سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلًا مِّنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَقْصَى الَّذِي بَارَكْنَا حَوْلَهُ لِنُرِيَهُ مِنْ آيَاتِنَا إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ
“Glory be to Him, Who took His servant during the night from the Sacred House to the farthest mosque of which We have blessed the precincts, so that We may show to him some of Our signs; verily He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.” [Al-Isra:17:1]
When did Al-Isra wal Mi’raj take place?
Al-Isra refers to the Prophet’s (ﷺ) night journey from Makkah to Jerusalem – specifically, from the Baitul Haram to the precinct of Masjidul Aqsa.
Al-Mir’aj refer to Prophet’s (ﷺ) ascension from Jerusalem to the heavens and beyond.
The Muhadiths; the scholars and the authority in Hadith, they went through all the Ahadith on Al-Isra wal Mi’raj in regards to the time and date that the event had taken place. Unfortunately, there are no authentic narrations that confirms Al-Isra wal Mi’raj actually took place on the 27th of Rajab as believed by many people. On the contrary, we have around five narrations that places Al-Isra wal Mi’raj on different times of the year ranging from; Rabiul Awwal, Rabiul Akhirah, Dhul Qaidah, Rajab and even Ramadan.
Just as the Muhadiths have differed in the month Al-Isra wal Mi’raj had taken place, they have also differed in the year in which it happened. The more famous of narration puts Al-Isra wal Mi’raj as 18 months before the Hijrah. This is more authentic than the actual day and month. Therefore, we can be quite sure that it was not the 27th of Rajab for certain. Having said this, regardless of the exact date, we need to talk and discuss about this event.
Historical backdrop to Al-Isra wal Mi’raj
Al-Isra wal Mi’raj is a very momentous event. To give some historic context; the people of Makkah denied the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), they rejected his mission and his message for 13 years. And in that period of intense Dawah, one maybe surprised to know that only 113 people accepted Islam.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was struggling to find a favourable platform where people would listen to him. He kept persevering to deliver the message no matter the cost. For 3 years, his own clan of Makkah boycotted his family and the Muslims. After a very difficult boycott, his uncle Abu Talib passed away and then in quick succession his beloved wife Khadija (Radhi Allahu Anha) passed away. With the passing away of his uncle, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) lost his public protection against the Quraysh. With the passing away of his beloved wife, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) lost the support and pillar of his house, and the love and comfort of a cherished beloved.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sought out new people to support his message. He travelled to At-Taif to convey his message, but instead, they were hostile towards him – they insulted him and set the children to rain down stones upon him. He left At-Taif bruised and humiliated. Some of the scholars of Seerah called that year the Aam Al-Hazn (the year of sorrow). As a consolation, Allah bestowed upon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) this momentous journey of Al-Isra wal Mi’raj.
Events of Al-Isra wal Mi’raj from Ahadith
Below are some selection of Ahadith on Al-Isra wal Mir’aj which are no means exhaustive.
Malik bin Sasaa said that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) described to them his Night Journey saying, “While I was lying in Al-Hatim or Al-Hijr, suddenly someone (an angel) came to me and cut my body open from here to here (his chest to the naval). He then took out my heart. Then a gold tray of Iman was brought to me and my heart was washed and was filled (with Iman) and then returned to its original place…” [Bukhari]
Anas bin Malik narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “I was brought an animal that was larger than a donkey and smaller than a mule, whose stride could reach as far as it could see. I mounted it, and Jibril was with me, and I set off. Then he said: ‘Dismount and pray,’ so I did that. He said: ‘Do you know where you have prayed? You have prayed in Taibah, which will be the place of the emigration.’ Then he said: ‘Dismount and pray,’ so I prayed. He said: ‘Do you know where you have prayed? You have prayed in Mount Sinai, where Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, spoke to Musa, peace be upon him.’ So I dismounted and prayed, and he said: ‘Do you know where you have prayed? You have prayed in Bethlehem, where Isa, peace be upon him, was born.’ Then I entered Bait al-Maqdis (Jerusalem) where the Prophets, peace be upon them, were assembled for me, and Jibril brought me forward to lead them in prayer. Then I was taken up to the first heaven, where I saw Adam (ﷺ). Then I was taken up to the second heaven where I saw the maternal cousins Isa and Yahya (ﷺ). Then I was taken up to the third heaven where I saw Yusuf (ﷺ). Then I was taken up to the fourth heaven where I saw Harun (ﷺ). Then I was taken up to the fifth heaven where I saw Idris (ﷺ). Then I was taken up to the sixth heaven where I saw Musa (ﷺ). Then I was taken up to the seventh heaven where I saw Ibrahim (ﷺ). Then I was taken up above seven heavens and we came to Sidratul Muntaha and it was shrouded in colours indescribable. I fell down in prostration and it was said to me: ‘(Indeed) The day I created the heavens and the Earth, I enjoined upon you and your Ummah fifty prayers, so establish them, you and your Ummah.’ I came back to Ibrahim and he did not ask me about anything, then I came to Musa and he said: ‘How much did your Lord enjoin upon you and your Ummah?’ I said: ‘Fifty prayers.’ He said: ‘You will not be able to establish them, neither you nor your Ummah. Go back to your Lord and ask Him to reduce it.’ So I went back to my Lord and He reduced it by ten. Then I came to Musa and he told me to go back, so I went back and He reduced it by ten. Then I came to Musa and he told me to go back, so I went back and He reduced it by ten. Then it was reduced by ten. Then it was reduced to five prayers. He (Musa) said: ‘Go back to your Lord and ask Him to reduce it, for two prayers were enjoined upon the Children of Israel but they did not establish them.’ So I went back to my Lord and asked Him to reduce it, but He said: ‘The day I created the heavens and the Earth, I enjoined fifty prayers upon you and your Ummah. Five is for fifty, so establish them, you and your Ummah.’ I knew that this was what Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, had determined so I went back to Musa (ﷺ), and he said: ‘Go back.’ But I knew that it was what Allah had determined, so I did not go back.” [Sunan an-Nasa’i]
Anas bin Malik narrated: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) then ascended with him to the heaven of the world and knocked on one of its doors. The dwellers of the Heaven asked, ‘Who is it?’ He said, “Jibril.” They said, “Who is accompanying you?” He said, “Muhammad.” They said, “Has he been called?” He said, “Yes” They said, “He is welcomed.” So the dwellers of the Heaven became pleased with his arrival.” [Bukhari]
Anas bin Malik narrated: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “I saw a river in Paradise, whose banks had tents were made of pearl. I said: “What is this O Jibril?’” He said: “This is Al-Kauthar which Allah has granted you.” [Tirmidhi]
“Then I was shown Al-Bait-al-Ma’mur (i.e. Allah’s House). I asked Jibril about it and he said, This is Al Bait-ul-Ma’mur where 70,000 angels perform prayers daily and when they leave they never return to it (but always a fresh batch comes into it daily.” [Bukhari]
