Task 8.

ISRA AND M’IRAJ

Q: (a) Describe the events of the Prophet’s night journey and ascension (al-isra
wal miraj). [10]- May/ June 201
(a) Write about the Prophet’s night journey and ascension *al-‘isra wa-mi’raj.
[10] OCT/ NOV 2013

Outline:
Background:
 A divine Consolation after a sequence of hardships in Makkah
and Taif
 Tenth year of Prophethood- -Year of Sorrow
 Tenth Year of Prophethood –27th Rajab---Two Phases of the Journey --
--Isra & Miraj
First Phase:
 Isra means night journey
 Kabah to Bait Al-Maqdis
 Rajab 27th tenth year of Prophethood (sources indicate different dates)
 The Angel Jabril (AS) descended on the Kabah with the Buraq
 Kabah to Masjid Aqsa on Buraq
 Led previous Prophets in prayer
  Offered milk and wine, chose Milk
 REF: book pg 142---When the Moon Split

Second Phase:
 Miraj means ascension
 Jerusalem to Heaven
 Met various Prophets on different levels of Heaven
 Sidrat Al-Muntaha, a tree of Paradise
 Converse with Allah (SWT)
 Fifty obligatory prayers
 Concluding verses of Surah Al Baqarah
 Musa (AS) advises to reduce the number
 Reduced till five
 Ref. book pg. 144) --When the Moon Split
 Returned to Makkah
 Abu Bakr (RA) response - Siddiq
 Details of a caravan
 Jibrael (AS) taught method of prayer

 Explanation
Background:
 The most significant and remarkable events in the Prophet’s life
 Tenth year of Prophethood is called Year of Sorrow due to the death
of Khadija RA and Abu Talib
 A divine Consolation after a sequence of hardships in Makkah and Taif
  A miraculous experience which elevated the Prophet SAW strength
and encouraged to continue his mission
 The night Journey and the Ascension were Physical & Spiritual
experiences of both the body and the soul
ISRA:
 Isra means night journey
 Kabah to Bait Al-Maqdis
 Rajab 27th tenth year of Prophethood
 Prophet (SAW) was asleep Angel Jibrael descended on Kabah with a Buraq
 Prophet’s chest is opened and washed with Zam Zam water and filled with
wisdom and belief
 On Buraq – a mule rode to JerusalemTied the Buraq to same ring at
the door of Masjid Aqsa used by previous Prophets
 Met all prophets and led Prophets in prayer of 2 rakahs
 Angel Jibrail (AS) brought two vessels one filled with milk and other
with wine
 The Prophet (SAW) Chose milk

