Al-Israa’ and Al-Mi`raj: The Prophet’s Night Journey (Part 2)

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By Dr. `Ali Al-Salabi

Anas ibn Malik reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “Al-Buraq was brought to me; it is a white-colored, tall beast-larger than a donkey and smaller than a mule. It moves its hoof with a single stride to the farthest point that it can see. I rode on it until I reached Jerusalem; once there, I tied it to the very same ring (of Masjid Al-Aqsa’s door) to which the Prophets would tie (their riding animals). I then entered the Masjid and prayed in it two units; I then left. Next, Jibril (Gabriel) came to me with a vessel of alcohol and a vessel of milk. I chose the milk, and Jibril said, “You have chosen Al-Fitrah (i.e., Islam, uprightness).” (Muslim)

In another narration, the Prophet spoke to Malik ibn Sa`sa`ah about his night journey, saying, “While I was in Al-Hatim (i.e., Al-Hijr, the northern side of the Ka`bah) – and perhaps he said, ‘Al-Hijr’ lying down, one who comes (i.e., Jibril) came to me and split me lengthwise – He said, ‘And I heard him say: And he split what is between this and this.” The narrator said, “And I said to Jarud, “What does he mean by this.” He said, “From the lower part of his neck until his pubic hair. And I heard him say, ‘From his upper chest until his pubic hair.’”

The Prophet said, “He then removed my heart, after which a basin made of gold and filled with faith was brought to me. My heart was washed and then filled (with and wisdom). (My chest) was then put (i.e., sown) back together. A white-coloured beast was then brought to me; it was smaller than a mule but bigger than a donkey.” The Prophet said, “I was made to ride it, and Jibril set off with me, until he reached the closest heaven. He asked for it (i.e., the door to the lowest heaven) to be opened. It was said, ‘Who is this?’ He answered, ‘Jibril. It was said, ‘And who is with you. Jibril said, ‘Muhammad.’ It was said, ‘And has he been sent for?’ Jibril said, ‘Yes.’ It was said, ‘Welcome is he! Indeed, a blessed comer has come!’ He then opened the door.”

The Prophet said, “When I reached (inside), in it (i.e., the lowest heaven) was Adam. He (i.e., Jibril) said, ‘This is your father, Adam, so extend greetings of peace to him.” “I extended greetings of peace to him, and he returned the greetings, after which he said, ‘Welcome to a virtuous son and a righteous Prophet.” Then Jibril ascended with me until he reached the second heaven. He asked for it (i.e., for its door) to be opened, and it was said, ‘Who is this?’ He said, ‘Jibril.’  ‘And who is with you?’ it was said. Jibril said, ‘Muhammad.’ It was said, ‘And has he indeed been sent for? Jibril said, ‘Yes.’ It was said, ‘Welcome to him. Indeed, a blessed comer has arrived.’ He (i.e., the doorkeeper) opened (the door to that heaven). When I reached (inside), (I saw) Yahya and `Isa (Jesus), and they are the sons of aunts (i.e., the mother of each one of them is the aunt of other; hence their mothers are sisters). Jibril said, “These are Yahyah and `Isa, so extend greetings of peace to them.’ I gave them greetings of peace, and they returned them and then said, ‘Welcome to a virtuous brother and a righteous Prophet.”

The Prophet said, “Then I was taken above to the third heaven. He asked for it to be opened, and it was said, ‘Who is this?’ He said, ‘Jibril.’ It was then said, ‘And who is with you?’ He said, ‘Muhammad.’ ‘Has he indeed been sent for?’ it was said. ‘Yes,’ said Jibril. It was said, ‘Welcome to him. Indeed, a blessed comer has arrived. He opened (the door to the third heaven), and when I reached inside, Yusuf was there. Jibril said, ‘This is Yusuf, so give him greetings of peace. I extended to him greetings of peace; first, he responded, and then he said, ‘Welcome to a virtuous brother and a righteous Prophet. Next, I was taken above until Jibril reached the fourth heaven. When Jibril asked for it (i.e., its door) to be opened, it was said, ‘Who is this?’ He said, ‘Jibril.’ ‘And who is with you?’ it was said. Jibril said, ‘Muhammad.’ ‘And has he indeed been sent for?’ it was said. Jibril said, ‘Yes.’ It was said, ‘Welcome he is indeed! A blessed comer has indeed arrived,’ and he (the doorkeeper of the fourth heaven) opened (the door to the fourth heaven). When I reached inside, (Prophet) Idris was there, and Jibril said, ‘This is Idris, so extend greetings of peace to him. I gave him greetings of peace, and he returned them and then said, ‘Welcome to a virtuous brother and a righteous Prophet. Then I was taken above until Jibril reached the fifth heaven. When Jibril asked for it to be opened, it was said, ‘Who is this?’ He said, ‘Jibril.’ It was said, ‘And who is with you?’ He said, ‘Muhammad.’ It was said, ‘And has he indeed been sent for?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ It was said, ‘Welcome he is indeed! Verily, a blessed comer has arrived.’ He (i.e., the doorkeeper of the fifth heaven) then opened (the door to the fifth heaven). When I reached (inside), Haroon was there, and Jibril said, ‘This is Harun, so extend greetings of peace to him.’ I gave him greetings of peace, and he returned them and then said, ‘Welcome to a virtuous brother and a righteous Prophet.

