Isra and Miraj: The Night Journey
Explore the miraculous journey of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ from Mecca to Jerusalem and through the seven heavens
The Ascension
Journey through the Heavens
Click on any location marker along the vertical path to explore each stage of this extraordinary journey.
The Night Journey and Ascension (Isra and Miraj) was a miraculous journey that took place in one night, where Prophet Muhammad ﷺ traveled from Mecca to Jerusalem and then ascended through the seven heavens.
Key Aspects
- The journey began at Al-Masjid Al-Haram in Mecca
- Prophet Muhammad ﷺ traveled on Al-Buraq to Jerusalem
- He led all previous prophets in prayer at Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa
- He ascended through seven heavens, meeting different prophets
- He reached Sidrat al-Muntaha (the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary)
- The five daily prayers were prescribed during this journey
- He returned to Mecca before dawn of the same night
Timing
- Date: 27th of Rajab (according to tradition)
- Period: Late Meccan period, approximately one year before the Hijra
- Context: Came during a time of great hardship for the Prophet ﷺ, after the Year of Sorrow when he lost his wife Khadijah and uncle Abu Talib.
Spiritual Lessons
- The importance of prayer as a direct link to Allah
- The reality of the afterlife and accountability
- The continuity of prophetic guidance throughout human history
- The transcendence of physical limitations through spiritual elevation
- The Prophet's ﷺ unique position as the seal of the prophets and beloved of Allah
Historical Significance
- Provided spiritual strength to the Prophet ﷺ during a difficult period
- Established the five daily prayers as a direct connection between believers and Allah
- Connected the three sacred mosques: Al-Masjid Al-Haram, Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, and the heavenly Al-Bayt Al-Ma'mur
- Demonstrated the Prophet's ﷺ status as the leader of all prophets
- Offered a glimpse into the unseen realms, including Paradise, Hell, and the seven heavens
- Became a test of faith for the believers, distinguishing between those who believed in the unseen and those who required tangible proof
Rivers of Paradise
The Prophet ﷺ saw the four rivers of Paradise, two hidden and two manifest (corresponding to the Nile and Euphrates).
Significance: Represents the connection between earthly blessings and heavenly rewards.
Divine Fragrance
The Prophet ﷺ experienced the beautiful fragrance of Paradise that surpassed any earthly scent.
Significance: Sensory experience of Paradise's pleasures beyond human imagination.
Punishment of Backbiters
People with copper nails scratching their faces and chests, punished for backbiting and attacking people's honor.
Significance: Warning against the serious sin of harming others' reputation.
Punishment of Wealth Hoarders
People with heads being crushed with rocks, punished for neglecting obligatory prayers.
Significance: Warning against neglecting prayer, the pillar of faith.
Punishment of Riba Consumers
People swimming in a river of blood, being fed stones, punished for consuming interest (riba).
Significance: Warning against the major sin of dealing with interest in financial transactions.
Punishment of Adulterers
People with fresh, cooked meat and rotten meat, choosing to eat the rotten meat, representing adulterers who choose forbidden relationships over lawful ones.
Significance: Warning against adultery and choosing the unlawful over what Allah has made lawful.
Note: The visual representations are artistic interpretations and not meant to be literal depictions of the prophets or divine realms, in accordance with Islamic principles.