Narrated Malik bin Sasaa:
The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) said, "While I was at the House in a state
midway between sleep and wakefulness, (an angel recognized me) as the man lying
between two men. A golden tray full of wisdom and belief was brought to me and
my body was cut open from the throat to the lower part of the `Abdomen and then
my `Abdomen was washed with Zamzam water and (my heart was) filled with wisdom
and belief. Al- Buraq, a white animal, smaller than a mule and bigger than a
donkey was brought to me and I set out with Gabriel.
When I reached the nearest
heaven. Gabriel said to the heaven gate-keeper, 'Open the gate.' The gatekeeper
asked, 'Who is it?' He said, 'Gabriel.' The gate-keeper,' Who is accompanying
you?' Gabriel said, 'Muhammad.' The gate-keeper said, 'Has he been called?'
Gabriel said, 'Yes.' Then it was said, 'He is welcomed. What a wonderful visit
his is!' Then I met Adam and greeted him and he said, 'You are welcomed O son
and a Prophet.'
Then we ascended to the second heaven. It was asked, 'Who is
it?' Gabriel said, 'Gabriel.' It was said, 'Who is with you?' He said,
'Muhammad' It was asked, 'Has he been sent for?' He said, 'Yes.' It was said,
'He is welcomed. What a wonderful visit his is!" Then I met Jesus and
Yahya (John) who said, 'You are welcomed, O brother and a Prophet.'
Then we
ascended to the third heaven. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel said,
'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is with you? Gabriel said, 'Muhammad.' It was
asked, 'Has he been sent for?' 'Yes,' said Gabriel. 'He is welcomed. What a
wonderful visit his is!' (The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) added:). There I met Joseph and greeted him, and
he replied, 'You are welcomed, O brother and a Prophet!'
Then we ascended to
the 4th heaven and again the same questions and answers were exchanged as in
the previous heavens. There I met Idris and greeted him. He said, 'You are
welcomed O brother and Prophet.'
Then we ascended to the 5th heaven and again
the same questions and answers were exchanged as in previous heavens. there I
met and greeted Aaron who said, 'You are welcomed O brother and a
Prophet".
Then we ascended to the 6th heaven and again the same questions
and answers were exchanged as in the previous heavens. There I met and greeted
Moses who said, 'You are welcomed O brother and. a Prophet.' When I proceeded
on, he started weeping and on being asked why he was weeping, he said, 'O Lord!
Followers of this youth who was sent after me will enter Paradise in greater
number than my followers.'
Then we ascended to the 7th heaven and again the
same questions and answers were exchanged as in the previous heavens. There I
met and greeted Abraham who said, 'You are welcomed o son and a Prophet.'
Then
I was shown Al-Bait-al-Ma'mur (i.e. Allah's House). I asked Gabriel about it
and he said, This is Al Bait-ul-Ma'mur where 70,000 angels perform prayers
daily and when they leave they never return to it (but always a fresh batch
comes into it daily).'
Then I was shown Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (i.e. a tree in the
seventh heaven) and I saw its Nabk fruits which resembled the clay jugs of Hajr
(i.e. a town in Arabia), and its leaves were like the ears of elephants, and
four rivers originated at its root, two of them were apparent and two were
hidden. I asked Gabriel about those rivers and he said, 'The two hidden rivers
are in Paradise, and the apparent ones are the Nile and the Euphrates.'
Then
fifty prayers were enjoined on me. I descended till I met Moses who asked me,
'What have you done?' I said, 'Fifty prayers have been enjoined on me.' He
said, 'I know the people better than you, because I had the hardest experience
to bring Bani Israel to obedience. Your followers cannot put up with such
obligation. So, return to your Lord and request Him (to reduce the number of
prayers.' I returned and requested Allah (for reduction) and He made it forty.
I returned and (met Moses) and had a similar discussion, and then returned
again to Allah for reduction and He made it thirty, then twenty, then ten, and
then I came to Moses who repeated the same advice. Ultimately Allah reduced it
to five.
When I came to Moses again, he said, 'What have you done?' I said,
'Allah has made it five only.' He repeated the same advice but I said that I
surrendered (to Allah's Final Order)'" Allah's Messenger (P.B.U.H.) was addressed by Allah, "I have decreed My
Obligation and have reduced the burden on My slaves, and I shall reward a
single good deed as if it were ten good deeds."
(Sahih Al- Bukhari : Vol. 4, Book 54, Hadith 429)
Narrated
Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "On the night of my Ascension to
Heaven, I saw (the prophet) Moses who was a thin person with lank hair, looking
like one of the men of the tribe of Shanua; and I saw Jesus who was of average
height with red face as if he had just come out of a bathroom. And I resemble
prophet Abraham more than any of his offspring does. Then I was given two cups,
one containing milk and the
other wine. Gabriel said, 'Drink whichever you like.' I took the milk and drank it. Gabriel said, 'You have accepted
what is natural, (True Religion i.e. Islam) and if you had taken the wine, your
followers would have gone astray.' "
(Sahih Bukhari : Book #55, Hadith #607)
Narrated
Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "I met Moses on the night of my Ascension
to heaven." The Prophet then described him saying, as I think, "He
was a tall person with lank hair as if he belonged to the people of the tribe
of Shanu's.' The Prophet further said, "I met Jesus." The Prophet
described him saying, "He was one of moderate height and was red-faced as
if he had just come out of a bathroom. I saw Abraham whom I resembled more than
any of his children did." The Prophet further said, "(That night) I
was given two cups; one full of milk and
the other full of wine. I was asked to take either of them which I liked, and I
took the milk and drank it. On
that it was said to me, 'You have taken the right path (religion). If you had
taken the wine, your (Muslim) nation would have gone astray."
(Sahih Bukhari : Book #55, Hadith #647)
Abu Huraira reported that Allah's
Messenger (may peace be upon him) was presented two cups at Bait al-Maqdis on
the night of Heavenly journey, one containing wine and the other
containing milk. He looked at both of them, and be took the one containing
milk, whereupon Gabriel (peace be upon him) said: Praise is due to
Allah Who guided you to the true nature; had you taken the one containing wine,
Your Umma would have gone astray.
( Sahih Muslim :Book #023, Hadith #4985)
The Israa and Miraj refer to, two parts of an miraculous journey
that Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) took
in one night from Makkah to Jerusalem and then an ascension to the heavens.
Israa is an Arabic word referring to Prophet
Muhammad's (P.B.U.H.) miraculous
night journey from Al Masjid-al-Haram at Makkah to the farthest mosque in Jerusalem - specifically, to the site of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem - as
referred to in Surah Al-Israa in the Quran.
It is believed to have been followed by the Mi'raj,
his ascension to heaven. According to some of the Hadith scholars this journey
is believed to have taken place just over a year before Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) migrated
to from Makka to Madina, on the 27th of Rajab.
) said, "If Allah loves a person, He calls Gabriel saying: 'Allah loves so and so; O Gabriel,
love him.' Gabriel would love him, and then Gabriel would make an announcement among the
residents of the Heaven, 'Allah loves so-and-so, therefore, you should love him also.' So, all the
residents of the Heavens would love him and then he is granted the pleasure of the people of the
earth."
