Isra, the First Part of the Me'raj

بسم الله الرحمٰن الرحيم

الحمد ِلله ربِّ العالمين و الصلاة و السلام علي حبيبه سيدنا محمد صلي الله عليه و سلّم

For many years Nabi Muhummad sallAllahu alayhi wasallam worshipped Allah Ta'aala and he called people to accept Islam. During this time angel Jibreel Alayhis Salaam would constantly come to RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam with messages from Allah Ta'aala. With all his Ibadat and the regular messaging between Allah Ta'aala and RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam , their relationship was so close that RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam became known as HabeebAllah (the Beloved of Allah).

RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam says, Allah Ta'aala made Nabi Ibraheem Alayhis Salaam an Intimate Friend (Khaleel) and He made Nabi Musa Alayhis Salaam one whom He converses to (Najiy) and He made me Habeeb (Beloved One) then Allah Ta'aala said, 'By My Izzat! By My Jalaal I am more intimate with My Habeeb than My Khaleel' -Imam Bayhaqi, Shuib al Imaan-

One night, after nine years of Jibreel Alayhis Salaam bringing regular messages to RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam , Jibreel Alayhis Salaam came with a special message from Allah Ta'aala . It was an invite to RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam from Allah Ta'aala . It was invite for RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam to view the earth and the skies; to view Jannah and Jahannam and all of creation. It was an invite to journey beyond the Arsh to be in the Divine Prescence and for RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam to see and to speak to Allah Ta'aala . The journey on the earth became known as the Isra and the journey of the skies and beyond is known as the Meraj.

It was three nights before the end of Rajab and Allah Ta'aala planned it to be a grand momentous event. He Ta'aala sent Jibreel Alayhis Salaam with an entourage of other angels to RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam . That evening, they found him at the house of his cousin, Ummi Haani radi Allahu anha. After conversing a bit, RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam and the angels went to the Kaaba door, and so the journey to Allah Ta'aala began.

Angel Jibreel Alayhis Salaam cut open the chest of RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam and he took out the blessed heart of RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam . Sahabi Anas bin Maalik radi Allahu anhu says that years later, he saw on RasoolAllah's sallAllahu alayhi wasallam chest, the scar from the incision made by Jibreel Alayhis Salaam. -Tafseer Imam Raazi- This means that this journey was a physical journey.

The angels looked on as no blood gushed out and despite the heart being out of his body, RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam was perfectly alive. A great miracle!

When Allah Ta'aala created humans, he made a piece of flesh within our chest. Each of us has a dedicated Shaytaan, which approaches and tries to influence us by connecting to this piece of flesh. RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam says that he already made his Shaytaan accept Islam, signifying that spiritually there was no chance of Shaytaan influencing RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam . Whilst the angels had his blessed chest open, they removed this piece of flesh. That signified that both spiritually and physically, there was not even a possibility of Shaytaan influencing RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam.

We, normal human beings are unlike RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam, for our Shaytaan continues trying to influence us and Shaytaan is able to connect with the dark flesh found in our chests.

Allah Ta'aala had sent the angels with two vessels. One contained Iman and the other Hikmah. The angels poured these into the chest of RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam and his Iman and Hikmah had been enhanced more than anyone else. This was a preparation for the journey that not been taken by anyone else.

The attention of the angels was now on the heart of RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam . Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal radi Allahu anhu records that Allah Ta'aala Himself says that the one creation which can take cognisance of Allah Ta'aala , is the heart of the believer. -Kitaab Zuhud- Here the angels were looking at the heart of the Leader of all believers sallAllahu alayhi wasallam . They knew that RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam was on a unique journey to see Allah Ta'aala , and this very heart along with its spiritual heart, was going to make the Ma'rifa of Allah Ta'aala , like no other creation has.

That night, in front of the Ka'aba door, the angels looked on whilst the blessed heart was held by Jibreel Alayhis Salaam. Haafidh Asqalani radi Allahu anhu says that the heart of RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam was being held and observed, because it is the most important of all hearts and it is through this heart that the direct inspiration of Wahi takes place.

Imam Qastalani radi Allahu anhu explains that the angels touched and looked at the blessed heart heart of RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam as an act of admiration. This great heart was going to see Allah Ta'aala . -Mawaahibul Ladunya-

Neither mountains nor angels or even Jinns were capable to receive the Wahi that the Heart of RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam received. And now this heart was on a journey to the Divine Pesence, a Presence that no other had been blessed with.

One of the angels went to the nearby well of ZamZam. He took some of the water of ZamZam and Jibreel then began pouring water over the blessed heart of RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam.

