اسریٰ و معراج

Anas ibn Malik (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "A Buraq was brought to me — a tall, white beast, larger than a donkey but smaller than a mule, which would place its hoof as far as its sight could reach. I mounted it until I reached Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem). I tethered it to the ring to which the Prophets used to tie [their mounts], then I entered the mosque and prayed two rak'ahs. When I came out, Jibril (AS) came to me with a vessel of wine and a vessel of milk. I chose the milk, and Jibril (AS) said, 'You have chosen the natural way (fitrah).' Then I was taken up to the heaven. In the first heaven I met Adam (AS); in the second, 'Isa (AS) and Yahya (AS); in the third, Yusuf (AS); in the fourth, Idris (AS); in the fifth, Harun (AS); and in the sixth, Musa (AS); and they all welcomed me. In the seventh heaven I met Ibrahim (AS). Of him the Prophet ﷺ said that he was reclining against the Bayt al-Ma'mur, and he also said that seventy thousand angels enter the Bayt al-Ma'mur every day and never return to it again. Then I was taken to Sidrat al-Muntaha. Suddenly I saw that its leaves were like the ears of elephants and its fruits were as large as clay jars. When, by Allah's command, that which was to cover the Sidrat al-Muntaha covered it, its state was transformed, and none of Allah's creation has the power to describe its beauty. At that time Allah revealed to me what He willed to reveal, and fifty prayers a day and night were made obligatory upon me. I came back down and passed by Musa (AS), who asked, 'What has your Lord made obligatory upon your Ummah?' I said, 'He has made fifty prayers obligatory.' He said, 'Go back and ask your Lord for a reduction, for your Ummah will not be able to bear it; I have already tested the Children of Israel.' The Prophet ﷺ said: I returned to my Lord and said, 'O my Lord, lighten it for my Ummah,' and He reduced it by five. I came back to Musa (AS) and told him that five had been taken off, but he said, 'Your Ummah cannot bear even this; return to your Lord and ask for a reduction.' The Prophet ﷺ said: I kept going back and forth — at times to Musa (AS), at times presenting myself before my Lord — until five prayers remained. Allah said, 'O Muhammad, these are five prayers each day and night, and for each prayer there is the reward of ten; so these are fifty [in reward]. Whoever intends a good deed but does not do it, one good deed is recorded for him merely for the intention; and whoever intends it and then does it, ten good deeds are recorded for him. Whoever intends an evil deed but does not do it, nothing is recorded against him; and if he does it as he intended, one sin is recorded.' The Prophet ﷺ said: I came back down and reached Musa (AS) and told him, and he said, 'Go back to your Lord and ask for a reduction,' but I said, 'I have returned to my Lord so many times that now I feel too shy [to ask again].'" (Muslim)

Our Prophet Muhammad Mustafa ﷺ is the most favoured servant of Allah and the most excellent of all prophets. Allah crowned him with the Seal of Prophethood and granted him many special qualities and perfections that were given to no one else. Among these special favours is the blessing of the Isra and the Mi'raj, which Allah mentioned in Surah al-Isra and Surah an-Najm. Allah says:

"Glory be to the One who took His servant by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque, whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We might show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing." (Al-Isra 17:1)

This is the mention of the Isra. It should be understood that the journey from Makkah to the Masjid al-Aqsa is called al-Isra, and the journey to the higher realms which the Prophet Muhammad Mustafa ﷺ made thereafter is called the Mi'raj. On this journey Jibril (AS) was the Prophet's ﷺ companion, but there came a point where even Jibril (AS) excused himself, saying, "O Master! Apart from your noble self, no creature is permitted to advance a single step further." Allah mentioned this thus:

"The sight did not swerve, nor did it exceed [the limit]. He certainly saw some of the greatest signs of his Lord." (An-Najm 53:17-18)