Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) Night Journey

Seerah 11

One night the Prophet was awoken from his sleep by the Archangel Jibril, who led him to the door of al-Masjid al-Haram where Buraq, an animal from Paradise was waiting. The Prophet mounted Buraq and, accompanied by the Archangel Jibril. was taken swiftly to the al-Aqsa Mosque in far-off Jerusalem. There the Prophet had two jugs placed before him, one containing wine and the other milk. When the Prophet chose the milk the Archangel Iibril said: 'You Muhammad, have been rightly guided to the true nature of man, and so will your people be. Wine is farbidden to you.'

Al Aqsa Mosque

Al Aqsa Mosque

• The Prophet was then taken through the gates of Heaven where he saw countless angels. He was also shown a glimpse of Hell and the terrible plight of those who suffer there.

Then the Prophet was taken by the angels through the Seven Heavens and along the way he saw the

Prophets 'Isa, Musa and Ibrahim. He also saw the Prophets Yahya, Yusuf, Idris and

Harun.

Then he was taken into the Divine Presence of Allah, who told him that Muslims should pray fifty times each day. On his way back through the Seven Heavens, however, the Prophet again saw Musa who asked him how many prayers the Muslims had been instructed to perform. When the Prophet told him fifty, Musa said: 'Your people are weak, they may find it difficult to pray so many times each day. Go back to your Lord and ask him to reduce the number for your community.' Muhammad did so, and Allah reduced the number by ten.

When the Prophet passed Musa again he asked the same question and again he advised him to seek Allah's permission to reduce the number of prayers. This went on until Allah said that Muslims should pray five times each day. Even then, Musa advised the Prophet to return yet again to Allah, but the Prophet said: '1 have asked the Lord to reduce the number of prayers until am ashamed. I will not ask Him again. He who performs the five prayers faithfully will have the reward of fifty prayers.' The next morning when he returned to Makka, the Prophet told the Quraish about his journey to the Seven Heavens. Most of them refused to believe that the Prophet had been on such a long journey in a single night.

Many Muslims were also amazed by the Prophet's story and some ran to Abu Bakr with the news. But Abu Bakr said: 'By Allah, if Muhammad has said so then it is true. Remember that the Prophet receives the word of Allah directly from Heaven at any time of the day or night. Is not that a greater miracle than what you doubt now?' When Abu Bakr went to the mosque and heard the Prophet's description of Jerusalem, he said: 'O Prophet of Allah, you tell the truth.'

The Muslims who had earlier doubted the Prophet's story also believed him when he described two caravans he had seen on his way back to Makka, for when the caravans arrived later in Makka they were just as the Prophet had described them.

Who woke the Prophet?

How did the Prophet make the night journey to Jerusalem?

Whom did the Prophet meet on his journey through the Seven Heavens?

Which mosque was the Prophet taken to in Jerusalem and what happened there?

What did Allah tell the Prophet?

Why did Musa tell the Prophet to go back to Allah?

Did everyone believe what the Prophet told them about his journey?

What did the Prophet say would be the reward of those who prayed five times each day?

What happened to prove that he had told the truth?

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