI HARUN as
Prophet (S) said,” He is most
beautiful in the creatures of
Allah. His distinction in beauty is NABI YUSUF as
like the distinction of moon
amongst the stars.”(TABARANI) NABI YUSUF as

NABI ISA as dan NABI YAHYA as

NABI ADAM as
 MI’RAJ

NABI IDRIS a.s.

4th Heaven NABI

IBRAHIM
as
Prophet (S) greeted Idris
(as) with Salaam and he NABI MUSA as
replied back with
Salaam. Then he said, NABI HARUN as

“Welcome my righteous
brother and Nabi.” NABI IDRIS as

NABI YUSUF as

NABI ISA as NABI YAHYA as

NABI ADAM as
 MI’RAJ
NABI HARUN a.s.
5th Heaven NABI
IBRAHIM
Prophet (S) greeted as

Harun(as) with Salaam

NABI MUSA as
and he replied back with
Salaam. Then he said, NABI HARUN as
“Welcome my righteous
brother and Nabi.” NABI IDRIS as

NABI YUSUF as

NABI ISA as NABI YAHYA as

NABI ADAM as
 MI’RAJ

NABI MUSA a.s.

6th Heaven NABI

IBRAHIM
as
Prophet greeted him with Salaam
and he replied with Salaam. Then NABI MUSA as
he said,” Welcome to my
righteous brother and Nabi. “
When the Prophet proceeded, he NABI HARUN as

started crying. When asked why

he cried. Musa (as) replied that a NABI IDRIS as
Prophet came after me. His
followers will be more in Jannah
NABI YUSUF as
than my followers. I feel sorry for
them. They did not follow me
like the followers of Mohammad NABI ISA as NABI YAHYA as
(S).
NABI ADAM as
 MI’RAJ

NABI IBRAHIM a.s.

7th Heaven Prophet (S) NABI
IBRAHIM
greeted him with salaam as

and he replied with

NABI MUSA as
salaam. He said,
“Welcome to my NABI HARUN as
righteous son and Nabi.”
NABI IDRIS as

NABI YUSUF as

NABI ISA as dan NABI YAHYA as

NABI ADAM as
 MI’RAJ
BAIT AL-MA’MUR
BAIT AL MA’MUR

This is a magnificent NABI

IBRAHIM
palace where as

seventy thousands NABI MUSA as

angels descend and

NABI HARUN as
leave every day.
NABI IDRIS as

NABI YUSUF as

NABI ISA as NABI YAHYA as

NABI ADAM as
 MI’RAJ SIDRAT AL-MUNTAHA
BAIT AL-MA’MUR
SIDRATUL MUNTAHA
NABI
This is the last frontier IBRAHIM
beyond which creatures as

