The Isra and Mir’aj are the two parts of a miraculous night journey of Prophet Muhammad (S) on 27th of the Arabic month of Rajab in the year 621AD.
The first part of the journey, from Masjidul Haram (Makkah) to Masjidul Aqsa (Jerusalem), is called Isra and the second part, from Masjidul Aqsa (Jerusalam) to the seven heavens is called Mi’raj.
The Holy Quran illustrates the journey as follows:
“Glory to (God) who did take His servant for a journey by night from the sacred mosque (Masjidul Haram) to the farthest mosque (Masjidul Aqsa) whose surroundings We have blessed to show him of our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.” (17:1)
The journey started when the angel Jibreel (Gabriel, AS) came with a divine white beast called ‘Buraq’ which was larger than a donkey but smaller than a mule. The Prophet (S) mounted it and began flying towards Masjidul Aqsa. Upon reaching there, which was the first Kaaba of all Muslims as well as the home of numerous prophets of Allah, the Prophet (S) prayed two units of prayer in congregation with all the previous prophets.
During the second part of journey, the Prophet (S) was allowed to travel from the first heaven to the Tree of Lot which is the end of Seventh Heaven during he saw several angels, previous prophets and several other unimaginable superb sights such as Baitul Mamoor, or the “Frequent House”.
Baitul Mamoor, which is situated in the Seventh Heaven, is directly above the Kaaba of Makkah on earth. This is the place where 70,000 angels worship Allah every day, while another group of the same strength will be visiting the “Frequent House” to worship Allah until the Day of the Resurrection.
The Prophet (S) also saw Sidrathul Muntaha, the Tree of Lot which is the boundary beyond which no one was allowed to pass. It was from here he was given a decree for the believers to establish five times of daily prayers. The Quran says: “And establish regular prayer for celebrating My praise.” (20:14).
The five daily prayers is an ever-living gift for the entire Muslim community through which they can draw closer to Allah. Those who are sincere in their daily prayers cannot be constant in errors and sins. Which is why the Quran says: “Certainly prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds.” (29:45)
For a true Muslim, Isra and Mi’raj are two great signs of Allah which point to the truthfulness of His Last Prophet Muhammad (S) and the greatness of his status before Allah. The miraculous journey of the Prophet (S) also convinces mankind about the omnipotence of Allah, the Creator of this beautiful cosmos, and it ascertains that there is no impossible for Allah, but to believe the possibility of impossibility. Allah says: “His command, when He wants something, is that He says to it. Be, and it will be.” (36:82)
The journey was also consolation of Allah to the Prophet’s (S) sad state in the year, which was known as “the year of great sadness” due to the death of his wife, Khadija® and the death of his great protector, his uncle Abu Thalib. It was in the same year that the Prophet (S) was ill-treated by pagan Arabs from Taif in response his invitation to Islam.
The Isra and Mi’raj remain a test of faith about the existence of the invisible world. Belief in the unseen is at the core of Islamic faith; the first of which is the belief in the essence of Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.