JOURNEY OF MI’RAAJ

Rajab-ul-Murajjab the seventh sacred month of Islamic calendar, is showering its blessings upon us. It is the sacred month in which the great (Prophetic) miracle of our Beloved Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was revealed.

‘In the night of Mi’raaj, the roof of the blessed home of Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم opened and suddenly Sayyiduna Jibra`eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام descended with some angels. They took the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم to Haram-e-Ka’bah and split the blessed chest, took out the blessed heart and washed it with Zamzam water . They then poured a tray full of Iman and Hikmah [faith and Divine knowledge] into the blessed chest and stitched up the blessed abdomen.

Describing the scene of this faith-refreshing parable in one of his [Kalam] poetic works, Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـه has mentioned:

قربان میں شان و عظمت پر سوئے ہیں چین سے بسترپر

جبریلِ امیں حاضر ہو کر معراج کا مُژدہ سُناتے ہیں

جبریلِ امین بُراق لیے جنّت سے زمیں پر آ پہنچے

بارات فرشتوں کی آئی معراج کو دُولہا جاتے ہیں

The speed of the Buraaq was so amazing that it used to put its step on the farthest place where it could see. Having reached Bayt-ul-Muqaddas he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم tethered the Buraaq in the Halqah (circle) [a specific place where riding-animals such as horses, etc. are tethered] in which blessed Ambiya عَـلَـيْهِمُ السَّلَام also used to tether their riding-animals. Then he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم led 2 Rak’aat congregational Nafl Salah of all the Ambiya and Rusul who were present there.

(Seerat-e-Mustafa, pp. 732-733)

اقصیٰ میں سواری جب پہنچی جبریل نے بڑھ کے کہی تکبیر

نبیوں کی امامت اب بڑھ کر سلطانِ جہاں فرماتے ہیں

Then Sayyiduna Jibra`eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام took the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم to the sky. He صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم met Sayyiduna Aadam عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام in the first sky, Sayyiduna Yahya and Sayyiduna ‘Isa عَـلَيْـهِمَا الـصَّلٰوة ُ وَالـسَّلَام in the second sky and also had some conversation with them. He صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم met Sayyiduna Yusuf عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام in the third sky, Sayyiduna Idrees عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام in the fourth sky and Sayyiduna Haroon عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام in the fifth sky. He صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم met Sayyiduna Musa عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام in the sixth sky and as he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم reached the seventh sky he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم met Sayyiduna Ibraheem عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام who was sitting with his back against Bayt-ul-Ma’moor (Qiblah of angels) in which 70,000 angels enter every day. Every Nabi welcomed the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم by saying ‘Welcome! O righteous Rasool’. Then he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was taken on the tour of Paradise . After this, he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم reached Sidra-tul-Muntaha. When the Divine lights were showered on this tree, its shaped instantly changed and then such rays of colourful lights were seen which cannot be described in words. When Sayyiduna Jibra`eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام reached here he stopped by saying: Now I cannot move ahead further.

جبریل ٹھہر کر سدرہ پر بولے جو بڑھے ہم ایک قدم

جل جائیں گے سارے بال و پر اب ہم تو یہیں رہ جاتے ہیں

Then Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ blessed the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم by calling him to ‘Arsh, or rather above ‘Arsh to the place where Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ wanted him to reach.

(Seerat-e-Mustafa, pp. 732-734)

It has been stated in the Holy Al Quran in these words: In Ayah 8 and 9 of Surah An Najm, part 27 Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has stated:

ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلّٰی ۙ﴿۸﴾ فَکَانَ قَابَ قَوۡ سَیۡنِ اَوۡ اَدۡنٰی ۚ﴿۹﴾

Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: Then the Spectacle became closer, and came down in full view. So the distance between the Spectacle and the beloved was only two arms’ length, or even less.

Afterwards what happened is also beyond our intellect. When the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم came back from the sky to the earth after being blessed with the Divine Sight of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ visited every place, explored and observed the Divine signs of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم entered Bayt-ul-Muqaddas and mounted the Buraaq to set out for Makkah Mukarramah. The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم saw all the Manazil [stations] and the caravans of traders of Quraysh on the way. After passing through all these stages when he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم reached Masjid-ul-Haraam, he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم slept because much part of the night was still left.

(Seerat-e-Mustafa, pp. 735; summarized)

خدا کی قُدرت کہ چاند حق کے، کروڑوں منزل میں جلوہ کرکے

ابھی نہ تاروں کی چھاؤں بدلی، کہ نُور کے تڑکے آ لیے تھے

The explanation of couplet of Raza: Just notice the glory of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ that the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم came back in a very short period of time after visiting billions of places, the stars were still shining in the same way and even their shadows did not change.

(Sharh Kalam-e-Raza, pp. 696)

How elevated and great is the glory of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم that Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ gave him the ride of Heavenly-Buraaq to show him His great signs in the shortest time of the 27th night of Rajab-ul-Murajjab; Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ called His Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم to Masjid-e-Aqsa from Masjid-ul-Haraam and from there to all the skies and revealed the glory and excellence of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم to different Ambiya عَـلَـيْهِمُ السَّلَام and the angels. The Beloved and Blessed Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was given the gift of Salah and above all, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ blessed him with His own Divine sight and also blessed him with the privilege to converse directly with Him.

While touring Paradise, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم heard the sound of someone’s footsteps, regarding which, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was informed that he was Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ.

(Mishkat-ul-Masabih, vol. 2, pp. 418, Hadees 6037)

May I be sacrificed on him! See the highly exalted and greatest glory of Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ that the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم heard the sound of his footsteps. How did Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ obtain this great status? .

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ has narrated that (once) the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said to Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ at Fajr: O Bilal! Tell me which act you did in Islam for which you hope to receive the greatest reward, because I heard the sound of your footsteps in front of me in Paradise. Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ humbly replied: What I remember is this that I have not performed any such great act. However, when I performed Wudu or Ghusl [ritual bath] anytime during the day or night I offered Salah as much as Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ wanted me to do so.

(Sahih Muslim, pp. 957, Hadees 2458)

Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا said that the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: When I entered Paradise I heard Qira`at. I asked: Who is he? So the angels humbly replied: He is Sayyiduna Haarisah Bin Nu’man رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ.

(Kitab Ma’rifat-us-Sahabah, vol. 4, pp. 216, Hadees 4982)

Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ bestowed a great miracle of Mi’raaj upon His Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. The blessed heart of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was further filled with Noor and Hikmat [luminosity and Divine knowledge] prior to his visit of Mi’raaj. The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم lead the Salah of blessed Ambiya عَـلَـيْهِمُ السَّلَام in Masjid-e-Aqsa. The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم visited the skies. The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was granted a great blessing in the night of Mi’raaj; he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was privileged to have the Sacred vision of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and also have conversation with Him. On returning from the Mi’raaj, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم mentioned the signs of Bayt-ul-Muqaddas to the unbelievers of Quraysh who denied the event of Mi’raaj. He صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم mentioned the conditions and states of the caravans of the unbelievers of Quraysh. He صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم even mentioned the time of the arrivals of these caravans.

اٰمِيۡن بِجَاهِ النَّبِيِّ الۡاَمِيۡن صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِه وَسَلَّم

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد