بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
[Here are Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.]
This part mainly focuses on the Night Journey, Al-Israa Wal-Meraaj where the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) went to Masjid Al-Aqsa and then ascended to the heavens. The first part is referred to as Al Israa (the night journey) and the second part is referred to as Al-Meraaj (the ascent). This amazing event happened at a very tough time in the Prophet’s (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) life. Indeed, the most traumatic day of his life happened shortly before the night journey.
The fact that something so amazing happened to him after years of hardship, should give us a lot of hope, which is what we need right now given the current events in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Sudan. Hardship is followed by ease so we need to wait for that.
سَيَجْعَلُ اللَّهُ بَعْدَ عُسْرٍ يُسْرًا
Allah will grant after hardship, ease. [Surah At-Talaq (65) : 7]
Jibreel (alaihissalaam) and the Angel of the mountains came to the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) regarding the people of Taif
The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)’s beloved wife Khadija (radiallahu anha) died in the tenth year after Prophethood. His uncle Abu Talib, who raised him and defended him, died the same year – without becoming a Muslim. Both these events took place after a years long boycott so it was a very difficult time in his life.
In addition to these events, something else happened. He had started to call people outside of Makkah to Islam. One day, he went to call the people of Taif to Islam. He had a terrible, terrible time.
حَدَّثَنِي عُرْوَةُ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ، زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَدَّثَتْهُ أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَلْ أَتَى عَلَيْكَ يَوْمٌ كَانَ أَشَدَّ مِنْ يَوْمِ أُحُدٍ فَقَالَ : لَقَدْ لَقِيتُ مِنْ قَوْمِكِ وَكَانَ أَشَدَّ مَا لَقِيتُ مِنْهُمْ يَوْمَ الْعَقَبَةِ إِذْ عَرَضْتُ نَفْسِي عَلَى ابْنِ عَبْدِ يَالِيلَ بْنِ عَبْدِ كُلاَلٍ فَلَمْ يُجِبْنِي إِلَى مَا أَرَدْتُ فَانْطَلَقْتُ وَأَنَا مَهْمُومٌ عَلَى وَجْهِي فَلَمْ أَسْتَفِقْ إِلاَّ بِقَرْنِ الثَّعَالِبِ فَرَفَعْتُ رَأْسِي فَإِذَا أَنَا بِسَحَابَةٍ قَدْ أَظَلَّتْنِي فَنَظَرْتُ فَإِذَا فِيهَا جِبْرِيلُ فَنَادَانِي فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَدْ سَمِعَ قَوْلَ قَوْمِكَ لَكَ وَمَا رَدُّوا عَلَيْكَ وَقَدْ بَعَثَ إِلَيْكَ مَلَكَ الْجِبَالِ لِتَأْمُرَهُ بِمَا شِئْتَ فِيهِمْ قَالَ فَنَادَانِي مَلَكُ الْجِبَالِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَىَّ . ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ سَمِعَ قَوْلَ قَوْمِكَ لَكَ وَأَنَا مَلَكُ الْجِبَالِ وَقَدْ بَعَثَنِي رَبُّكَ إِلَيْكَ لِتَأْمُرَنِي بِأَمْرِكَ فَمَا شِئْتَ إِنْ شِئْتَ أَنْ أُطْبِقَ عَلَيْهِمُ الأَخْشَبَيْنِ . فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : بَلْ أَرْجُو أَنْ يُخْرِجَ اللَّهُ مِنْ أَصْلاَبِهِمْ مَنْ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ وَحْدَهُ لاَ يُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا.
Urwah ibn Zubair said that Aishah, the wife of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) narrated to him that she asked the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam): O Messenger of Allah, Have you ever experienced a day harder than the day of the battle of Uhud?
He said: Indeed, I experienced them (dangers) at the hands of your people (i.e., the disbelievers from amongst the Quraish tribe). The hardest treatment I met from them was on the Day of Aqabah when I went to Ibn Abd Yalil bin Abd Kulal (who was one of the chiefs of Taif) with the purpose of inviting him to Islam, but he made no response (to my call). So I departed with deep distress. I did not recover until I arrived at Qarn ath-Thaalib.
There, I raised my head and saw a cloud which had cast its shadow on me. I saw in it Jibreel, who called me and said: ‘Indeed, Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, heard what your people said to you and the response they made to you. And He has sent you the angel in charge of the mountains to order him to do to them what you wish.’
Then the angel of the mountains called me, greeted me and said: ‘O Muhammad, Allah listened to what your people had said to you. I am the angel of the mountains, and your Lord has sent me to you so that you may give me your orders. If you wish I will bring together the two mountains that stand opposite to each other at the extremities of Makkah to crush them in between.”‘ The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said to him, “I rather hope that Allah will raise from among their descendants people as will worship Allah the One, and will not ascribe partners to Him (in worship).” [Sahih Muslim, Hadeeth No. 4425]
Jibreel (alaihissalaam) came to take the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) to Bayt Al-Maqdis and then to the heavens
[Part 1 discussed the difference between the heavens and Paradise.]
The story of Al-Israa Wal-Meraaj (the Night Journey) is mentioned in various ahadeeth, with some narrations having more information than others. I’ve tried to gather the whole story, with a focus on the angels, of course. [Please note that this isn’t necessarily the order in which each event took place.]
Contrary to what some people claim, the events of this night were NOT a dream. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was taken up in body to Jerusalem and the heavens.
An example of a dream would be the following story:
عَنْ سَمُرَةَ بْنِ جُنْدَبٍ رضي الله عنه، قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا صَلَّى صَلاَةً أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا بِوَجْهِهِ فَقَالَ: مَنْ رَأَى مِنْكُمُ اللَّيْلَةَ رُؤْيَا”. قَالَ فَإِنْ رَأَى أَحَدٌ قَصَّهَا، فَيَقُولُ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ، فَسَأَلَنَا يَوْمًا، فَقَالَ: ”هَلْ رَأَى أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ رُؤْيَا ”. قُلْنَا لاَ. قَالَ : ”لَكِنِّي رَأَيْتُ اللَّيْلَةَ رَجُلَيْنِ أَتَيَانِي فَأَخَذَا بِيَدِي، فَأَخْرَجَانِي إِلَى الأَرْضِ الْمُقَدَّسَةِ، فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ جَالِسٌ، وَرَجُلٌ قَائِمٌ بِيَدِهِ كَلُّوبٌ مِنْ حَدِيدٍ ـ قَالَ بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ مُوسَى إِنَّهُ ـ يُدْخِلُ ذَلِكَ الْكَلُّوبَ فِي شِدْقِهِ، حَتَّى يَبْلُغَ قَفَاهُ، ثُمَّ يَفْعَلُ بِشِدْقِهِ الآخَرِ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ، وَيَلْتَئِمُ شِدْقُهُ هَذَا، فَيَعُودُ فَيَصْنَعُ مِثْلَهُ. قُلْتُ مَا هَذَا قَالاَ انْطَلِقْ. فَانْطَلَقْنَا حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا عَلَى رَجُلٍ مُضْطَجِعٍ عَلَى قَفَاهُ، وَرَجُلٌ قَائِمٌ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ بِفِهْرٍ أَوْ صَخْرَةٍ، فَيَشْدَخُ بِهِ رَأْسَهُ، فَإِذَا ضَرَبَهُ تَدَهْدَهَ الْحَجَرُ، فَانْطَلَقَ إِلَيْهِ لِيَأْخُذَهُ، فَلاَ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى هَذَا حَتَّى يَلْتَئِمَ رَأْسُهُ، وَعَادَ رَأْسُهُ كَمَا هُوَ، فَعَادَ إِلَيْهِ فَضَرَبَهُ، قُلْتُ مَنْ هَذَا قَالاَ انْطَلِقْ. فَانْطَلَقْنَا إِلَى ثَقْبٍ مِثْلِ التَّنُّورِ، أَعْلاَهُ ضَيِّقٌ وَأَسْفَلُهُ وَاسِعٌ، يَتَوَقَّدُ تَحْتَهُ نَارًا، فَإِذَا اقْتَرَبَ ارْتَفَعُوا حَتَّى كَادَ أَنْ يَخْرُجُوا، فَإِذَا خَمَدَتْ رَجَعُوا فِيهَا، وَفِيهَا رِجَالٌ وَنِسَاءٌ عُرَاةٌ. فَقُلْتُ مَنْ هَذَا قَالاَ انْطَلِقْ. فَانْطَلَقْنَا حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا عَلَى نَهَرٍ مِنْ دَمٍ، فِيهِ رَجُلٌ قَائِمٌ عَلَى وَسَطِ النَّهَرِ رَجُلٌ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ حِجَارَةٌ، فَأَقْبَلَ الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي فِي النَّهَرِ، فَإِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ رَمَى الرَّجُلُ بِحَجَرٍ فِي فِيهِ، فَرَدَّهُ حَيْثُ كَانَ، فَجَعَلَ كُلَّمَا جَاءَ لِيَخْرُجَ رَمَى فِي فِيهِ بِحَجَرٍ، فَيَرْجِعُ كَمَا كَانَ. فَقُلْتُ مَا هَذَا قَالاَ انْطَلِقْ. فَانْطَلَقْنَا حَتَّى انْتَهَيْنَا إِلَى رَوْضَةٍ خَضْرَاءَ، فِيهَا شَجَرَةٌ عَظِيمَةٌ، وَفِي أَصْلِهَا شَيْخٌ وَصِبْيَانٌ، وَإِذَا رَجُلٌ قَرِيبٌ مِنَ الشَّجَرَةِ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ نَارٌ يُوقِدُهَا، فَصَعِدَا بِي فِي الشَّجَرَةِ، وَأَدْخَلاَنِي دَارًا لَمْ أَرَ قَطُّ أَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا، فِيهَا رِجَالٌ شُيُوخٌ وَشَبَابٌ، وَنِسَاءٌ وَصِبْيَانٌ، ثُمَّ أَخْرَجَانِي مِنْهَا فَصَعِدَا بِي الشَّجَرَةَ فَأَدْخَلاَنِي دَارًا هِيَ أَحْسَنُ وَأَفْضَلُ، فِيهَا شُيُوخٌ وَشَبَابٌ. قُلْتُ طَوَّفْتُمَانِي اللَّيْلَةَ، فَأَخْبِرَانِي عَمَّا رَأَيْتُ. قَالاَ نَعَمْ، أَمَّا الَّذِي رَأَيْتَهُ يُشَقُّ شِدْقُهُ فَكَذَّابٌ يُحَدِّثُ بِالْكَذْبَةِ، فَتُحْمَلُ عَنْهُ حَتَّى تَبْلُغَ الآفَاقَ، فَيُصْنَعُ بِهِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ. وَالَّذِي رَأَيْتَهُ يُشْدَخُ رَأْسُهُ فَرَجُلٌ عَلَّمَهُ اللَّهُ الْقُرْآنَ، فَنَامَ عَنْهُ بِاللَّيْلِ، وَلَمْ يَعْمَلْ فِيهِ بِالنَّهَارِ، يُفْعَلُ بِهِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ. وَالَّذِي رَأَيْتَهُ فِي الثَّقْبِ فَهُمُ الزُّنَاةُ. وَالَّذِي رَأَيْتَهُ فِي النَّهَرِ آكِلُو الرِّبَا. وَالشَّيْخُ فِي أَصْلِ الشَّجَرَةِ إِبْرَاهِيمُ ـ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ ـ وَالصِّبْيَانُ حَوْلَهُ فَأَوْلاَدُ النَّاسِ، وَالَّذِي يُوقِدُ النَّارَ مَالِكٌ خَازِنُ النَّارِ. وَالدَّارُ الأُولَى الَّتِي دَخَلْتَ دَارُ عَامَّةِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، وَأَمَّا هَذِهِ الدَّارُ فَدَارُ الشُّهَدَاءِ، وَأَنَا جِبْرِيلُ، وَهَذَا مِيكَائِيلُ، فَارْفَعْ رَأْسَكَ، فَرَفَعْتُ رَأْسِي فَإِذَا فَوْقِي مِثْلُ السَّحَابِ. قَالاَ ذَاكَ مَنْزِلُكَ. قُلْتُ دَعَانِي أَدْخُلْ مَنْزِلِي. قَالاَ إِنَّهُ بَقِيَ لَكَ عُمْرٌ لَمْ تَسْتَكْمِلْهُ، فَلَوِ اسْتَكْمَلْتَ أَتَيْتَ مَنْزِلَكَ ”.
Narrated Samura bin Jundab (radiallahu anhu): Whenever the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) finished the (morning) prayer, he would face us and ask, “Who amongst you had a dream last night?” So if anyone had seen a dream he would narrate it. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) would say: “Ma shaa Allah” (An Arabic maxim meaning literally, ‘What Allah wished,’ and it indicates a good omen.) One day, he asked us whether anyone of us had seen a dream. We replied in the negative.
The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “But I had seen (a dream) last night that two men came to me, caught hold of my hands, and took me to the Sacred Land (Jerusalem). There, I saw a person sitting and another standing with an iron hook in his hand pushing it inside the mouth of the former till it reached the jawbone, and then tore off one side of his cheek, and then did the same with the other side; in the meantime the first side of his cheek became normal again and then he repeated the same operation again. I said, ‘What is this?’ They told me to proceed on and we went on till we came to a man lying flat on his back, and another man standing at his head carrying a stone or a piece of rock, and crushing the head of the lying man, with that stone. Whenever he struck him, the stone rolled away. The man went to pick it up and by the time he returned to him, the crushed head had returned to its normal state and the man came back and struck him again (and so on). I said, ‘Who is this?’
They told me to proceed on; so we proceeded on and passed by a hole like an oven; with a narrow top and wide bottom, and the fire was kindling underneath that hole. Whenever the fire-flame went up, the people were lifted up to such an extent that they about to get out of it, and whenever the fire got quieter, the people went down into it, and there were naked men and women in it. I said, ‘Who is this?’ They told me to proceed on. So we proceeded on till we reached a river of blood and a man was in it, and another man was standing at its bank with stones in front of him, facing the man standing in the river. Whenever the man in the river wanted to come out, the other one threw a stone in his mouth and caused him to retreat to his original position; and so whenever he wanted to come out the other would throw a stone in his mouth, and he would retreat to his original position. I asked, ‘What is this?’ They told me to proceed on and we did so till we reached a well-flourished green garden having a huge tree and near its root was sitting an old man with some children. (I saw) Another man near the tree with fire in front of him and he was kindling it up. Then they (i.e. my two companions) made me climb up the tree and made me enter a house, better than which I have ever seen. In it were some old men and young men, women and children. Then they took me out of this house and made me climb up the tree and made me enter another house that was better and superior (to the first) containing old and young people. I said to them (i.e. my two companions), ‘You have made me ramble all the night. Tell me all about that I have seen.’ They said, ‘Yes. As for the one whose cheek you saw being torn away, he was a liar and he used to tell lies, and the people would report those lies on his authority till they spread all over the world. So, he will be punished like that till the Day of Resurrection. The one whose head you saw being crushed is the one whom Allah had given the knowledge of Quran (i.e. knowing it by heart) but he used to sleep at night (i.e. he did not recite it then) and did not use to act upon it (i.e. upon its orders etc.) by day; and so this punishment will go on till the Day of Resurrection. And those you saw in the hole (like oven) were adulterers (those men and women who commit illegal sexual intercourse). And those you saw in the river of blood were those dealing in Riba (usury). And the old man who was sitting at the base of the tree was Abraham and the little children around him were the offspring of the people. And the one who was kindling the fire was Malik, the gatekeeper of the Hell-fire. And the first house in which you have gone was the house of the common believers, and the second house was of the martyrs. I am Jibreel and this is Mikaeel. Raise your head.’ I raised my head and saw a thing like a cloud over me. They said, ‘That is your place.’ I said, ‘Let me enter my place.’ They said, ‘You still have some life which you have not yet completed, and when you complete (that remaining portion of your life) you will then enter your place.'” [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Hadeeth No. 468]
Imam Ibn Kathir refuted those who claim this was a dream (and also a provided a beautiful summary of the events of this night) in his explanation of Surah Al-Israa:
“Musa bin Uqbah said, narrating from Az-Zuhri: “The Israa happened one year before the Hijrah.” This was also the opinion of Urwah. As-Suddi said: “It happened sixteen months before the Hijrah.” The truth is that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was taken on the Night Journey when he was awake, not in a dream, and he went from Makkah to Bayt Al-Maqdis riding on Al-Buraq.
When he reached the door of the sanctuary, he tied up his animal by the door and entered, where he prayed two Rakahs to `greet the Masjid’. Then the Miraj was brought to him, which is a ladder with steps which one climbs up. So he went up on it to the first heaven, then he went up to the rest of the seven heavens. In each heaven he was welcomed by the most pious of its inhabitants, and he greeted the Prophets who were in the various heavens according to their positions and status. He passed by Musa, the one who spoke with Allah, in the sixth heaven, and Ibrahim, the close friend (Khalil) of Allah in the seventh heaven. Then he surpassed them and all the Prophets in status and reached a level where he could hear the creaking of the pens, i.e., the pens of destiny which write down what is decreed to happen. He saw Sidrat Al-Muntaha, covered by the command of Allah, and its greatness, its butterflies of gold and various colours, surrounded by the angels. There he saw Jibril in his real form, with six hundred wings. He saw green cushions blocking the horizon. He saw Al-Bayt Al-Mamur, and Ibrahim Al-Khalil, the builder of the earthly Kabah, leaning back against it, the heavenly Kabah; every day, seventy thousand angels enter and worship therein, then they do not return to it until the Day of Resurrection. He saw Paradise and Hell, and Allah enjoined upon him fifty prayers, then reduced it to five, as an act of mercy and kindness towards His servants. In this is a strong indication of the greatness and virtue of the prayers. Then he came back down to Bayt Al-Maqdis, and the Prophets came down with him and he led them in prayer there when the time for prayer came. It may have been the dawn prayer of that day. Some people claim that he led them in prayer in heaven, but the reports seem to say that it was in Bayt Al-Maqdis. In some reports it says that it happened when he first entered (i.e., before ascending into the heavens), but it is more likely that it was after he came back, because when he passed by them in the places in the heavens, he asked Jibril about them, one by one, and Jibril told him about them. This is more appropriate, because he was first required to come before the Divine Presence, so that what Allah willed could be enjoined upon him and his Ummah. When the matter for which he was required had been dealt with, he and his brother Prophets gathered, and his virtue and high position in relation to them became apparent when he was asked to come forward to lead them, which was when Jibril indicated to him that he should do so. Then he came out of Bayt Al-Maqdis and rode on Al-Buraq back to Makkah in the darkness of the night. And Allah knows best. As for his being presented with the vessels containing milk and honey, or milk and wine, or milk and water, or all of these, some reports say that this happened in Bayt Al-Maqdis, and others say that it happened in the heavens. It is possible that it happened in both places, because it is like offering food or drink to a guest when he arrives, and Allah knows best. The Prophet was taken on the Night Journey with body and soul, he was awake, not asleep. The evidence for this is the Ayah (verse):
﴿ سُبۡحَـٰنَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَسۡرَىٰ بِعَبۡدِهِۦ لَيۡلاً۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡحَرَامِ إِلَى ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡأَقۡصَا ٱلَّذِى بَـٰرَكۡنَا حَوۡلَهُ ۥ ﴾
(Glorified (and Exalted) be He (Allah) Who took His servant for a Journey by Night from Al-Masjid Al-Haram to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, the neighborhood whereof We have blessed,) The words “Subhan Allah” (Glorified and exalted be Allah) are spoken in the case of serious matters. If it had been a dream, it would have been a significant matter and would not have been so astounding; the disbelievers of the Quraysh would not have hastened to label him a liar and the group of people who had become Muslims would not have deserted the faith. The word Abd (servant) refers to both soul and body. Allah says:
﴿ أَسۡرَىٰ بِعَبۡدِهِۦ لَيۡلاً۬ ﴾
(took His servant for a Journey by Night) and:
﴿ وَمَا جَعَلۡنَا ٱلرُّءۡيَا ٱلَّتِىٓ أَرَيۡنَـٰكَ إِلَّا فِتۡنَةً۬ لِّلنَّاسِ ﴾
(And We made not the vision which we showed you but a trial for mankind) (17:60) Ibn Abbas said: “This is the vision that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) saw with his own eyes during the Journey by Night, and the cursed tree is the tree of Zaqqum.” This was recorded by Al-Bukhari. Allah said:
﴿ مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ ﴾
(The sight (of Prophet Muhammad) turned not aside (right or left), nor it transgressed beyond the limit (ordained for it))(53:17) Sight (Al-Basr) is a physical faculty, not a spiritual one, and he was carried on Al-Buraq, a shining white animal. This too indicates a physical journey, because the soul does not need a means of transportation of this nature. And Allah knows best.”
