Al Isra Wal- Mi’raj “Fact or Fiction” Part III

Al Isra Wal- Mi'raj

"Fact or Fiction"

Part III

Overall Reflection

Sultana Uddin

Mohammed S. Uddin

 

 

The Isra Wal-Mi'raj, A miraculous Journey:

All aspects of this journey were miraculous in nature; far beyond the grasp of human knowledge, and far-far, and far beyond modern-day technological advancement, and human capability.  Some of these aspects are:

1.     The distance starting from Makkah to the Holy Presence and back, in a time period that was only a fraction of the night,

2.     The journey was in "Body and Soul",

3.     The unimaginable speed required to cover the distance to Sidratul Muntaha and Allah's 'Arsh

4.     The speed of the Buraq and Jibril^AS,

5.      No impact of travel on the health of the Prophet^SAAW

6.      The Greatest Signs of the Sidrat al-Muntaha and Jannatul Ma'wa. 

 

None of these miracles can be explained by scientific data, nor can they be grasped by human knowledge.  So, to understand the depth of the events, and to rationalize it to the level of human understanding, Einstein's Theory of Relativity may throw some light to enable us to explain some aspects of the journey: 

 

 Impact of High-Speed Travel on Time (Theory of Relativity, Yahoo search):

"It turns out that as an object moves with relativistic speeds, a "strange" thing seems to happen to its time as observed by "us", the stationary observers (observer in an inertial reference frame). What we see happens, is that the "clock" in motion slows down according relative to our clock (at a stationary position);, therefore we read two different times. Which time is correct??? Well they both are, because time is not absolute but is relative, each timeit depends on the its own reference frame.

Let's look at the following classic example. There is a set of twins, one an astronaut, the other works for mission control of NASA. The astronaut leaves on a deep space trip traveling at 95% the speed of light. Upon returning, the astronaut's clock has measured ten years, so the astronaut has aged 10 years. However, when the astronaut reunites with his earth-bound twin, the astronaut sees that the (earth bound) twin has aged 32 years! This is explained due to the fact that the astronaut's twin is traveling at relativistic speeds and therefore his "clock" is slowed down."  Time in space is not the same as time on earth, because of time dilation, as recorded by slowing of the clock in space.  Objects traveling atin high speed, age slower than that those stationary on earth.

The Holy Prophet^SAAW traversed an unknown distance, from Makkah to Jerusalem, to Sidrat al-Muntaha, and beyond to the Holy Presence of Allah^SWT.  A part of that distance (up to Sidrat al-Muntaha), that can be traveled by the angels and Jibril in a day, proportionately equal to fifty thousand years or more of human reckoning:

 

"From Allah, the Lord of the ways of ascent.  The angels and the Ruh (Jibril) ascend to Him in a Day, the measure thereof is fifty thousand years.'  (Surah Al-Ma'arij, 70:3-4)

 

Referring to the above verse, for our understanding, let us calculate the ratio of Angelic pace to human pace:

 One day of angelic pace = 50, 000 years of human pace

 = 50,000 X 365 days of human pace = 18,250,000 days of human pace or 438,000,000 hours of human pace (50,000 X 365 X 24)

                         Or 1 hour of angelic pace     = 50, 000 X 365 X 24/ 24 = 18,250,000 hours of human pace

 

So, the angels travel app. 18,250,000 times faster than human beings do.

So, the time ratio is 1:18,250,000

 

The distance to Sidrat al- Muntaha (assuming Jibril's speed is equal to speed of light):

 In Angelic Pace:

Now, if Jibril traveled at the speed of light, and he took approximately three hours (assuming total of six hours for the round trip, from midnight to Fajr Prayer) to ascend to Sidrat al- Muntaha, the distance will be about two billion and nine million miles:

186, 000 miles/sec X 60 X 60 X 3 = 2,008,800,000 miles (Allah knows best).

 

In human pace:

Since the ratio of angelic pace to that of human pace is 1:18,250,000, hypothetically, it will take a human being without any aid, to travel this distance to ascend to Sidrat al-Muntaha, an equivalent of

2,008,800,000 miles X 18,250,000 or 36,158,660,600,000,000 miles.

 

Jibril's Speed compared to the speed of light:

But, since the distance Sidrat al- Muntaha is the same, the speed of Jibril must have been more than his presumed speed equal to the speed of light:

36,158,660,000,000 miles/2,008,800,000 = 18,000.12

 

Therefore, Angel Jibril^AS travels at about eighteen thousand (18,000.12) times faster than the speed of light.