The well of ZamZam had been unearthed by Jibreel Alayhis Salaam thousands of years ago, so that it could quench the thirst of Nabi Ismail Alayhis Salaam. The great historian, Imam Suhayli records that after Jibreel Alayhis Salaam had unearthed the water of ZamZam, he made a secret prayer to Allah Ta'aala , that he should able to wash some part of RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam blessed body with ZamZam water. His dua was accepted and on the night of the Isra-Meraj he had the privilege of washing the blessed heart of RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam -Sharah Seerat Ibn Hisham, Suhayli-

The water that was poured over the heart of RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam was saved and it was put back into the well of ZamZam. Being a well, it was below ground level. Shaykh Ibn Abi Jumrah radi Allahu anhu (599 AH) explains that by pouring ZamZam water over the heart of RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam , and thereafter putting the water back into the well, the ground had gained the Barakah of RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam .

Just like how the washing of the Kaaba is a coveted ceromony, Imam Qastalani radi Allahu anhu explains that the pouring of ZamZam over the heart of RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam is a ceremonial act of exaltation. -Mawahibul Ladunya- The Kaaba is the purest land on earth, but it is washed as an exaltation, not as a purification.

Jibreel Alayhis Salaam then brought the Buraaq to RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam. The Buraaq was going to be RasoolAllah's sallAllahu alayhi wasallam mode of transport. It looked like a riding animal with a beautiful appearance of a translucent white over a ruby red body. A riding animal, with its lower part of body like a mule, the upper part of body like an ass, it's face was like the face of a human and it's tail was like the tail of an ox. -Tafseer Imam Qurtubi-

As RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam was mounting the Buraaq, it swayed its beautiful mane, which looked as beautiful as a Persian mare's mane. Jibreel Alayhis Salaam reminded the Buraaq that this was the Buraaq's greatest opportunity. He told the Buraaq that RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam is the greatest of all creation, and nobody greater would ride the Buraaq, so the Buraaq should behave accordingly. The Buraaq said that he seeked the Shafaa'at (intercession) of RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam . So RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam replied, You have my Shafaa'at in Sha Allah -Tafseer Ibn Jareer, Tafsser Qurtubi-

How fortunate the Buraaq was, it took the opportunity to ask RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam , and in return it gained the benefit of the Shafaa'at of RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam .

RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam then set off with Jibreel Alayhis Salaam, and so began the most memorable journey in history. Very soon they came over a land with many green date palms. Jibreel Alayhis Salaam asked RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam to stop here, they dismounted and RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam prayed two Rakaats Salah here. Jibreel Alayhis Salaam then said to RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam that this place, at which they had stopped, is Yathrib. Approximately a year later, RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam emigrated to Yathrib, and it was renamed Madinatul Munawwarah.

RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam mounted the Buraaq and they set off again. Within a short time they stopped again and RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam prayed Salah. Jibreel Alayhis Salaam said that this time they had stopped at Madayan and that RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam had prayed Salah at the tree of Nabi Moosa Alayhis Salaam. It was at this tree that Nabi Moosa Alayhis Salaam spoke directly with Allah Ta'aala , but without seeing Him.

They then set off again and soon stopped at the city of Bethlehem. RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam prayed Salah here as well and Jibreel Alayhis Salaam highlighted that this was the birth place of Nabi Esaa Alayhis Salaam. -Imam Bayhaqi in his Dalaailin Nabuwwa-

RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam had first visited (made Ziyarah) of these blessed sites and prayed Salah at these spots, before going further. This teaches us that to visit sacred sites like the birth place of a Nabi, is actually a Sunnah.
RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam and Jibreel Alayhis Salaam then set off to Masjid alAqsa and enroute they visited the creation of Allah Ta'aala . RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam says that on that night he visit some the previous nations, amongst them the Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj. These were a vicious, immoral people that were imprisoned by Hadrath Dhul Qarnain. They will escape their imprisonment just before the Day of Qiyaamah and will make much mischief around the world. RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam says that he invited them to change their ways and turn to the Ibadat of Allah Ta'aala , but they were not prepared to accept. -Taarekh Tabari-
It is very interesting that RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam was propagating his Nabuwwa to various nations of different eras. Each of the previous Prophets Alayhimas Salaam were sent as a Prophet to his respective community and so he restricted his efforts to his community. However as RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam was sent to all nations of all generations, we find that he even propagated to the previous nations like the Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj.
RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam and Jibreel Alayhis Salaam set off again towards Masjid alAqsa. During their travel RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam saw some people who were traveling to Makkah. They were searching for their lost camel. RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam called out to them explaining where the camel was. They heard his voice and looked up, but they could not see him. -......- The travelers heard the voice of RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam , and they quickly looked up, but RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam had already passed. The Buraaq was so fast that in one step it traveled as far as the eye could see. -Sahih Muslim-