knowledge ends. NABI MUSA as

Here Prophet (SAW) was

NABI HARUN as
also shown Paradise
(Jannatul Mawa)
NABI IDRIS as

NABI YUSUF as

NABI ISA as NABI YAHYA as

NABI ADAM as
 Conversation with Allah (SWT)
• Gabriel stopped at Sidratul Muntaha and said
he could not go beyond that point.
• Prophet (SAW) proceeded alone.
• He was honored to converse with Allah (SWT)
• Did Prophet (SAW) see Allah (SWT)?
Abu Musa Ashari (R) reported that the
Prophet said, “ There is no one from Allah’s
creation whose sight reached Him.” Muslim,
Kitabul Iman.
 Commandments and Declarations
given from Allah (SWT)
1. Daily 50 prayers- When Prophet (S) came down and
met Musa (A), he suggested to go back and get
number of prayers reduced. He kept returning to
Allah(SWT) till these were reduced to 5 prayers. He
was told their reward will be equal to 50 prayers.
2. Last 2 ayahs of Surah Baqarah
3. Possibility of forgiveness for all sins except shirk.
4. One reward for intention of good deed and 10
rewards for doing good deed. Nothing is written for
intention of sin and only one sin for committing a sin.
 Return Journey
• Prophet returned to Jerusalem where all the
Prophets were waiting. He led them in Fajr
prayer.
• He returned to Makkah on Buraq.
• He told whole story to his cousin Umm Hani
• She asked him not to tell the people since
they will not believe him and ridicule him.
• He left the house saying that he will tell them
 Prophet facing his opponents
• Facing Abu Jahl in Kaaba he told him the story.
• Abu Jahl called and gathered a crowd
• Prophet told them the same story.
• They did no believe his story and called him crazy.
• Abu Bakr(R) was told about it. He replied if he
said it then it is the truth.
• Then they came to the Prophet(S) and asked him
to describe the details of Baitul Maqdis.
 Prophet (S) describes Baitul Maqdis
• Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah: That he heard
Allah's Apostle saying, "When the people of
Quraish did not believe me (i.e. the story of
my Night Journey), I stood up in Al-Hijr and
Allah displayed Jerusalem in front of me, and I
began describing it to them while I was
looking at it."
Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 58,
Number 226
 Instructions on Salah
• Jabir Ibn Abdullah (R) reported that after
Miraj, Gabriel came to the Prophet(S) for 2
days and led him in prayer. 1st day they prayed
the earliest times and 2nd day they prayed the
ending times. Prophet(S) was told that proper
time for each Salah is in between these times.
Ahmad, Nisai, Tirmidhi, Ibn Habban, Hakim.
 Message of Isra and Miraj
Surah Bani Israel,17:2-39
• Declaration of the universality of Islam
o By leading the prophets
o By praying in Masjid al-Aqsa
• Warning the Kuffar of the imminent punishment
• Lessons from the history of Bani Israel
• Each person is responsible for his own actions
• Evil actions of leaders can destroy a nation
• Success depends upon giving priority to Akhirah
 The twelve commandments
Surah Bani Israel,17:22-37
1. Not to commit shirk 7. Do not kill
2. Kindness to parents 8. Be kind to orphans
3. Respect others rights 9. Fulfill your promise
4. Avoid spend 10. Be fair in your
thriftiness dealings
5. Do not kill your 11. Do not be suspicious
children of others
6. Do not commit 12. Do not be arrogant
adultery
 Dua for Hijrah
Dua for Hijrah or migration

• Say: "O my Lord! let my entry be by the Gate

of Truth and Honor and likewise my exit by the
Gate of Truth and Honor; and grant me from
Thy Presence an authority to aid (me).”
Isra,17:80
 Dua for Nusrah or Help of Allah

• You are our Protector; help us against those

who stand against faith
Al Baqarah,2:286
Qaseeda Burda(Poem by Imam Busairi)
Part 7 about Isra and Miraj

• 6-You travelled by night from one sacred place to

another.

7-As the full moon travels trough intense darkness.

• 7. And you continued ascending until you
attained a position.

• 8. At the distance of two cubits length, as has

never been attained nor sought.
• 9. And you preferred due to your position by
all the Prophets.

• 10. And Messengers just as a servant give

preference to his master.
• 11. You passed the seven heavens with them.

• 12. In a procession in which you were the

standard bearer.
• 13. Until you left no goal (for) any competitor
to strive for.

• 14. In closeness, nor any (room for ascent for

any one to advance.
• 15. You made inferior every position by (your)
advance, when.

• 16. You were invited to his majestic and

unique position.
• 17. So that you may be successful in a reaching
the most concealed.

• 18. From all eyes, and secrets well concealed.

 Lessons of Isra and Miraj
• Muslims are given a glimpse
of what awaits them In the Hereafter,
and what exists in the dimensions beyond our
own
• When we face adversity feel weak, oppressed
and no means left we should go back to Allah
and put our trust in Him alone have faith, and
be patient.
 Lessons of Isra and Miraj
• This world is a testing ground. Allah constantly
tests us. Our belief and practice is reflected
by the way we deal with these tests and
tribulations.
• It is easy to be generous to a generous person,
and kind to other kind people. True test of our
character and faith is when we are able to treat
our oppressors with kindness and generosity,
in the manner demonstrated by the Prophet(S)
 Lessons of Isra and Miraj
• Prophet (SAW) taught us that in the face of
oppression, we should not retaliate
but instead remain silent and turn to Allah for
help
• Isra and Miraj Is not a fiction. It is an
experience and journey that all of us should
spiritually perform
 Conclusion

• Allah has shown his boundless generosity, and

encouragement for us to remain strong in the
path of Allah.
• Allah has given the gift of Salah, the most
intimate way of worshipping and communicating
with Allah.
• The real celebration of Isra & Miraj is to honor
the message and purpose of the journey
and to live according to the lessons
it holds for us.