So what exactly happened on this night? Let’s go through it step by step.
1.Jibreel (alaihissalaam) washed the Prophet’s (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) heart a second time
Jibreel (alaihissalaam) first washed his heart when he was a little boy as mentioned in the previous part of this series. He washed it again on the Night of Al-Israa wal Meraaj.
عَنْ شَرِيكِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ مَالِكٍ رضي الله عنه، يَقُولُ لَيْلَةَ أُسْرِيَ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ مَسْجِدِ الْكَعْبَةِ أَنَّهُ جَاءَهُ ثَلاَثَةُ نَفَرٍ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُوحَى إِلَيْهِ وَهْوَ نَائِمٌ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ، فَقَالَ أَوَّلُهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ هُوَ فَقَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ هُوَ خَيْرُهُمْ. فَقَالَ آخِرُهُمْ خُذُوا خَيْرَهُمْ. فَكَانَتْ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ، فَلَمْ يَرَهُمْ حَتَّى أَتَوْهُ لَيْلَةً أُخْرَى فِيمَا يَرَى قَلْبُهُ، وَتَنَامُ عَيْنُهُ وَلاَ يَنَامُ قَلْبُهُ وَكَذَلِكَ الأَنْبِيَاءُ تَنَامُ أَعْيُنُهُمْ وَلاَ تَنَامُ قُلُوبُهُمْ، فَلَمْ يُكَلِّمُوهُ حَتَّى احْتَمَلُوهُ فَوَضَعُوهُ عِنْدَ بِئْرِ زَمْزَمَ فَتَوَلاَّهُ مِنْهُمْ جِبْرِيلُ فَشَقَّ جِبْرِيلُ مَا بَيْنَ نَحْرِهِ إِلَى لَبَّتِهِ حَتَّى فَرَغَ مِنْ صَدْرِهِ وَجَوْفِهِ، فَغَسَلَهُ مِنْ مَاءِ زَمْزَمَ بِيَدِهِ، حَتَّى أَنْقَى جَوْفَهُ، ثُمَّ أُتِيَ بِطَسْتٍ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ فِيهِ تَوْرٌ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ مَحْشُوًّا إِيمَانًا وَحِكْمَةً، فَحَشَا بِهِ صَدْرَهُ وَلَغَادِيدَهُ ـ يَعْنِي عُرُوقَ حَلْقِهِ ـ ثُمَّ أَطْبَقَهُ
Shareek ibn Abdillah said that he heard (Anas) bin Malik (radiallahu anhu) say: The night Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was taken for a journey from the masjid of the Kaabah (i.e. Masjid Al-Haram in Makkah), three people came to him before the Divine Inspiration was revealed to him whilst he was sleeping in Masjid Al-Haram. One of them said, “Which of them is he?” The middle (second) angel said, “He is the best of them.” The last (third) angel said, “Take the best of them.” Only that much happened on that night and he did not see them till they came on another night (i.e. after the Divine Inspiration was revealed to him) and he saw them, his eyes were asleep but his heart was not- and so is the case with the prophets: their eyes sleep while their hearts do not sleep. So those angels did not talk to him till they carried him and placed him beside the well of Zamzam. From among them Jibreel took charge of him. Jibreel cut open (the part of his body) between his throat and the middle of his chest (heart) and took all the material out of his chest and abdomen and then washed it with Zamzam water with his own hands till he cleansed the inside of his body, and then a gold tray containing a gold bowl full of belief and wisdom was brought and then Jibreel stuffed his chest and throat blood vessels with it and then closed it (the chest). [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 9, Hadeeth No. 608. This is part of a longer narration.]
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رضي الله عنه، قَالَ كَانَ أَبُو ذَرٍّ يُحَدِّثُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ : فُرِجَ عَنْ سَقْفِ بَيْتِي وَأَنَا بِمَكَّةَ، فَنَزَلَ جِبْرِيلُ فَفَرَجَ صَدْرِي، ثُمَّ غَسَلَهُ بِمَاءِ زَمْزَمَ، ثُمَّ جَاءَ بِطَسْتٍ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ مُمْتَلِئٍ حِكْمَةً وَإِيمَانًا، فَأَفْرَغَهُ فِي صَدْرِي ثُمَّ أَطْبَقَهُ
Narrated Anas ibn Malik (radiallahu anhu) that Abu Dhar (radiallahu anhu) used to say that Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “While I was at Makkah the roof of my house was opened and Jibreel descended, opened my chest, and washed it with Zamzam water. Then he brought a golden tray full of wisdom and faith and having poured its contents into my chest, he closed it. [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Hadeeth No. 345. This is part of a longer narration.]
2. Al-Buraq was brought to the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) which he then mounted to go to Bait Al-Maqdis
عن حذيفة رضي الله عنه قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: أُتِيتُ بالبُراقِ ، وهو دابةٌ أبيضُ طويلٌ ، يضعُ حافرَه عند مُنتهى طرفِه فلم نزايلْ ظهرَه أنا وجبريلُ حتى أتيتُ بيتَ المقدسِ ، ففُتِحتْ لي أبوابُ السماءِ ، ورأيتُ الجنَّةَ والنَّارَ
Hudhaifah (radiallahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “I was brought al-Buraq who was an animal white and long, who would place his hoof a distance equal to his range of vision. We did not dismount, I nor Jibreel, until we reached Bait Al-Maqdis. The skies of the heavens were opened for me, and I saw Paradise and Hellfire. [Sahih Al-Jaami, Hadeeth. Not 128]
عَنْ أَنَسٍ رضي الله عنه، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أُتِيَ بِالْبُرَاقِ لَيْلَةَ أُسْرِيَ بِهِ مُلْجَمًا مُسْرَجًا فَاسْتَصْعَبَ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ جِبْرِيلُ أَبِمُحَمَّدٍ تَفْعَلُ هَذَا فَمَا رَكِبَكَ أَحَدٌ أَكْرَمُ عَلَى اللَّهِ مِنْهُ قَالَ : فَارْفَضَّ عَرَقًا
عَنِ ابْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : “ لَمَّا انْتَهَيْنَا إِلَى بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ قَالَ جِبْرِيلُ بِإِصْبَعِهِ فَخَرَقَ بِهِ الْحَجَرَ وَشَدَّ بِهِ الْبُرَاقَ ” .
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رضي الله عنه، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ : أُتِيتُ بِالْبُرَاقِ – وَهُوَ دَابَّةٌ أَبْيَضُ طَوِيلٌ فَوْقَ الْحِمَارِ وَدُونَ الْبَغْلِ يَضَعُ حَافِرَهُ عِنْدَ مُنْتَهَى طَرْفِهِ – قَالَ فَرَكِبْتُهُ حَتَّى أَتَيْتُ بَيْتَ الْمَقْدِسِ – قَالَ – فَرَبَطْتُهُ بِالْحَلْقَةِ الَّتِي يَرْبِطُ بِهِ الأَنْبِيَاءُ
It is narrated on the authority of Anas ibn Malik (radiallahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: I was brought al-Buraq who was an animal white and long, larger than a donkey but smaller than a mule, who would place his hoof a distance equal to his range of vision. I mounted it and came to the Bait Maqdis (in Jerusalem), then tethered it to the ring used by the Prophets. [Sahih Muslim, Hadeeth No. 309. This is part of a longer narration.]
It is not proven that Al-Buraq had wings. The knowledge of that is with Allah. Also, it seems that Al-Buraq was ridden by the earlier Prophets (alaihimissalaam) as well, as alluded to in the previous hadeeth and explicitly stated in another narration as mentioned by Ibn Hajar.
3. He saw a few things on the way to Jerusalem
On the way to Jerusalem, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) passed by Musa’s (alaihissalaam) grave and saw him praying in it. This is the life of Al-Barzakh (the time between a person’s death and resurrection).
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رضي الله عنه، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ : أَتَيْتُ لَيْلَةَ أُسْرِيَ بِي عَلَى مُوسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ عِنْدَ الْكَثِيبِ الأَحْمَرِ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّي فِي قَبْرهِ .
The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) also smelt a beautiful fragrance on the way to Jerusalem.
عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: لمَّا كانتِ اللَّيلةُ الَّتي أُسريَ بي فيها؛ أتَت عليَّ رائِحةٌ طَيِّبةٌ، فقُلتُ: يا جِبريلُ، ما هذه الرَّائِحةُ الطَّيِبةُ؟ع فقال: هذه رائِحةُ ماشِطَةِ ابنَةِ فِرعَونَ وأَولادِها. قال: قُلتُ: وما شَأنُها؟ قال: بَينا هي تُمشِّطُ ابنَةَ فِرعَونَ ذاتَ يَومٍ، إذ سقَطَتِ المِدْرى مِن يَدَيْها، فقالت: بِسمِ اللهِ. فقالت لَها ابنَةُ فِرعَونَ: أبي؟ قالت: لا، ولكن رَبِّي ورَبُّ أَبيكِ، اللهُ. قالت: أُخبِرُه بذلك، قالت: نَعَمْ. فأخبَرَته، فدعاها، فقال: يا فُلانةُ، وإنَّ لكِ رَبًّا غَيري؟ قالت: نَعَمْ، رَبِّي ورَبُّكَ اللهُ. فأمَرَ بِبَقَرةٍ مِن نُحاسٍ فأُحميَت، ثم أمَرَ بِها أنْ تُلقى هي وَأَولادُها فيها، قالت له: إنَّ لي إليك حاجَةً. قال: وما حاجَتُكِ؟ قالت: أُحِبُّ أنْ تَجمَعَ عِظامي وعِظامَ وَلَدي في ثَوبٍ واحِدٍ، وتَدفِنَنا. قال: ذلك لكِ علينا مِن الحَقِّ. قال: فأمَرَ بأَولادِها فأُلقوا بيْنَ يَدَيْها، واحِدًا واحِدًا، إلى أنِ انتَهى ذلك إلى صَبيٍّ لها مُرضَعٍ، كأنَّها تقاعَسَت مِن أَجلِه، قال: يا أُمَّه، اقتَحِمي؛ فإنَّ عذابَ الدُّنيا أَهوَنُ مِن عَذابِ الآخِرَةِ، فاقتحَمَت. قال: قال ابنُ عبَّاسٍ: تكلَّمَ أَربعةٌ صِغارٌ: عيسى ابنُ مَريمَ عليه السَّلامُ، وصاحِبُ جُرَيجٍ، وشاهِدُ يوسُفَ، وابنُ ماشِطَةِ ابنَةِ فِرعَونَ
Ibn Abbas (radiallahu anhuma) said: Four infants spoke: Isa ibn Maryam (alaihissalam), the companion of Jurayj, the witness of Yusuf and the son of the hairdresser of Pharaoh’s daughter. [Musnad Ahmad, Hadeeth No. 2821. Shuaib Al-Arnaut said that its “isnaad” (chain of narrators) was “hasan” (good).]
Here’s a short explanation of some things mentioned in this story.
He also saw an evil jinn on the way.
عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ أُسْرِيَ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَرَأَى عِفْرِيتًا مِنَ الْجِنِّ يَطْلُبُهُ بِشُعْلَةٍ مِنْ نَارٍ كُلَّمَا الْتَفَتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَآهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ جِبْرِيلُ أَفَلاَ أُعَلِّمُكَ كَلِمَاتٍ تَقُولُهُنَّ إِذَا قُلْتَهُنَّ طَفِئَتْ شُعْلَتُهُ وَخَرَّ لِفِيهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : بَلَى . فَقَالَ جِبْرِيلُ فَقُلْ أَعُوذُ بِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ الْكَرِيمِ وَبِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ اللاَّتِي لاَ يُجَاوِزُهُنَّ بَرٌّ وَلاَ فَاجِرٌ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا يَنْزِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَشَرِّ مَا يَعْرُجُ فِيهَا وَشَرِّ مَا ذَرَأَ فِي الأَرْضِ وَشَرِّ مَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا وَمِنْ فِتَنِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَمِنْ طَوَارِقِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ إِلاَّ طَارِقًا يَطْرُقُ بِخَيْرٍ يَا رَحْمَنُ
Yahya ibn Said narrated: “When the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was taken on the Night Journey, he saw an evil jinn seeking him with a torch of fire. Whenever the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) turned, he saw him. Jibreel said to him, ‘Shall I teach you some words to say? When you say them, his torch will be put out and will fall from him.’ The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, ‘Yes, indeed.’ Jibreel said,
Audhu bi wajhi’llahi’ l-karim wa bi kalimati’llahi’t-tammati. Allati la yujawazu hunna barra wa la fajir, min sharri ma yanzil min as-sama, wa sharri ma yaruju fiha, wa sham ma dhara’ fi’l-ard, wa sharri ma yakhruju minha, wa min fitani’l-layli wa’n-nahar, wa min tawariqi’l-layli wa’n-nahar illa tariqan yatruq bikhayr ya Rahman!
‘Say, ‘I seek refuge with the Noble Face of Allah and with the complete words of Allah which neither the good person nor the corrupt can exceed, from the evil of what descends from the sky and the evil of what ascends in it, and from the evil of what is created in the earth and the evil of what comes out of it, and from the trials of the night and day, and from the visitations of the night and day, except for one that knocks with good, O Merciful!” “‘ [Muwatta Malik, Hadeeth No. 1908. Shaikh Salim Al-Hilaalee said that it was “hasan lighairihi” (good due to supporting narrations).]
There is another addition about the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) stopping and praying in three different places. Shaikh Zubair Ali Zaee graded this narration as being “hasan” (good). However, Shaikh Al-Albani weakened it and Imam Ibn Kathir said it contains strange things.
The Quran mentions the Prophet’s (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) journey to Masjid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem.
سُبْحَٰنَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِۦ لَيْلًا مِّنَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ إِلَى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْأَقْصَا ٱلَّذِى بَٰرَكْنَا حَوْلَهُۥ لِنُرِيَهُۥ مِنْ ءَايَٰتِنَآ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ
“Allah glorifies Himself, for His ability to do that which none but He can do, for there is no God but He and no Lord besides Him.
﴿ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَسۡرَىٰ بِعَبۡدِهِۦ ﴾
(Who took His servant for a Journey) refers to Muhammad
﴿ لَيۡلاً۬ ﴾
(by Night) means, in the depths of the night.
﴿ مِّنَ ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡحَرَامِ ﴾
(from Al-Masjid Al-Haram) means the Masjid in Makkah.
﴿ إِلَى ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡأَقۡصَا ﴾
(to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa,) means the Sacred House which is in Jerusalem, the origin of the Prophets from the time of Ibrahim Al-Khalil. The Prophets all gathered there, and he (Muhammad) led them in prayer in their own homeland. This indicates that he is the greatest leader of all, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and upon them.
﴿ ٱلَّذِى بَـٰرَكۡنَا حَوۡلَهُ ۥ ﴾
(the neighborhood whereof We have blessed) means, its agricultural produce and fruits are blessed
﴿ لِنُرِيَهُ ۥ ﴾
(in order that We might show him), i.e., Muhammad
﴿ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِنَآۚ ﴾
(of Our Ayat.) i.e., great signs. As Allah says:
﴿ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ ﴾
(Indeed he did see of the greatest signs, of his Lord (Allah).) (53:18) We will mention below what was narrated in the Sunnah concerning this.
﴿ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡبَصِيرُ ﴾
(Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.) means, He hears all the words of His servants, believers and disbelievers, faithful and infidel, and He sees them and gives each of them what he deserves in this world and the Hereafter.”
The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) led the other Prophets (alaihimissalaam) in prayer when he reached Bait Al-Maqdis.
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رضي الله عنه، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ” أُتِيتُ بِالْبُرَاقِ – وَهُوَ دَابَّةٌ أَبْيَضُ طَوِيلٌ فَوْقَ الْحِمَارِ وَدُونَ الْبَغْلِ يَضَعُ حَافِرَهُ عِنْدَ مُنْتَهَى طَرْفِهِ – قَالَ فَرَكِبْتُهُ حَتَّى أَتَيْتُ بَيْتَ الْمَقْدِسِ – قَالَ – فَرَبَطْتُهُ بِالْحَلْقَةِ الَّتِي يَرْبِطُ بِهِ الأَنْبِيَاءُ – قَالَ – ثُمَّ دَخَلْتُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَصَلَّيْتُ فِيهِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ خَرَجْتُ
It is narrated on the authority of Anas ibn Malik (radiallahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: I was brought al-Buraq who was an animal white and long, larger than a donkey but smaller than a mule, who would place his hoof a distance equal to the range of vision. I mounted it and came to the Bait Maqdis (in Jerusalem), then tethered it to the ring used by the Prophets. I entered the mosque and prayed two rakahs in it, and then came out. [Sahih Muslim, Hadeeth No. 309. This is part of a longer narration.]
فلمَّا دخل النبيُّ صلَّى اللهُ عليهِ وسلَّمَ المسجدَ الأقصَى قام يُصلِّي فالتفتَ ثم التفتَ فإذا النبيونَ أجمعونَ يُصلونَ معه
When the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) came to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, he stood up to pray, and all the Prophets gathered and prayed with him. [Musnad Ahmad, Hadeeth No. 2324. This narration was authenticated by Ahmad Shakir and Ibn Kathir (in his tafsir). However, it was weakened by Shuaib Al-Arnaut.]
Imam Ibn Kathir is of the opinion that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) led the other Prophets (alaihimissalam) in prayer after he came down from the heavens, and Allah knows Better. His words were quoted earlier (in the introduction to this section).
Some wonder how and why the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) led the other Prophets (alaihimissalaam) in prayer. The following three articles answer both of those questions.
