The Night Journey of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him)

Introduction

The chapter of the night journey of the Messenger of Allah from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque, and what was revealed in that regard from the Quran:

The Quranic Verse

Allah, Glorified and Exalted, says: “Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing” (Quran 17:1).

Narrators of the Hadith

• Abu al-Husayn ibn al-Fadl al-Qattan in Baghdad.
• Abu Bakr ibn Attab al-Abdi.
• Al-Qasim ibn Abdullah ibn al-Mughira.
• Ismail ibn Abi Uwais.
• Ismail ibn Ibrahim ibn Uqba from his uncle Musa ibn Uqba.
• Abu Abdullah al-Hafiz.
• Ismail ibn Muhammad ibn al-Fadl al-Sha'rani.
• Grandfather narrates.
• Ibrahim ibn al-Mundhir.
• Muhammad ibn Fulayh from Musa ibn Uqba from Ibn Shihab.

Hadith Details

“The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, was taken on the Night Journey to the Bayt al-Maqdis before his emigration to Madinah a year earlier” (Ibn Hisham).

Similarly, Ibn Lahi'ah mentioned from Abu al-Aswad from Urwah ibn al-Zubayr.

[1] The Noble Verse (17:1) of Surah Al-Isra.
[2] The Beginning and the End (3:108).

Transmission of Hadith about the Night Journey (Isra and Mi'raj)

The Night Journey and Ascension (Isra' and Mi'raj)

After the command was revealed to me, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Pray." So, I prayed. Then we rode until he said, "Do you know where you prayed?" I replied, "Allah knows best." He said, "You prayed in Yathrib (Madinah), you prayed in Taybah, and then the land began to carry us swiftly until we reached a land where its end could be seen. He told me to get down, and I did. He then said, 'Pray,' and I prayed. We rode again, and he asked me where I prayed, and each time I replied the same, 'Allah knows best.' I prayed in Madinah, by the tree of Musa (peace be upon him), until we reached a land with visible palaces. When I prayed there, the Prophet asked me where I prayed, and I answered as before. He then said, 'You prayed in Bethlehem, where Jesus (peace be upon him) was born.' Following this, we entered the city through its southern gate. The Prophet went to the direction of the mosque, tied his mount, and entered through a gate where the sun and moon were leaning. I prayed wherever Allah willed and felt the most intense thirst. Two vessels were brought to me; one contained milk, and the other honey. I was instructed to choose, and I chose the milk, which I drank until it moistened my brow. There, a senior man presented himself and said, 'Your companion has been rightly guided.' We left and arrived at a valley in the city where Hellfire was unveiled like the sides of a well. The Prophet described its appearance as a heated water skin. Continuing the journey, we passed a camel belonging to the Quraysh lost and later found by a man. I then greeted some people, and one of them recognized the voice of Muhammad. Before dawn, at Makkah, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) inquired about my night's whereabouts and asked me to describe my journey to Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem). I narrated to him that I went there and back in a portion of the night. He then requested a detailed account, and I narrated how the journey spanned the distance of one month. A path opened before me, allowing me to see all that was there, and nothing was concealed from my view except what I reported."

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Abu Bakr Confirms Prophet Muhammad's Message

Abu Bakr said: "I bear witness that you are the Messenger of Allah."

The Disbelievers' Challenge

The disbelievers said about the Prophet that he claimed to have visited the Sacred House at night.

The Prophet's Response

The Prophet responded that among the signs of his truthfulness is that he had passed by a caravan they lost and described the striking camel that would arrive at their location.

The Awaited Day

The people anxiously waited for the caravan described by the Prophet until it appeared close to noon.

Narrators of the Hadith

Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet was visited by Gabriel on the night of the Isra, and there were vessels containing wine and milk, and it was said that if he had chosen the wine, his followers would have been misled.

Translation of Classical Arabic Text

Hadith Narration

In the collection of Ibn Al-Musayyib, Abu Huraira mentioned the hadith in similar terms.

Authenticity of Hadith

Narrated by Al-Bukhari in Al-Sahih from Abdan and by Muslim from Abu Khaythama Zuhair ibn Harb.

Chain of Narration

Narrated by various scholars, including Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn Al-Hasan Al-Qadi, Mujahib ibn Ahmad, Muhammad ibn Yahya, Muhammad ibn Nuaim, Muhammad ibn Al-Nadr, Muhammad ibn Rafi, Hujayn ibn Al-Ma'ni, Abdul Aziz ibn Abi Salamah, and Abdullah ibn Al-Fadl Al-Hashimi, quoting Abu Salamah ibn Abdullah.

