EVENT OF MI'RAJ

Allah Ta'ala, by His infinite power, made His beloved Rasul (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) travel by night from the Haram Sharif (Makkah) to Masjid-e-Aqsa (Bait-ul-Muqaddas), where Rasullullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) performed two Rak'ats of Salaah in congregation: He was the Imam, and the Prophets (Alaihimus Salaam) were the Muqtadis.

From Masjid-e-Aqsa, Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'ala made His beloved Rasul (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) ascend to the 7th heaven, where He visited the Bait-ul-Ma'mur (the Ka'bah of Heaven) and the Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (the Lotus Tree). There, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) conversed with Allah Ta'ala. He also visited Paradise and Hell.

It was during this night that Salah became obligatory. Initially, Allah Ta'ala had prescribed 50 Farz Salahs a day, but, according to the advice of Hazrat Musa (Alaihis Salaam), the Prophet (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) pleaded for a reduction on nine occasions—after going back and forth between Musa (Alaihis Salaam) and Allah Ta'ala. Each time, the number was reduced by five, until it was ultimately fixed at five.

The journey from the Haraam Sharif to Masjid-e-Aqsa is known as Isra, and the ascent from Masjid-e-Aqsa to the 7th heaven is called Mi'raaj.

Every Muslim must necessarily believe in the event of Isra, for one who 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 a mubtadî (an innovator) and a faasiq.

Allah Ta'ala made His beloved Rasul (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) undertake this journey with his physical body and in a state of wakefulness, not mentally or in a dream. This is the opinion of most scholars, which ultimately led to a consensus on this matter for several reasons. One of the main reasons is the refusal of the Kufaar of Makkah to believe in this miraculous event. Allaamah Abdul Wahhaab Sharani said that if Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) had not told the Kuffaar of Makkah that he had gone on Mi'raaj with his physical body, they would not have objected or refused to believe in what he told them. In other words, if the Mi'raaj had been experienced in a dream or mentally, the Kuffaar would not have been astonished, as there is nothing extraordinary about what can occur 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, Abu Shaamah holds a contrary opinion. Additionally, Sheikh Abdul Wahhaab Sharani stated that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) went on Mi'raaj 34 times. If this is proven to be true, there is an explanation for the apparent contradictions in some of the Ahaadeeth regarding whether Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) made the Mi'raaj with his physical body or in a dream or mentally. Allaamah Sharani is of the opinion that the Mi'raaj with the physical body took place only once, and the rest took place in a dream.

WHEN MI'RAAJ TOOK PLACE

There is no unanimity regarding the date and month that the Mi'raaj took place, although Rajab is the generally accepted date. Some say the Mi'raaj occurred 17 months before Hijrah (Hijrah, Emigration), while others believe it took place in Ramadhan, a year and a half before the Hijrah. According to Allaamah Zuhri, the Mi'raaj occurred on the 27th of Rabi-ul-Awwal, a year before the Hijrah, while Haafiz Abdul Ghanee Al Muqaddasi said that the event took place on the 27th of Rajab.

AALAM-E-BARZAKH

During his ascension, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) visited, among others, Aalam-e-Barzakh (the intermediate world between death and the Day of Judgment), where he observed the punishments inflicted upon certain criminals.

THE PEOPLE WHO CONSUME RIBA

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) passed near people whose bellies were so large that they could barely move, and Pharaoh's followers trampled on them. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) was informed that these were people who consumed Riba (interest).

THE PEOPLE WHO EXPAND THE PROPERTIES OF ORPHANS

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) also passed by people who had large lips resembling those of camels, who juggled balls of fire in their mouths and then exhaled them from their anuses. Jibrail (Alaihis Salaam) informed Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) that these people devoured the property of orphans.

ADULTERY (ZINA)

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) also saw people who abandoned fresh meat, which was ready to eat, to consume rotten and stinking meat. Jibrail (Alaihis Salaam) informed the Prophet (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) that these were men and women who abandoned their lawful spouses to engage in illicit relations.

WOMEN'S INFID

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) also observed a group of women suspended by their breasts. These women were those who falsely attributed children to their husbands, deceiving them into believing that the children of others were their own.

DID RASULULLAH (SALLALLAAHU 'ALAIHI WASALLAM) SEE ALLAH?

It is not impossible, from a religious perspective, to see Allah Ta'ala. In the Aakhirah, the inhabitants of Jannah will be able to see Allah Ta'ala, just as one can see the full moon in this world without any barrier.

Thus, the Mi'raaj, while being good news for those to whom Allah has granted the Taufiq to practice the Ibaadah (Salah) made obligatory in the heavens, is also a severe warning to the evildoers.

Despite this, there has been a divergence on this subject since the time of the Sahaabah (Radiyallahu anhum). Hazrat 'A'ishah (Radiyallahu anha) holds the opinion that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) did not see Allah, while Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (Radiyallahu anhuma) is of the opinion that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) did indeed see Allah Ta'ala on his heavenly journey (Mi'raaj). It has been explained above that seeing Allah is not beyond the realm of possibility. Therefore, the disagreement among the Sahaabah (Radiyallahu anhum) was not about the possibility of seeing Allah Ta'ala, but about whether this possibility was realised. Some, as noted, argue that it was realised, while others claim otherwise. Instead of engaging in such discussions, the best course of action for us would be to refrain from delving into this matter.

Instead of engaging in such discussions, Muslims would do better to focus their time and energies on fulfilling the Salah.

May Allah grant us the Taufiq to perform the Salah regularly and as it should be performed. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) said: "As-Salaatu Mi'raaj-ul-mu'mineen" (Salah is the Mi'raaj of the believers).

 [English version of "Événement du Mi'raadj" – Al Haadi – Vol. 2 No. 5]