The Isra: from Makkah to al-Aqsa

The Quran opens Surah al-Isra by praising Allah, who took His servant by night from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest mosque, whose surroundings He blessed, to show him some of His signs (Quran 17:1). The Sacred Mosque is in Makkah, and the farthest mosque is al-Aqsa in Jerusalem.

This journey is called the Isra. It happened by the power of Allah, and Muslims accept it with faith as a sign and a miracle.

The Miraj: the ascent through the heavens

The Miraj is the ascent of the Prophet ﷺ through the heavens. The hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim describe how he was taken up through the heavens, met earlier prophets and was brought to the highest place that Allah willed.

Because the journey is described in the Quran and in many reports, Muslims believe in it as a true event. Scholars have discussed the details, such as whether it happened with the body and soul together. The mainstream view is that Allah took the Prophet ﷺ in both body and soul.

The opening verses of Surah an-Najm are understood by many scholars to refer to the Prophet ﷺ seeing great signs of his Lord (Quran 53:1-18). The verses mention the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary, and they say that his sight did not turn away and did not go beyond what was shown to him.

The gift of the five daily prayers

The reports say that prayer was made an obligation during this journey. At first, fifty prayers a day were prescribed. On the way back, Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) advised the Prophet ﷺ to ask for a reduction, because the community would find it hard. The Prophet ﷺ asked several times, and Allah reduced the number to five.

The reports also say that the five prayers carry the reward of fifty. This tells us that prayer is a gift from Allah and not a burden. Every time you pray, you take part in something that was given to the Prophet ﷺ in a very special way.

Lessons for our lives

The story gives us several useful lessons:

  • Trust Allah. When something is beyond our understanding, we believe because Allah and His Messenger ﷺ told us about it.
  • Prayer is a gift. It is our direct connection with Allah, and it was prescribed during the Miraj.
  • Allah can make things easy. The number of prayers was reduced from fifty to five, as a mercy for the community.
  • Al-Aqsa is a blessed place. The Quran links the two mosques, which reminds Muslims of its importance.

A gentle reminder: the best way to honor this story is to guard your five daily prayers and pray them with attention.

The date of the Isra and Miraj

The exact date of the Isra and Miraj is not established by authentic reports. Scholars have different views about the month and the day. Because of this, no night is fixed for special worship, and there is no authentic instruction to hold a specific act of worship on a certain night each year.

Muslims are encouraged to remember the event, learn from it and pray as they do every day. If you have questions about local customs, please ask a qualified scholar.

General information for learning, not a fatwa. For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar.

Sources

  • Quran 17:1
  • Quran 53:1-18
  • Sahih al-Bukhari (Book of Prayer, Book of Companions)
  • Sahih Muslim (Book of Faith)