Content of the Hadith

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I was in the stone room, and Quraysh were asking me about my night journey. They asked me about things from the Masjid Al-Aqsa that I could not confirm, so I felt grief like never before. Then Allah raised it up for me to see without being asked about anything, and I saw myself among a group of prophets. I saw Moses praying and a man with curly hair resembling the men of Shanu'a. I saw Jesus, son of Mary, praying with the closest resemblance to him, Urwah ibn Mas'ud Al-Thaqafi. And when I saw Abraham praying, he resembled your companion - referring to himself. The prayer time approached, so I led them in prayer. When I finished, someone said to me: 'O Muhammad! This is Malik, the Angel in charge of Hellfire. Greet him.' So I turned."

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Hadith Narration

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "When the Quraysh denied me, I stood in the Hijr and Allah showed me the Holy House. I informed them about its signs while looking at it." (Sahih al-Bukhari, narrated by Ibn Bukayr)

Chain of Narration

Jabir ibn Abdullah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said in a Hadith reported by Muslim: "When the Quraysh denied me, I stood in the Hijr and Allah showed me the Holy House. I informed them about its signs while looking at it." (Sahih Muslim, narrated by Qutaybah, from Layth)

Note:

• This narration is found in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
• The Quraysh's denial led the Prophet to the Hijr where Allah showed him the Holy House.

Visit to Jerusalem

Upon reaching Jerusalem, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ encountered Ibrahim, Musa, and Isa, peace be upon them. He was presented with two vessels, one containing milk and the other containing wine. Gabriel advised him to choose the milk, as it is the purest. The Prophet then returned to Mecca and informed that he had been taken on a night journey. Many who had prayed with him were tested by this news.

Abu Bakr's Faith

Some people from Quraish approached Abu Bakr, questioning the Prophet's journey to Jerusalem in one night, then back to Mecca. Abu Bakr confirmed his belief in the news, asserting his faith even beyond that. It was due to this that he was named "As-Siddiq" (the truthful) by Allah.

Prophet's Testimony

In a narration by Jabir ibn Abdullah, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ mentioned his standing in the Hijr, where Allah unveiled the sight of Jerusalem. He recounted informing them of its signs while beholding the sacred site.

Translation of Classical Arabic Text

Hadith narrated by Aisha (RA) regarding the Prophet's Night Journey to Al-Aqsa Mosque:

Al-San'ani said: Ma'mar ibn Rashid narrated to us from Al-Zuhri from Urwah from Aisha (RA) who said: "When the Prophet (peace be upon him) was taken on the Night Journey to Al-Aqsa Mosque, people began discussing it. Some people who had believed in him, confirmed him, and strove in that matter, turned away. They went to Abu Bakr (RA) and said, 'Do you believe that your companion claims he was taken at night to the house of the Holy Prophet?' He said, 'Did he say that?' They said, 'Yes.' He said, 'If he said that, he has spoken the truth.' They said, 'And do you confirm that he went last night to the house of the Holy Prophet and returned before morning?' He said, 'Yes, I do confirm it. I believe him concerning that which is farther than that. I believe him in news from the heavens in the forenoon or afternoon.' For this, Abu Bakr was named Al-Siddiq."

Additional narration regarding the Prophet's encounter with Moses during the Night Journey:

It was narrated by Anas ibn Malik: "Some companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) told me that the Prophet passed by Moses while he was praying in his grave. It was mentioned to me that he was carried on the Buraq, and I fastened the horse or animal at the hitching post. Abu Bakr said, 'Describe it to me, O Messenger of Allah.' The Messenger of Allah said, 'It was this big and had a long tail.' It seemed as if Abu Bakr had seen it." This narration mentions "kind and jangled," and the correct version is the former.