5. Jibreel (alaihissalaam) asked the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) to choose between milk and wine
ثُمَّ دَخَلْتُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَصَلَّيْتُ فِيهِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ خَرَجْتُ فَجَاءَنِي جِبْرِيلُ – عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ – بِإِنَاءٍ مِنْ خَمْرٍ وَإِنَاءٍ مِنْ لَبَنٍ فَاخْتَرْتُ اللَّبَنَ فَقَالَ جِبْرِيلُ صلى الله عليه وسلم اخْتَرْتَ الْفِطْرَةَ . ثُمَّ عَرَجَ بِنَا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ
ثُمَّ أُتِيتُ بِإِنَاءَيْنِ، فِي أَحَدِهِمَا لَبَنٌ، وَفِي الآخَرِ خَمْرٌ فَقَالَ اشْرَبْ أَيَّهُمَا شِئْتَ. فَأَخَذْتُ اللَّبَنَ فَشَرِبْتُهُ فَقِيلَ أَخَذْتَ الْفِطْرَةَ، أَمَا إِنَّكَ لَوْ أَخَذْتَ الْخَمْرَ غَوَتْ أُمَّتُكَ
عن أَبي هُرَيْرَة ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أُتِيَ لَيْلَةَ أُسْرِيَ بِهِ بِإِيلِيَاءَ بِقَدَحَيْنِ مِنْ خَمْرٍ، وَلَبَنٍ فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهِمَا، ثُمَّ أَخَذَ اللَّبَنَ، فَقَالَ جِبْرِيلُ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي هَدَاكَ لِلْفِطْرَةِ، وَلَوْ أَخَذْتَ الْخَمْرَ غَوَتْ أُمَّتُكَ
Narrated Abu Hurairah (radiallahu anhu): On the night Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was taken on a night journey, two cups, one containing wine and the other milk, were presented to him at Jerusalem. He looked at it and took the cup of milk. Jibreel said, “Praise be to Allah Who guided you to Al-Fitrah (the right path); if you had taken (the cup of) wine, your nation would have gone astray.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Hadeeth No. 482]
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رضي الله عنه، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : “رُفِعْتُ إِلَى السِّدْرَةِ فَإِذَا أَرْبَعَةُ أَنْهَارٍ، نَهَرَانِ ظَاهِرَانِ، وَنَهَرَانِ بَاطِنَانِ، فَأَمَّا الظَّاهِرَانِ النِّيلُ وَالْفُرَاتُ، وَأَمَّا الْبَاطِنَانِ فَنَهَرَانِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ فَأُتِيتُ بِثَلاَثَةِ أَقْدَاحٍ، قَدَحٌ فِيهِ لَبَنٌ، وَقَدَحٌ فِيهِ عَسَلٌ، وَقَدَحٌ فِيهِ خَمْرٌ، فَأَخَذْتُ الَّذِي فِيهِ اللَّبَنُ فَشَرِبْتُ فَقِيلَ لِي أَصَبْتَ الْفِطْرَةَ أَنْتَ وَأُمَّتُكَ ”
6. Jibreel (alaihissalaam) took the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) up to the heavens
During this time, he met multiple Prophets (and also many angels). First, he met Adam (alaihissalaam), the father of humankind, in the lowest heaven.
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ صَعْصَعَةَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَدَّثَهُمْ عَنْ لَيْلَةَ أُسْرِيَ بِهِ “ بَيْنَمَا أَنَا فِي الْحَطِيمِ ـ وَرُبَّمَا قَالَ فِي الْحِجْرِ ـ مُضْطَجِعًا، إِذْ أَتَانِي آتٍ فَقَدَّ ـ قَالَ وَسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ فَشَقَّ ـ مَا بَيْنَ هَذِهِ إِلَى هَذِهِ ـ فَقُلْتُ لِلْجَارُودِ وَهْوَ إِلَى جَنْبِي مَا يَعْنِي بِهِ قَالَ مِنْ ثُغْرَةِ نَحْرِهِ إِلَى شِعْرَتِهِ، وَسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ مِنْ قَصِّهِ إِلَى شِعْرَتِهِ ـ فَاسْتَخْرَجَ قَلْبِي، ثُمَّ أُتِيتُ بِطَسْتٍ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ مَمْلُوءَةٍ إِيمَانًا، فَغُسِلَ قَلْبِي ثُمَّ حُشِيَ، ثُمَّ أُوتِيتُ بِدَابَّةٍ دُونَ الْبَغْلِ وَفَوْقَ الْحِمَارِ أَبْيَضَ ”. ـ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْجَارُودُ هُوَ الْبُرَاقُ يَا أَبَا حَمْزَةَ قَالَ أَنَسٌ نَعَمْ، يَضَعُ خَطْوَهُ عِنْدَ أَقْصَى طَرْفِهِ ـ ” فَحُمِلْتُ عَلَيْهِ، فَانْطَلَقَ بِي جِبْرِيلُ حَتَّى أَتَى السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا فَاسْتَفْتَحَ، فَقِيلَ مَنْ هَذَا قَالَ جِبْرِيلُ. قِيلَ وَمَنْ مَعَكَ قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ. قِيلَ وَقَدْ أُرْسِلَ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ. قِيلَ مَرْحَبًا بِهِ، فَنِعْمَ الْمَجِيءُ جَاءَ فَفَتَحَ، فَلَمَّا خَلَصْتُ، فَإِذَا فِيهَا آدَمُ، فَقَالَ هَذَا أَبُوكَ آدَمُ فَسَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِ. فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَرَدَّ السَّلاَمَ ثُمَّ قَالَ مَرْحَبًا بِالاِبْنِ الصَّالِحِ وَالنَّبِيِّ الصَّالِحِ
Narrated Anas bin Malik (radiallahu anhu): Malik bin Sasaa (radiallahu anhu) said that Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) described to them his Night Journey saying, “While I was lying in Al-Hatim or Al-Hijr, suddenly someone came to me and cut my body open from here to here.” I asked Al-Jarud who was by my side, “What does he mean?” He said, “It means from his throat to his pubic area,” or said, “From the top of the chest.”
The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) further said, “He then took out my heart. Then a gold tray of Belief was brought to me and my heart was washed and was filled (with Belief) and then returned to its original place. Then a white animal which was smaller than a mule and bigger than a donkey was brought to me.” (On this Al-Jarud asked, “Was it the Buraq, O Abu Hamza?” I (i.e. Anas) replied in the affirmative). The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “The animal’s step (was so wide that it) reached the farthest point within the reach of the animal’s sight. I was carried on it, and Jibreel set out with me till we reached the nearest heaven.
When he asked for the gate to be opened, it was asked, ‘Who is it?’ Jibreel answered, ‘Jibreel.’ It was asked, ‘Who is accompanying you?’ Jibreel replied, ‘Muhammad.’ It was asked, ‘Has Muhammad been called?’ Jibreel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, ‘He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!’ The gate was opened, and when I went over the first heaven, I saw Adam there. Jibreel said (to me). ‘This is your father, Adam; pay him your greetings.’ So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, ‘You are welcomed, O pious son and pious Prophet.’ [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 5, Hadeeth No. 227. This is part of a longer narration.]
ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِيَدِي فَعَرَجَ بِي إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا، فَلَمَّا جِئْتُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا قَالَ جِبْرِيلُ لِخَازِنِ السَّمَاءِ افْتَحْ. قَالَ مَنْ هَذَا قَالَ هَذَا جِبْرِيلُ. قَالَ هَلْ مَعَكَ أَحَدٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ مَعِي مُحَمَّدٌ صلى الله عليه وسلم. فَقَالَ أُرْسِلَ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ. فَلَمَّا فَتَحَ عَلَوْنَا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا، فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ قَاعِدٌ عَلَى يَمِينِهِ أَسْوِدَةٌ وَعَلَى يَسَارِهِ أَسْوِدَةٌ، إِذَا نَظَرَ قِبَلَ يَمِينِهِ ضَحِكَ، وَإِذَا نَظَرَ قِبَلَ يَسَارِهِ بَكَى، فَقَالَ مَرْحَبًا بِالنَّبِيِّ الصَّالِحِ وَالاِبْنِ الصَّالِحِ. قُلْتُ لِجِبْرِيلَ مَنْ هَذَا قَالَ هَذَا آدَمُ. وَهَذِهِ الأَسْوِدَةُ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَشِمَالِهِ نَسَمُ بَنِيهِ، فَأَهْلُ الْيَمِينِ مِنْهُمْ أَهْلُ الْجَنَّةِ، وَالأَسْوِدَةُ الَّتِي عَنْ شِمَالِهِ أَهْلُ النَّارِ، فَإِذَا نَظَرَ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ ضَحِكَ، وَإِذَا نَظَرَ قِبَلَ شِمَالِهِ بَكَى،
Then he took my hand and ascended with me to the nearest heaven, when I reached the nearest heaven, Jibreel said to the gatekeeper of the heaven, ‘Open (the gate).’ The gatekeeper asked, ‘Who is it?’ Jibreel answered: ‘Jibreel.’ He asked, ‘Is there anyone with you?’ Jibreel replied, ‘Yes, Muhammad I is with me.’ He asked, ‘Has he been called?’ Jibreel said, ‘Yes.’ So the gate was opened and we went over the nearest heaven and there we saw a man sitting with some people on his right and some on his left. When he looked towards his right, he laughed and when he looked toward his left he wept. Then he said, ‘Welcome! O pious Prophet and pious son.’ I asked Jibreel, ‘Who is he?’ He replied, ‘He is Adam and the people on his right and left are the souls of his offspring. Those on his right are the people of Paradise and those on his left are the people of Hell and when he looks towards his right he laughs and when he looks towards his left he weeps.’ [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Hadeeth No. 345. This is part of a longer narration.]
Then he went to the second heaven where he met Isa and Yahya (alaihimissalaam), who were both related to each other.
ثُمَّ صَعِدَ حَتَّى أَتَى السَّمَاءَ الثَّانِيَةَ فَاسْتَفْتَحَ، قِيلَ مَنْ هَذَا قَالَ جِبْرِيلُ. قِيلَ وَمَنْ مَعَكَ قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ. قِيلَ وَقَدْ أُرْسِلَ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ. قِيلَ مَرْحَبًا بِهِ فَنِعْمَ الْمَجِيءُ جَاءَ. فَفَتَحَ، فَلَمَّا خَلَصْتُ، إِذَا يَحْيَى وَعِيسَى، وَهُمَا ابْنَا الْخَالَةِ قَالَ هَذَا يَحْيَى وَعِيسَى فَسَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِمَا. فَسَلَّمْتُ فَرَدَّا، ثُمَّ قَالاَ مَرْحَبًا بِالأَخِ الصَّالِحِ وَالنَّبِيِّ الصَّالِحِ
Then Jibreel ascended with me till we reached the second heaven. Jibreel asked for the gate to be opened. It was asked, ‘Who is it?’ Jibreel answered, ‘Jibreel.’ It was asked, ‘Who is accompanying you?’ Jibreel replied, ‘Muhammad.’ It was asked, ‘Has he been called?’ Jibreel answered in the affirmative. Then it was said, ‘He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!’ The gate was opened. When I went over the second heaven, there I saw Yahya and Isa who were cousins of each other. Jibreel said (to me), ‘These are Yahya and Isa; pay them your greetings.’ So I greeted them and both of them returned my greetings to me and said, ‘You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.’ [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 5, Hadeeth No. 227. This is part of a longer narration.]
After meeting Isa and Yahya (alaihissalaam), the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) met Yusuf (alaihissalaam) in the third heaven.
Then Jibreel ascended with me to the third heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, ‘Who is it?’ Jibreel replied, ‘Jibreel.’ It was asked, ‘Who is accompanying you?’ Jibreel replied, ‘Muhammad.’ It was asked, ‘Has he been called?’ Jibreel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, ‘He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his is!’
The gate was opened, and when I went over the third heaven there I saw Yusuf. Jibreel said (to me), ‘This is Yusuf; pay him your greetings.’ So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, ‘You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.’ [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 5, Hadeeth No. 227. This is part of a longer narration.]
ثُمَّ عَرَجَ بِي إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الثَّالِثَةِ فَاسْتَفْتَحَ جِبْرِيلُ . فَقِيلَ مَنْ أَنْتَ قَالَ جِبْرِيلُ . قِيلَ وَمَنْ مَعَكَ قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ صلى الله عليه وسلم . قِيلَ وَقَدْ بُعِثَ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ قَدْ بُعِثَ إِلَيْهِ . فَفُتِحَ لَنَا فَإِذَا أَنَا بِيُوسُفَ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا هُوَ قَدْ أُعْطِيَ شَطْرَ الْحُسْنِ فَرَحَّبَ وَدَعَا لِي بِخَيْرٍ
Then I was taken to the third heaven and Jibreel asked for the opening (of the door). He was asked: Who are you? He replied: Jibreel. He was (again) asked: Who is with you? He replied Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). It was said: Has he been sent for? He replied He has indeed been sent for. (The gate) was opened for us and I saw Yusuf (alaihissalaam) who had been given half of (world) beauty. He welcomed me and prayed for my well-being. [Sahih Muslim, Hadeeth No. 309. This is part of a longer narration.]
Some women in Yusuf’s (alaihissalaam) time were so astounded by his beauty that they thought he might be an angel.
وَقَالَ نِسْوَةٌ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ امْرَأَتُ الْعَزِيزِ تُرَاوِدُ فَتَاهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِ ۖ قَدْ شَغَفَهَا حُبًّا ۖ إِنَّا لَنَرَاهَا فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ
فَلَمَّا سَمِعَتْ بِمَكْرِهِنَّ أَرْسَلَتْ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَعْتَدَتْ لَهُنَّ مُتَّكَأً وَآتَتْ كُلَّ وَاحِدَةٍ مِّنْهُنَّ سِكِّينًا وَقَالَتِ اخْرُجْ عَلَيْهِنَّ ۖ فَلَمَّا رَأَيْنَهُ أَكْبَرْنَهُ وَقَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ وَقُلْنَ حَاشَ لِلَّهِ مَا هَٰذَا بَشَرًا إِنْ هَٰذَا إِلَّا مَلَكٌ كَرِيمٌ
And women in the city said: “The wife of Al-Aziz is seeking to seduce her (slave) young man, indeed she loves him violently; verily we see her in plain error.”
So when she heard of their accusation, she sent for them and prepared a banquet for them; she gave each one of them a knife (to cut the foodstuff with), and she said [(to Yusuf (Joseph)]: “Come out before them.” Then, when they saw him, they exalted him (at his beauty) and (in their astonishment) cut their hands. They said: “How perfect is Allah (or Allah forbid)! No man is this! This is none other than a noble angel!” [Surah Yusuf (12) : 30 – 31]
After meeting Yusuf (alaihissalaam), the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) ascended to the fourth heaven where he met Idris (alaihissalaam).
ثُمَّ صَعِدَ بِي حَتَّى أَتَى السَّمَاءَ الرَّابِعَةَ، فَاسْتَفْتَحَ، قِيلَ مَنْ هَذَا قَالَ جِبْرِيلُ. قِيلَ وَمَنْ مَعَكَ قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ. قِيلَ أَوَقَدْ أُرْسِلَ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ. قِيلَ مَرْحَبًا بِهِ، فَنِعْمَ الْمَجِيءُ جَاءَ. فَفُتِحَ، فَلَمَّا خَلَصْتُ إِلَى إِدْرِيسَ قَالَ هَذَا إِدْرِيسُ فَسَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِ. فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَرَدَّ ثُمَّ قَالَ مَرْحَبًا بِالأَخِ الصَّالِحِ وَالنَّبِيِّ الصَّالِحِ
Then Jibreel ascended with me to the fourth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, ‘Who is it?’ Jibreel replied, ‘Jibreel’ It was asked, ‘Who is accompanying you?’ Jibreel replied, ‘Muhammad.’ It was asked, ‘Has he been called?’ Jibreel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, ‘He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his is!’ The gate was opened, and when I went over the fourth heaven, there I saw Idris. Jibreel said (to me), ‘This is Idris; pay him your greetings.’ So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, ‘You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.’ [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 5, Hadeeth No. 227. This is part of a longer narration.]
ثُمَّ عَرَجَ بِنَا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الرَّابِعَةِ فَاسْتَفْتَحَ جِبْرِيلُ – عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ – قِيلَ مَنْ هَذَا قَالَ جِبْرِيلُ . قِيلَ وَمَنْ مَعَكَ قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ . قَالَ وَقَدْ بُعِثَ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ قَدْ بُعِثَ إِلَيْهِ . فَفُتِحَ لَنَا فَإِذَا أَنَا بِإِدْرِيسَ فَرَحَّبَ وَدَعَا لِي بِخَيْرٍ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ { وَرَفَعْنَاهُ مَكَانًا عَلِيًّا}
Then he ascended with us to the fourth heaven. Jibreel (alaihissalaam) asked for the (gate) to be opened, and it was said: Who is he? He replied: Jibreel. It was (again) said: Who is with you? He said: Muhammad. It was said: Has he been sent for? He replied: He has indeed been sent for. The (gate) was opened for us, and lo! Idris was there. He welcomed me and prayed for my well-being. (About him) Allah, the Exalted and the Glorious, has said:
وَرَفَعْنَٰهُ مَكَانًا عَلِيًّا
And We raised him to a high station. [Surah Maryam (19) : 57]
[Sahih Muslim, Hadeeth No. 309. This is part of a longer narration.]
Then he ascended to the fifth heaven, where he met Haroon (alaihissalaam).
ثُمَّ صَعِدَ بِي حَتَّى أَتَى السَّمَاءَ الْخَامِسَةَ، فَاسْتَفْتَحَ، قِيلَ مَنْ هَذَا قَالَ جِبْرِيلُ. قِيلَ وَمَنْ مَعَكَ قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ صلى الله عليه وسلم. قِيلَ وَقَدْ أُرْسِلَ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ. قِيلَ مَرْحَبًا بِهِ، فَنِعْمَ الْمَجِيءُ جَاءَ. فَلَمَّا خَلَصْتُ فَإِذَا هَارُونُ قَالَ هَذَا هَارُونُ فَسَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِ. فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَرَدَّ ثُمَّ قَالَ مَرْحَبًا بِالأَخِ الصَّالِحِ وَالنَّبِيِّ الصَّالِحِ.
Then Jibreel ascended with me to the fifth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, ‘Who is it?’ Jibreel replied, ‘Jibreel.’ It was asked. ‘Who is accompanying you?’ Jibreel replied, ‘Muhammad.’ It was asked, ‘Has he been called?’ Jibreel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said: He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his is! So when I went over the fifth heaven, there I saw Harun. Jibreel said, (to me). This is Harun; pay him your greetings.’ I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, ‘You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.’ [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 5, Hadeeth No. 227. This is part of a longer narration.]
In the sixth heaven, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) met Haroon’s (alaihissalaam) brother, Musa (alaihissalaam).
ثُمَّ صَعِدَ بِي حَتَّى أَتَى السَّمَاءَ السَّادِسَةَ، فَاسْتَفْتَحَ، قِيلَ مَنْ هَذَا قَالَ جِبْرِيلُ. قِيلَ مَنْ مَعَكَ قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ. قِيلَ وَقَدْ أُرْسِلَ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ. قَالَ مَرْحَبًا بِهِ، فَنِعْمَ الْمَجِيءُ جَاءَ، فَلَمَّا خَلَصْتُ، فَإِذَا مُوسَى قَالَ هَذَا مُوسَى فَسَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِ، فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَرَدَّ ثُمَّ قَالَ مَرْحَبًا بِالأَخِ الصَّالِحِ وَالنَّبِيِّ الصَّالِحِ. فَلَمَّا تَجَاوَزْتُ بَكَى، قِيلَ لَهُ مَا يُبْكِيكَ قَالَ أَبْكِي لأَنَّ غُلاَمًا بُعِثَ بَعْدِي، يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ مِنْ أُمَّتِهِ أَكْثَرُ مَنْ يَدْخُلُهَا مِنْ أُمَّتِي
Then Jibreel ascended with me to the sixth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked. ‘Who is it?’ Jibreel replied, ‘Jibreel.’ It was asked, ‘Who is accompanying you?’ Jibreel replied, ‘Muhammad.’ It was asked, ‘Has he been called?’ Jibreel replied in the affirmative. It was said, ‘He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!’ When I went (over the sixth heaven), there I saw Musa. Jibreel said (to me),’ This is Musa; pay him your greeting. So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said, ‘You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.’ When I left him (i.e. Musa) he wept. Someone asked him, ‘What makes you weep?’ Moses said, ‘I weep because after me there has been sent (as Prophet) a young man whose followers will enter Paradise in greater numbers than my followers.’ [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 5, Hadeeth No. 227. This is part of a longer narration.]