       

  The Holy Prophet Muhammad ^SAAW ascended that distance in only a part (approximately. three hours) of the night.  His speed was that of Buraq, and Angel Jibril^AS.  Considering the speed of Buraq and that of Jibril being equal to eighteen thousand the speed of light (the maximum known parameter known to humans), the approximate distance they traversed, in approximately three hours (ascending), would have been thirty-six trillion, one hundred fifty-eight billion, four hundred million miles (186,000 x 18,000 x 60 x 60 x 3 = 36,158,400,000,000). So, the Prophet Muhammad ^SAAW, Jibril^AS, and Buraq, traveled a total distance of 36,158,400,000,000 miles @ 186,000 miles per sec x 18000.2 (334,800,000 miles per sec) to reach Sidrat al- Muntaha in three hours.

 

Distance to Sidratul Muntaha and the total measures of the Seven CosmosHeavens:

Prophet's journey transcended seven skies (cosmos).  The expanse of one cosmos is about seven trillion miles (based on cosmic background radiation study).  Therefore, he traversed about thirty-five trillion miles, which is roughly consistent with the above finding based on the speed of Buruq, and that of Jibril^AS. 

 

Other adjustments to reach a more accurate number can be in the area of size of the cosmos, and Einstein's theory of Specific and General Theory of Relativity, dealing with time dilation.

 

Principle of metaphysics defied:

The Prophet^SAAW was in "body and soul", as he was observing things with his eyes (like the backbiters scratching their faces with long nails, Musa^AS praying in his grave, meeting and leading other prophets in prayer, and seeing the caravans heading towards Makkah[L1] ), and he did not suffer any impact of speed.

 

Two things are observed in Einstein's Theory of Special Rrelativity:

E=mc² which means a tiny amount of mass contains huge amount of energy (the basis of atom bomb).

Another result is that as an object moves faster, its mass[L2]  starts to increase, and as it approaches the speed of light, its observed mass becomes infinitely large.  As a result, an infinite amount of energy is required to make an object move at the speed of light.

 

 Traveling at such high speed, and yet, being in full "body and soul" defied the physical and metaphysical concepts of matter at high speed. What is miraculous about it was that the Prophet^SAAW was still in physical form; still riding the Buraq, his mind still perceiving the visual images, and the soul interpreting and preserving what he was perceiving.

 

He also did not have any impact of gravity on him, as he traversed through earth's gravity[L3] , nor he had he any gravitational impact from other massive celestial bodies of the galaxies.  It is a miracle, because the speed of any material body, or even, that of light, is affected by gravitational force: The beams of light from distant stars are bent, and delayed by black holes (Einstein theory of Relativity, and Newton's theory of Gravity).

     The sun causes the spacetime fabric to warp around it, and it bends the path of light, so that the source of light appears to be in a different location to the observer's eye.                                         

Prophet's journey of Mi'raj occurred almost fourteen centuries ago, when astronomy was primitive[L4]  and Hubble Telescope was not even in human imagination, and the knowledge about space was limited only to visual observation. But the event of Mi'raj acted as a signal from Almighty Allah^SWT for future scientific exploration of the space, which He has made possible with technological advancement:  

 

"O assembly of jinn and men! If you power[L5]  to pass beyond the zones of the heavens and the earth, then pass beyond (them)! But you will never be able to pass them, except with authority (from Allah)."  (Surah Ar-Rahman 55:33)

 

 

Al-Mi'raj transcends the Finiteness of the Creation

 

In Mi'raj, the Prophet^SAAW ascended through seven cosmic systems, each one constituting a universe, the distance between one system to the other is that of five hundred years of travel [Sunnah.Com, Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3292, Book 47, Hadith 350, Vol 5, Book 44, Hadith 3298, Chapter on Tafsir, Hadith 3298, Narrated Al Hasan from Abu Hurayrah]. 

 

In his ascension, the Prophet Muhammad ^SAAW was taken to Sidrat al-Muntaha, on Buraq, accompanied by Jibril^AS.  Jibril's ascension ended at Malail A'la, but Prophet's journey continued to see more of Allah's creations:

 

Allah's 'Arsh (the Throne):  It is the 'Arsh that Allah^SWT created first. It was on water:

           

"And He it is Who has created the heavens and the earth in six Days and His Throne was on water…"   (Surah Hud, 11:7)

 

The immensity of the 'Arsh is infinite, far beyond any count that human brain can comprehend.