The Story of Prophet Muhammad’s Night Journey

The narrator Al-Saffar mentioned that Muhammad ibn Isma'il Al-Tirmidhi narrated to them, saying that Abu 'Ali ibn Miqalas narrated to them that Abdullah ibn Wahb ibn Muslim Abu Muhammad Al-Qurashi narrated to us, saying that Ya'qub ibn 'Abd al-Rahman Al-Zuhri narrated from his father from 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Hashim ibn 'Utba ibn Abi Waqqas, from Anas ibn Malik, who said:

When Gabriel came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) with Al-Buraq, it shied away, and Gabriel said: "This is how she reacted because you are riding her. By Allah, no one ever rode you except for the Prophet of Allah." The Messenger of Allah started on his journey, and on the way, he saw an old woman by the road and asked Gabriel about her. Gabriel advised him to move on. As they traveled, every time they passed by something, it moved aside and called out to the Prophet. Gabriel instructed him to keep moving, leading them to a group of beings who greeted him by saying, "Peace be upon you, O First of us, Peace be upon you, O Last of us, Peace be upon you, O Assembler." Gabriel told him to return the greetings. This happened thrice until they reached Jerusalem. Water, wine, and milk were presented to him, and he chose the milk. Gabriel praised his choice, warning that had he chosen water, his ummah would have drowned, and if he had chosen wine, his ummah would have gone astray.

Then, Adam and the other prophets came, and the Prophet led them in prayer that night. Gabriel explained to him the significance of the old woman and the being who tried to attract his attention - both revealed as tests from the devil. The beings who greeted him were Ibrahim, Musa, and 'Isa (peace be upon them).

Additional Narration

Abu Al-Husayn ibn Bishran informed us that Abu Al-Hasan 'Ali ibn Muhammad Al-Misri reported to him from Abu Al-Zinba' from Ru'uh ibn Al-Faraj from 'Amr ibn Khalid from Muhammad ibn Yahya Al-Naysaburi from 'Abd al-Razzaq, who narrated from Ma'mar from Qatadah from Anas ibn Malik, that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was visited during the Night Journey.

The Night Journey and Ascension (Isra and Mi'raj)

Key Points:

• Prophet Muhammad was taken on a miraculous journey from Mecca to Jerusalem.
• He faced skepticism but maintained the truth of his journey.
• Abu Jahl, an enemy of Islam, confronted him but was unable to refute his story.

Full Translation:

On the night of the Isra, the Prophet was taken on a journey from Mecca to Jerusalem, riding a winged horse. The journey was difficult, and Gabriel asked him the reason for it. The Prophet replied that no being more honorable to Allah had ever ridden the horse before. When he reached Jerusalem, he ascended to the heavens.

Reported by Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn al-Hasan al-Qadi, who narrated from various sources including Ibn Abbas who quoted the Prophet as saying that after the Isra, he faced disbelief and realized people were rejecting him. In a state of sorrow, he was visited by Abu Jahl, an enemy of Islam, who questioned the truth of his journey. The Prophet maintained his account despite Abu Jahl's attempts to discredit him. The people of Mecca were called to witness this conversation, but Abu Jahl failed to refute the Prophet's story.

The Description of the Mosque

Once someone asked about describing the mosque, and the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "I went to describe it and did not stop until some of the descriptors became clear to me." He continued, "The mosque was placed beneath the residence of 'Aqil or Aqal. I described it while looking at it." A narration not memorized by 'Awf at this point.

Prophet's Journey to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa

It has been narrated that Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was brought Al-Buraq, a white animal larger than a donkey but smaller than a mule, which he rode to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa. From there, he ascended to the heavens along with Angel Gabriel. Gabriel triumphantly led Prophet Muhammad through paradise and hell.

Prophet's Prayer at Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa

After this journey, the Prophet was asked if he prayed at Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa. He replied, "Yes." Then they asked the narrator about his identity, to which he answered. They asked where he performed the salah, and he interpreted the verse: "Glorified is He who took His Servant by night." He then explained that if the Prophet had prayed there, they would have followed his prayer method.

Translation of Classical Arabic Text

The Connection and Al-Buraq

Hudhaifah did not hear the Prophet's (peace be upon him) prayer in the Al-Masjid al-Aqsa. It has been narrated in confirmed Hadith from Abu Huraira and others that he prayed there. The connection has also been narrated in a different Hadith. Al-Buraq is a created animal, and the tying of animals is a familiar practice, even though God Almighty is able to preserve it. The confirmed report is more reliable than the negating one, and success is from Allah.

Prophetic Vision and Interpretation

Ali bin Abdullah reported that Ibn Abbas said: "And We did not make the vision which We showed you except as a trial for the people." He (Ibn Abbas) said: It was a vision of a boiling pot that the Messenger of Allah showed me the night he was taken on the Night Journey. The cursed tree mentioned in the Quran is the tree of Zaqqum." This is narrated by Al-Bukhari in Sahih from Ali bin Abdullah.

[Source: Tirmidhi, Tafsir al-Quran, Tafsir Surah al-Isra, Hadith 3147, p. 307; Ibn Hajar, Fateh al-Bari 8:398]