PDF: Isra and Mi'raj Study Guide - Islam

‫االسراء و المعراج‬ After returning from Taa’if the Prophet was made to go on a journey from ‫ مسجد حرام‬to ‫ مسجد األقصى‬and then from ‫ مسجد األقصى‬to the seven heavens, in a single night This entire journey is called ‫االسراء و المعراج‬ What is ‫ االسراء‬and what is ‫?المعراج‬ (1) the...

‫االسراء و المعراج‬ After returning from Taa’if the Prophet was made to go on a journey from ‫ مسجد حرام‬to ‫ مسجد األقصى‬and then from ‫ مسجد األقصى‬to the seven heavens, in a single night This entire journey is called ‫االسراء و المعراج‬ What is ‫ االسراء‬and what is ‫?المعراج‬ (1) the journey from ‫ مسجد حرام‬to ‫ مسجد األقصى‬is called ‫االسراء‬ (2) the journey from ‫ مسجد األقصى‬to the seven heavens is called ‫المعراج‬  ‫االسراء و المعراج‬ When did it happen? There are many different opinions about when it happened. What is confirmed is that this journey took place after the death of Khadeejah ‫رضي هللا عنها‬ and before the pledge of Aqabah (which will come later on). Thus, this journey occured before the migration to Madinah  ‫االسراء و المعراج‬ The wisdom behind this journey 10 years of Prophethood had passed The Prophet ‫ صىل هللا عليه و سلم‬was put through all sorts of trials and tests by Allah Had faced various difficulties and was disgraced on many occasions Allah had planned to replace this with honour, respect and an increase in his rank in the hereafter Thus, Allah granted him this miracle of ‫االسراء و المعراج‬ Allah made him reach a destination that even the greatest of angels Jibreel ‫ عليه السالم‬did not have access to  ‫االسراء و المعراج‬ Aayah revealed regarding ‫ االسراء‬in the Quran ‫ُه‬ ‫ۥ‬ ‫ُه‬‫َّن‬ ‫َن‬ ‫ِت‬ ‫ٰـ‬‫َي‬‫َءا‬ ‫ْن‬ ‫ِم‬ ‫ۥ‬ ‫ُه‬‫َي‬ ‫ُن‬‫ِل‬ ‫ۥ‬ ‫ُه‬‫َل‬ ‫ا‬ ‫َن‬ ‫ْك‬ ‫ٰـ‬‫َب‬ ‫ِذى‬‫َّل‬ ‫ٱ‬ ‫ا‬ ‫َص‬ ‫ْق‬‫َأْل‬‫ٱ‬ ‫ِد‬ ‫َم‬ ‫ْل‬ ‫ٱ‬ ‫ىَل‬ ‫اِم‬ ‫ْل‬ ‫ٱ‬ ‫ِد‬ ‫َم‬ ‫ْل‬ ‫ٱ‬ ‫َن‬ ‫اًۭل‬ ‫َل‬ ‫ِدِه‬ ‫َع‬ ‫َأ‬ ‫ِذ‬‫َّل‬ ‫ٱ‬ ‫َن‬ ‫ٰـ‬ ‫َو‬ ‫ِإ‬ ۚ‫آ‬ ‫ِر‬ ‫ْو‬ ‫َح‬ ‫َر‬ ‫ِج‬ ‫ْس‬ ‫ِإ‬ ‫َحَر‬ ‫ِج‬ ‫ْس‬ ‫ِّم‬ ‫ْي‬ ‫ۦ‬ ‫ْب‬ ‫ِب‬ ‫ٰى‬ ‫َر‬ ‫ْس‬ ‫ٓى‬ ‫ُس ْب َح‬ )Surah Al-Isra:1( ‫ٱلَّس ِم يُع ٱْلَبِص يُر‬ “Glory be to the One Who took His servant (Muḥammad ‫ )صىل هللا عليه و سلم‬by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We may show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He alone is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing.”  ‫االسراء و المعراج‬ Aayaat revealed regarding ‫ المعراج‬in the Quran )١٤( ‫) ِع نَد ِس ْد َرِة ٱْلُم نَت َه ٰى‬١٣( ‫َرَءاُه َنْز َلًة ُأْخ َرٰى‬ ‫) َو َلَق ْد‬١٢( ‫) َأَف ُتَم ٰـ ُروَنُه ۥ َع ٰىَل َم ا َيَرٰى‬١١( ‫َم ا َك َذ َب ٱْلُف َؤ اُد َم ا َرَأٰٓى‬ )١٨( ‫) َلَق ْد َرَأٰى ِم ْن َءاَيٰـ ِت َرِّبِه ٱْلُكْب َرٰٓى‬١٧( ‫ُر َو َم ا َط َغ ٰى‬ ‫َبَص‬ ‫ْل‬‫ٱ‬ ‫َغ‬ ‫ا‬ ‫َز‬ ‫ا‬ ‫َم‬ )١٦( ‫ٰى‬ ‫َش‬ ‫ْغ‬‫َي‬ ‫ا‬ ‫َم‬ ‫َة‬ ‫َر‬ ‫ْد‬ ‫ِّس‬ ‫ٱل‬ ‫ى‬ ‫َش‬ ‫ْغ‬ ‫َي‬ ‫ْذ‬ ‫ِإ‬ )١٥( ‫ٰٓى‬ ‫َو‬ ‫ْأ‬ ‫َم‬ ‫ِع نَدَها َجَّنُة ٱْل‬ (Surah An-Najm: 11-18) “The Prophet’s heart did not doubt what he saw. How can you (Oh disbelievers) then dispute with him regarding what he saw? And he certainly saw that (angel) descend a second time at the Lote Tree of the most extreme limit ˹in the seventh heaven, near which is the Garden of Residence, while the Lote Tree was overwhelmed with (heavenly) splendours! The Prophet’s sight never wandered, nor did it overreach. He certainly saw some of his Lord’s greatest signs.”  ‫االسراء و المعراج‬ The Quran briefly mentions both parts of the night journey. However, the Ahaadith of the Prophet ‫ صىل هللا عليه و سلم‬extensively mention this journey and explain it in detail  ‫االسراء و المعراج‬ The angels entering through the roof + taking the Prophet to ‫مسجد حرام‬ One night, the Prophet was sleeping in the house of his cousin ‫ أم هاني‬whose name was ‫( فاختة بنت أبي طالب‬sister of Ali ‫)رضي هللا عنه‬ Suddenly, the roof split open and Jibreel came down with other angels They woke the Prophet up and took him towards ‫مسجد حرام‬ Prophet went to the Hateem (semi circle) and fell asleep there Jibreel and Mikaeel ‫ عليهما السالم‬woke him up and took him to the well of ZamZam  ‫االسراء و المعراج‬ Splitting of the chest Made the Prophet lie down and split open his chest Washed his heart with water of ZamZam Had a gold tray filled with Imaan and wisdom which they filled into the heart of the Prophet Put the heart back into the chest of the Prophet and stitched up his chest  ‫االسراء و المعراج‬ Coming of ‫براق‬ was an animal from Jannah which was bigger than a donkey, but smaller than a mule was white in colour and had great speed its one step would fall as far as a person can see with the naked eye Prophet got onto it and it became stubborn (like animals normally do) Jibreel said to it “Oh ‫براق‬, what kind of behaviour is this? No one has ever ridden you who is more honourable and respected than the Prophet.” ‫ براق‬became ashamed and allowed the Prophet to ride it Jibreel and Mikaeel also accompanied them Some narrations: Jibreel actually sat on ‫ براق‬with the Prophet  ‫االسراء و المعراج‬ Performing two raka’ats of optional salaah at different places on journey to ‫مسجد األقصى‬ (1) Narrated by ‫ شداد بن أوس‬that the Prophet passed a region with many date palms. Jibreel told the Prophet to perform 2 raka’ats there, so he did. Jibreel then asked “do you know which place this is that you have performed salaah in?” The Prophet replied in the negative. Jibreel said “you have performed salaah in ‫( يثرب‬which we now know to be Madinah) towards which you will migrate to.” They then continued their journey.  ‫االسراء و المعراج‬ Performing two raka’ats of optional salaah at different places on journey to ‫مسجد األقصى‬ (2) They then reached another region. Jibreel told the Prophet to perform two raka’ats there as well which he did. He then asked him the same question to which the Prophet gave the same response. Jibreel said “you have performed salaah in the valley of ‫ سيناء‬close to the tree where Allah spoke to Musa ‫”عليه السالم‬ They then continued their journey.  ‫االسراء و المعراج‬ Performing two raka’ats of optional salaah at different places on journey to ‫مسجد األقصى‬ (3) They then reached another region. Jibreel told the Prophet to perform two raka’ats there as well which he did. He then asked him the same question to which the Prophet gave the same response. Jibreel said “you have performed salaah in ‫ َم ْد َين‬which was the city of Shu’aib ‫”عليه السالم‬ They then continued their journey.  ‫االسراء و المعراج‬ Performing two raka’ats of optional salaah at different places on journey to ‫مسجد األقصى‬ (4) They then reached another region. Jibreel told the Prophet to perform two raka’ats there as well which he did. He then asked him the same question to which the Prophet gave the same response. Jibreel said “This is ‫ مقام بيت اللحم‬where Isa ‫ عليه السالم‬was born.”  ‫االسراء و المعراج‬ Some of the other events on the journey to ‫مسجد األقصى‬ (1) Passed by an old lady. She called out to the Prophet. Jibreel said “Keep going forward and do not turn your attention to her.” They went further and passed by an old man. He called out to the Prophet. Jibreel said “Keep going forward and do not turn your attention to him.” They went even further and passed by a group of people who said salaam to the Prophet. Jibreel said “Respond to their salaam.”  ‫االسراء و المعراج‬ Some of the other events on the journey to ‫مسجد األقصى‬ Who were these people? Jibreel explained “the old woman was this world. The time left of this dunya is the same as the time left in the life of this old woman (i.e very little). The old man was shaytaan. The purpose of both is to pull you towards them. The group that greeted you was Ibrahim, Musa and Isa ‫عليهم السالم‬  ‫االسراء و المعراج‬ Some of the other events on the journey to ‫مسجد األقصى‬ (2) Narration in Sahih Muslim: The Prophet says “We passed by Musa on the night of Mi’raaj and he was performing salaah standing in his grave.” (3) Passed by a group whose nails are made of copper and they were scratching their faces and chests with them. The Prophet asked regarding them and Jibreel said “They are those who eat the flesh of others (those who backbite).”  ‫االسراء و المعراج‬ Some of the other events on the journey to ‫مسجد األقصى‬ (4) Saw a man flaoting in water and making morsels of stones then eating them. The Prophet asked regarding him and was informed that “he is the one who consumes the wealth of usuary (interest).” (5) Passed by a group of people whose heads were being crushed by rocks. Then, the heads would return to their normal positions. This would happen repeatedly. The Prophet asked regarding this to which Jibreel told him that these are people who are lazy in performing their obligatory salaah.  ‫االسراء و المعراج‬ Some of the other events on the journey to ‫مسجد األقصى‬ (6) Saw a man piling up wooden sticks. He wasn't able to lift the the bunch of sticks, but kept adding more. Jibreel mentioned that this is a person who has many rights and trusts to fulfill, but is not able to. Despite this, he continues to burden himself with more rights and trusts (7) Also passed by people whose tongues and lips were being cut with scissors. When cut, the lips and tongues would go back to normal. Jibreel informed the Prophet “they are the speakers and advisers of your nation. They advise others while they do not act upon it themselves.”  ‫االسراء و المعراج‬ Some of the other events on the journey to ‫مسجد األقصى‬ (8) Passed by a place where there was cold and fragrant air. Jibreel said “this is the fragrance of Jannah.” (9) Passed by a place where there was a foul odour present. Jibreel said “this is the bad odour of Jahannam.” **These are all incidents, with others, that occured before ascending to the heavens. This is known because all of the narrations mentioning these incidents have mention of the Prophet riding ‫براق‬  ‫االسراء و المعراج‬ Arriving at ‫بيت المقدس‬ Reached ‫ مسجد األقصى‬and got off ‫براق‬ Narration of ‫أنس رضي هللا عنه‬: Prophet tied ‫ براق‬to the ring that ‫ أنبياء‬tied their rides to Prophet went into ‫ مسجد األقصى‬and performed two raka’ats of ‫تحية المسجد‬ Narration of ‫أبو سعيد‬: The Prophet says “Jibreel and I entered and both of us performed 2 raka’ats  ‫االسراء و المعراج‬ The presence of the Prophets Prophets were waiting for the arrival of the Messenger ‫صىل هللا عليه و سلم‬ Amongst them were Musa, Ibrahim and Isa After some time, many more gathered the ‫ مَؤ ِّذن‬gave Athaan and said the Iqamah, then everyone stood in rows  ‫االسراء و المعراج‬ Leading the salaah Everyone was waiting for someone to lead the salaah Jibreel took the hand of the Prophet and moved him forward The Prophet led the salaah When he finished, Jibreel asked “do you know who you have led salaah for?” The Prophet replied in the negative Jibreel informed him “all of the Prophets who have been sent performed behind you.”  ‫االسراء و المعراج‬ Angels descending from the skies One narration: Angels also came down. Prophet led salaah for the angels and the Prophets. The salaah finished and the angels asked Jibreel “who is this person with you?” Jibreel responded “It is Muhammad ‫صىل هللا عليه و سلم‬ The Prophet met the souls of all of the Prophets. All of the Prophets praised Allah.  ‫االسراء و المعراج‬ Presented with four bowls outside of ‫مسجد األقصى‬ While leaving, the Prophet was presented with 3 bowls; a bowl of water, a bowl of milk, and a bowl of alcohol The Prophet chose the milk and drank it Jibreel said “you have chosen according to the fitrah (deen) of the religion. If you had chosen alcohol, your nation would have become misguided. If you had chosen water, your nation would have drowned.” Some narrations: was also presented with a bowl of honey and drank some from it as well