Then he ascended to the seventh heaven and met his ancestor, Ibrahim (alaihissalaam).
ثُمَّ صَعِدَ بِي إِلَى السَّمَاءِ السَّابِعَةِ، فَاسْتَفْتَحَ جِبْرِيلُ، قِيلَ مَنْ هَذَا قَالَ جِبْرِيلُ. قِيلَ وَمَنْ مَعَكَ قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ. قِيلَ وَقَدْ بُعِثَ إِلَيْهِ. قَالَ نَعَمْ. قَالَ مَرْحَبًا بِهِ، فَنِعْمَ الْمَجِيءُ جَاءَ فَلَمَّا خَلَصْتُ، فَإِذَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ قَالَ هَذَا أَبُوكَ فَسَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِ. قَالَ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ، فَرَدَّ السَّلاَمَ قَالَ مَرْحَبًا بِالاِبْنِ الصَّالِحِ وَالنَّبِيِّ الصَّالِحِ
Then Jibreel ascended with me to the seventh heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, ‘Who is it?’ Jibreel replied, ‘Jibreel.’ It was asked,’ Who is accompanying you?’ Jibreel replied, ‘Muhammad.’ It was asked, ‘Has he been called?’ Jibreel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, ‘He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!’ So when I went (over the seventh heaven), there I saw Ibrahim. Jibreel said (to me), ‘This is your father; pay your greetings to him.’ So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said, ‘You are welcomed, O pious son and pious Prophet.’ [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 5, Hadeeth No. 227. This is part of a longer narration.]
عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ رضي الله عنه، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : لَقِيتُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لَيْلَةَ أُسْرِيَ بِي فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ أَقْرِئْ أُمَّتَكَ مِنِّي السَّلاَمَ وَأَخْبِرْهُمْ أَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ طَيِّبَةُ التُّرْبَةِ عَذْبَةُ الْمَاءِ وَأَنَّهَا قِيعَانٌ وَأَنَّ غِرَاسَهَا سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
عن سالم بن عبد الله أخبرني أيوب الأنصاري رضي الله عنه: أنَّ رسولَ اللهِ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ لَيْلةَ أُسرِيَ به مَرَّ على إبراهيمَ، فقال: مَن معك يا جِبريلُ؟ قال: هذا مُحمَّدٌ، فقال له إبراهيمُ: مُرْ أُمَّتَك فلْيُكثِروا مِن غِراسِ الجَنَّةِ؛ فإنَّ تُربَتَها طيِّبةٌ، وأرضَها واسعةٌ، قال: وما غِراسُ الجَنَّةِ؟ قال: لا حَولَ ولا قُوَّةَ إلَّا باللهِ
Salim ibn Abdullah narrated that Abu Ayyoub al-Ansari (radiallahu anhu) informed him that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) met Ibrahim on the night I was taken up to heaven, and he said, “Who is with you O Jibreel”. He (Jibreel) said: “This is Muhammad.” So Ibrahim told him: “O Muhammad, order your nation to increase in the plants of Paradise, for paradise has good soil and wide land. He (the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: What are the plants of Paradise? He (Ibrahim) said: La hawla wa laa quwwata illaa billah (there is no power and no strength except with Allah). [Musnad Ahmad, Hadeeth No. 23552. This narration was weakened by Shuaib Al-Arnaut but authenticated by Al-Albani in Sahih At-Targheeb Wat-Tarheeb, Hadeeth No. 1583.]
In the seventh heaven, he also saw Bait Al-Mamoor (the Much-Frequented House) – which is where the angels go for pilgrimage:
ثُمَّ عَرَجَ بِنَا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ السَّابِعَةِ فَاسْتَفْتَحَ جِبْرِيلُ فَقِيلَ مَنْ هَذَا قَالَ جِبْرِيلُ . قِيلَ وَمَنْ مَعَكَ قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ صلى الله عليه وسلم . قِيلَ وَقَدْ بُعِثَ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ قَدْ بُعِثَ إِلَيْهِ . فَفُتِحَ لَنَا فَإِذَا أَنَا بِإِبْرَاهِيمَ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُسْنِدًا ظَهْرَهُ إِلَى الْبَيْتِ الْمَعْمُورِ وَإِذَا هُوَ يَدْخُلُهُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ سَبْعُونَ أَلْفَ مَلَكٍ لاَ يَعُودُونَ إِلَيْهِ
Then I was taken up to the seventh heaven. Jibreel asked the (gate) to be opened. It was said: Who is he? He said: Jibreel It was said. Who is with you? He replied: Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) It was said: Has he been sent for? He replied: He has indeed been sent for. (The gate) was opened for us and there I found Ibrahim (alaihissalaam) reclining against the Bait-ul-Mamur and there enter into it seventy thousand angels every day, never to visit (this place) again. [Sahih Muslim, Hadeeth No. 309. This is part of a longer narration.]
Allah swears by Bait Al-Mamoor in the Quran:
وَٱلْبَيْتِ ٱلْمَعْمُورِ
And by the Bait-ul-Mamur (the house over the heavens parallel to the Kabah at Makkah, continuously visited by the angels) [Surah At-Tur (52:4]
Ibn Kathir states in his explanation of the above ayah (verse):
“In the Two Sahihs it is confirmed that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said in the Hadith about Al-Israa, after ascending to the seventh heaven:
« ثُمَّ رُفِعَ بِي إِلَى الْبَيْتِ الْمَعْمُورِ، وَإِذَا هُوَ يَدْخُلُهُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ سَبْعُونَ أَلْفًا، لَا يَعُودُونَ إِلَيْهِ آخِرَ مَا عَلَيْهِم »
(Then, I was taken to Al-Bayt Al-Mamur. It is visited every day by seventy thousand angels who will not come back to visit it again.) The angels worship Allah in Al-Bayt Al-Mamur and perform Tawaf around it just as the people of the earth perform Tawaf around the Kabah. Al-Bayt Al-Mamur is the Kabah of those who reside in the seventh heaven. During the Israa journey, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) saw Ibrahim Al-Khalil, who was reclining with his back on Al-Bayt Al-Mamur. It was Ibrahim who built the Kabah on earth, and surely, the reward is compatible with the action. Al-Bayt Al-Mamur is parallel to the Kabah; every heaven has its own house of worship, which is also the direction of prayer for its residents. The house that is located in the lower heaven, is called Bayt Al-Izzah. And Allah knows best.”
7. The angels advised the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) to do cupping
On this night, the angels advised the Prophet (sallallahi alaihi wasallam) to get cupped.
عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رضي الله عنهما، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ : مَا مَرَرْتُ لَيْلَةَ أُسْرِيَ بِي بِمَلإٍ مِنَ الْمَلاَئِكَةِ إِلاَّ كُلُّهُمْ يَقُولُ لِي عَلَيْكَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ بِالْحِجَامَةِ
عن أَنَس بْن مَالِكٍ رضي الله عنه، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ : مَا مَرَرْتُ لَيْلَةَ أُسْرِيَ بِي بِمَلإٍ إِلاَّ قَالُوا يَا مُحَمَّدُ مُرْ أُمَّتَكَ بِالْحِجَامَةِ
The Darussalam translation of Sunan Ibn Majah had the following two comments after Hadeeth No. 3477:
عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رضي الله عنه، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ : الشِّفَاءُ فِي ثَلاَثَةٍ شَرْطَةِ مِحْجَمٍ، أَوْ شَرْبَةِ عَسَلٍ، أَوْ كَيَّةٍ بِنَارٍ، وَأَنْهَى أُمَّتِي عَنِ الْكَىِّ
Cauterization (also referred to as branding) is disliked, not forbidden. It is better not to do it. It so happened that one of the Companions of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) did end up getting cauterized and something rather unfortunate happened.
عَنْ مُطَرِّفٍ، قَالَ قَالَ لِي عِمْرَانُ بْنُ حُصَيْنٍ رضي الله عنه أُحَدِّثُكَ حَدِيثًا عَسَى اللَّهُ أَنْ يَنْفَعَكَ بِهِ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم جَمَعَ بَيْنَ حَجَّةٍ وَعُمْرَةٍ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَنْهَ عَنْهُ حَتَّى مَاتَ وَلَمْ يَنْزِلْ فِيهِ قُرْآنٌ يُحَرِّمُهُ وَقَدْ كَانَ يُسَلَّمُ عَلَىَّ حَتَّى اكْتَوَيْتُ فَتُرِكْتُ ثُمَّ تَرَكْتُ الْكَىَّ فَعَادَ
Mutarrif narrated that Imran bin Husain (radiallahu anhuma) said to him: I am narrating to you a hadith by which Allah will benefit you (and the hadith is) that Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) combined Hajj and Umrah, and he did not forbid (this combination) till he died. (Moreover) nothing was revealed in the Holy Quran which forbade it.
And I was sent salutations till I was cauterized and then it (the salutations) was abandoned. I then abandoned branding and it (the salutations) was restored. [Sahih Muslim, Hadeeth No. 2826]
Whose salutations were they? Imam Abu Dawood explained it to us.
عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ رضي الله عنه، قَالَ نَهَى النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ الْكَىِّ فَاكْتَوَيْنَا فَمَا أَفْلَحْنَ وَلاَ أَنْجَحْنَ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَكَانَ يَسْمَعُ تَسْلِيمَ الْمَلاَئِكَةِ فَلَمَّا اكْتَوَى انْقَطَعَ عَنْهُ فَلَمَّا تَرَكَ رَجَعَ إِلَيْهِ
Narrated Imran ibn Husayn (radiallahu anhuma): The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) forbade to cauterise; we cauterised but they (cauterisation) did not benefit us, nor proved useful for us.
Abu Dawud said: He used to hear the salutation of the angels: When he cauterized, it stopped. When he abandoned it, it returned to him. [Sunan Abee Dawood, Hadeeth No. 3865. Graded “sahih” (authentic) by Al-Albani.]
8. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was taken up to Sidratul Muntaha
He saw four rivers there.
ثُمَّ رُفِعَتْ لِي سِدْرَةُ الْمُنْتَهَى، فَإِذَا نَبِقُهَا مِثْلُ قِلاَلِ هَجَرَ، وَإِذَا وَرَقُهَا مِثْلُ آذَانِ الْفِيَلَةِ قَالَ هَذِهِ سِدْرَةُ الْمُنْتَهَى، وَإِذَا أَرْبَعَةُ أَنْهَارٍ نَهْرَانِ بَاطِنَانِ، وَنَهْرَانِ ظَاهِرَانِ. فَقُلْتُ مَا هَذَانِ يَا جِبْرِيلُ قَالَ أَمَّا الْبَاطِنَانِ، فَنَهَرَانِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَأَمَّا الظَّاهِرَانِ فَالنِّيلُ وَالْفُرَاتُ
Then I was made to ascend to Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (i.e. the Lote Tree of the utmost boundary) Behold! Its fruits were like the jars of Hajr (i.e. a place near Madinah) and its leaves were as big as the ears of elephants. Jibreel said, ‘This is the Lote Tree of the utmost boundary) . Behold! There ran four rivers, two were hidden and two were visible, I asked, ‘What are these two kinds of rivers, O Jibreel?’ He replied,’ As for the hidden rivers, they are two rivers in Paradise and the visible rivers are the Nile and the Euphrates.’ [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 5, Hadeeth No. 227. This is part of a longer narration.]
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ رضي الله عنه، قَالَ لَمَّا بَلَغَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم سِدْرَةَ الْمُنْتَهَى قَالَ ” انْتَهَى إِلَيْهَا مَا يَعْرُجُ مِنَ الأَرْضِ وَمَا يَنْزِلُ مِنْ فَوْقَ . قَالَ فَأَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ عِنْدَهَا ثَلاَثًا لَمْ يُعْطِهِنَّ نَبِيًّا كَانَ قَبْلَهُ فُرِضَتْ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلاَةُ خَمْسًا وَأُعْطِيَ خَوَاتِمَ سُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ وَغُفِرَ لأُمَّتِهِ الْمُقْحِمَاتُ مَا لَمْ يُشْرِكُوا بِاللَّهِ شَيْئًا ” . قَالَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ : ( إذْ يَغْشَى السِّدْرَةَ مَا يَغْشَى ) قَالَ السِّدْرَةُ فِي السَّمَاءِ السَّادِسَةِ . قَالَ سُفْيَانُ فَرَاشٌ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ وَأَشَارَ سُفْيَانُ بِيَدِهِ فَأَرْعَدَهَا وَقَالَ غَيْرُ مَالِكِ بْنِ مِغْوَلٍ إِلَيْهَا يَنْتَهِي عِلْمُ الْخَلْقِ لاَ عِلْمَ لَهُمْ بِمَا فَوْقَ ذَلِكَ
إِذْ يَغْشَى ٱلسِّدْرَةَ مَا يَغْشَىٰ
When that covered the lote-tree which did cover it! [Surah An-Najm (53) : 16]
ثُمَّ رُفِعَتْ لِي سِدْرَةُ الْمُنْتَهَى فَرَأَيْتُ عِنْدَهَا نُورًا عَظِيمًا
ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَ بِي جِبْرِيلُ حَتَّى نَأْتِيَ سِدْرَةَ الْمُنْتَهَى فَغَشِيَهَا أَلْوَانٌ لاَ أَدْرِي مَا هِيَ
ثُمَّ ذَهَبَ بِي إِلَى السِّدْرَةِ الْمُنْتَهَى وَإِذَا وَرَقُهَا كَآذَانِ الْفِيَلَةِ وَإِذَا ثَمَرُهَا كَالْقِلاَلِ – قَالَ – فَلَمَّا غَشِيَهَا مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ مَا غَشِيَ تَغَيَّرَتْ فَمَا أَحَدٌ مِنْ خَلْقِ اللَّهِ يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَنْعَتَهَا مِنْ حُسْنِهَا
فلمَّا غشِيَها من أَمرِ اللهِ ما غشِيَها، تَحوَّلَتْ ياقوتًا، أو زُمُرُّدًا، أو نَحوَ ذلك
When it was covered with whatever covered it by the command of Allaah, it changed to a ruby or an emerald or something similar. [Musnad Ahmad, Hadeeth No. 12301. Shuaib Al-Arnaut stated that its “isnaad” (chain of narrators) was “sahih” (authentic) upon the condition of Al-Bukhari and Muslim.]
9. He saw some things in Paradise
عن حذيفة رضي الله عنه قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: أُتِيتُ بالبُراقِ ، وهو دابةٌ أبيضُ طويلٌ ، يضعُ حافرَه عند مُنتهى طرفِه فلم نزايلْ ظهرَه أنا وجبريلُ حتى أتيتُ بيتَ المقدسِ ، ففُتِحتْ لي أبوابُ السماءِ ، ورأيتُ الجنَّةَ والنَّارَ
Hudhaifah (radiallahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “I was brought al-Buraq who was an animal white and long, who would place his hoof a distance equal to his range of vision. We did not dismount, I nor Jibreel, until we reached Bait Al-Maqdis. The skies of the heavens were opened for me, and I saw Paradise and Hellfire. [Sahih Al-Jaami, Hadeeth. Not 128]
ثُمَّ أُدْخِلْتُ الْجَنَّةَ فَإِذَا فِيهَا جَنَابِذُ اللُّؤْلُؤِ وَإِذَا تُرَابُهَا الْمِسْكُ
عَنْ أَنَسٍ رضي الله عنه، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : بَيْنَا أَنَا أَسِيرُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ إِذْ عَرَضَ لِي نَهْرٌ حَافَّتَاهُ قِبَابُ اللُّؤْلُؤِ . قُلْتُ لِلْمَلَكِ مَا هَذَا قَالَ هَذَا الْكَوْثَرُ الَّذِي أَعْطَاكَهُ اللَّهُ قَالَ ثُمَّ ضَرَبَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى طِينَةٍ فَاسْتَخْرَجَ مِسْكًا ثُمَّ رُفِعَتْ لِي سِدْرَةُ الْمُنْتَهَى فَرَأَيْتُ عِنْدَهَا نُورًا عَظِيمًا
عن أنس رضي الله عنه قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : دخَلْتُ الجَنَّةَ، فإذا أنا بنَهرٍ حافَتاه خيامُ اللُّؤلُؤِ، فضرَبْتُ بيَدي إلى ما يَجْري فيه الماءُ، فإذا مِسكٌ أَذفَرُ، قُلْتُ: ما هذا يا جِبريلُ؟ قال: هذا الكَوثَرُ الذي أَعْطاكَه اللهُ
Anas (radiallahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: I entered Paradise and I came to a river whose banks had tents made of pearls. So I thrust my hand into its flowing water and found that it was the strongest (smell) of musk. So I asked, “O Jibreel! What is this” He replied, “This is Al-Kauthar which Allah, the Mighty and Majestic has given you.” [Musnad Ahmad, Hadeeth No. 12008. Shuaib Al-Arnaut said that its “isnaad” (chain of narrators) was “sahih” (authentic) upon the conditions of the two Shaikhs (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim).]
إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ رضي الله عنه، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : الْكَوْثَرُ نَهْرٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ حَافَّتَاهُ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ وَمَجْرَاهُ عَلَى الدُّرِّ وَالْيَاقُوتِ تُرْبَتُهُ أَطْيَبُ مِنَ الْمِسْكِ وَمَاؤُهُ أَحْلَى مِنَ الْعَسَلِ وَأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الثَّلْجِ
Abdullah bin Umar (radiallahu anhuma) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Al-Kauthar is a river in Paradise, whose banks are of gold, and its bed is of pearls and rubies. Its soil is purer than musk, and its water is sweeter than honey and whiter than snow.” [Jaami At-Tirmidhi, Hadeeth No. 3361. Graded “sahih” (authentic) by Al-Albani.]
The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) also heard something in Paradise.
عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال : ليلةَ أُسرِيَ بنبيِّ اللهِ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ دخَل الجنَّةَ، فسمِعَ مِن جانِبِها وَجْسًا، قال: يا جِبْريلُ ما هذا؟ قال: هذا بلالٌ المؤذِّنُ، فقال نبيُّ اللهِ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ حينَ جاء إلى الناسِ: قد أفلَحَ بلالٌ، رأيتُ له كذا وكذا
It was narrated that Ibn Abbas (radiallahu anhuma) said: On the night when the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was taken on the Night Journey (Israa), he entered Paradise and heard a sound in some part of it. He said: “Oh Jibreel, what is this? He said: This is Bilal, the muadhdhin (the one who calls to prayer). When he came to the people, the Prophet of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Bilal has attained success; I saw such and such for him.” [Musnad Ahmad, Hadeeth No. 2324. This narration was authenticated by Ahmad Shakir and Ibn Kathir (in his tafsir). However, it was weakened by Shuaib Al-Arnaut.]
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ لِبِلاَلٍ عِنْدَ صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ “ يَا بِلاَلُ حَدِّثْنِي بِأَرْجَى عَمَلٍ عَمِلْتَهُ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ، فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ دَفَّ نَعْلَيْكَ بَيْنَ يَدَىَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ ”. قَالَ مَا عَمِلْتُ عَمَلاً أَرْجَى عِنْدِي أَنِّي لَمْ أَتَطَهَّرْ طُهُورًا فِي سَاعَةِ لَيْلٍ أَوْ نَهَارٍ إِلاَّ صَلَّيْتُ بِذَلِكَ الطُّهُورِ مَا كُتِبَ لِي أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ.