 

Allah's Kursi (the Foot-Stool):  Kursi literally means a foot-stool or a chair.  Kursi is next to the Throne. Prophet^SAWS said: "The size of the Kursi compared to the 'Arsh is nothing but like a ring thrown out upon an open space of the desert".  If the Kursi extends over the entire universe, then how much bigger is the 'Arsh.

 

From Qur'anic point of view, our universe consists of the earth and the seven heavens.  The universe is geocentric, meaning that the skies, like the earth, are circular, and stacked up in a circular fashion, as they move apart, one surrounding the other, separated by the distance of five hundred years of travel, up to seven such heavens:

"See you not, how Allah has created the seven heavens one above another."  (Surah Nuh, 71:14)

 

This is the universe, surrounded by the Kursi (the Foot-Stool) of Allah^SWT:

"His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth…"   (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:155)

           

The Water Belt:

Beyond the seventh heaven, is the Water Belt, and outside of that is the Throne of Allah^SWT:

 

"Have not those who disbelieve known that the heavens and the earth were joined together as one united piece, then We parted them?  And We have made from water every living thing.  Will they not then believe?"   (Surah Al-Ambiya, 21:30)

 

Allah^SWT created all living things from water. The Prophet Muhammad ^SAAW said: "The Right (Hand) of Allah is full, and (its fullness) is not affected by the continuous spending night and day.  Do you see what He has spent since He has created the heavens and the earth?  Yet, all that has not decreased what is in His Right Hand.  His throne is over the water, and in His other Hand is the Bounty of Power to bring about death, and He raises some people and brings others down."   [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 9, Hadith No. 515, Narrated Abu Hurairah^RA]

 

Conclusion:

In Mi'raj, the Prophet ﷺ traveled from Makkah to Jerusalem on a winged creature called Buraq, and in the company of Archangel Jibriel^AS. From Jerusalem, they ascended through the spheres of seven heavens, and reached the highest place called Sidrat al-Muntaha, the Lote-tree, at the furthest Horizon, near which is the Abode of Paradise.  Each one of the cosmic systems constituting a universe, the distance between one system to and the other is that of five hundred years of travel [Sunnah.Com, Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3292, Book 47, Hadith 350, Vol 5, Book 44, Hadith 3298, Chapter on Tafsir, Hadith 3298, Narrated Al Hasan from Abu Hurairah].  From Sidrat al-Muntaha, his lonely journey continued to the Holy Presence of Allah^SWT.

 

 He traveled in body and soul, and his journey, in human count was short.  During his journey, he visited Masjid al-Aqsa, led prayer for the past prophets. On ascension, he saw many signs of Allah's creations, including the conditions of the people in Barzakh, and he met prophets in different heavens, and as he was passing through, he met the gait-keeper angels.

 

This was the Prophet's journey by night, the Isra, and as well as the Mi'raj, the ascension through the heavens, and finally to the presence of Almighty Allah^SWT.  It was a miracle granted by Allah to His slave and final Prophet, Muhammad^SAAW.  It was one of the greatest of honors bestowed upon any human being.

 

The event of Al-Isra and Al-Mi'raj is a miraculous phenomenon, therefore it remains far beyond today's scientific explanation.  The theories of general and special relativity, and quantum physics, can give only a glimpse of the phenomenon, and the rest is a matter of belief.  It is a fact to the believers, but it will always remain a fiction to those whose who based their belief only on science, not realizing that science is only a human invention, and thaet there are things that belong to the realm of Omniscient, Allah^SWT.

The Holy Qur'an addresses this dichotomy as a trial for mankind:

 

"And remember when We told you: "Verily! Your Lord has encompassed mankind round about."  We granted the Vision which We showed you, but as a trial for mankind—also the Cursed Tree (mentioned in the Qur'an: We put terror (and warning) into them, but it only increases their inordinate transgression!"  (Surah Al Isra' 17:60)

 

 

 

 

 

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 [L1]Was the Prophet not on the ground with the caravans? Drank their water...

 [L2]physical mass?  Has this been observed?

 [L3]That would suggest that he traveled in a body that was something other than what we think of as a physical body!

 [L4]I think this is an overstatement.  It is well-known that several ancient civilizations had sophisticated mathematics and building skills.

 [L5]try  ?