Then I was taken above until Jibril reached the sixth heaven. When Jibril asked for it (i.e., its door) to be opened, it was said, ‘Who is this?’ he said, ‘Jibril.’ It was said, ‘And who is with you?’ He said, ‘Muhammad.’ It was said, ‘And has he indeed been sent for?’ Jibril said, ‘Yes.’ He (i.e., the doorkeeper of the sixth heaven) said, ‘Welcome he is indeed! Verily, a blessed comer has arrived.’ When I reached (inside), Musa was there, and Jibril said, ‘This is Musa, so extend greetings of peace to him. I gave him greetings of peace, and he returned them and then said, ‘Welcome to a virtuous brother and a righteous Prophet. When I left him, he cried, and it was said to him, ‘What makes you cry?’ He said, ‘I cry because a youth that was sent after me will have more people from his nation enter Paradise than will enter it from my nation.’

Next, I was raised to the seventh heaven. When Jibril asked for it (i.e., the door of the seventh heaven) to be opened, it was said, ‘Who is this?’ He said, ‘Jibril.’ It was said, ‘And who is with you?’ He said, ‘Muhammad.’ It was said, ‘And has he indeed been sent for?’ Jibril said, ‘Yes.’ He (i.e., the doorkeeper of the sixth heaven) said, ‘Welcome he is indeed! And a blessed comer has indeed come!’ When I reached (inside), Ibrahim was there, and Jibril said, “This is your father, so extend greetings of peace to him.’ I gave him greetings of peace, and he returned them and then said, ‘Welcome to a virtuous son and a righteous Prophet.’

Then, As-Sidratul-Muntaha (lote-tree of the utmost boundary, beyond which none can pass) was brought near to me. Its fruits were like the large jars of Hajar (because the jars of a place called Hajar are large, they are used proverbially to signify anything that is large; Hajar is a town in Bahrain), and its leaves were like the ears of elephants. Jibril said, ‘This is Sidratul-Muntaha.” And there were four rivers, two internal and two external. I said, ‘O Jibril, what are these two?’ He said, ‘As for the internal ones, they are two rivers in Paradise. And as for the external ones, they are the Nile and the Euphrates.’ Then Al-Bait Al-Ma ‘moor (a house of worship for the angels) was brought near to me. Then a vessel of alcohol, a vessel of milk, and a vessel of honey were brought to me. I took the milk, and he (i.e., Jibril) said, ‘It is the Fitrah (i.e., the religion of Islam, uprightness) that you and your nation are upon.’

Next, made compulsory upon me were fifty prayers for each and every day. I then returned and passed by Musa, who said, ‘What were you commanded with?’ I said, ‘I was commanded to perform fifty prayers each and every day.’ He said, ‘Verily, your nation is not able to perform fifty prayers every single day. By Allah, I have indeed had experience with people who came before you, and I have had the most difficult of experiences with the Children of Israel. So go back to your Lord and ask Him to decrease (the number of prayers) for your nation.’ And so I returned, and He (i.e., Allah M) reduced it (the number of obligatory prayers) for me by ten. I returned to Musa, and he said the same thing as he had said before. And so I returned (to my Lord), and He reduced it for me by ten. Next, I returned to Musa, and he said the same thing again. And so I returned (to my Lord), and He decreased it for me by ten. I returned to Musa, who repeated the same message. I returned (to my Lord), and I was ordered to perform ten prayers every single day. I went back (to Musa), who again said the same thing. And so I returned, and this time I was ordered to perform five prayers every single day. When I returned again to Musa, he said, ‘What were you commanded with?’ I said, ‘I was commanded to perform five prayers every single day.’ He said, ‘Verily, your nation is not able to perform five prayers every single day. I have indeed had experience with people who came before you, and I have had the most difficult of experiences with the Children of Israel. So return to your Lord, and ask Him to reduce (the number of obligatory prayers) for your nation.’” [1] The Prophet g said to Musa W-, “I asked my Lord until I have become shy; rather, I am pleased, and I do submit.’ When I left, a caller called out, ‘I have finalized My legislated obligatory duty (i.e., people will get 50 rewards for praying five times a day), and I have made lighter (the duty of prayer) for My slaves (i.e., they have to perform 5 prayers in actuality, though they receive for them fifty rewards).’” (Al-Bukhari)

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Source: Taken with modifications from the author’s The Noble Life of the Prophet Muhammad.

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