10. He also some things in Hell
عن حذيفة رضي الله عنه قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: أُتِيتُ بالبُراقِ ، وهو دابةٌ أبيضُ طويلٌ ، يضعُ حافرَه عند مُنتهى طرفِه فلم نزايلْ ظهرَه أنا وجبريلُ حتى أتيتُ بيتَ المقدسِ ، ففُتِحتْ لي أبوابُ السماءِ ، ورأيتُ الجنَّةَ والنَّارَ
Hudhaifah (radiallahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “I was brought al-Buraq who was an animal white and long, who would place his hoof a distance equal to his range of vision. We did not dismount, I nor Jibreel, until we reached Bait Al-Maqdis. The skies of the heavens were opened for me, and I saw Paradise and Hellfire. [Sahih Al-Jaami, Hadeeth No. 128]
He saw the tree of Zaqqum. Allah says in the Quran:
وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لَكَ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ أَحَاطَ بِٱلنَّاسِ ۚ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا ٱلرُّءْيَا ٱلَّتِىٓ أَرَيْنَٰكَ إِلَّا فِتْنَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَٱلشَّجَرَةَ ٱلْمَلْعُونَةَ فِى ٱلْقُرْءَانِ ۚ وَنُخَوِّفُهُمْ فَمَا يَزِيدُهُمْ إِلَّا طُغْيَٰنًا كَبِيرًا
And [remember, O Muhammad], when We told you, “Indeed, your Lord has encompassed the people.” And We did not make the sight which We showed you except as a trial for the people, as was the accursed tree [mentioned] in the Quran. And We threaten them, but it increases them not except in great transgression. [Surah Al-Israa (17) : 60]
Ibn Kathir states in his explanation of the above ayah (verse):
“Allah says to His Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), encouraging him to convey the Message and informing him that He is protecting him from the people, that He is able to deal with them and that they are in His grasp and under His domination and control.
﴿ وَإِذۡ قُلۡنَا لَكَ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ أَحَاطَ بِٱلنَّاسِۚ ﴾
(And (remember) when We told you: “Verily, your Lord has encompassed mankind…”) Mujahid, Urwah bin Az-Az-Zubayr, Al-Hasan, Qatadah and others said, “This means, He protected you from them.”
﴿ وَمَا جَعَلۡنَا ٱلرُّءۡيَا ٱلَّتِىٓ أَرَيۡنَـٰكَ إِلَّا فِتۡنَةً۬ لِّلنَّاسِ ﴾
(And We made not the vision which We showed you but a trial for mankind,) Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn Abbas said:
﴿ وَمَا جَعَلۡنَا ٱلرُّءۡيَا ٱلَّتِىٓ أَرَيۡنَـٰكَ إِلَّا فِتۡنَةً۬ لِّلنَّاسِ ﴾
(And We made not the vision which We showed you but a trial for mankind,) “This is the vision which the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) saw with his own eyes on the night when he was taken on the Night Journey (Al-Isra).
﴿ وَٱلشَّجَرَةَ ٱلۡمَلۡعُونَةَ فِى ٱلۡقُرۡءَانِۚ ﴾
and (likewise) the accursed tree in the Quran refers to the Tree of Zaqqum.” This was also recorded by Ahmad, Abdur-Razzaq and others. It was also reported by Al-Awfi from Ibn Abbas. It was also interpreted as referring to the Night of the Isra by Mujahid, Said bin Jubayr, Al-Hasan, Masruq, Ibrahim, Qatadah, Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd and several others. We have already quoted at length a comprehensive collection of Hadith about the Isra at the beginning of this Surah, praise be to Allah. We have also already stated that some people gave up their Islam after they had been following the truth, because their hearts and minds could not comprehend that, and they denied what their knowledge could not grasp, but Allah caused it to increase and strengthen the faith of others, and so He says:
﴿ إِلَّا فِتۡنَةً۬ ﴾
(but a trial), meaning a test. As for the cursed tree, this is the Tree of Zaqqum. When the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) told them that he had seen Paradise and Hell, and seen the Tree of Zaqqum, they did not believe that, and Abu Jahl, upon whom be the curses of Allah, even said, “Bring us some dates and butter,” and he started eating them and saying, “Let us have some Zaqqum, we don’t know any other Zaqqum but this.” This was narrated by Ibn Abbas, Masruq, Abu Malik, Al-Hasan Al-Basri and others. Everyone who interpreted the Ayah to refer to the Night of the Isra, also interpreted it to refer to the Tree of Zaqqum.
﴿ وَنُخَوِّفُهُمۡ ﴾
((We) make them afraid) meaning, `We make the disbelievers afraid with Our warnings and punishments and torment.’
﴿ فَمَا يَزِيدُهُمۡ إِلَّا طُغۡيَـٰنً۬ا كَبِيرً۬ا ﴾
(but it only increases them in naught save great disbelief, oppression and disobedience to Allah.) means, it only pushes them further into their disbelief and misguidance, and this is because Allah has forsaken them.”
He also saw certain groups of people in Hell.
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رضي الله عنه، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : لَمَّا عُرِجَ بِي مَرَرْتُ بِقَوْمٍ لَهُمْ أَظْفَارٌ مِنْ نُحَاسٍ يَخْمِشُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَصُدُورَهُمْ فَقُلْتُ مَنْ هَؤُلاَءِ يَا جِبْرِيلُ قَالَ هَؤُلاَءِ الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ لُحُومَ النَّاسِ وَيَقَعُونَ فِي أَعْرَاضِهِمْ
Narrated Anas ibn Malik (radiallahu anhu): The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: When I was taken up (to heaven), I passed by some people who had nails of copper, with which they were scratching their faces and chests. I said: Who are these people, O Jibreel? He replied: They are the ones who consumed people’s flesh (i.e. by backbiting) and impugned their honour. [Sunan Abee Dawood, Hadeeth No. 4878. Graded “sahih” (authentic) by Al-Albani.]
فنظَرَ في النارِ، فإذا قومٌ يأكُلُونَ الجِيَفَ، قال: مَن هؤلاءِ يا جِبْريلُ؟ قال: هؤلاءِ الذين يأكُلُونَ لُحومَ الناسِ، ورأى رجُلًا أحمرَ، أزرقَ، جَعْدًا، شَعِثًا إذا رأيتَه، قال: مَن هذا يا جِبْريلُ؟ قال: هذا عاقِرُ الناقةِ
Then he looked into Hell and saw people consuming corpses. He said: “Who are these people, O Jibreel?” He said: “These are the ones that eat people’s flesh (i.e. gossip). And he saw a man who looked red and blue, of stocky build and dishevelled. He said: “Who is this, O Jibreel?” He said: “This is the one who ham-strung the she-camel*.”
[Musnad Ahmad, Hadeeth No. 2324. This narration was authenticated by Ahmad Shakir and Ibn Kathir (in his tafsir). However, it was weakened by Shuaib Al-Arnaut.]
[*The she-camel of Thamud, who were the people of Saleh (alaihissalaam). The man who hamstrung it was also mentioned in this hadeeth.]
عن ابن مالك رضي الله عنه قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : رأيْتُ لَيلةَ أُسريَ بي رِجالًا تُقرَضُ شِفاهُهم بمَقاريضَ مِن نارٍ، فقلْتُ: يا جِبريلُ، مَن هؤلاء؟ قال: هؤلاء خُطَباءُ مِن أُمَّتِك، يأمُرونَ الناسَ بالبِرِّ ويَنسَوْن أنفُسَهم وهُم يَتْلُون الكِتابَ، أفلا يَعقِلونَ؟
Anas ibn Malik (radiallahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “I saw some men on the night of my ascension, whose mouths were being sheared by scissors of fire. I said: O Jibreel, who are these (people)?” He (Jibreel) said: “Preachers from your nation who commanded people to be righteous and they forgot it themselves, yet they recited the Book. Will they not reason?” [Musnad Ahmad, Hadeeth No. 13515. Shuaib Al-Arnaut said that this hadeeth was “sahih” (authentic). However, he point out that this particular chain was weak.]
عن أنس رضي الله عنه قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : أتيتُ ليلةَ أُسريَ بي على قومٍ تُقرَضُ شِفاهُهم بمقاريضَ من نارٍ، كلما قرُضِتْ وفَتْ ، فقلتُ يا جبريلُ مَن هؤلاءِ ؟ قال : خطباءُ أُمَّتِك الذين يقولون ما لا يفعلن ، و يقرأون كتابَ اللهِ و لا يعملون به
Anas (radiallahu anhu) narrated : The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “On the night of my ascension, I came across some people whose mouths were being cut off with scissors of fire. Every time they were cut off, they were restored. I said: ‘O Jibreel who are these?’ He said: ‘The preachers of your ummah who said what they did not do, and recited the Book of Allah but they did not act upon it.’” [Sahih Al-Jaami, Hadeeth No. 129]
Another narration, authenticated by Shaikh Muqbil Al-Wadiee, mentions that their lips and mouths were being cut off.
May Allah make us of those who act upon their knowledge.
11. He saw Maalik, the Keeper of Hell
Maalik is an angel who is the Keeper of Hell.
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنِي فِي الْحِجْرِ وَقُرَيْشٌ تَسْأَلُنِي عَنْ مَسْرَاىَ فَسَأَلَتْنِي عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ مِنْ بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ لَمْ أُثْبِتْهَا . فَكُرِبْتُ كُرْبَةً مَا كُرِبْتُ مِثْلَهُ قَطُّ قَالَ فَرَفَعَهُ اللَّهُ لِي أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ مَا يَسْأَلُونِي عَنْ شَىْءٍ إِلاَّ أَنْبَأْتُهُمْ بِهِ وَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنِي فِي جَمَاعَةٍ مِنَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ فَإِذَا مُوسَى قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّي فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ ضَرْبٌ جَعْدٌ كَأَنَّهُ مِنْ رِجَالِ شَنُوءَةَ وَإِذَا عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ – عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ – قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّي أَقْرَبُ النَّاسِ بِهِ شَبَهًا عُرْوَةُ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ الثَّقَفِيُّ وَإِذَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ – عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ – قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّي أَشْبَهُ النَّاسِ بِهِ صَاحِبُكُمْ – يَعْنِي نَفْسَهُ – فَحَانَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَأَمَمْتُهُمْ فَلَمَّا فَرَغْتُ مِنَ الصَّلاَةِ قَالَ قَائِلٌ يَا مُحَمَّدُ هَذَا مَالِكٌ صَاحِبُ النَّارِ فَسَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِ . فَالْتَفَتُّ إِلَيْهِ فَبَدَأَنِي بِالسَّلاَمِ
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurairah (radiallahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: I found myself in Hijr and the Quraish were asking me about my might journey. I was asked about things pertaining to Bait-ul-Maqdis which I could not preserve (in my mind). I was very much vexed, so vexed as I had never been before. Then Allah raised it (Bait-ul-Maqdis) before my eyes. I looked towards it, and I gave them the information about whatever they questioned me. I also saw myself among the group of Prophets. I saw Musa saying prayer and found him to be a well-built man as if he was a man of the tribe of Shanua. I saw Isa, the son of Maryam (alaihissalaam) offering prayer, of all the people, he had the closest resemblance to Urwah bin Masud al-Thaqafi. I saw Ibrahim (alaihissalaam) offering prayer; he had the closest resemblance with your companion (the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) himself) amongst people. When the time of prayer came, I led them. When I completed the prayer, someone said: Here is Maalik, the keeper of the Hell; pay him salutations. I turned to him, but he preceded me in salutation. [Sahih Muslim, Hadeeth No. 328]
عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنه قال: أُسْرِيَ بالنبيِّ صلَّى اللهُ عليهِ وسلَّمَ إلى بيتِ المقدسِ ثم جاء من ليلتِهِ فحدَّثهم بمسيرِهِ وبعلامةِ بيتِ المقدسِ وبعيرهم فقال ناسٌ قال حسنٌ : نحنُ نُصَدِّقُ محمدًا بما يقولُ فارتدُّوا كفارًا فضرب اللهُ أعناقهم مع أبي جهلٍ وقال أبو جهلٍ : يُخوِّفنا محمدٌ بشجرةِ الزقومِ هاتوا تمرًا وزبدًا فتزقموا ورأى الدجالَ في صورتِهِ رؤيا عينٍ ليس رؤيا منامٍ وعيسى وموسى وإبراهيمَ صلواتُ اللهِ عليهم فسُئِلَ النبيُّ صلَّى اللهُ عليهِ وسلَّمَ عن الدجالِ فقال : أَقْمَرَ هِجَانًا قال حسنٌ قال : رأيتُهُ فَيْلَمَانِيًّا أَقْمَرَ هِجَانًا إحدى عينيهِ قائمةٌ كأنَّها كوكبٌ دُرِّيٌّ وكأنَّ شعرَ رأسِهِ أغصانُ شجرةٍ ورأيتُ عيسى شابًّا أبيضَ جَعْدَ الرأسِ حديدَ البصرِ مُبَطَّنَ الخَلْقِ ورأيتُ موسى أسحمَ آدَمَ كثيرَ الشعرِ قال : حسنَ الشعرِ شديدَ الخَلْقِ ونظرتُ إلى إبراهيمَ فلا أنظرُ إلى إربٍ من آرابِهِ إلا نظرتُ إليهِ مِنِّي كأنَّهُ صاحبكم فقال جبريلُ عليهِ السلامُ : سَلِّمْ على مالكٍ فسلَّمتُ عليهِ
It was narrated that Ibn Abbas (radiallahu anhu) said “The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was taken on his Night Journey, then he came the same night and told them of his journey, with the proof of the description of Bait Al-Maqdis, and of their caravan? Some people said: Should we believe what Muhammad says?! And they apostasised and became disbelievers, and Allah caused them to be slain with Abu Jahl. Abu Jahl said: Is Muhammad trying to scare us with the tree of Az-Zaqqoom? Bring us some dates and butter and let us have some Zaqqoom!
And he (the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)) saw the Dajjal in his real form with his own eyes, not in a dream and (he saw) Isa, Musa and Ibrahim, blessings of Allah be upon them. And the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was asked about the Dajjal and he said: “He is white with a pinkish colour – Hasan said: I saw him with a huge body, white with a pinkish colour; one of his eyes protrudes like a shining star, and it is as if the hair on his head is the branches of a tree.
And I saw Isa, a young white man with curly hair, keen-sighted and lean. And I saw Musa, dark with a lot of hair, strongly built. And I looked at Ibrahim, and I did not look at any part of his body but I thought I was looking at part of my own body, as if he is your companion [referring to himself].
And Jibreel (alaihissalaam): Greet Malik with salam, so I greeted him with salam.”
[Musnad Ahmad, Hadeeth No. 3546. Shuaib Al-Arnaut said that its “isnaad” (chain of narrators) was “sahih” (authentic).]
Interestingly enough, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) asked Jibreel about Mikaeel on this night*.
[*Shaikh Azeez Farhan, one of my teachers, mentioned in a lecture on the explanation of Sahih At-Targheeb Wat-Tarheeb in December 2023 that the following event took place on the night of Al-Israa. Allah knows Better.]
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ لِجِبْرِيلَ مَا لِي لَمْ أَرَ مِيكَائِيلَ ضَاحِكًا قَطُّ قَالَ مَا ضَحِكَ مِيكَائِيلُ مُنْذُ خُلِقَتِ النَّارُ
Anas ibn Malik (radialllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said to Jibreel “Why do I never see the angel Mikaeel laughing?” He said, “Mikaeel has not laughed since the creation of the Hellfire.” [Sahih At-Targheeb Wat-Tarheeb, Hadeeth No. 3664. Shaikh Al-Albani authenticated this hadeeth saying it was “hasan lighairi” (good due to supporting narrations). However, Shaikh Shauib Al-Arnaut weakened this narration in Musnad Ahmad saying “isnaaduhu daeef” (its chain of narrations is weak.)]
12. He saw Ad-Dajjal
Ad-Dajjal is the false messiah. Here’s more information about him.
عَنْ أَبِي الْعَالِيَةِ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عَمِّ، نَبِيِّكُمْ يَعْنِي ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ” رَأَيْتُ لَيْلَةَ أُسْرِيَ بِي مُوسَى رَجُلاً آدَمَ طُوَالاً جَعْدًا، كَأَنَّهُ مِنْ رِجَالِ شَنُوءَةَ، وَرَأَيْتُ عِيسَى رَجُلاً مَرْبُوعًا مَرْبُوعَ الْخَلْقِ إِلَى الْحُمْرَةِ وَالْبَيَاضِ، سَبْطَ الرَّأْسِ، وَرَأَيْتُ مَالِكًا خَازِنَ النَّارِ ”. وَالدَّجَّالَ فِي آيَاتٍ أَرَاهُنَّ اللَّهُ إِيَّاهُ.
Abu Aliyah narrated: The cousin of your Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), meaning Ibn Abbas (radiallahu anhuma) narrated to us that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “On the night of my ascent (to the heavens), I saw Musa who was a tall brown curly haired man as if he was one of the men of Shanawa tribe, and I saw Isa, a man of medium height and moderate complexion inclined to the red and white colors and of lank hair. I also saw Maalik, the gate-keeper of the (Hell) Fire and Ad-Dajjal amongst the signs which Allah showed me.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Hadeeth No. 462. This is part of a longer narration.]
ورأى الدجالَ في صورتِهِ رؤيا عينٍ ليس رؤيا منامٍ وعيسى وموسى وإبراهيمَ صلواتُ اللهِ عليهم فسُئِلَ النبيُّ صلَّى اللهُ عليهِ وسلَّمَ عن الدجالِ فقال : أَقْمَرَ هِجَانًا قال حسنٌ قال : رأيتُهُ فَيْلَمَانِيًّا أَقْمَرَ هِجَانًا إحدى عينيهِ قائمةٌ كأنَّها كوكبٌ دُرِّيٌّ وكأنَّ شعرَ رأسِهِ أغصانُ شجرةٍ ورأيتُ عيسى شابًّا أبيضَ جَعْدَ الرأسِ حديدَ البصرِ مُبَطَّنَ الخَلْقِ ورأيتُ موسى أسحمَ آدَمَ كثيرَ الشعرِ قال : حسنَ الشعرِ شديدَ الخَلْقِ
And he (the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)) saw the Dajjal in his real form with his own eyes, not in a dream and (he saw) Isa, Musa and Ibrahim, blessings of Allah be upon them. And the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was asked about the Dajjal and he said: “He is white with a pinkish colour – Hasan said: I saw him with a huge body, white with a pinkish colour; one of his eyes protrudes like a shining star, and it is as if the hair on his head is the branches of a tree. [Musnad Ahmad, Hadeeth No. 3546. Shuaib Al-Arnaut said that its “isnaad” (chain of narrators) was “sahih” (authentic). This is part of a longer narration.]
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ لَمَّا كَانَ لَيْلَةَ أُسْرِيَ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ لَقِيَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَى وَعِيسَى فَتَذَاكَرُوا السَّاعَةَ فَبَدَءُوا بِإِبْرَاهِيمَ فَسَأَلُوهُ عَنْهَا فَلَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَهُ مِنْهَا عِلْمٌ ثُمَّ سَأَلُوا مُوسَى فَلَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَهُ مِنْهَا عِلْمٌ فَرُدَّ الْحَدِيثُ إِلَى عِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ فَقَالَ قَدْ عُهِدَ إِلَىَّ فِيمَا دُونَ وَجْبَتِهَا فَأَمَّا وَجْبَتُهَا فَلاَ يَعْلَمُهَا إِلاَّ اللَّهُ . فَذَكَرَ خُرُوجَ الدَّجَّالِ قَالَ فَأَنْزِلُ فَأَقْتُلُهُ فَيَرْجِعُ النَّاسُ إِلَى بِلاَدِهِمْ فَيَسْتَقْبِلُهُمْ يَأْجُوجُ وَمَأْجُوجُ وَهُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ حَدَبٍ يَنْسِلُونَ فَلاَ يَمُرُّونَ بِمَاءٍ إِلاَّ شَرِبُوهُ وَلاَ بِشَىْءٍ إِلاَّ أَفْسَدُوهُ فَيَجْأَرُونَ إِلَى اللَّهِ فَأَدْعُو اللَّهَ أَنْ يُمِيتَهُمْ فَتَنْتُنُ الأَرْضُ مِنْ رِيحِهِمْ فَيَجْأَرُونَ إِلَى اللَّهِ فَأَدْعُو اللَّهَ فَيُرْسِلُ السَّمَاءَ بِالْمَاءِ فَيَحْمِلُهُمْ فَيُلْقِيهِمْ فِي الْبَحْرِ ثُمَّ تُنْسَفُ الْجِبَالُ وَتُمَدُّ الأَرْضُ مَدَّ الأَدِيمِ فَعُهِدَ إِلَىَّ مَتَى كَانَ ذَلِكَ كَانَتِ السَّاعَةُ مِنَ النَّاسِ كَالْحَامِلِ الَّتِي لاَ يَدْرِي أَهْلُهَا مَتَى تَفْجَؤُهُمْ بِوِلاَدَتِهَا . قَالَ الْعَوَّامُ وَوُجِدَ تَصْدِيقُ ذَلِكَ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى {حَتَّى إِذَا فُتِحَتْ يَأْجُوجُ وَمَأْجُوجُ وَهُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ حَدَبٍ يَنْسِلُونَ} .
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فُتِحَتْ يَأْجُوجُ وَمَأْجُوجُ وَهُم مِّن كُلِّ حَدَبٍ يَنسِلُونَ
13. He saw Jibreel (alaihissalaam) in his real form for the second time
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ { لَقَدْ رَأَى مِنْ آيَاتِ رَبِّهِ الْكُبْرَى} قَالَ رَأَى جِبْرِيلَ فِي صُورَتِهِ لَهُ سِتُّمِائَةِ جَنَاحٍ
Abdullah (radiallahu anhu) narrated (that the words of Allah):
لَقَدْ رَأَىٰ مِنْ آيَاتِ رَبِّهِ الْكُبْرَىٰ
Indeed he (Muhammad) did see, of the Greatest Signs, of his Lord (Allah). [Surah An-Najm (53) : 18]
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ رضي الله عنه، قَالَ { مَا كَذَبَ الْفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَى} قَالَ رَأَى جِبْرِيلَ – عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ – لَهُ سِتُّمِائَةِ جَنَاحٍ
Abdullah (radiallahu anhu) narrated (regarding the Verse):
مَا كَذَبَ الْفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰ
The (Prophet’s) heart lied not (in seeing) what he (Muhammad) saw. [Surah An-Najm (53) : 11]
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنه – {لَقَدْ رَأَى مِنْ آيَاتِ رَبِّهِ الْكُبْرَى} قَالَ رَأَى رَفْرَفًا أَخْضَرَ سَدَّ أُفُقَ السَّمَاءِ.
Narrated Abdullah (radiallahu anhu) (regarding the Verse):
لَقَدْ رَأَىٰ مِنْ آيَاتِ رَبِّهِ الْكُبْرَىٰ
Indeed he (Muhammad) did see, of the Greatest Signs, of his Lord (Allah). [Surah An-Najm (53) : 18]
“The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) had seen a green carpet* spread all over the horizon of the sky.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Hadeeth No. 456]
[*The English translation of Sahih Al-Bukhari points out that this might be Jibreel’s (alaihissalaam) wings. And Allah knows Better.]
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ (ما كَذَبَ الْفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَى ) قَالَ رَأَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم جِبْرِيلَ فِي حُلَّةٍ مِنْ رَفْرَفٍ قَدْ مَلأَ مَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ .
مَا كَذَبَ الْفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰ
The (Prophet’s) heart lied not (in seeing) what he (Muhammad) saw. [Surah An-Najm (53) : 11]
عن جابر بن عبد الله رضي الله عنه قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : مَرَرْتُ ليلةَ أُسْرِيَ بي بالملأِ الأَعْلَى ، وجبريلُ كالحِلْسِ البالي من خشيةِ اللهِ تعالى
عَنْ جَابِرٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ” عُرِضَ عَلَىَّ الأَنْبِيَاءُ فَإِذَا مُوسَى ضَرْبٌ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ كَأَنَّهُ مِنْ رِجَالِ شَنُوءَةَ وَرَأَيْتُ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ – عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ – فَإِذَا أَقْرَبُ مَنْ رَأَيْتُ بِهِ شَبَهًا عُرْوَةُ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ وَرَأَيْتُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا أَقْرَبُ مَنْ رَأَيْتُ بِهِ شَبَهًا صَاحِبُكُمْ – يَعْنِي نَفْسَهُ – وَرَأَيْتُ جِبْرِيلَ – عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ – فَإِذَا أَقْرَبُ مَنْ رَأَيْتُ بِهِ شَبَهًا دِحْيَةُ ” . وَفِي رِوَايَةِ ابْنِ رُمْحٍ ” دِحْيَةُ بْنُ خَلِيفَةَ ”
It is narrated on the authority of Jabir (radiallahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: There appeared before me the Prophets, and Musa was among men as if he was one of the people of Shanua, and I saw Isa ibn Maryam (alaihissalaam) and I saw nearest in resemblance with him was Urwah bin Masud, and I saw Ibrahim (alaihissalaam) and I see your companions much in resemblance with him, i. e. his personality, and I saw Jibreel (alaihissalaam) and I saw Dihya nearest in resemblance to him.” And in the narration of Ibn Rumh, (it is) Dihya bin Khalifah*. [Sahih Muslim, Hadeeth No. 321]
[*The name of this Companion is Dihya bin Khalifa Al-Kalbi (radiallahu anhu). He was very handsome and Jibreel (alaihissalaam) used to come down in his form.
Narrated Abu Uthman: I got the news that Jibreel came to the Prophet (sallalallahu alaihi wasallam) while Umm Salamah (radiallahu anha) was present. Jibreel started talking (to the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam))and then left. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said to Umm Salamah, “(Do you know) who it was?” (or a similar question). She said, “It was Dihya.” Later on Umm Salamah said, “By Allah! I thought he was none but Dihya, until I heard the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) talking about Jibreel in his sermon.” (The Sub-narrator asked Abu Uthman, “From where have you heard this narration?” He replied, “From Usamah bin Zaid.”) [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Hadeeth No. 827]]
His first encounter with Jibreel in his real form is mentioned in Surah At-Takwir.
إِنَّهُۥ لَقَوْلُ رَسُولٍ كَرِيمٍ
ذِى قُوَّةٍ عِندَ ذِى ٱلْعَرْشِ مَكِينٍ
مُّطَاعٍ ثَمَّ أَمِينٍ
وَمَا صَاحِبُكُم بِمَجْنُونٍ
وَلَقَدْ رَءَاهُ بِٱلْأُفُقِ ٱلْمُبِينِ
Verily, this is the Word (this Quran brought by) a most honourable messenger [Jibreel, from Allah to the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)]. Owner of power, and high rank with (Allah) the Lord of the Throne, Obeyed (by the angels), trustworthy there (in the heavens). And (O people) your companion (Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)) is not a madman; And indeed he (Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)) saw him [Jibreel] in the clear horizon (towards the east). [Surah At-Takwir (81) : 19 – 23]
Imam Ibn Kathir states in his explanation of the above ayaat (verses):
“Allah’s statement,
﴿ إِنَّهُ ۥ لَقَوۡلُ رَسُولٍ۬ كَرِيمٍ۬ ﴾
(Verily, this is the Word of a most honorable messenger.) meaning, indeed this Quran is being conveyed by a noble messenger, which is referring to an honorable angel, who has good character and a radiant appearance, and he is Jibril. Ibn Abbas, Ash-Shabi, Maymun bin Mihran, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ar-Rabi bin Anas, Ad-Dahhak and others have said this.
﴿ ذِى قُوَّةٍ ﴾
(Dhi Quwwah) This is similar to Allah’s statement,
﴿ عَلَّمَهُ ۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡقُوَىٰ • ذُو مِرَّةٍ۬ ﴾
(He has been taught by one mighty in power, Dhu Mirrah.) (53:5-6) meaning, mighty in creation, mighty in strength and mighty in actions.
﴿ عِندَ ذِى ٱلۡعَرۡشِ مَكِينٍ۬ ﴾
(with the Lord of the Throne Makin,) meaning, he has high status and lofty rank with Allah.
﴿ مُّطَاعٍ۬ ثَمَّ ﴾
(Obeyed there,) meaning, he has prestige, his word is listened to, and he is obeyed among the most high gathering (of angels). Qatadah said,
﴿ مُّطَاعٍ۬ ثَمَّ ﴾
(Obeyed there) “This means in the heavens. He is not one of the lower ranking (ordinary) angels. Rather he is from the high ranking, prestigious angels. He is respected and has been chosen for (the delivery of) this magnificent Message.” Allah then says,
﴿ أَمِينٍ۬ ﴾
(trustworthy.) This is a description of Jibril as being trustworthy. This is something very great, that the Almighty Lord has commended His servant and angelic Messenger, Jibril, just as He has commended His servant and human Messenger, Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) by His statement,
﴿ وَمَا صَاحِبُكُم بِمَجۡنُونٍ۬ ﴾
(And your companion is not a madman.) Ash-Shabi, Maymun bin Mihran, Abu Salih and others who have been previously mentioned, all said, “This refers to Muhammad .” Allah said,
﴿ وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡمُبِينِ ﴾
(And indeed he saw him in the clear horizon.) meaning, indeed Muhammad saw Jibril, who brought him the Message from Allah, in the form that Allah created him in (i.e., his true form), and he had six hundred wings.
﴿ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡمُبِينِ ﴾
(in the clear horizon.) meaning, clear. This refers to the first sighting which occurred at Al-Batha (Makkah). This incident is mentioned in Allah’s statement,
﴿ عَلَّمَهُ ۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡقُوَىٰ • ذُو مِرَّةٍ۬ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ • وَهُوَ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ • ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ ﴾
﴿ فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ • فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ مَآ أَوۡحَىٰ ﴾
(He has been taught by one mighty in power (Jibril). Dhu Mirrah, then he rose. While he was in the highest part of the horizon. Then he approached and came closer. And was at a distance of two bows’ length or less. So (Allah) revealed to His servant what He revealed.) (53:5-10) The explanation of this and its confirmation has already preceded, as well as the evidence that proves that it is referring to Jibril. It seems apparent — and Allah knows best — that this Surah (At-Takwir) was revealed before the Night Journey (Al-Isra), because nothing has been mentioned in it except this sighting (of Jibril), and it is the first sighting. The second sighting has been mentioned in Allah’s statement,
﴿ وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَىٰ • عِندَ سِدۡرَةِ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ • عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ • إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ ﴾
(And indeed he saw him (Jibril) at a second descent. Near Sidrah Al-Muntaha. Near it is the Paradise of Abode. When that covered the lote tree which did cover it !) (53:13-16) And these Ayat have only been mentioned in Surat An-Najm, which was revealed after Surat Al-Isra’ (The Night Journey). “
عَلَّمَهُ شَدِيدُ الْقُوَىٰ
ذُو مِرَّةٍ فَاسْتَوَىٰ
وَهُوَ بِالْأُفُقِ الْأَعْلَىٰ
ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ
فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَىٰ
فَأَوْحَىٰ إِلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ مَا أَوْحَىٰ
مَا كَذَبَ الْفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰ
أَفَتُمَارُونَهُ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ
وَلَقَدْ رَآهُ نَزْلَةً أُخْرَىٰ
عِندَ سِدْرَةِ الْمُنتَهَىٰ
عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ الْمَأْوَىٰ
إِذْ يَغْشَى السِّدْرَةَ مَا يَغْشَىٰ
مَا زَاغَ الْبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ
لَقَدْ رَأَىٰ مِنْ آيَاتِ رَبِّهِ الْكُبْرَىٰ
He has been taught (this Quran) by one mighty in power [Jibreel]. Dhu Mirrah (free from any defect in body and mind), Fastawa [then he (Jibreel) rose and became stable]. While he [Jibreel] was in the highest part of the horizon, Then he [Jibreel] approached and came closer, And was at a distance of two bows’ length or (even) nearer, So did (Allah) convey the Inspiration to His slave [Muhammad, through Jibreel]. The (Prophet’s) heart lied not (in seeing) what he (Muhammad) saw. Will you then dispute with him (Muhammad) about what he saw [during the Miraj: (Ascent of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) over the seven heavens)]. And indeed he (Muhammad) saw him [Jibreel] at a second descent (i.e. another time). Near Sidrat-ul-Muntaha [lote-tree of the utmost boundary (beyond which none can pass)], Near it is the Paradise of Abode. When that covered the lote-tree which did cover it! The sight (of Prophet Muhammad) turned not aside (right or left), nor it transgressed beyond (the) limit (ordained for it). Indeed he (Muhammad) did see, of the Greatest Signs, of his Lord (Allah). [Surah An-Najm (53) : 5-18]
Imam Ibn Kathir states in his explanation of the above ayaat (verses):
“Allah the Exalted states that the Message, His servant and Messenger, Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) brought to people was taught to him by,
﴿ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡقُوَىٰ ﴾
(mighty in power), he is Jibril (peace be upon him)
﴿ إِنَّهُ ۥ لَقَوۡلُ رَسُولٍ۬ كَرِيمٍ۬ • ذِى قُوَّةٍ عِندَ ذِى ٱلۡعَرۡشِ مَكِينٍ۬ • مُّطَاعٍ۬ ثَمَّ أَمِينٍ۬ ﴾
(Verily, this is the Word a most honorable messenger, owner of power, with (Allah) the Lord of the Throne, obeyed (by the angels) and trustworthy.)(81:19-21) Allah said here,
﴿ ذُو مِرَّةٍ۬ ﴾
(Dhu Mirrah), meaning, he is mighty in power, according to Mujahid, Al-Hasan and Ibn Zayd. In an authentic Hadith from Abdullah bin Umar and Abu Hurayrah, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said,
« لَا تَحِلُّ الصَّدَقَةُ لِغَنِيَ وَلَا لِذِي مِرَّةٍ سَوِي »
(Charity is not allowed for a rich person nor Dhu Mirrah (a strong person) of sound mind and body.) Allah said;
﴿ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ ﴾
(then he Istawa (rose).) this refers to the angel Jibril, according to Al-Hasan, Mujahid, Qatadah and Ar-Rabi bin Anas,
﴿ وَهُوَ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ ﴾
(While he was in the highest part of the horizon.) meaning, Jibril rose to the highest part of the horizon, according to Ikrimah and several others; Ikrimah said, “The highest horizon where the morning comes from.” Mujahid said, “It is (the place of) sunrise.” Qatadah said, “That from which the day comes.” Ibn Zayd and several others said similarly. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abdullah bin Masud said, “The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) saw Jibril in his original shape having six hundred wings, each wing filling the side of the horizon, with a colorful array, and pearls and rubies falling from each wing as much as only Allah knows.” Only Imam Ahmad collected this Hadith. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abdullah bin Abbas said, “The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) asked Jibril to appear himself to him in his original shape and Jibril said to him, `Invoke your Lord.’ The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) invoked his Lord the Exalted and Most Honored, and a great huge figure appeared to him from the east and kept rising and spreading. When the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) saw Jibril in his original shape, he was knocked unconscious. Jibril came down and revived the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and wiped the saliva off of his cheeks.”’ Only Ahmad collected this Hadith.
Allah’s statement,
﴿ فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ ﴾
(And was at a distance of two bows` length or less.) means, Jibril came closer to Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) when Jibril was descending to him on earth. At that time, the distance between them became only two bow lengths, when the bows are extended to full length, according to Mujahid and Qatadah. It was said that the meaning here is the distance between the bow’s string and its wood center. Allah’s statement,
﴿ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ ﴾
(or less) indicates that the distance was as only as far described, not more. This type of usage is found in several instances in the Quran, such as,
﴿ ثُمَّ قَسَتۡ قُلُوبُكُم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ ذَٲلِكَ فَهِىَ كَٱلۡحِجَارَةِ أَوۡ أَشَدُّ قَسۡوَةً۬ۚ ﴾
(Then, after that, your hearts were hardened and became as stones or even worse in hardness.)(2:74) The Ayah says that their hearts became not softer than rocks, but as hard and difficult as rocks, and more. There is a similar Ayah,
﴿ يَخۡشَوۡنَ ٱلنَّاسَ كَخَشۡيَةِ ٱللَّهِ أَوۡ أَشَدَّ خَشۡيَةً۬ۚ ﴾
(fear men as they fear Allah or even more.)(4:77), and Allah’s statement,
﴿ وَأَرۡسَلۡنَـٰهُ إِلَىٰ مِاْئَةِ أَلۡفٍ أَوۡ يَزِيدُونَ ﴾
(And We sent him to hundred thousand (people) or even more.)(37:147), indicating that they were not less than a hundred thousand, but that amount or more. Therefore, this verifies the facts mentioned, leaving no doubt or means of refute. Similarly, Allah said,
﴿ فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ ﴾
(And was at a distance of two bow lengths or less.) We stated before that it was Jibril who came down near the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), according to Aishah, the Mother of the faithful, Abdullah bin Masud, Abu Dharr and Abu Hurayrah. We will mention their statements about this soon afterwards, Allah willing. Ibn Jarir recorded that Abdullah bin Masud said about this Ayah,
﴿ فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ ﴾
(And was at a distance of two bow lengths or less.) “Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said,
« رَأَيْتُ جِبْرِيلَ لَهُ سِتُّمِائَةِ جَنَاح »
(I saw Jibril; he had six hundred wings.)” Al-Bukhari recorded that Talq bin Ghannam said that Zaidah said that Ash-Shaybani said, “I asked Zirr about the Ayah,
﴿ فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ • فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ مَآ أَوۡحَىٰ ﴾
(And was at a distance of two bow lengths or less. So (Allah) revealed to His servant whatever He revealed.) Zirr said, “Abdullah narrated to us that Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) saw Jibril having six hundred wings.” Allah’s statement,
﴿ فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ مَآ أَوۡحَىٰ ﴾
(So he revealed to His servant whatever He revealed.) means, Jibril conveyed to Allah’s servant Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) whatever he conveyed. Or, the meaning here could be: Allah revealed to His servant Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) whatever He revealed through Jibril. Both meanings are correct. Said bin Jubayr said about Allah’s statement,
﴿ فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ مَآ أَوۡحَىٰ ﴾
(So He revealed to His servant whatever He revealed.) “Allah revealed to him,
﴿ أَلَمۡ يَجِدۡكَ يَتِيمً۬ا ﴾
(Did He not find you an orphan.)(93:6), and,
﴿ وَرَفَعۡنَا لَكَ ذِكۡرَكَ ﴾
(And have We not raised high your fame)(94:4)” Someone else said, “Allah revealed to the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) that the Prophets will not enter Paradise until he enters it first, and the nations will not enter it until his Ummah enters it first.”
