The miraculous night journey (al-Isrā' wa al-Miʿrāj)

The miraculous night journey (al-Isrā' wa al-Miʿrāj) is a powerful reminder that for the believer after hardship is something so beautiful. We are reminded that after all of the intense hardship, persecution, hunger, heartache, sadness, and grief the Prophet endured… surely enough relief came to the beloved of Allāh ﷺ. The relief after much distress came in an unexpected way – a miraculous night journey to al-Masjid al-‘Aqṣā and then an ascension through the heavens for a meeting with the Lord of the universe ﷻ. 

The Prophet ﷺ spent a very difficult thirteen years in Makkah. He went from being the most respected and loved man in Makkah to the most rejected and ridiculed. He ﷺ was called names, mocked, made fun of, boycotted, starved, and abused both verbally and physically. He witnessed his beloved Companions (‏رضي الله عنهم) being tortured, and killed for following him and accepting Islām.

The 10th year of the Prophet’s mission was exceptionally difficult. The Prophet ﷺ experienced severe personal and painful losses. These were so difficult and painful that  this year was called “the Year of Sorrow”. The Quraysh had boycotted the Prophet’s clan for almost three years, besieging them in a valley. The Prophet ﷺ, his family and companions were starved during this time. The Prophet ﷺ lost his beloved uncle and protector Abū Ṭālib, whom he loved like a father. He was the man who took care of him, since he was an orphaned child, and took him under his protection when his people tried to attack him. If that wasn’t difficult enough, he ﷺ then loses his beloved wife Khadījah (‏رضي الله عنها). His best friend, greatest supporter, his comfort, the mother of his children, the love of his life. 

After all this he decided to go to Ṭā’if to invite its people to Islām, and unfortunately was met with harsh opposition and violent rejection. The Prophet ﷺ was driven out of the city while being stoned and ridiculed for miles. When he ﷺ was later asked by our mother ʿĀʾishah if he ﷺ faced a day more difficult than Uhud and he ﷺ said this day. This time was so difficult it became known as the Year of Grief. Most of the scholars of the Sīrah say that the Isrā’ and Mi`rāj took place shortly after this. After hardship is ease. The Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ was taken from Makkah to al-Masjid al-‘Aqṣā where he was given the honor and distinction of leading all the Prophets and Messengers in Ṣalāh. Then he ﷺ was invited into the heavens where he met Adam, ʿIsā, Yaḥyā, Yūsuf, Idrīs, Hārun, Mūsa, and Ibrāhīm (‏عليهم السلام). 

Our Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ  was then given the honor of being brought into the Divine Presence where Allāh ﷻ spoke to him ﷺ and gifted him the five daily Ṣalāh. Allāh ﷻ originally made it fifty compulsory prayers. This was eventually reduced to five with the reward of fifty, AllāhuAkbar! 

Remember dear friends, relief is near. Patience is rewarded in unimaginable ways. 

When you feel alone, remember your Lord is near. When we stand in Ṣalāh we are conversing with our Lord. Isn’t it amazing that we have the opportunity to converse with Allāh ﷻ and draw near to Him. The Prophet ﷺ said, “The closest the servant is to his/her Lord is when he/she is in prostration.”

Alḥamdulillāh always.