Isra and Mi'raj

Israa is an Arabic word referring to Prophet Muhammad's miraculous night journey from Makka to Jerusalem; it is believed to have been followed by the Mi'raj, his ascension to heaven.

Why is it important?

Within Islam, Isra and Mi'raj, celebrated on the 27th day of the 7th month of the Muslim calendar, refers to a miraculous nighttime journey undertaken by the Prophet Muhammad, in two legs.

First from Mecca to Jerusalem, and then from Jerusalem to the heavens. Believers consider it both a physical and a spiritual journey that was assisted by Allah himself — for example, by providing Muhammad with a pegasus-like steed, the Buraq, to ride during the first part of the journey.

History and Significance

Both the events occurred at a time when Muhammad was faced with deep difficulty. He had been tested with the passing of two of the dearest people in his life: his uncle Abu Talib, an indispensable mentor, and his wife, Khadijah, who had been the comfort of his life. Having gone through so much grief and suffering, he was given a truly beautiful and comforting gift: he was transported not only to the Sacred Sanctuary and through the skies, but ultimately into the Divine Presence, the source of all comfort and hope.

Allah Acension

Allah ascended the Prophet Muhammad from the Dome of the Rock through the skies or heaven, with the Angel Jibreel or Gabriel. Muhammad not only saw many miraculous sights and numerous angels, he also met a different prophet at each of the seven levels of heaven (first Adam, then John the Baptist and Jesus, then Joseph, Idris, Aaron, Moses, and lastly Abraham).

The Gift of Prayer

After Muhammad meets with Abraham, he continues on to meet Allah without the Angel Gabriel. It is here when Allah gave the Muslims the gift of compulsory salah or prayer. Allah tells Muhammad that his people must pray 50 times a day, but as Muhammad descends back to Earth, he meets Moses who tells Muhammad to go back to Allah and ask for fewer prayers because 50 is too many. Muhammad goes between Moses and Allah nine times until the prayers are reduced to the five daily prayers, which Allah will reward tenfold.

The End of the Journey

Finally, the Prophet Muhammad was taken back down to Al-Asqa and returned to Makkah. As he was transported home, he saw various caravans heading towards Makkah, which he would later describe to the Quraysh as proof that he really had made his miraculous journey. The entire journey had taken place in less than a night, and there were many who would mock Muhammad for making such a claim. For Muslims, however, the story was a source of wonder and hope, as it continues to be for many Muslims today.

source: NationalToday.com

Lailat al-Mi╩┐raj

The Lailat al-Mi╩┐raj (Arabic: ┘ä█î┘äÏ® Ϻ┘ä┘àÏ╣Ï▒Ϻϼ, Lailatu 'l-Mi╩┐r─üj), also known as Shab-e-Mi'raj (Bengali: ÓªÓª¼Óºç Óª«ÓºçÓª░Óª¥Óª£, romanized: ┼áobe Meraj, Persian: Ï┤Ï¿ ┘àÏ╣Ï▒Ϻϼ, ┼áab-e Mi'r├ój) in Iran, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, and Miraç Kandili in Turkish, is the Muslim holiday celebrating the Isra and Mi╩┐raj.

Some Muslims celebrate this event by offering optional prayers during this night, and in some Muslim countries, by illuminating cities with electric lights and candles. The celebrations around this day tend to focus on every Muslim who wants to celebrate it. Worshippers gather into mosques and perform prayer and supplication. Some people may pass their knowledge on to others by telling them the story on how Muhammad's heart was purified by the archangel Gabriel, who filled him with knowledge and faith in preparation to enter the seven levels of heaven. After salah, food and treats are served.

A dispute about the journey

There is some dispute among scholars as to whether "the farthest mosque," the Al-Aqsa, was a literal brick-and-mortar mosque or just a simple place of prayer, but adherents to the Muslim faith agree that Muhammed's journey was truly a miracle, because in order to travel by normal methods between Mecca and Jerusalem, it would take more than a month, not the single night of Isra and Mi'raj.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque

In Jerusalem on the Temple Mount, the structure of the Dome of the Rock, built several decades after Muhammad's death, marks the place from which Muhammad is believed to have ascended to heaven. The al-Aqsa Mosque and surrounding area is now the third-holiest place on earth for Muslims.

Many sects and offshoots belonging to Islamic mysticism interpret Muhammad's night ascent – the Isra and Mi╩┐raj – to be an out-of-body experience through nonphysical environments, unlike the Sunni Muslims or mainstream Islam.

The mystics claim Muhammad was transported to the farthest place of worship and then onward to the Seven Heavens, even though "the apostle's body remained where it was". Esoteric interpretations of the Quran emphasise the spiritual significance of Mi╩┐raj, seeing it as a symbol of the soul's journey and the potential of humans to rise above the confines of material life through prayer, piety and discipline.