ASCENT TO HEAVEN (Shab-e-Meraj)
Glory to "Allah" Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the
farthest Mosque, whose precincts We did bless,- in order that We might show him some of Our Signs:
for He is the One Who heareth and seeth (all things)." (Qur'an 17:1)
The tenth year of the Prophethood has a distinguished position in the history of the Islam, as it
was during this year that the pride of the Prophet (peace be upon him) was graced with the honour
of Divine presence, as exclusive distinction of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) amongs all
other Prophet (peace be upon him).
Following the brief account of this event
One night prophet lying the Hateem Hateem is poration of ka'bah was left open at time of its
reconstruction of Ka'bah, when the two angels Gabriel and Michail (peace be upon them) come to
him and asked him to accompany them. They mounted him on Buraq. Buraq ia an animal of the
paradise. The speed of the Buraq was such that its one stride covered a distance equal to its range
of vision. With this fast speed they took him first to Mashid-i-Aqsa in syria. Here Almighty Allah had
gathered all the Prophets of the past (as a miracle) for the reception of the Holy Prophet (peace be
upon him). Gabriel, on his arrival here, made a call for prayer the prophets and the messengers of
Allah all stood and arranged rows, but everyone was waiting for the one who would lead the prayer.
Gabriel, the trustworthy, held the hand of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and put him
ahead of all others. He led the prayer for all the prophets and messenger of Allah and the angels.
Up to this place of the world, the journey was covered by Buraq. After it he was taken from
Masjid-i-Aqsa to the heaven. Prophet's met Adam (peace be upon him) in first heaven, Jesus adn
Yahay (peace be upon him) in the second, Yousaf (peace be upon him) in the third, Idrees (peace be
upon him) in the fourth and Ibraheem (peace be upon him) in the fifth heaven.
Thereafter, Prophet went towards Sidra-tul-muntaha. A tree in the seventh heaven. On his way
Prophet passed by the spring 'Kausar' and the n entered the paradise. There prophet saw such
wonderful and strange things made by the Divine Hand, which nobody had ever seen or heard of No
human imagination could reach there. Then he was shown the Heel full of torment of every kind and
filled with such a raging fire that hard things lie iron and stones melted in no time therein. Therein
Prophet saw group of people eating the flesh of corpses. On his inquiry Gabriel (peace be upon him)
said. " These are those who used to eat the flesh of the people (i.e. used to back-bite against
others). Thereafter the gate of the Hell was closed. Then the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him)
stepped forward, but Gabriel (peace be upon him) stopped there because he was not allowed to go
beyond this stage. At that time Holy Prophet (peace be upon him )was graced with the vision of
Allah Almighty. The truth is that it was not the vision by the heart but a vision by the nacked eyes.
This is the research of Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbas, other companions, Imams and all the authentic
scholars. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) fell in prostration and had the honour of direct
conversation with Almighty Allah.
The five-time regular prayers (salat) was ordained as obligatory during this very course. And
after this (unique honour) the Prophet (peace be upon him) resumed his journey back to Mecca on
the same Buraq. On his way he passed by three caravan of the Quraish at different Place, out of
which some persons were greeted by him and they recognised his voice, and after returning to
Mecca they stood witness to it. This auspicious journey concluded before dawn.
Eye-Witnesses on Prophet's Ascent
When this news spread among the Quraish in the morning, they were in a strange condition.
Some of them were clapping, some were keeping their hands on their heads in amazement and
some were laughing at him with a ridicule. Afterwards they all started asking him questions in order
to test (the crediblity of the news), they inquired.
" How is the construction and model of Bait-ul-Muqadas and at what distance is it from the
mountain?" He explained to them its completed design. Similarly, they continued inquiring from him
about various things and he also kept on answering their questions. And then they started asking
such questions which could not be answered by anyone even after having a glimpse if a thing. For
instance: How many are the doors and windows of the Mosque?