Al-Isra Wal-Mi’raj ‘A Fact or Fiction’ Part II

Al-Isra Wal-Mi'raj

'A Fact or Fiction'

Part II

The Sacred Sojourn

Sultana Siraj

Mohammed S. Uddin

The Beginning of The Journey:

Once prepared by Jibril with Zam-zam water, and the heart and vessels were filled with faith and wisdom, an animal by the name of Buraq was brought to him and he was asked to mount the animal to begin the Journey.  Angel Jibril took the charge (this was the second time he saw Jibril in angelic form with wings (the first time was in mount Hira, Al-Jabal al-Noor).

 The Prophet^SAAW rode the Buraq, and Jibril guided the Buraq till they reached "the farthest mosque" where he (Muhammad^SAAW) tethered the Buraq to the hitching post of the Prophets, and entered the mosque.  There he met all the past Prophets, and led them in prayer as the leader of all Prophets. 

 

Then they (the Prophet^SAWS and Jibril^AS) started the Ascension (Mi'raj), and reached the Sidrat al-Muntaha, the Lote Tree.  The Lote Tree is at the furthest horizon of the universe, close to Jannath al- Ma'wa:[L1] 

 

"And indeed he (Muhammed^SAAW) saw him (Jibril) at a second descent (i. e. another time), near Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (Lote-tree of the utmost boundary, over the seventh heaven, beyond which none can pass).  Near it is to the Paradise of Abode."  (Surah An-Najm, 53:13-15) 

 

Imam Ahmad recorded that Anas^RA said: "the Messenger of Allah^SAAW said: "When I was taken to my Lord (during al-Mi'raj, I passed by people who had nails of copper with which they were scratching their faces and chest…".  Jibril said: "these are those who ate the flesh of the people [i. e., backbiting], and slandered their honor." [Abu Dawud 4878].  Anas^RA also said that the Messenger of Allah said: "On the night when I was taken on my Night Journey (Al-Isra), I passed by Musa, who was standing, praying in his grave."  [ Ahmad 3:120, and by Muslim 2375]. 

Thus, the knowledge of Barzakh (the period in the grave and before Resurrection), was revealed to the Prophet^SAAW.

 

The living proofs of the Journey:

The following narration confirms the authenticity of the journey, and that it happened in body and soul:

On his return from Mi'raj, the Prophet^SAAW descended to Jerusalem, and then rode the Buraq back to Makkah. On his way back from Jerusalem to Makkah, the Prophet^SAAW passed by three familiar caravans that were heading by land towards Makkah. In the first caravan he saw people from Makkah, whom he knew personally.  While passing by the second caravan, he was thirsty, so he drank from a big container they had.  In the third caravan, he knew a person by name, who was looking for a camel they had lost. [aboutIslam.net/reading-Islam/about-muhammad]. 

These caravans did reached Makkah in a few days after the Prophet had returned,; a living proof of what he saw.

 

Details of the Journey (Tafsir ibn Kathir):

Imam Ahmad reported from Anas bin Malik that the Messenger of Allah^SAAW said: After his heart surgery, "Al-Buraq was brought to me, and it was a white animal, bigger than a donkey and smaller than a mule.  One stride of this creature covered a distance as far as it could see.  I rode on it and it took me to Baitul Maqdis (in Jerusalem), where I tethered it at the hitching post of the Prophets.  Then I entered and prayed two Raka'a with the past prophets, and came out.  Jibril brought me a vessel of wine and a vessel of milk, and I chose the milk.  Jibril said: 'You have chosen the Fitrah (natural instinct).'"

 

Then I was taken up to the first heaven, and Jibril asked for it to be opened.  It was said: Who are you?  He said: 'Jibril'.  It was said: Who is with you?  He said: 'Muhammad'.  It was asked: 'Has he been sent for, (or, in another version, 'has Has his Mission started (in another version)?'  He said: 'He has been sent for, (or His Mission has started'). So, it was opened for us, and there I saw Adam.  Jibril said: This is your father Adam, 'greet him', so I greeted him, and he returned the greeting, and then said: 'Welcome to the righteous son and righteous Prophet.'"

 

Then I was taken up to the second heaven, and Jibril asked for it to be opened.  It was said: 'Who are you?  He said, 'Jibril.'  It was said: 'Who is with you?'  He said: 'Muhammad.'  It was asked: 'Has he been sent for?, (or, Hhas his Mission started?).'  He said: 'He has been sent for.'  So, it was opened for us, and there I saw two maternal cousins, Yahya and 'Isa, who welcomed me and prayed for good for me. 

 

Then I was taken up to the third heaven, and Jibril asked for it to be opened.  It was said: 'Who are you?'.  He said: 'Jibril'. It was asked: 'Who is with you?'  He said: 'Muhammad'.  It was asked: 'Has he been sent for?'  He said: 'He has been sent for.'  So, it was opened for us, and there I saw Yusuf.  He welcomed me and prayed for good for me.

