The Night of Ascension. 12th Year of Prophethood

Important events and incidences that took placeThe Prophet loved to visit the Ka’bah and one night after praying he was overcome with sleep, and he lay down beside it.

“Whilst I was sleeping in the Hijr,” he said, “Gabriel came to me and spurred me with his foot whereupon I sat upright.” The angel then cut open his body from the top of the chest downwards. He then took out the Prophet’s heart and washed it is a golden basin and then filled it with faith and sealed his body. He then led him out to the gate of the Mosque, and there was a white beast named Buraq, between a mule and an ass, with large wings either side and his every stride was as far his eye could see. The Prophet was carried on it, and Gabriel set out with him till they reached the Jerusalem at speed. Then they were met by a group of Prophets – Abraham, Moses, Jesus and others – and when he prayed on the site of the holy Mosque, they gathered behind him for prayer.

Then, Muhammed was taken up to Heaven. Led by the Archangel, who now revealed himself as a heavenly being, they ascended beyond earthly space and time, and as they passed through the Heavens they met some of the Prophets. Each time he met another Prophet he would extend greetings to them and they would reply, “you are welcomed, O pious son and pious Prophet.”

Then he was made to ascend to Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (the Lote Tree of the utmost boundary). Its fruits were like the jars of Hajr (a place near Medina) and its leaves were as big as the ears of elephants. Gabriel said: ‘This is the Lote Tree of the utmost boundary.’ There ran four rivers; two were hidden and two were visible. The Prophet asked, ‘what are these two kinds of rivers, O Gabriel?’ He replied, ‘as for the hidden rivers, they are two rivers in Paradise and the visible rivers are the Nile and the Euphrates.’

Then Al-Bait-ul-Mamur (the Sacred House) was shown to him and a container full of wine, another full of milk, and a third full of honey were brought to the Prophet; he took the milk. Gabriel remarked: ‘This is the Islamic religion which you and your followers are following.’

Then fifty prayers were enjoined on the Prophet at which Moses remarked, ‘Your followers cannot bear fifty prayers a day, and by God I have tested people before you, and I have tried my level best with the Children of Israel (in vain). Go back to your Lord and ask for reduction to lessen your followers’ burden.’ So the Prophet returned continuously, until he was ordered to observe five prayers a day. The Prophet was then transported back to his earthly station.

“The miraculous physical journey of the Prophet to the land of Jerusalem and then onwards to the heavens beyond earthly space was a great honoring by God which contained many wisdoms:

1) The event occurred after a year of immense sadness and grief for the Prophet, and so the incident strengthened his resolve and through it God made manifest to him his true status as messenger. In a time when the Prophet was facing fierce rejection, the night of ascension lifted his spirit to an unprecedented level showing him that if the earth became too restricted for him than the heavens were ready to receive him with honor.

2) The journey was also a personification of the Prophet’s leadership of all of mankind. He was taken from east to west indicating that he was the leader, an Imam, of the entire globe. Then God decreed that the Prophet lead an entire congregation of past Prophets in the al-Aqsa mosque. This was symbolic of Muhammad’s superiority as his message, though theologically identical to theirs, would one day reach every home in every town; suitable for every generation, whereas the message of the previous Prophets was for a certain people in a particular era.

3) The visit to al-Aqsa mosque shows the importance it holds in the eyes of God. The mosque with it’s surrounding areas have been made blessed, indicating the responsibility Muslims have in safeguarding it against evil and corruption. Such a trust was once given to the children of Israel, but they betrayed it and so God raised a new nation to uphold His commandments.

4) The commandment to offer five daily prayers were given to the Prophet on this journey which shows us the lofty and unique nature of this act of worship. The enormity of importance the daily prayers required that the Prophet be raised up to the heavens and then be informed.

5) The Prophet was given the opportunity to gaze upon paradise and hell. He spoke of their description and through his narrations we come to know more of there nature. He once said, “A piece of paradise the size of a bow is better than all beneath the sun”

6) The Prophet saw the Divine Light of his Lord who gave his eye the ability not to waiver upon seeing it. He would later say “I take refuge in the Light of Thy Countenance””

“The Night Journey was mentioned in two places in the Quran, once in chapter al-Israa:

Glory be to Him Who made His servant to go on a night from the Sacred Mosque to the remote mosque of which We have blessed the precincts, so that We may show to him some of Our signs; surely He is the Hearing, the Seeing.

and again in an-Najam:

He saw him again another timeby the Lote-tree of the Final Limit,beside which is the Garden of Refuge,when that which covered the Lote-tree covered it.His eye did not waver nor did he look away.He saw some of the Greatest Signs of his Lord.

It is said that the night journey to Jerusalem was narrated in the chapter al-Israa while the consequent ascension to the heavens is related in chapter an-Najam.

It is reported that when the Prophet was taken on the nocturnal journey (to the seven heavens), he arrived at Sidrat al-Muntaha- a tree in the seventh Heaven, at which point he was given three things, one of which is the last two verses of the Quranic chapter al-Baqara,

The Messenger has faith in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. Each one has faith in God and His angels and His Books and His Messengers. We do not differentiate between any of His Messengers. They say, ‘We hear and we obey. Forgive us, our Lord! You are our journey’s end.’

God does not impose on any self any more than it can stand. For it is what it has earned; against it, what it has merited. Our Lord, do not take us to task if we forget or make a mistake! Our Lord, do not place on us a load like the one You placed on those before us! Our Lord, do not place on us a load we have not the strength to bear! And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy on us. You are our Master, so help us against the people of disbelief.”