Obviously, who cares to count all these things. Therefore, the Prophet was much perturbed, but
misculouly, Masjid-ul-Aqsa was brought before his vision. He was counting and telling the required
number of its doors and windows, etc. Abu Bakr said, : O The Messenger of Allah ! I stand sitness to
you." The Quraish were thus made quiet and they acknowledged that all the indications described by
the Prophet were entirely correct. Then they turned toward Abu Bakr Siddiq and said: " Do you
confirm that he (The Prophet) reached Masjid-ul-Aqsa and returned in one night?" Hadrat Siddiq
replied: " I confirm events far beyond that. I believe he receives the heavenly news and messages
within a short-while every day and night. Then why any hesitation about this event?"
On this very account Abu Bakr was awarded the title of Siddiq (one who confirms the truth).
Eye-Witnessed Among the Infidel Quraish
After that the Quraish again inquired, as a teat from the Prophet (peace be upon him): "Well,
tell us where is our caravan which had set out for Syria?" He replied, I passed by a mercantile
caravan of (so and so) tribe. They had lost a camel and were in search of it. I went where their
haudajs were lying but no one was there. A pitcher contained water and I drank it. Thereafter, I
passed by the mercantile caravan of (so and so ) tribe at (such and such) place. When the Buqraq
came near to that place the camels started running hither and thither out of harassment. Among
them was a red camel. with two black and white covers on its back, fell senseless.
Then I passed by (so and so) mercantile caravan at (such and such) place which was preceded by a
camel of Khaki colour with a black coarse Cloth and two black coverings on its back. This caravan is
reaching here soon." They enquired: " When?" he replied: " It will reach by Wednesday". So it
happened exactly as the Prophet had said. And the merchants on those caravans confirmed the
statements of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
When the formality of divine causation was over and their own people stood witnessed to this
incredible journey (of the Prophet) the antagonists had no other excuse except moving away with
the remarks that his journey was only a magic and he was a magician.
Islam in Madina
For ten years the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and openly invited the Arab-tribes toward
Islam. There was no gathering or a public meeting of the Arabs where the Prophet did not convey
the message of truth. During the Hajj season, he had been knocking every door in the bazar of
Ukkaz and Dhil Majaar and inviting them towards Islam but in return they had been harming and
making fun of him in every possible way. They used to ask him to convert his own tribe first as
Muslim and the m come to them for preaching Islam. This state of affairs remained for long. And
when it was the will of Almighty Allah that Islam should spread and progress speedily, He sent some
men of the Aus Tribe from Medina to the Prophet. Out of them two persons, Asad bin Zarah and
Zakwan bin Abd Qais, embraced Islam. Next year more persons of that tribe came to him and six or
eight of them became Muslim. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) asked them if they could help
him in the propagation of the message of Allah. They submissively replied: "The Messenger of Allah ,
for the time being Civil War is going on between the Aus and Khazraj tribes. If you went to Medina it
this time, all people will not sewear allegiance unto you. Kindly postpone this intention for one year
at the moment. May be we reconcile among ourselves and then the Aus and Khaztaj jointly embrace
Islam. Next year we shell seek your audience again and at time it would be decided." These
gentlemen returned to Medina, and Qur'an was recited for the first time in mosque of Banu Razeeq
in Medina.
It was the will of the Lord of the Worlds that Islam be spread in Medina. The disputes between
Aus and Khaztaj finished within that year and by next rear on the occasion of Hajj twelve persons
sought the audience of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). Ten of them belonged to the Khaztrah
tribe and and two belonged to Aus. Among them those who had not embraced Islam last year
became Muslim this time, and all of them took oath of allegiance at the hand of the Holy Prophet
(peace be upon him). Since this oath was taken near Uqbah, it was given the name "Bait-i-Uqbah
Ula. When these people returned to Medina. they noticed that every where in Medina Islam had
become popular and in every where in Medina Islam had become popular and in every meeting it
had become the only topic for discussion.