 

Then I was taken up to the fourth heaven, and Jibril asked for it to be opened. It was said: 'Who are you?'  He said: 'Jibril'.  It was said: 'Who is with you?'  He said: 'Muhammad'.  It was asked: 'Has he been sent for?'  He said: 'He has been sent for.'  So, it was opened for us, and there I saw Idris, who welcomed me and prayed for good for me.  [Then (the Prophet^SAAW) said]:  Allah says: "And We raised him to a high station."  (Qur'an 19:57)].  Then he resumed his narration.

 

Then I was taken up to the fifth heaven, and Jibril asked it to be opened.  It was said: 'Who are you?'  He said: 'Jibril'.  It was asked: 'Who is with you?'  He said: 'Muhammad'.  It was asked: 'Has he been sent for?'  He said: 'He has been sent for.'  So, it was opened for us.  There I saw Harun, who welcomed me and prayed for good for me.

 

Then I was taken up to the sixth heaven and Jibril asked it to be opened.  It was said: 'Who are you?'  He said: 'Jibril'.  It was said: 'Who is with you?' He said: 'Muhammad'.  It was asked, 'Has he been sent for?'  He said: 'He has been sent for'.  So, it was opened for us, and there I saw Musa, who welcomed me and prayed for good for me. (Another narration adds: "When I passed by him, he wept, and it was said to him, 'Why are you weeping?'  He said: 'I am weeping because a young man was sent after me, and more people from his Ummah than from mine, will enter Paradise.'  The Holy Qur'an refers to this meeting with Musa^AS:

 

"And indeed, We gave Musa the Scripture [the Taurat).  So, be not in doubt of meeting him [i. e. when you meet Musa during the night of Al-Isra and Al-Mi'raj over the heavens]. And We made it (the Taurat) a guide to the children of Israel."  (Surah As-Sajdah, 32:23, Tafsir Ibn Kathir, 53:19)

 

Then I was taken up to the seventh heaven, and Jibril asked it to be opened.  It was said: 'Who are you?'.  He said: 'Jibril'.  It was said: 'Who is with you?'  He said: 'Muhammad'.  It was asked: 'Has he been sent for?'  He said: 'He has been sent for.'  It was said, 'Welcome to him, blessed is the one who comes'.  So, it was opened for us, and there I saw Ibrahim, who was leaning back against the Much-Frequented House (Al-Bayt Al-Ma'mur).  I was told that every day seventy thousand angels enter it, then they never come back to it again.  Jibril said: 'This is Ibrahim, greet him.'  So, I greeted him, and he returned the greeting, and said, 'Welcome to the righteous son and righteous Prophet.'

 

Then I was taken to Sidrat al-Muntaha (the Lote tree, beyond which none may pass), and its leaves were like the ears of elephants, and its Nabiq fruits were [huge] like the clay jugs of Hijr.  It is said that the Lote-tree was covered with the Light of Allah, along with the light of angels, and also with different colors." 

 

Imam Ahmad recorded that Abdullah bin Mas'ud said, "When the Messenger of Allah was taken onin the Isra Journey, he ascended up to Sidrat al-Muntaha…where everything that ascends from the earth, terminates, and is held there, and everything that descends from above, terminates there, and held there.  [Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Abridged, Volume 9, page 316, topic: Angels, Light, and Colors covered Sidrat al-Muntaha].  This was the greatest Sign, from which the Prophet^SAAW could not take his eyes from; he was spell-bound with its beauty:

 

When that covered the Lote-tree which did cover it [L2] (it is said that the Lote-tree was covered with the Light of Allah, along with the angels, and also with different kinds of colors ,- Tafsir Ibn Kathir).  The sight (of the Prophet^SAAW) turned not aside (right or left), nor did it transgressed beyond the limit (ordained for it).  Indeed he (Muhammad^SAAW) did see of the greatest Signs, of his Lord (Allah^SWT). (Surah Najm, 53:16-18)

 

There were four rivers originating from the root of the Sidrat al-Muntaha: two hidden and two visible.  I said, 'What is this, O Jibril?'  He said, 'The two hidden rivers are rivers in Paradise, and the two visible rivers are the Nile and Euphrates.' 

 

Close to the Lote tree, lies the Jannath al-Ma'wa ("The Paradise of Abode.").   In the opinion of some authorities, it is so called, because the souls of the believers will find their abode therein.