Allah said next,
﴿ مَا كَذَبَ ٱلۡفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ • أَفَتُمَـٰرُونَهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ ﴾
(The heart lied not in what he saw. Will you then dispute with him about what he saw) Muslim recorded from Ibn Abbas about:
﴿ مَا كَذَبَ ٱلۡفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ ﴾
(The heart lied not in what he saw), and,
﴿ وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَىٰ ﴾
(And indeed he saw him at a second descent.) “He saw Allah twice in his heart.” Simak reported a similar from Ikrimah from Ibn Abbas. Abu Salih, As-Suddi and several others said similarly that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) saw Allah twice in his heart. Masruq said, “I went to Aishah and asked her, `Did Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) see his Lord’ She said, `You said something that caused my hair to rise!’ I said, `Behold!’ and recited this Ayah,
﴿ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ ﴾
(Indeed he saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.) She said, `Where did your mind wander? It was Jibril. Whoever says to you that Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) saw his Lord, or hid any part of what he was commanded (i.e., Allah’s Message), or knew any of the five things which only Allah knows,
﴿ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُ ۥ عِلۡمُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ وَيُنَزِّلُ ٱلۡغَيۡثَ ﴾
(Verily, Allah, with Him is the knowledge of the Hour, He sends down the rain…)(31:34), Then he invents a great lie against Allah! The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) only saw Jibril twice, in his original shape, once near Sidrat Al-Muntaha and another time in Ajyad (in Makkah) while Jibril had six hundred wings that covered the horizon.”’ Muslim recorded that Abu Dharr said, “I asked the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) , `Have you seen your Lord’ He said,
« نُورٌ أَنَّى أَرَاه »
(How can I see Him since there was a light)” In another narration, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said,
« رَأَيْتُ نُورًا »
(I only saw a light.) Allah’s statement,
﴿ وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَىٰ • عِندَ سِدۡرَةِ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ • عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ ﴾
(And indeed he saw him at a second descent. Near Sidrat Al-Muntaha.) “The Messenger of Allah said,
« رَأَيْتُ جِبْرِيلَ وَلَهُ سِتُّمِائَةِ جَنَاحٍ يَنْتَثِرُ مِنْ رِيشِهِ التَّهَاوِيلُ مِنَ الدُّرِّ وَالْيَاقُوت »
(I saw Jibril while he had six hundred wings and a colorful array of pearls and rubies falling from the feathers of his wings.)” This Hadith has a good, strong chain of narration. Ahmad also recorded that Abdullah Ibn Masud said, “The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) saw Jibril in his original shape while Jibril had six hundred wings, each wing covering the side of the horizon. From his wings, precious stones were dropping of which only Allah has knowledge.” This Hadith has a good chain of narration. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abdullah bin Masud said, “The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said,
« رَأَيْتُ جِبْرِيلَ عَلَى سِدْرَةِ الْمُنْتَهَى وَلَهُ سِتُّمِائَةِ جَنَاح »
(I saw Jibril over Sidrat Al-Muntaha while he had six hundred wings.)” One of the subnarrators of the Hadith asked Asim about Jibril’s wings and Asim refused to elaborate. So some of his companions were asked and one of them said, “Each wing was covering what is between the east and the west.” This Hadith has a good chain of narration. Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn Masud said that Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said:
« أَتَانِي جِبْرِيلُ فِي خُضْرٍ مُعَلَّقٍ بِهِ الدُّر »
(Jibril came to me wearing green with pearls hanging down.) This Hadith has a good chain of narration. Imam Ahmad recorded that Amir suaid that Masrq asked `Ashah, “O Mother of the faithful, has Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) seen his Lord, the Exalted and Most Honored” She said, “Glorious is Allah! My hair is standing on end because of what you said. Three matters, if one tells you about any of them, will have lied. Whoever tells you that Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) has seen his Lord, will have lied.” She then recited these two Ayat,
﴿ لَّا تُدۡرِڪُهُ ٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرُ وَهُوَ يُدۡرِكُ ٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرَۖ ﴾
(No vision can grasp Him, but He grasps all vision.)(6:103), and,
﴿ وَمَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُكَلِّمَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا وَحۡيًا أَوۡ مِن وَرَآىِٕ حِجَابٍ ﴾
(It is not given to any human being that Allah should speak to him unless (it be) by revelation, or from behind a veil.)(42:51) She went one, “And whoever tells you that Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) knew what the morrow will bring, will have uttered a lie.” She then recited,
﴿ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُ ۥ عِلۡمُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ وَيُنَزِّلُ ٱلۡغَيۡثَ وَيَعۡلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡحَامِۖ ﴾
(Verily, Allah, with Him is the knowledge of the Hour, He sends down the rain, and knows that which is in the wombs.)(31:34) Aishah said, “And whoever tells you that Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) has hidden any part of the Message will have lied,” and she then recited this Ayah,
﴿ يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلرَّسُولُ بَلِّغۡ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَ مِن رَّبِّكَۖ ﴾
(O Messenger proclaim which has been sent down to you from your Lord.)(5:67). She went on, “However, he saw Jibril twice in his original shape.” Imam Ahmad also recorded that Masruq said, “I asked Aishah, Did not Allah say,
﴿ وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡمُبِينِ ﴾
(And indeed he saw him in the clear horizon.)(81:23), and,
﴿ وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَىٰ ﴾
(And indeed he saw him at a second descent)‘ She said, `I was the first among this Ummah to ask Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) about it. He said,
« إِنَّمَا ذَاكَ جِبْرِيل »
(That was Jibril.) He only saw him twice in his actual and real figure. He saw Jibril descend from heaven to earth and was so huge that he covered the whole horizon between the sky and earth.)”’ This Hadith is recorded in the Two Sahihs via Ash-Shabi.
Allah said,
﴿ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ ﴾
(When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) We mentioned before, in the Hadiths about Al-Isra that the angels, Allah’s Light, and spectacular colors covered the Sidrah. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abdullah bin Masud said, “When the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was taken on the Isra journey, he ascended to Sidrat Al-Muntaha, which is in the seventh heaven. There everything terminates that ascends from the earth and is held there, and terminates everything that descends from above it is held there,
﴿ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ ﴾
(When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!) He said, “Golden butterflies. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was given three things: He was given the five prayers, he was given the concluding verses of Surat Al-Baqarah (2:284-286), and remission of serious sins for those among his Ummah who do not associate anything with Allah.” Muslim collected this Hadith. Allah’s statement,
﴿ مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ ﴾
(The sight turned not aside, nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) indicates that the Prophet’s (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) sight did not turn right or left, according to Ibn Abbas,
﴿ وَمَا طَغَىٰ ﴾
(nor it transgressed beyond the limit.) not exceeding what has been ordained for it. This is a tremendous quality that demonstrates the Prophet’s (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) firm obedience to Allah, because he only did what was commanded and did ask beyond what he was given. Allah’s statement,
﴿ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ ﴾
﴿ لِنُرِيَهُ ۥ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِنَآۚ ﴾
(In order that We might show him of Our Ayat.)(17:1), meaning, signs that testify to Allah’s might and greatness. Relying on these two Ayat, some scholars of Ahl us-Sunnah said that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) did not see Allah during the Isra journey, because Allah said,
﴿ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ ﴾
(Indeed he saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.) They said that had the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) seen his Lord, Allah would have conveyed this news and the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) would have narrated it to the people.”
14. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) heard the creaking of pens
ثُمَّ عُرِجَ بِي حَتَّى ظَهَرْتُ لِمُسْتَوًى أَسْمَعُ فِيهِ صَرِيفَ الأَقْلاَمِ
According to Shaikh Ibn Uthaimeen, this refers to the writing of the daily decree (by the angels).
15. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) spoke to Allah
ثُمَّ فُرِضَتْ عَلَىَّ الصَّلَوَاتُ خَمْسِينَ صَلاَةً كُلَّ يَوْمٍ. فَرَجَعْتُ فَمَرَرْتُ عَلَى مُوسَى، فَقَالَ بِمَا أُمِرْتَ قَالَ أُمِرْتُ بِخَمْسِينَ صَلاَةً كُلَّ يَوْمٍ. قَالَ إِنَّ أُمَّتَكَ لاَ تَسْتَطِيعُ خَمْسِينَ صَلاَةً كُلَّ يَوْمٍ، وَإِنِّي وَاللَّهِ قَدْ جَرَّبْتُ النَّاسَ قَبْلَكَ، وَعَالَجْتُ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَشَدَّ الْمُعَالَجَةِ، فَارْجِعْ إِلَى رَبِّكَ فَاسْأَلْهُ التَّخْفِيفَ لأُمَّتِكَ. فَرَجَعْتُ، فَوَضَعَ عَنِّي عَشْرًا، فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَى مُوسَى فَقَالَ مِثْلَهُ، فَرَجَعْتُ فَوَضَعَ عَنِّي عَشْرًا، فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَى مُوسَى فَقَالَ مِثْلَهُ، فَرَجَعْتُ فَوَضَعَ عَنِّي عَشْرًا، فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَى مُوسَى فَقَالَ مِثْلَهُ، فَرَجَعْتُ فَأُمِرْتُ بِعَشْرِ صَلَوَاتٍ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ، فَرَجَعْتُ فَقَالَ مِثْلَهُ، فَرَجَعْتُ فَأُمِرْتُ بِخَمْسِ صَلَوَاتٍ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ، فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَى مُوسَى، فَقَالَ بِمَا أُمِرْتَ قُلْتُ أُمِرْتُ بِخَمْسِ صَلَوَاتٍ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ. قَالَ إِنَّ أُمَّتَكَ لاَ تَسْتَطِيعُ خَمْسَ صَلَوَاتٍ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ، وَإِنِّي قَدْ جَرَّبْتُ النَّاسَ قَبْلَكَ، وَعَالَجْتُ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَشَدَّ الْمُعَالَجَةِ، فَارْجِعْ إِلَى رَبِّكَ فَاسْأَلْهُ التَّخْفِيفَ لأُمَّتِكَ. قَالَ سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي حَتَّى اسْتَحْيَيْتُ، وَلَكِنْ أَرْضَى وَأُسَلِّمُ ـ قَالَ ـ فَلَمَّا جَاوَزْتُ نَادَى مُنَادٍ أَمْضَيْتُ فَرِيضَتِي وَخَفَّفْتُ عَنْ عِبَادِي
Then the prayers were enjoined on me: They were fifty prayers a day. When I returned, I passed by Musa who asked (me), ‘What have you been ordered to do?’ I replied, ‘I have been ordered to offer fifty prayers a day.’ Musa said, ‘Your followers cannot bear fifty prayers a day, and by Allah, I have tested people before you, and I have tried my level best with Bani Israel (in vain). Go back to your Lord and ask for reduction to lessen your followers’ burden.’ So I went back, and Allah reduced ten prayers for me. Then again I came to Musa, but he repeated the same as he had said before. Then again I went back to Allah and He reduced ten more prayers. When I came back to Musa he said the same, I went back to Allah and He ordered me to observe ten prayers a day. When I came back to Musa, he repeated the same advice, so I went back to Allah and was ordered to observe five prayers a day. When I came back to Musa, he said, ‘What have you been ordered?’ I replied, ‘I have been ordered to observe five prayers a day.’ He said, ‘Your followers cannot bear five prayers a day, and no doubt, I have got an experience of the people before you, and I have tried my level best with Bani Israel, so go back to your Lord and ask for reduction to lessen your follower’s burden.’ I said, ‘I have requested so much of my Lord that I feel ashamed, but I am satisfied now and surrender to Allah’s Order.’ When I left, I heard a voice saying, ‘I have passed My Order and have lessened the burden of My Worshippers.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 5, Hadeeth No. 227. This is part of a longer narration.]
فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَىَّ مَا أَوْحَى فَفَرَضَ عَلَىَّ خَمْسِينَ صَلاَةً فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ فَنَزَلْتُ إِلَى مُوسَى صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ مَا فَرَضَ رَبُّكَ عَلَى أُمَّتِكَ قُلْتُ خَمْسِينَ صَلاَةً . قَالَ ارْجِعْ إِلَى رَبِّكَ فَاسْأَلْهُ التَّخْفِيفَ فَإِنَّ أُمَّتَكَ لاَ يُطِيقُونَ ذَلِكَ فَإِنِّي قَدْ بَلَوْتُ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَخَبَرْتُهُمْ . قَالَ فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَى رَبِّي فَقُلْتُ يَا رَبِّ خَفِّفْ عَلَى أُمَّتِي . فَحَطَّ عَنِّي خَمْسًا فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَى مُوسَى فَقُلْتُ حَطَّ عَنِّي خَمْسًا . قَالَ إِنَّ أُمَّتَكَ لاَ يُطِيقُونَ ذَلِكَ فَارْجِعْ إِلَى رَبِّكَ فَاسْأَلْهُ التَّخْفِيفَ . – قَالَ – فَلَمْ أَزَلْ أَرْجِعُ بَيْنَ رَبِّي تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى وَبَيْنَ مُوسَى – عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ – حَتَّى قَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ إِنَّهُنَّ خَمْسُ صَلَوَاتٍ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ لِكُلِّ صَلاَةٍ عَشْرٌ فَذَلِكَ خَمْسُونَ صَلاَةً . وَمَنْ هَمَّ بِحَسَنَةٍ فَلَمْ يَعْمَلْهَا كُتِبَتْ لَهُ حَسَنَةً فَإِنْ عَمِلَهَا كُتِبَتْ لَهُ عَشْرًا وَمَنْ هَمَّ بِسَيِّئَةٍ فَلَمْ يَعْمَلْهَا لَمْ تُكْتَبْ شَيْئًا فَإِنْ عَمِلَهَا كُتِبَتْ سَيِّئَةً وَاحِدَةً – قَالَ – فَنَزَلْتُ حَتَّى انْتَهَيْتُ إِلَى مُوسَى صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ فَقَالَ ارْجِعْ إِلَى رَبِّكَ فَاسْأَلْهُ التَّخْفِيفَ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقُلْتُ قَدْ رَجَعْتُ إِلَى رَبِّي حَتَّى اسْتَحْيَيْتُ مِنْهُ
فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ فِيمَا أَوْحَى إِلَيْهِ خَمْسِينَ صَلاَةً عَلَى أُمَّتِكَ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ. ثُمَّ هَبَطَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ مُوسَى فَاحْتَبَسَهُ مُوسَى فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ مَاذَا عَهِدَ إِلَيْكَ رَبُّكَ قَالَ عَهِدَ إِلَىَّ خَمْسِينَ صَلاَةً كُلَّ يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ. قَالَ إِنَّ أُمَّتَكَ لاَ تَسْتَطِيعُ ذَلِكَ فَارْجِعْ فَلْيُخَفِّفْ عَنْكَ رَبُّكَ وَعَنْهُمْ. فَالْتَفَتَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَى جِبْرِيلَ كَأَنَّهُ يَسْتَشِيرُهُ فِي ذَلِكَ، فَأَشَارَ إِلَيْهِ جِبْرِيلُ أَنْ نَعَمْ إِنْ شِئْتَ. فَعَلاَ بِهِ إِلَى الْجَبَّارِ فَقَالَ وَهْوَ مَكَانَهُ يَا رَبِّ خَفِّفْ عَنَّا، فَإِنَّ أُمَّتِي لاَ تَسْتَطِيعُ هَذَا. فَوَضَعَ عَنْهُ عَشْرَ صَلَوَاتٍ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَى مُوسَى فَاحْتَبَسَهُ، فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يُرَدِّدُهُ مُوسَى إِلَى رَبِّهِ حَتَّى صَارَتْ إِلَى خَمْسِ صَلَوَاتٍ، ثُمَّ احْتَبَسَهُ مُوسَى عِنْدَ الْخَمْسِ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ رَاوَدْتُ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ قَوْمِي عَلَى أَدْنَى مِنْ هَذَا فَضَعُفُوا فَتَرَكُوهُ فَأُمَّتُكَ أَضْعَفُ أَجْسَادًا وَقُلُوبًا وَأَبْدَانًا وَأَبْصَارًا وَأَسْمَاعًا، فَارْجِعْ فَلْيُخَفِّفْ عَنْكَ رَبُّكَ، كُلَّ ذَلِكَ يَلْتَفِتُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَى جِبْرِيلَ لِيُشِيرَ عَلَيْهِ وَلاَ يَكْرَهُ ذَلِكَ جِبْرِيلُ، فَرَفَعَهُ عِنْدَ الْخَامِسَةِ فَقَالَ يَا رَبِّ إِنَّ أُمَّتِي ضُعَفَاءُ أَجْسَادُهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ وَأَسْمَاعُهُمْ وَأَبْدَانُهُمْ فَخَفِّفْ عَنَّا فَقَالَ الْجَبَّارُ يَا مُحَمَّدُ. قَالَ لَبَّيْكَ وَسَعْدَيْكَ. قَالَ إِنَّهُ لاَ يُبَدَّلُ الْقَوْلُ لَدَىَّ، كَمَا فَرَضْتُ عَلَيْكَ فِي أُمِّ الْكِتَابِ ـ قَالَ ـ فَكُلُّ حَسَنَةٍ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا، فَهْىَ خَمْسُونَ فِي أُمِّ الْكِتَابِ وَهْىَ خَمْسٌ عَلَيْكَ. فَرَجَعَ إِلَى مُوسَى فَقَالَ كَيْفَ فَعَلْتَ فَقَالَ خَفَّفَ عَنَّا أَعْطَانَا بِكُلِّ حَسَنَةٍ عَشْرَ أَمْثَالِهَا. قَالَ مُوسَى قَدْ وَاللَّهِ رَاوَدْتُ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ عَلَى أَدْنَى مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَتَرَكُوهُ، ارْجِعْ إِلَى رَبِّكَ فَلْيُخَفِّفْ عَنْكَ أَيْضًا. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَا مُوسَى قَدْ وَاللَّهِ اسْتَحْيَيْتُ مِنْ رَبِّي مِمَّا اخْتَلَفْتُ إِلَيْهِ. قَالَ فَاهْبِطْ بِاسْمِ اللَّهِ. قَالَ وَاسْتَيْقَظَ وَهْوَ فِي مَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ
His meeting with Musa (alaihissalaam) in the heavens has been mentioned in the Quran.
وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَٰبَ فَلَا تَكُن فِى مِرْيَةٍ مِّن لِّقَآئِهِۦ ۖ
عَنْ أَبِي الْعَالِيَةِ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عَمِّ، نَبِيِّكُمْ يَعْنِي ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ : رَأَيْتُ لَيْلَةَ أُسْرِيَ بِي مُوسَى رَجُلاً آدَمَ طُوَالاً جَعْدًا، كَأَنَّهُ مِنْ رِجَالِ شَنُوءَةَ، وَرَأَيْتُ عِيسَى رَجُلاً مَرْبُوعًا مَرْبُوعَ الْخَلْقِ إِلَى الْحُمْرَةِ وَالْبَيَاضِ، سَبْطَ الرَّأْسِ، وَرَأَيْتُ مَالِكًا خَازِنَ النَّارِ . وَالدَّجَّالَ فِي آيَاتٍ أَرَاهُنَّ اللَّهُ إِيَّاهُ، فَلاَ تَكُنْ فِي مِرْيَةٍ مِنْ لِقَائِهِ. قَالَ أَنَسٌ وَأَبُو بَكْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم : تَحْرُسُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ الْمَدِينَةَ مِنَ الدَّجَّالِ
فَلَا تَكُن فِى مِرْيَةٍ مِّن لِّقَآئِهِ
So be not you in doubt of meeting him [i.e. when you met Musa during the night of Al-Israa and Al-Meraj over the heavens]. [Surah As-Sajdah (32) : 23]
Narrated Anas and Abu Bakrah (radiallahu anhuma): “The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “The angels will guard Madinah from Ad-Dajjal (who will not be able to enter it). [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Hadeeth No. 462. This is part of a longer narration.]
، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ فُرِضَتْ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَيْلَةَ أُسْرِيَ بِهِ الصَّلَوَاتُ خَمْسِينَ ثُمَّ نُقِصَتْ حَتَّى جُعِلَتْ خَمْسًا ثُمَّ نُودِيَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ إِنَّهُ لاَ يُبَدَّلُ الْقَوْلُ لَدَىَّ وَإِنَّ لَكَ بِهَذِهِ الْخَمْسِ خَمْسِينَ
Anas bin Malik (radiallahu anhu) narrated: “On the Night of Israa, fifty prayers were made obligatory upon the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). Then it was decreased until it was made five. Then it was called out: ‘O Muhammad! Indeed My Word does not change; these five prayers will be recorded for you as fifty.'” [Jaami At-Tirmidhi, Hadeeth No. 213. Graded “sahih” (authentic) by Al-Albani.]
