THE EVENT OF MI'RAAJ

Allah Ta'ala by His infinite power has made his beloved Rasul (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) make a night journey from the Haram Sharif (Makkah) to the Masjid-e-Aqsaa (Bait-ul-Muqaddas) where he performed two Rak'aats of Salah in congregation: he was the Imaam and the Prophets (Alaihimus Salaam) were the Muqtadis. From the Masjid-e-Aqsa, Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'ala made his beloved Rasul (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) ascend to the 7th sky where he visited the Bait-ul-Ma'mur (Ka'bah of the sky) and the Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (the lotus tree). Then Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) had a conversation with Allah Ta'ala. He also visited heaven and hell.

It was from that night that Salah became obligatory. Initially, Allah Ta'ala had prescribed 50 Salahs Farz per day, but on the advice of Hadhrat Musa (Alaihis Salaam), the Prophet (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) pleaded for a reduction on nine occasions after shuttling between Musa (Alaihis Salaam) and Allah Ta'ala. Each time the number was reduced by five until it was definitively fixed at five.

The journey from the Haram Sharif to the Masjid-e-Aqsa is known as Isra. And the ascent from Masjid-e-Aqsa to the 7th sky is called Mi'raaj.

Every Muslim must necessarily believe in the event of Isra because whoever does not believe in it is considered a kaafir. As for the one who does not believe in the event of Mi'raaj, he is considered as a mubtadi (an innovator) and a fasiq.

Allah Ta'ala made his beloved Rasul (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) make this journey with his physical body and in a state of awakeness and not mentally or in a dream. This is the opinion shared by most scholars that finally led to a consensus among scholars on this subject for several reasons. One of the main reasons being the refusal of the Kuffaar of Makkah to believe in this miraculous event. Allaamah Abdul Wahhaab Sha’rani (Rahimahullah) said that if Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) had not told the Kuffaar of Makkah that he had performed the Mi'raaj with his physical body, they would not have raised any objection and refused to believe what he told them. In other words, if the Mi'raaj had been done in a dream or mentally, then what Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) narrated would not have caused astonishment among the kuffaar, for there is absolutely nothing surprising in what one could do in a dream.

NUMBER OF MI'RAAJ

The great majority of Muhadditheen and Fuqaha are of the opinion that there was only one Mi'raaj. However, Hadhrat Abu Sha'amah (Rahimahullah) is of the opposite opinion. Shaykh Abdul Wahhaab Sha’rani (Rahimahullah) also said that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) performed the Mi'raaj 34 times. If this proves to be true, it may be explained by the contradictions between some of the Ahaadith to the effect that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) did the Mi'raaj with his physical body and others to the effect that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) did it in a dream or mentally. Allaamah Sha’rani (Rahimahullah) is of the opinion that the Mi'raaj with the physical body took place only once, and the rest took place in dreams.

WHEN THE MI'RAAJ TOOK PLACE

There is no unanimity as to the date and month of the Mi'raaj although the 27th of Rajab is the generally accepted date.

Some say that the Mi'raaj took place 17 months before the Hijrah (Hijrah). Others are of the opinion that it took place on the 17th of Ramadhan, a year and a half before the Hijra. As for Allaamah Zuhri, he says that the Mi'raaj took place on the 27th of Rabi-ul-Awwal, a year before the Hijra, while Haafiz Abdul Ghani Al Muqaddasi says that this event took place on the 27th of Rajab.

AALAM-E-BARZAKH

During his ascent, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) visited, among other things, Aalam-e-Barzakh (the intermediate world between death and the Day of Judgment) where he was able to see the punishments inflicted on certain criminals.

PEOPLE WHO CONSUME RIBAH

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) passed by the people whose bellies were so big that they could hardly move, and the followers of Pharaoh trampled on them. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) was informed that these people were the ones who consumed Riba (interest).

PEOPLE WHO DEVOUR THE PROPERTY OF ORPHANS

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) also passed by the people who had large lips resembling those of camels and who juggled fireballs in their mouths and which then came out of their anus. Hadhrat Jibrail (Alaihis Salaam) told Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) that they were people who devoured the property of the orphans.

ADULTERY (ZINA)

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) also saw people who abandoned fresh meat ready for consumption to eat rotten stinky meat. Hadhrat Jibra'il (Alaihis Salaam) informed the Prophet (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) that they were men and women who abandoned their wives and their lawful husbands (halaal) respectively to gossip with women and men who were not lawful for them (i.e., haraam).

UNFAITHFUL WOMEN

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) also observed a group of women who were hanging by their breasts. It was women who declared the children of others (men) on the names of their husbands. In other words, they were deceiving their husbands.

DID RASULULLAH (SALLALLAAHU 'ALAIHI WASALLAM) SEE ALLAH?

It is not impossible from the religious point of view to see Allah Ta'ala. Moreover, in the Aakhirah the Jannatis will see Allah Ta'ala just as one can see the full moon without any barrier in this world.

The Mi'raaj, therefore, while being good news for those to whom Allah has given the Taufeeq to practice an Ibaadah (the Salah) which was declared Farz in the sky, contrary to the other Faraaïz and orders, is also a stern warning to evildoers.

Despite this, there has been divergence on this subject since the time of the Sahaabah (Radiyallahu anhum). Hadhrat A'isha (Radiyallahu anha) is of the opinion that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) did not see Allah, while Hadhrat Abdullah bin Abbaas (Radiyallahu anhuma) is of the opinion that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) did indeed see Allah Ta'ala during his celestial journey (Mi'raaj). It has been explained above that seeing Allah is not impossible. So the difference between the Sahaabah (Radiyallahu anhum) was not about the possibility of seeing Allah Ta'ala, but rather about the realization of this possibility. Some, as already mentioned, argue that this possibility has been realized, while others claim the opposite. Instead of discussing on such a subject, the best attitude for us would be to abstain from any discussion on this subject.

Instead of engaging in such discussions, the Muslims would do better to use their time and energy in the performance of Salah.

May Allah give us the Taufeeq to perform Salah regularly and as it should be. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) said:

"Assalaatu Mi'raaj-ul-mu'mineen." (Salah is the Mi'raaj of the believers)

[English version of "Evenement du Mi'raadj" – Al Haadi – Vol. 1 No. 5]