al-Tawhid, 'Bab Kallama Musa Taklima' - Ed.) Thereafter, the Prophet returned from the heavens to Jerusalem, and from there to the Holy Mosque in Makka. On that occasion the Prophet received a number of directives including that Prayers were obligatory five times a day. al-Salah, 'Bab Fard al-Salah' - Ed.) Finally, he reached the highest point in the heavens and was graced with an experience of the Divine Presence. al-Salah, 'Bab Fard al-Salah wa Dhikr Ikhtilaf al-Naqilin.' -Ed.) Gabriel then took him to the heavens and the Prophet met several great Prophets in different heavenly spheres. However, according to Hadith reports, Gabriel took the Prophet at night from the Ka'bah to the mosque in Jerusalem on a buraq.* On reaching Jerusalem the Prophet along with other Prophets offered Prayers. Beyond this, The Quran does not concern itself with any detail. The Quran here only mentions that the Prophet was taken from the Ka'bah to the mosque in Jerusalem, and specifies that the purpose of the journey was such that God might 'show him some of His signs'. Some other details have been narrated by 'Umar, 'Ali, 'Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud, 'Abd Allah ibn Abbas, Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman, and 'A'ishah among other Companions of the Prophet. The most exhaustive reports are those from Anas ibn Malik, Malik ibn Sa'sa'ah, Abu Dharr al-Ghifari and Abu Hurayrah.

Detailed reports about it are found in the works of Hadith and Sirah and have been narrated from as many as twenty-five Companions. According to most traditions - and especially the authentic ones - this event took place one year before Hijrah. ( Quran 17:1)ДЎ This is a reference to the event known as Mi'raj (Ascension) and Isra' (Night Journey). Indeed He alone is All-Hearing, All-Seeing. Holy is He Who carried His servant by night from the Holy Mosque (in Makka) to the farther Mosque (in Jerusalem) - whose surroundings We have blessed - that We might show him some of Our signs 1. Muslims celebrate this night by offering optional prayers during this night, and in many Muslim countries, by illuminating cities with electric lights and candles.ДЇollowing is the translation of the first verse of chapter 17, Al-Israa, from the Quran that refers to this journey, followed by a detailed explanation of the verse by Sayyid Abul Ala Mawdudi. According to some of the Hadith scholars this journey is believed to have taken place just over a year before Prophet Muhammad migrated to from Makka to Madina, on the 27th of Rajab. It is believed to have been followed by the Mi'raj, his ascension to heaven. Israa is an Arabic word referring to Prophet Muhammad's miraculous night journey from Makka to Jerusalem - specifically, to the site of al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem - as referred to in Surah Al-Israa in the Quran.

The Israa and Miraj refer to, two parts of aВ miraculousВ journey that Prophet Muhammad took in one night from Makka to Jerusalem and then an ascension to the heavens.

Isra wal miraj