He was given three things on this night, including the obligatory prayers.
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ لَمَّا أُسْرِيَ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم انْتُهِيَ بِهِ إِلَى سِدْرَةِ الْمُنْتَهَى وَهِيَ فِي السَّمَاءِ السَّادِسَةِ إِلَيْهَا يَنْتَهِي مَا يُعْرَجُ بِهِ مِنَ الأَرْضِ فَيُقْبَضُ مِنْهَا وَإِلَيْهَا يَنْتَهِي مَا يُهْبَطُ بِهِ مِنْ فَوْقِهَا فَيُقْبَضُ مِنْهَا قَالَ { إِذْ يَغْشَى السِّدْرَةَ مَا يَغْشَى} قَالَ فَرَاشٌ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ . قَالَ فَأُعْطِيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثَلاَثًا أُعْطِيَ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسَ وَأُعْطِيَ خَوَاتِيمَ سُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ وَغُفِرَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ أُمَّتِهِ شَيْئًا الْمُقْحِمَاتُ
It is narrated on the authority of Abdullah (ibn Umar) (radiallahu anhu) that when the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was taken for the Night journey, he was taken to Sidrat-ul-Muntaha, which is situated on the sixth heaven, where terminates everything that ascends from the earth and is held there, and where terminates everything that descends from above it and is held there. (It is with reference to this that) Allah said:
إِذْ يَغْشَى السِّدْرَةَ مَا يَغْشَىٰ
When that covered the lote-tree which did cover it. [Surah An-Najm (53) : 16]
He (the narrator) said: (It was) gold moths. He (the narrator further) said: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was given three (things): he was given five prayers, be was given the concluding verses of Surah al-Baqarah, and remission of serious sins for those among his Ummah who associate not anything with Allah. [Sahih Muslim, Hadeeth No. 329]
A question that many people ask is: Did the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) see Allah on this night?No, he did not rather he only saw light, as evidenced by the explanation of Ibn Kathir mentioned earlier.
Here are some ahadeeth that also prove that he did not see Allah.
عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، قَالَ كُنْتُ مُتَّكِئًا عِنْدَ عَائِشَةَ فَقَالَتْ يَا أَبَا عَائِشَةَ ثَلاَثٌ مَنْ تَكَلَّمَ بِوَاحِدَةٍ مِنْهُنَّ فَقَدْ أَعْظَمَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْفِرْيَةَ . قُلْتُ مَا هُنَّ قَالَتْ مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا صلى الله عليه وسلم رَأَى رَبَّهُ فَقَدْ أَعْظَمَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْفِرْيَةَ . قَالَ وَكُنْتُ مُتَّكِئًا فَجَلَسْتُ فَقُلْتُ يَا أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْظِرِينِي وَلاَ تَعْجَلِينِي أَلَمْ يَقُلِ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ { وَلَقَدْ رَآهُ بِالأُفُقِ الْمُبِينِ} { وَلَقَدْ رَآهُ نَزْلَةً أُخْرَى} . فَقَالَتْ أَنَا أَوَّلُ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةِ سَأَلَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ ” إِنَّمَا هُوَ جِبْرِيلُ لَمْ أَرَهُ عَلَى صُورَتِهِ الَّتِي خُلِقَ عَلَيْهَا غَيْرَ هَاتَيْنِ الْمَرَّتَيْنِ رَأَيْتُهُ مُنْهَبِطًا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ سَادًّا عِظَمُ خَلْقِهِ مَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الأَرْضِ ” . فَقَالَتْ أَوَلَمْ تَسْمَعْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَقُولُ { لاَ تُدْرِكُهُ الأَبْصَارُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ الأَبْصَارَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ} أَوَلَمْ تَسْمَعْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَقُولُ { وَمَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَنْ يُكَلِّمَهُ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ وَحْيًا أَوْ مِنْ وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ رَسُولاً فَيُوحِيَ بِإِذْنِهِ مَا يَشَاءُ إِنَّهُ عَلِيٌّ حَكِيمٌ}
وَلَقَدْ رَءَاهُ بِٱلْأُفُقِ ٱلْمُبِينِ
وَلَقَدْ رَآهُ نَزْلَةً أُخْرَىٰ
And indeed he (Muhammad) saw him [Jibreel] at a second descent (i.e. another time). [Surah An-Najm (53) : 13]
She said: I am the first of this Ummah who asked the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) about it, and he said: Verily he is Jibreel. I have never seen him in his original form in which he was created except on those two occasions (to which these verses refer); I saw him descending from the heaven and filling (the space) from the sky to the earth with the greatness of his bodily structure. She said: Have you not heard Allah saying:
لَّا تُدْرِكُهُ ٱلْأَبْصَٰرُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ ٱلْأَبْصَٰرَ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱللَّطِيفُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ
No vision can grasp Him, but His Grasp is over all vision. He is the Most Subtle and Courteous, Well-Acquainted with all things. [Surah Al-Anaam (6) : 103]
Or have you not heard that, verily, Allah says:
وَمَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُكَلِّمَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا وَحْيًا أَوْ مِن وَرَآئِ حِجَابٍ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ رَسُولًا فَيُوحِىَ بِإِذْنِهِۦ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِىٌّ حَكِيمٌ
[Sahih Muslim, Hadeeth No. 337. This is part of a longer narration.]
عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَائِشَةَ فَأَيْنَ قَوْلُهُ { ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّى * فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَى * فَأَوْحَى إِلَى عَبْدِهِ مَا أَوْحَى} قَالَتْ إِنَّمَا ذَاكَ جِبْرِيلُ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَأْتِيهِ فِي صُورَةِ الرِّجَالِ وَإِنَّهُ أَتَاهُ فِي هَذِهِ الْمَرَّةِ فِي صُورَتِهِ الَّتِي هِيَ صُورَتُهُ فَسَدَّ أُفُقَ السَّمَاءِ
Masruq reported: I said to Aishah (radiallahu anha): What about the words of Allah:
ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ
فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَىٰ
فَأَوْحَىٰ إِلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ مَا أَوْحَىٰ
Then he [Jibreel] approached and came closer, And was at a distance of two bows’ length or (even) nearer, So did (Allah) convey the Inspiration to His slave [Muhammad, through Jibreel]. [Surah An-Najm (53) : 8-10]
She said: It implies Jibreel. He used to come to him (the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) in the shape of men; but he came at this time in his true form and blocked up the horizon of the sky. [Sahih Muslim, Hadeeth No. 340]
عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم هَلْ رَأَيْتَ رَبَّكَ قَالَ : نُورٌ أَنَّى أَرَاهُ
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Dharr (radiallahu anhu): I asked the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam): Did you see your Lord? He said: (He is veiled by) light; how could I see Him? [Sahih Muslim, Hadeeth No. 341]
عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ رَآهُ بِقَلْبِهِ
It is narrated on the authority of Ibn Abbas (radiallahu anhuma) that he (the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) saw Him (Allah) with, his heart. [Sahih Muslim, Hadeeth No. 334]
Here’s an article that discusses this issue in more detail.
16. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) returned to Makkah and informed his people the next morning
On that Jibreel said, “Descend in Allah’s Name.” The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) then woke while he was in the Sacred Mosque (at Makkah). [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 9, Hadeeth No. 608. This is part of a longer narration.]
There are some other reports about his return too but these are fabricated.
عَن جَابِر بْن عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ : لَمَّا كَذَّبَنِي قُرَيْشٌ قُمْتُ فِي الْحِجْرِ، فَجَلَّى اللَّهُ لِي بَيْتَ الْمَقْدِسِ فَطَفِقْتُ أُخْبِرُهُمْ عَنْ آيَاتِهِ وَأَنَا أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ
Narrated Jabir bin Abdullah (radiallahu anhuma): The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “When the Quraish disbelieved me (concerning my night journey), I stood up in Al- Hijr (the unroofed portion of the Kabah) and Allah displayed Bait-ul-Maqdis before me, and I started to inform them (Quraish) about its signs while looking at it.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 6, Hadeeth No. 233]
عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنه قال: أُسْرِيَ بالنبيِّ صلَّى اللهُ عليهِ وسلَّمَ إلى بيتِ المقدسِ ثم جاء من ليلتِهِ فحدَّثهم بمسيرِهِ وبعلامةِ بيتِ المقدسِ وبعيرهم فقال ناسٌ قال حسنٌ : نحنُ نُصَدِّقُ محمدًا بما يقولُ فارتدُّوا كفارًا فضرب اللهُ أعناقهم مع أبي جهلٍ وقال أبو جهلٍ : يُخوِّفنا محمدٌ بشجرةِ الزقومِ هاتوا تمرًا وزبدًا فتزقموا
It was narrated that Ibn Abbas (radiallahu anhu) said “The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was taken on his Night Journey, then he came the same night and told them of his journey, with the proof of the description of Bait Al-Maqdis, and of their caravan? Some people said: Should we believe what Muhammad says?! And they apostasised and became disbelievers, and Allah caused them to be slain with Abu Jahl. Abu Jahl said: Is Muhammad trying to scare us with the tree of Az-Zaqqoom? Bring us some dates and butter and let us have some Zaqqoom! [Musnad Ahmad, Hadeeth No. 3546. Shuaib Al-Arnaut said that its “isnaad” (chain of narrators) was “sahih” (authentic).]
عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : لَمَّا كان لَيلةَ أُسريَ بي، وأصبَحتُ بِمكةَ، فَظِعتُ بأَمري، وعرَفتُ أنَّ النَّاسَ مُكذِّبيَّ. فقعَدَ مُعتَزِلًا حَزينًا، قال: فمَرَّ به عَدوُّ اللهِ أبو جَهلٍ، فجاء حتى جلَسَ إليه، فقال له كالمُستَهزئِ: هل كان مِن شيءٍ؟ فقال رَسولُ اللهِ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ: نَعَمْ. قال: ما هو؟ قال: إنَّه أُسريَ بي اللَّيلةَ. قال: إلى أين؟ قال: إلى بَيتِ المَقدِسِ. قال: ثم أصبَحتَ بيْنَ ظَهرانَيْنا؟ قال: نَعَمْ. قال: فلَم يُرِه أنَّه يُكذِّبُه، مَخافةَ أنْ يَجحَدَه الحَديثَ إنْ دعا قَومَه إليه، قال: أرأَيتَ إنْ دعَوتُ قَومَك تُحدِّثُهم ما حدَّثتَني؟ فقال رَسولُ اللهِ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ: نَعَمْ. فقال: هيَّا مَعشَرَ بَني كَعبِ بنِ لُؤَيٍّ. حتى قال: فانتفَضتْ إليه المَجالِسُ، وجاؤوا حتى جلَسوا إليهما، قال: حَدِّثْ قَومَك بما حدَّثتَني. فقال رَسولُ اللهِ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ: إنِّي أُسريَ بي اللَّيلةَ. قالوا: إلى أين؟ قال: إلى بَيتِ المَقدِسِ. قالوا: ثم أصبَحتَ بيْنَ ظَهرانَيْنا؟ قال: نَعَمْ. قال: فمِن بيْنِ مُصفِّقٍ، ومِن بيْنِ واضِعٍ يَدَه على رَأْسِه، مُتعجِّبًا للكَذِبِ، زعَمَ، قالوا: وهل تَستَطيعُ أنْ تنعَتَ لنا المَسجِدَ؟ وفي القَومِ مَن قد سافَرَ إلى ذلك البَلَدِ، ورأَى المَسجِدَ، فقال رَسولُ اللهِ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ: فذهَبتُ أَنعَتُ، فما زلت أَنعَتُ حتى التبَسَ عليَّ بَعضُ النَّعتِ. قال: فَجيءَ بِالمَسجِدِ وأنا أَنظُرُ حتى وُضِعَ دونَ دارِ عِقالٍ أو عُقَيلٍ، فنعَتُّه، وأنا أَنظُرُ إليه. قال: وكان مع هذا نَعتٌ لم أَحفَظْه. قال: فقال القَومُ: أمَّا النَّعتُ فواللهِ لقد أصابَ
It was narrated that Ibn Abbas (radiallahu anhuma) said: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam): “On the night on which I was taken on the Night Journey, the next morning I was in Makkah and I was in a state of shock, for I knew that the people would not believe me.” He sat on his own, away from the people, feeling sad. Then the enemy of Allah, Abu Jahl, passed by him; he came and sat close to him and said to him, like one who is mocking: ‘Did something happen?’
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Yes”. He said: ‘What was it?’ He said: “I was taken on a journey last night.” He said: ‘Where to?’ He said: “To Bait Al-Maqdis (Jerusalem)”.
He said: ‘Then you found yourself amongst us this morning?! He said: “Yes”. He [Abu Jahl] did not show that he did not believe him, for fear that he might deny what he said if he called the people to come and listen to him.
He said: ‘Do you think that if I call your people that you will tell them what you told me?’ The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Yes”. So he said: ‘Come, O Banu Kab bin Luayy. All the people came to him and sat with them both, and he said: Tell your people what you told me.
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “I was taken on a journey last night.” They said: ‘Where to?’ He said: “To Bait Al-Maqdis (Jerusalem)”. They said: ‘Then you found yourself amongst us this morning?! He said: “Yes”.
Some of them clapped (as a sign of disbelief) and some put their hands on their heads in astonishment at what they thought to be lies. They said: ‘Can you describe the mosque to us?’ Among the people were some who had travelled to that land and seen the mosque. The Messenger of the Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “I started to describe it, and I kept describing it until I reached a point where I was not sure. Then the mosque was brought whilst I was looking on, and it was placed closer (to me) than the house of ‘Iqal – or ‘Uqail – and I described it whilst I was looking at it, and I described things that I had not remembered.” The people said: ‘As for the description, by Allah, he is right.” [Musnad Ahmad, Hadeeth No. 2819. Shuaib Al-Arnaut said that its “isnaad” (chain of narrators) was “sahih” (authentic) upon the condition of the two Shaikhs (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim)].
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ لَمَّا أُسْرِيَ بِالنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الأَقْصَى أَصْبَحَ يَتَحَدَّثُ النَّاسُ بِذَلِكَ فَارْتَدَّ نَاسٌ مِمَّنْ كَانُوا آمَنُوا بِهِ وَصَدَّقُوهُ وَسَعَوْا بِذَلِكَ إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ فَقَالُوا هَلْ لَكَ فِي صَاحِبِكَ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ أُسْرِيَ بِهِ فِي اللَّيْلِ إِلَى بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ قَالَ أَوَ قَالَ ذَلِكَ قَالُوا نَعَمْ قَالَ لَئِنْ كَانَ قَالَ ذَلِكَ لَقَدْ صَدَقَ قَالُوا وَتُصَدِّقُهُ أَنَّهُ ذَهَبَ اللَّيْلَةَ إِلَى بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ وَجَاءَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُصْبِحَ قَالَ نَعَمْ إِنِّي لأُصَدِّقُهُ بِمَا هُوَ أَبْعَدُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أُصَدِّقُهُ بِخَبَرِ السَّمَاءِ فِي غُدْوَةٍ أَوْ رَوْحَةٍ فَلِذَلِكَ سُمِّيَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقَ
Aishah (radiallahu anha) reported: After the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was miraculously taken by night to the furthest mosque in Jerusalem, the people began to talk about it. Some of them renounced their faith and belief in him. They sought Abu Bakr and they said, “Have you heard that your friend imagined he was taken by night to the sacred house?” Abu Bakr said, “Did he say that?” They said yes. Abu Bakr said, “If he said it, he has spoken the truth.” They said, “Do you believe he went by night to the sacred house and returned before morning?” Abu Bakr said, “Yes. Verily, I believe what is even more astonishing than that. I believe he has received messages from heaven for everything he does.” For this reason, Abu Bakr was named the al-Siddiq (the truthful).[As-Silsilah Al-Ahadeeth As-Saheehah, Hadeeth No. 306. The reference is from Dorar.]
Imam Ibn Kathir mentions a very fascinating story in his explanation of Surah Al-Israa:
(The narrator) said that Abu Sufyan (later) said: “By Allah, nothing stopped me from saying something to Heraclius to make him despise (Muhammad) but the fact that I did not want to tell a lie that would later be found out, and he would never believe me again after that. Then I told him about the night on which he was taken on the Night Journey. I said: `O King, shall I not tell you of something from which you will know that he is lying’ He said, `What is it’ I said: `He claims that he went out of our land, the land of Al-Haram, in one night, and came to your sanctuary in Jerusalem, then came back to us the same night, before morning came.’ The Patriarch of Jerusalem was there, standing next to Caesar. The Patriarch of Jerusalem said: `I know that night.’ Caesar looked at him and said, `How do you know about this’ He said, `I never used to sleep at night until I closed the doors of the sanctuary. On that night I closed all the doors except for one, which I could not manage to close. I asked my workers and others who were with me to help me deal with it, but we could not move it. It was like trying to move a mountain. So I called the carpenters, and they looked at it and said: The lintel and some part of the structure has fallen onto it. We cannot move it until morning, when we will be able to see what the problem is. So I went back and left those two doors open. The next morning I went back, and saw that the stone at the corner of the sanctuary had a hole in it, and there were traces of an animal having been tethered there. I said to my companions: This door has not been closed last night except for a Prophet, who prayed last night in our sanctuary.”’
Important note: The night of Al-Israa wal Meraj was undoubtedly a great night. However, we CANNOT celebrate it. It is not permissible to do so. Please refer to the following articles and videos for more information:
Can Muslims Celebrate Al-Isra and Al-Miraj? – Islam QA
Ruling on celebrating the Night of Isra and Miraj – Shaikh Ibn Baz
Jibreel (alaihissalaam) came down the morning after the night of Al-Israa to teach the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) the times of prayer
According to the scholars, Jibreel (alaihissalaam) came down on the morning after Al-Israa to show the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) the times of the five prayers. It seems that Jibreel (alaihisalaam) first showed him the times when each prayer begins and then showed him the times when each prayer ends.
عن ابْن عَبَّاس، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ : أَمَّنِي جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ عِنْدَ الْبَيْتِ مَرَّتَيْنِ فَصَلَّى الظُّهْرَ فِي الأُولَى مِنْهُمَا حِينَ كَانَ الْفَىْءُ مِثْلَ الشِّرَاكِ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الْعَصْرَ حِينَ كَانَ كُلُّ شَيْءٍ مِثْلَ ظِلِّهِ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الْمَغْرِبَ حِينَ وَجَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَأَفْطَرَ الصَّائِمُ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ حِينَ غَابَ الشَّفَقُ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الْفَجْرَ حِينَ بَرَقَ الْفَجْرُ وَحَرُمَ الطَّعَامُ عَلَى الصَّائِمِ . وَصَلَّى الْمَرَّةَ الثَّانِيَةَ الظُّهْرَ حِينَ كَانَ ظِلُّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مِثْلَهُ لِوَقْتِ الْعَصْرِ بِالأَمْسِ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الْعَصْرَ حِينَ كَانَ ظِلُّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مِثْلَيْهِ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الْمَغْرِبَ لِوَقْتِهِ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ الآخِرَةَ حِينَ ذَهَبَ ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الصُّبْحَ حِينَ أَسْفَرَتِ الأَرْضُ ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَىَّ جِبْرِيلُ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ هَذَا وَقْتُ الأَنْبِيَاءِ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ . وَالْوَقْتُ فِيمَا بَيْنَ هَذَيْنِ الْوَقْتَيْنِ
To be continued…
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