ME'RAJ AT A GLANCE
In the 5th year of the Prophethood of Rasulullah (SAW) Allah Ta'ala ordered
Jibracel (AS) to accompany His beloved Messenger on a historic and miraculous
journey from Makkah to Jerusalem and then through the seven heavens and finally
back to Makkah. All this Allah did out of His power in a short span of time.
Allah refers to this demonstration of His Majesty in the Quran where He says:
GLORY BE TO HIM WHO CARRIED HIS SERVANT BY NIGHT FROM THE MUSJIDUL HARAAM
(SACRED MUSJID) TO THE MUSJIDUL AQSA (FURTHEST MUSJID) WHOSE PRECINCTS WE HAVE
BLESSED THAT WE MIGHT SHOW OF OUR SIGNS, FOR HE IS THE HEARER AND SEER. (Bani
Israeel 17: 1).
The Ahaadeeth of Rasulullah (SAW) which contain elaborate accounts
concerning Me'raj in Bukhari, Muslim and other reliable collections have been
narrated by about 30 Sahaba (RA). It is the unanimous belief of the early and
later scholars of Islam that Rasulullah (SAW) was taken on this journey in
body and soul and in a state of complete wakefulness. However for purposes of
brevity let us look at a synopsis of this event extracted from Allama Ibn
Katheer in his famous Tafseer ibn Katheer: "The truth of the matter is that
Nabi (SAW) was taken on this journey by night (ISRA) in a state of complete
wakefulness from Makkah to Baytul Muqaddas, riding on his Buraaq. When he
reached the door of Musjidul Aqsa, he tethered the animal to the door, entered
the Musjid and performed two takaats of Tahiyyatul Musjid. Thereafter, he was
taken on the Me'raj which was like ascending a flight of stairs until he
reached the sky of the earth and from there onwards to the remainder
of the seven heavens. In every heaven he was met by its inhabitants and
greeted the different Prophets in the heavens according to their status until
he met Musa Kaleemullah (AS) in the sixth and Ebrabim (AS) in the seventh
heaven. From there he proceeded to the point where the screech of the pen of
Taqdeer could be heard and he saw the Sidratul Muntaha which was draped with a
large number of sheets of gold and various other colours and surrounded (from
all sides) by the Angels.
There he saw Jibraeel (AS) in his original form with 600 wings of such
magnitude that one flap of his green wings completely covered the horizon and
he saw also the Baytul Ma'moor (the Kaaba of the Angels) and Ibrabeem Khaleel
(AS), the builder of the Kaaba on the earth resting against it. This Baytul
Ma'moor is entered everyday by 70000 Angels for the sake of worship. The
number of the Angels is such that no Angel will be able to return there a
second time till the Day of Qiyaamah.
Nabi (SAW) was also shown Jannah and Jahannum and also received the command
of 50 times daily salaah which was later reduced to five by virtue of the mercy
of Allah Ta'ala.
Thereafter, Rasulullah (SAW) returned to Baytul Muqaddas where the various
Prophets had gathered. He led their all in what is believed to be the Fajr
Salaah. Rasulullah (SAW) then left Baytul Muqaddas riding on the Buraaq and
reached Makkah before daybreak. Allah knows best. (Tafseer ibn Khatheer Pg.25
Vol. 1)
The Me'raj of Rasulullah (SAW) is not only a manifestation of the sublime
power of Allah Ta'ala but allows us a glimpse into the physical and spiritual
powers of Rasulullah (SAW) is well. The strength and power of Rasulullah (SAW)
lay in nothing other than his Sunnah. The lesson for the Muslim Ummah of today
is that instead of remaining over-awed by the technological and mundane
advancements of those around us, let us realise that we can draw from a
greater powerhouse by emulating the Sunnah of our Beloved (SAW)
Moulana S Jeebhai
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