The Reestablishment of Islam (610 AD – Death of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)

V. The Night Journey and Ascension (Isra and Mi‘raj) – 621 CE

A Heavenly Consolation Amid Earthly Hardship

The event of al-Isrāʾ wa al-Miʿrāj—the Night Journey and Ascension—is considered one of the most profound and miraculous episodes in the life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. It took place in 621 CE, during a particularly bleak period following the ‘Ām al-Ḥuzn (“Year of Sorrow”), in which the Prophet ﷺ suffered the loss of two of his greatest supporters: his beloved wife Khadījah bint Khuwaylid, and his protective uncle Abū Ṭālib. These deaths left him both emotionally bereft and politically vulnerable, as Qurayshi hostility intensified.

In a desperate search for support beyond Mecca, the Prophet ﷺ traveled to Ṭāʾif, only to be rejected, mocked, and physically assaulted by its people. Amid this cascade of trials, Allah granted him an extraordinary experience that would not only console his heart but also affirm his exalted status and mission: the miraculous night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem (Isrāʾ), and the ascension through the heavens (Miʿrāj).

I. The Isrāʾ – The Night Journey from Mecca to Jerusalem

The journey is alluded to in the Qur’an:

“Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Ḥarām to al-Masjid al-Aqṣā, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.”
— Surah al-Isrāʾ (17:1)

According to authentic hadith sources (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim), the Prophet ﷺ was resting near the Kaʿbah when he was awakened by Jibrīl (Gabriel). He was brought a special celestial mount called al-Burāq, described as a white, winged creature larger than a donkey but smaller than a mule, which could travel at immense speeds—“a step as far as the eye could see.”

Mounted on al-Burāq and guided by Jibrīl, the Prophet ﷺ was transported in an instant from Masjid al-Ḥarām in Mecca to Masjid al-Aqṣā in Jerusalem. There, he found gathered the spirits of earlier prophets—including Ibrāhīm (Abraham), Mūsā (Moses), ʿĪsā (Jesus), and others. He led them all in ṣalāh (prayer), standing as imām, signifying his status as Khatam an-Nabiyyīn (Seal of the Prophets) and affirming the continuity and culmination of divine guidance through him.

This event also established Jerusalem as a sacred site in Islam and served as a spiritual bridge between Islam and the earlier Abrahamic faiths.

II. The Miʿrāj – The Ascension Through the Heavens

After leading the prophets in prayer, the Prophet ﷺ began his Miʿrāj, the ascension into the heavens. Jibrīl led him upward through the seven heavens, where he encountered various prophets, each welcoming him and acknowledging his mission:

  • First Heaven: Ādam (Adam) – greeted the Prophet ﷺ and welcomed him as his righteous son.

  • Second Heaven: Yaḥyā (John the Baptist) and ʿĪsā (Jesus) – met him with joy and honor.

  • Third Heaven: Yūsuf (Joseph) – distinguished by his beauty, welcomed the Prophet ﷺ.

  • Fourth Heaven: Idrīs (Enoch) – honored for his elevated station.

  • Fifth Heaven: Hārūn (Aaron) – Moses’ brother, beloved by his people.

  • Sixth Heaven: Mūsā (Moses) – who wept after seeing the exalted status of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, fearing that his own followers were fewer in number.

  • Seventh Heaven: Ibrāhīm (Abraham) – seen reclining against Bayt al-Maʿmūr, the heavenly counterpart of the Kaʿbah visited daily by 70,000 different angels.

Each prophet greeted Muhammad ﷺ with warmth and reverence, testifying to the brotherhood and unity of all prophets and their shared submission to the One God.

III. Sidrat al-Muntahā and the Divine Encounter

Beyond the seventh heaven lies the Sidrat al-Muntahā—the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary. It marks the final frontier of created knowledge, beyond which no angel or prophet may pass—except for the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

There, the Prophet ﷺ was granted a proximity to Allah unlike any experienced by a created being. While the exact nature of the divine encounter is beyond description, the Qur’an states:

“And he certainly saw him in another descent, at the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary... when there covered the Lote Tree that which covered [it]. The sight did not swerve, nor did it transgress. He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.”
— Surah an-Najm (53:13–18)

During this unparalleled moment, the Prophet ﷺ was given several revelations, chief among them being the command of the five daily prayers.

IV. The Prescription of Ṣalāh (Prayer)

Initially, Allah ordained fifty daily prayers upon the Muslim Ummah. On his descent, the Prophet ﷺ was advised by Mūsā to request a reduction, foreseeing the hardship this would impose on the believers. The Prophet ﷺ returned repeatedly to Allah in humble request, and the number was eventually reduced to five—with the reward of fifty still maintained.

This divine gift established Ṣalāh as the spiritual Miʿrāj of the believer—an act of worship connecting every Muslim directly to their Lord five times a day, commemorating the Prophet’s journey and the nearness to Allah it represents.

V. A Test of Faith

Upon his return to Mecca, the Prophet ﷺ recounted the events of the night. The Quraysh were quick to ridicule him, mocking the impossibility of such a journey within a single night. For many, the claim was too fantastical.

But when Abū Bakr was told that Muhammad ﷺ claimed to have traveled to Jerusalem and to the heavens, he replied without hesitation: “If he said it, then it is true.” This unwavering trust earned him the title as-Ṣiddīq—“The Truthful One.”

To further validate his account, the Prophet ﷺ described Masjid al-Aqṣā in detail and mentioned a caravan he had seen on the return journey, providing accurate details about its timing and contents, which were later confirmed.

VI. The Everlasting Impact of Isra and Miʿraj

The event of Isra and Miʿraj was not merely a personal miracle—it was a pivotal moment of divine assurance and spiritual elevation:

  • Ṣalāh (prayer) was instituted as the heart of Islamic devotion, linking every Muslim to the divine.

  • Masjid al-Aqṣā was honored as the third holiest site in Islam, cementing Jerusalem’s spiritual significance.

  • The Prophet ﷺ was confirmed as the ultimate link between heaven and earth, and the inheritor of the full prophetic legacy.

  • The journey symbolized that after hardship comes ease, and that divine support follows human struggle and perseverance.

This miraculous event continues to be commemorated by Muslims and serves as a testament to the boundless grace and power of Allah, the elevated rank of the Prophet ﷺ, and the spiritual foundations of Islam.

Note to Readers
If you believe this post misrepresents any Islamic teaching, please provide specific references from the Qur’an, authentic Hadith, or recognized Islamic scholarship. The goal is a sincere and accurate presentation of Islam's narrative based on its own sources. Respectful, evidence-based engagement is welcomed and encouraged.

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