           

The End of journey for Jibril^AS:

The upward ascension of the Prophet^SAAW in the company of Jibril, was reached up to the interface between the Sidrat al-Muntaha and the Jannath Al-Ma'wa.  This is the demarcation between earthly matters and the Divine Matters. This is the realm of the angels, the Al-Malail A'ala, where the angels discuss the matters concerning creation of Adam^AS, and the dispute that Iblis had with Allah^SWT regarding Allah's Command to prostrate before Adam, and other things like the bliss of the believers and the arguments between the wrong-doers, who should get the worse punishment: 

 

"…I (Muhammad^SAAW) had no knowledge of the chiefs (angels) on high, when they were disputing and discussing (about the creation of Adam)."  (Surah Sad, 38:69)

 

No one can go beyond this point, the limit defined by the presence of the Lote tree. This is where the angels get their orders from Allah^SWT.  This is where the Prophet Muhammad ^SAAW saw the Light of Allah^SWT;  and the light of the angels of many colors covering the Lote tree. 

 

From the farthest horizon of the created cosmos (the Sidratu al-Muntaha), Holy Prophet^SAAW was taken alone to the Realm of the Creator, Allah^SWT.  He spoke with Allah^SWT, but did not see Him (He saw only Light), and received the His instructions regarding the Pprayer (Salah).  Abdullah bin Mas'ud said: the Messenger of Allah was given three things: "five prayers a day, the concluding verses of Surah Al-Baqarah (2:284-286), and remission for serious sins for those among his Ummah who do not associate anything with Allah."   [Ahmad 1:422, Muslim 1:157, Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Abridged Volume 9, page 317]:

 

Say (O Muhammad^SAAW): "I am only a man like you.  It has been revealed to me that your Ilah [L3] (God) is the One Ilah[L4]  (i. e. Allah).  So, whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as partner in the worship of his Lord."  [Surah Al-Kahf, 18:110]

 

The Story of the Five times (a day) Prayer

At During the completion of Mi'raj, when the Prophet^SAAW was returning, he met Musa^AS, who asked him: 'What have you done?'  He said: "'Fifty prayers have been enjoined on me [for my people].' He (Musa) said, 'I know the people better than you, because I had the hardest experience to bring Bani Israel to obedience.  Your followers cannot put up withbear this obligation.  So, turn to your Lord and request him (to reduce the number of prayers).'  I turned and requested Allah (for reduction), and He (Allah) made it forty.  I returned, and (met Musa), and had a similar discussion, and then returned again to Allah for reduction, and He (Allah) made it thirty, then twenty, then ten, and then I came to Musa, who repeated the same advice.  Ultimately, Allah reduced the number to five.  When I came to Musa again, he repeated the same advice, but I said that I surrendered (to Allah's Final Order)".  Allah's Messenger^SAAW was addressed by Allah, "I have decreed My Obligation, and have reduced the burden on My slaves, and [for each of the requuired five Prayers] I shall reward a single good deed as if it were ten good deeds."  [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Hadith No. 429].

Thus, ending the miraculous Journey, Prophet^SAAW returned to Jerusalem and then to Makkah, before Fajr Prayer.  

Firm Belief of Abu Bakr^RA

The Next morning when he narrated the story to the Makkhans, some people doubted if the journey really did happen; some of them even called him a liar, and some ridiculed him, but when Abu Bakr was asked, he said: "If he said so, then it must be true."  Some people asked for proof.  They asked him to describe the Masjid-al-Aqsa in details. At this juncture, Allah^SWT revealed the picture of the Masjid before him, and he described the mosque in details; pillar by pillar, and brick by brick.  A fFew days later, the caravan that he saw, did also show up in Makkah, proving the authenticity of his statements beyond the any shred of doubt:

 

"The (Prophet's) heart lied not in what he (Muhammad^SAAW) saw.  Will you then dispute with him (Muhammad^SAAW) about what he saw (during Mi'raj)!."  (Surah An-Najm, 53:11-12)

 

                                                                                                            Continued in Part III

 

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 [L1]more information?

 [L2]Something is missing in this sentence.  Do not quote a hadith or verse that you cannot make clear.  If you think it has important detail but you cannot make sense of it, you must at least summarize the possible understandings given by commentators.  The purpose of any article is to organize a story or an explanation.  If there is confusion in the ayat or ahadith, you must bring order and clarity.  Do not introduce anything that brings confusion and then leave it without enlightening the reader. 

 [L3]ilah   (?)

 [L4]ilah