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 ProphetSAAW rode the Buraq, and Jibril guided the Buraq till they reached "the farthest mosque" where he (MuhammadSAAW) 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 ProphetSAWS and JibrilAS) 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 (MuhammedSAAW) 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 AnasRA said: "the Messenger of AllahSAAW 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]. AnasRA 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 ProphetSAAW.
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 ProphetSAAW descended to Jerusalem, and then rode the Buraq back to Makkah. On his way back from Jerusalem to Makkah, the ProphetSAAW 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 AllahSAAW 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 ProphetSAAW) 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 MusaAS:
"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 ProphetSAAW 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 ProphetSAAW) turned not aside (right or left), nor did it transgressed beyond the limit (ordained for it). Indeed he (MuhammadSAAW) did see of the greatest Signs, of his Lord (AllahSWT). (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 JibrilAS:
The upward ascension of the ProphetSAAW 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 AdamAS, and the dispute that Iblis had with AllahSWT 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 (MuhammadSAAW) 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 AllahSWT. This is where the Prophet Muhammad SAAW saw the Light of AllahSWT; 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 ProphetSAAW was taken alone to the Realm of the Creator, AllahSWT. He spoke with AllahSWT, 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 MuhammadSAAW): "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 ProphetSAAW was returning, he met MusaAS, 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 MessengerSAAW 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, ProphetSAAW returned to Jerusalem and then to Makkah, before Fajr Prayer.
Firm Belief of Abu BakrRA
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, AllahSWT 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 (MuhammadSAAW) saw. Will you then dispute with him (MuhammadSAAW) about what he saw (during Mi'raj)!." (Surah An-Najm, 53:11-12)
Continued in Part III
[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
No comments:
Post a Comment