Imagine if you are flying at this high speed, would you be able to notice a few people on the ground and furthermore understand that they are looking for a lost camel? Shaykh Muhiyyudeen ibn alArabi explains that this is a miracle of the Holy Prophet sallAllahu alayhi wasallam , for although he was traveling very fast, he could see and understand his surroundings. -Fusus Hikm-

When RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam did finally arrive at Masjid alAqsa, he saw two very bright Noors (Spiritual Illuminations). One was to the right of Masjid alAqsa and the other to his left. Jibreel Alayhis Salaam explained that the Noor on the right was the house of Nabi Dawwod Alayhis Salaam and the Noor to his left was the blessed grave of Sayyidah Maryam the mother of Nabi Eesaa Alayhis Salaam. -Fadaail Bayt alMuqaddas by alWaasiti, Sharah Mawahib- Thus before even entering Masjid alAqsa, we find that surrounding area is blessed and illuminated.
Allah Ta'aala reminds about this in the Holy Quran: '... Masjid alAqsa, We had blessed its vicinity..' -alQuran 13:1- Imam Raazi radi Allahu anhu explains that the blessedness around Masjid alAqsa refers to blessed graves around Masjid alAqsa. -Tafseer Kabeer Mafatihul Ghayb-

At Masjid alAqsa a magnificent gathering of Angels and Hoors (heavenly damsels) were waiting for RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam . Jibreel Alayhis Salaam then offered RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam two drinks, milk and fermented fruit juice. RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam drank the milk and left out the fermented drink.
Jibreel Alayhis Salaam indicated that RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam made this correct choice because of his Fitrat, which means the pure nature in which he was created. Jibreel Alayhis Salaam then said that the Ummah would be safe because of RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam decision to drink the milk and leave out the fermented drink. This allows us to understand that we as an Ummah benefit immensely from the choices and actions of RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam.

RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam then entered Masjid alAqsa. Inside, he found that each of the previous Prophets Alayhimas Salaam were present. They assembled in rows ready to pray Salah. Jibreel Alayhis Salaam took RasoolAllah's sallAllahu alayhi wasallam hand and they walked to the front of the Masjid. Jibreel Alayhis Salaam, who had prayed Salah in various parts of the heavens and the earth stood alongside RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam and requested that RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam lead him and all the Anbiya Alayhimas Salaam in Salah.

After the Salah, the various Prophets Alayhimas Salaam came to meet their Imam, Nabi Muhummud sallAllahu alayhi wasallam. Jibreel Alayhis Salaam was close by, introducing each Prophet by name. Then each Prophet Alayhis Salaam spoke, by first praising Allah Ta'aala then mentioning the unique blessings that Allah Ta'aala had granted him. For example, Nabi Musa Alayhis Salaam said that the Tawrah had been revealed to him, he spoke directly to Allah Ta'aala, he was given the title of KaleemAllah, etc.

After Nabi Musa Alayhis Salaam had completed his talk, RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam addressed all the Anbiya Alayhimas Salaam. First he praised Allah Ta'aala then he said, Praise to Allah who has sent me as Rahmatal Lil Aalameen (Mercy to the worlds) and as Basheer and Nazeer to mankind completely and revealed upon me the Furqaan (Quran) in which everything has been expounded and He made my Ummah (nation) the best nation from all mankind and made my nation the first and the last, the opening and conclusion.

Nabi Ibraheem Alayhis Salaam then addressed the Anbiya Alayhimas Salaam and said, Through this Muhummud sallAllahu alayhi wasallam has superseded all of you. -Tafseer ibn Jareer, Imam Bayhaqi, Bazaar, ibn Mardawiya, ibn Abi Haatim-

First RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam was nominated to lead all Anbiya Alayhimas Salaam in Salah. That symbolised that he was the leader and the highest ranking of all the Prophets Alayhimas Salaam. Now Nabi Ibraheem Alayhis Salaam confirms this verbally by saying that RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam has superseded all the other Anbiya Alayhimas Salaam.

Thereafter RasoolAllah sallAllahu alayhi wasallam mounted the Buraaq again and along with Jibreel Alayhis Salaam he set off to continue his journey. The next part of his journey involved ascending into the skies and beyond. This part of the journey is known as the Me'raj, which we pray that Allah Ta'aala bless us to discuss in a sequel to this booklet. Ameen.