The Night Journey and Ascension (Al-Israa wal-Mi’raaj)
Two of the most significant and extraordinary events in the blessed life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ were Al-Israa (the Night Journey) and Al-Mi’raaj (the Ascension).
Al-Israa refers to the miraculous night when Allah took His Messenger ﷺ from the Ka’bah in Makkah to Bait Al-Maqdis (the Sacred House of Worship, i.e. Solomon’s Temple) in Jerusalem. Al-Mi’raaj refers to the Prophet’s ascension from Jerusalem up through the heavens.
The Qur’an mentions Al-Israa in the following verse:
“Glory be to Him Who took His slave on a journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose surroundings We have blessed, in order that We might show him some of Our signs. Verily, He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.”
(Surah Al-Israa, 17:1)
Some scholars also interpret verses 7–18 of Surah An-Najm as referring to the Mi’raaj. There are differing opinions regarding when these events took place—some say during the first year of Prophethood, others say on the 17th of Ramadan in the twelfth year, or in Muharram or Rabi’ Al-Awwal of the thirteenth year of Prophethood.
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The Miraculous Journey
The story of the Night Journey and Ascension is both wondrous and filled with lessons. One night, the Angel Jibreel (Gabriel) descended upon the Ka’bah with a creature called Al-Buraq—an animal larger than a donkey but smaller than a mule, able to reach the farthest horizon in a single stride. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ mounted Al-Buraq, accompanied by Jibreel, and they traveled to Jerusalem.
Upon arrival, the Prophet ﷺ tied Al-Buraq to the same post where earlier prophets had tethered their mounts, then entered the Sacred Mosque. Inside, he found gathered all the previous prophets, whom he led in prayer.
Jibreel then presented two vessels—one filled with wine and the other with milk. The Prophet ﷺ chose the milk, upon which Jibreel said:
“You have chosen the natural and pure path. You and your followers will be rightly guided. Had you chosen the wine, your followers would have gone astray.”
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The Ascension through the Heavens
After this, the Prophet ﷺ began his ascension (Mi’raaj).
• First Heaven: He met Adam (عليه السلام), who greeted him with peace and testified that Muhammad ﷺ was indeed the Messenger of Allah. Adam looked to his right and smiled, seeing the souls of the believers, then to his left and wept for the disbelievers.
• Second Heaven: The Prophet ﷺ met Yahya ibn Zakariya (John, son of Zechariah) and ‘Isa ibn Maryam (Jesus, son of Mary)—peace be upon them both. They exchanged greetings and affirmed his prophethood.
• Third Heaven: He met Yusuf (Joseph) عليه السلام, who also greeted him and testified to his prophethood.
• Fourth Heaven: He met Idrees (Enoch) عليه السلام, who likewise greeted him and confirmed his mission.
• Fifth Heaven: He met Haroon (Aaron) عليه السلام, who did the same.
• Sixth Heaven: He met Musa (Moses) عليه السلام. After greeting him and affirming his prophethood, Musa began to weep. When asked why, he said:
“I weep because a young man was sent as a prophet after me, and more of his followers will enter Paradise than mine.”
• Seventh Heaven: He met Ibraheem (Abraham) عليه السلام, resting against Bait Al-Ma’mur, a heavenly house of worship around which seventy thousand angels circumambulate daily, never to return again. Ibraheem عليه السلام also greeted him and confirmed his prophethood.
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At Sidrat Al-Muntaha
The Prophet ﷺ was then taken to Sidrat Al-Muntaha, a magnificent tree in Paradise whose leaves were as large as elephant ears and its fruits like great pitchers. Golden moths adorned it, and no words can describe its beauty.
From there, the Prophet ﷺ was brought into the divine presence of Allah Almighty. Though human eyes cannot behold Allah’s majesty, the Prophet ﷺ stood close to Him. Allah then ordained fifty daily prayers for his followers.
As the Prophet ﷺ descended, Musa عليه السلام asked what Allah had commanded. When he heard “fifty prayers,” Musa advised him to ask for a reduction, saying, “Your followers will not be able to bear it.”
The Prophet ﷺ returned and requested a reduction. Allah reduced them to ten, and after further intercession between Musa and the Prophet ﷺ, the number was finally reduced to five daily prayers, with the reward of fifty.
When Musa again urged him to seek another reduction, the Prophet ﷺ replied:
“I feel ashamed before my Lord.”
A voice then declared:
“I have decreed My obligation and made it easy for My servants. Whoever performs these five prayers will receive the reward of fifty. My word does not change.”
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The Return and the Test of Faith
The Prophet ﷺ returned to Makkah before dawn and shared the details of his miraculous journey. The Quraysh disbelievers mocked and ridiculed him. They ran to Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه), expecting him to reject the story. But Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) replied:
“If he said so, then it is true.”
He explained that since he already believed Muhammad ﷺ received revelation from Allah through an angel, there was no reason to doubt this miracle. From that day forward, Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) was honored with the title As-Siddeeq—“the Truthful One.”
To challenge the Prophet ﷺ, the Quraysh asked him for details about Jerusalem and its mosque. The Prophet ﷺ described everything with perfect accuracy. He even told them of a caravan traveling from Jerusalem to Makkah, describing its camels and predicting its exact arrival time. When the caravan appeared as he said, they were silenced—but still refused to believe.
That same morning, Jibreel descended and taught the Prophet ﷺ how to perform the five daily prayers. From that day onward, Muslims prayed five times daily instead of only morning and evening prayers.
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Inviting the Tribes to Islam
Once again, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ began spreading the message of Allah beyond Makkah. Every year, tribes from across Arabia gathered at the great fairs of Ukaz, Mujanna, and Dhul Majaz.
Ukaz, located between Nakhlah and Ta’if, hosted markets during the first twenty days of Dhul Qa’dah. After that, tribes moved to Mujanna, and finally to Dhul Majaz, near Mount Rahmah in the plain of Arafah, during the first eight days of Dhul Hijjah. The pilgrimage (Hajj) rites followed soon after.
Taking advantage of these large gatherings, the Prophet ﷺ approached many tribes with the message of Allah’s Oneness and his own prophethood. Among those he invited were Banu Amir ibn Sa’sa’ah, Banu Abs, Banu Nadhar, Banu Al-Baka’a, Kinda, Kalb, Banu Al-Harith ibn Ka’b, Udhrah, and Hadhramaut.
None accepted his invitation at that time, though their responses varied. Some declined politely, others demanded succession after his death, some pointed out that his own tribe had rejected him, and a few insulted him. The tribe of Banu Haneefa, from whom the false prophet Musaylimah Al-Kadhdhab later arose, was particularly rude and disrespectful.