MIRAJ:
 Miraj means ascension
 Miraj Bait ul Muqadas to heaven
 First level of Heaven met Adam (AS)
 Guard Angel asked about identity
 Getting reply, welcomed the Prophet (SAW)
 Prophet (SAW) and Adam (AS) exchange greetings
 Adam (AS) testified that Muhammad (SAW) is the Messenger of Allah
 Adam looked towards right smiled
  Adam looked towards left Wept
 Prophet (SAW) saw two groups
 On the right were believers
 On the left were disbelievers
 Second level saw two cousins, Yahya bin Zakariya (AS) and Isa Ibn
Maryam (AS)
 Prophet (SAW) greeted them
 They greeted in return
 They testified that the Prophet (SAW) was last Messenger
 On third Level met Yusuf (AS)
 Exchanged greetings
 He also testified that Muhammad (SAW) was Allah’s Prophet (Saw)
 On fourth Level met Idrees (AS)
 Exchanged greetings
 He testified that Muhammad (SAW) was Allah’s Prophet (SAW)
 On fifth level of Heaven met Haroon (AS)
 Exchanged greetings and testified that Muhammad (SAW) was
Allah’s Prophet (SAW)
 On sixth level Musa (AS) awaited the Prophet (SAW)
 Exchanged greetings and testified that Muhammad (SAW) was
Allah’s Prophet (SAW)
 Musa (AS) began to weep
 On seventh level met Ibrahim (AS)
 Resting against Bait Al- Ma`mur
 Celestial House of Worship
  70,000 angels circumambulate everyday
 Exchanged greetings and testified that Mohammad (SAW)
was Prophet of Allah
 Prophet (SAW) led up to Sidrat – Al – Muntaha - A tree of Paradise
 Jibrael (AS) stopped here
 The Prophet (SAW) Jibrael (AS) in original form
 The Prophet (SAW) brought before Allah actually did not see Him
 ALLAH gave Prophet three gifts
 Last two verses of Surah Al Baqarah
 Remission of Ummah’s sin if did not commit Shirk
 Salah
 Prophet (SAW) led back
 Halted by Prophet Musa (AS) asked for reduction of prayer [50 to 5] -
Sahih Bukhari Ref. book Pg. 143-144 -When the Moon Split
 Visited Hell saw people in miserable condition they were those who
ate property of orphans and took Riba
 Returned to Makkah before dawn
 Dome of rock was constructed where he (SAW) led prayers
 Abu Bakr (RA) was the first one to believe
 Abu Bakr was given the title As-Siddique the one who believes
 Ref. book Pg. 144When the Moon Split
 To prove the truth of his (SAW) journey he (SAW) told the Makkans about
a caravan traveling from Jerusalem to Makkah
 Jibrail (AS) taught the Prophet (SAW) to perform the five daily prayers
  Marking Scheme
Part a
 Write about the Prophet’s night journey and ascension *al-‘isra wa-mi’raj.
[10] OCT/ NOV 2013
(a) Candidates should talk about the events of the night journey as they happened.

They could talk about the Prophet being woken from his sleep and taken on al-Buraq from
Makkah to Jerusalem by the angel Jibrail. They could mention all the things that he saw on his
way, the prophets that he met, the questions that he asked Jibrail, and the fact that he led the
prophets in prayer. They should also go on to mention that he was taken through the heavens
and was finally in the presence of his Lord. He was given the five daily prayers. Answers should
also mention that this all took place in one night, and what the people of Makkah said when he
told them about his journey.

(a) Describe the events of the Prophet’s night journey and ascension (al-isra wal
miraj).[10] May/ June 2019
Comprehensive answer will provide an account of the main events both journey to
Jerusalem and the journey to the heavens, as well as mentioning the names of those the
Prophet (SAW) met and what he saw.
Candidates may include some of the following points. All other relevant points must be
credited.
In the year before migration the Prophet (SAW) was taken on a journey, “from the sacred
mosque to the farthest mosque” (17.1). The Prophet (SAW) was woken from his sleep and his
heart was washed with zamzam.
• He was then taken on Buraq from Makkah to Jerusalem by the angel Jibrail. There the
Prophet (SAW) led all the previous prophets in prayer. He was asked to choose between milk
and wine, and he chose the milk, to which Jibrail said, “You have been guided on the fitra”
• After that, Jibrail took him to the heavens. He (SAW) met Adam at the door to heaven, and
thereafter he ascended and met various other prophets (some of whom should be mentioned)
• On the first heaven he met Adam, on the second Isa and Yahya, on the third Yusuf, on
the fourth Idrees, on the fifth Harun, on the sixth Musa, and on the seventh Ibrahim
• He was led to the Lote Tree, past which Jibrail could not go, and then met with his Lord. He
was given prayers and the last 2 verses of Surah Baqarah
• On his way down he met Musa who suggested the Prophet (SAW) ask God to reduce the
number of prayers given to his people. The Prophet (SAW) did this several times, then at five,
stopped, saying he was too embarrassed to ask for further reduction. He was shown some of
the inhabitants of Heaven and Hell.
Answers should also mention that this all took place in one night, and when the Prophet told
the people, the Quraysh laughed at him. Abu Bakr(R.A)believed in the event straight away.
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