Indexed OCR Text

return for the third time and will ask my Lord for
permission to enter His House, and I will be
allowed to enter. When I will see Him, I will fall
down in prostration before Him, and He will leave
me (in prostration) as long as He will let me (in that
state), and then He will say: "O Muhammad! Lift
up your head and speak for you will be listened to,
and intercede for your intercession will be accepted,
and ask (for anything) for it will be granted." So, I
will raise my head and praise Allâh as He has
taught me, and then I will intercede and He will put
a limit for me (to intercede for a certain type of
people). I will take them out and let them enter
Paradise. " Qatâdah said: I heard Anas saying that
the Prophet said: "I will go out and take them out
of Hell (Fire) and let them enter Paradise, till none
will remain in the Fire except those whom the
Qur'ân will imprison (i.e. those who are destined
for eternal life in the Fire." The narrator then
recited the verse: "It may be that your Lord will
raise you to a Station of Praise and Glory" (17:79).
The narrator added: "This is the Station of Praise of
Glory, which Allâh has promised to your Prophet #
." (i.e. this station of intercession). 126
As mentioned earlier, all the previous
Messengers gave prophecies of His Message #. The
126
Narrated by Imam al-Bukharî in the Book of : "Tawhid
(Monotheism).
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Messenger of Allâh , lead all the Prophets in a
congregational prayer on the night of Isrâ' (the night
journey) the details of which will be provided later.
Moreover, His religion # , i.e. Islâm, will remain
until the Day of Judgment as no other religion will
abrogate or replace it.
Comparing his miracles
# to those of Prophet
Dawud &#:
Allâh the Almighty said:
﴿اصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا يَقُولُونَ وَاذْكُرْ عَبْدَنَا دَاوُدَ ذَا الأَيْدِ إِنَّهُ أَوَّابٌ
(١٧) إِنَّا سَخَّرْنَا الْجَبَالَ مَعَهُ يُسَبِّحْنَ بِالْعَشِيِّ وَالإِشْرَاقِ (١٨)
وَالطَّيْرَ مَحْشُورَةً كُلٌّ لَهُ أَوَّابٌ (١٩)﴾ (ص:١٧-١٩)
" ... and remember our slave Dawud,
endued with power. Verily, he was ever
oft-returning in all matters and in
repentance (toward Allâh). Verily, We
made the mountain to glorify Our Praises
with him (Dawûd) after midday till sunset
and after sunrise till mid-day" (38:17-19),
and
﴿وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا دَاوُدَ مِنَّا فَضْلاً وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا دَاوُدَ مِنَّا فَضْلًا يَاجِبَالُ
أَوِّبِي مَعَهُ وَالطَّيْرَ وَأَلَنَّا لَهُ الْحَدِيدَ (١٠) أَنِ اعْمَلْ سَابِغَاتٍ وَقَدِّرْ
فِي السَّرْدِ وَاعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا إِنِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ (١١)﴾
(سبأ: ١٠ - ١١)
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"And indeed We bestowed grace on
Dawûd from us (saying): "O you
mountains Glorify (Allâh) with him! And
you birds (also) ! And We made the iron
soft for him. Saying: "Make you perfect
coats of mail, balancing the rings of
chain armor, and work you (men)
righteousness. Truly, I am All-Seer of
what you do. " (34:10-11).
Allâh the Almighty made the birds and the
mountains glorify Allâh with him, and he never used
to eat except from the work of his own hands. Our
Messenger % also used to recite the Qur'an with a
very beautiful voice. Jubair Ibn Mut'am said that
Prophet # read Sûrat at-Tîn in the Maghrib prayer,
and that he had never heard a more beautiful voice in
his life.
If the birds and the solid mountains said Tasbih
with Prophet Dawud, then the companions heard the
Tasbih of the stones in the palm of the Prophet # as
mentioned above. Imâm al-Bukhârî also narrated on
the authority of Ibn Mas 'ud that they used to hear the
Tasbîh of the food in the hands of the Prophet #, i.e.
while he was eating. We also mentioned earlier the
story of the poisoned sheep, which informed him
about its being poisoned (under the section of the
miracles related to animals). No doubt that the
Tasbîh of small solid stones, which have no holes,
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is more strange than that of the mountains, which
contain many holes and caves, as they normally
respond by echoing high pitched sounds.
We know that Prophet Dawud # ate from the
work of his own hands, as did the Messenger of
Allâh . He used to pasture sheep for the people of
Makkah, and he used to say # that all the Prophets
used to be shepherds.
He also went to Syria for
trade on behalf of Khadijah (May Allâh be pleased
with her).
Allâh the Almighty also said about Dawûd: " ...
and gave him wisdom and sound judgment in
speech and decision." (38:20). The wisdom which
was given to the Prophet , was more perfect than
what was given to all the previous Prophets, as his
Shari'ah , is the most perfect as well as being the
final one. Imâm al-Bukhârî also narrated on the
authority of Abû Hurairah that the Prophet # said:
"I have been sent with the shortest expressions
bearing the most comprehensive meanings and I
have been made victorious with terror (cast in the
hearts of the enemy), and while I was sleeping, the
keys of the treasures of the world were brought to
me and put in my hand. "127
Comparing his miracles
# to those of Prophet
127
Narrated by al-Bukhârî in the Book of "Jihâd".
193

Sulaiman &#:
Allâh the Almighty said in the Qur'ân:
﴿فَسَخَّرْنَا لَهُ الرِّيحَ تَجْرِي بِأَمْرِهِ رُخَاءٌ حَيْثُ أَصَابَ (٣٦)
وَالشَّيَاطِينَ كُلِّ بَنَّاءٍ وَغَوَّاصٍ (٣٧) وَءَآخَرِينَ مُقَرَّنِينَ فِي
الأَصْفَادِ (٣٨) هَذَا عَطَاؤُنَا فَامْنُنْ أَوْ أَمْسِكْ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ (٣٩)
وَإِنْ لَهُ عِنْدَنَا لَزُلْفَى وَحُسْنَ مَآَبٍ (٤٠)﴾ (ص: ٣٦ -٤٠)
"So, We subjected to him the wind, it
blew gently to his order whithersoever he
willed. And also the devils from the Jinns
every kind of builder and diver. And also
others bound in fetters. This is Our gift,
so spend you or withhold, no account will
be asked. And verily, he enjoyed a near
access to Us, and a good final return
(Paradise). " (38:36-40),
and said:
﴿وَلِسُلَيْمَانَ الرِّيحَ عَاصِفَةٌ تَجْرِي بِأَمْرِهِ إِلَى الأَرْضِ الَّتِي بَارَكْنَا
فيهَا وَكُنَّا بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَالِمِينَ (٨١) وَمِنَ الشَّيَاطِينِ مَنْ يَقُوصُونَ
لَهُ وَيَعْمَلُونَ عَمَلاً دُونَ ذَلِكَ وَكُنَّا لَهُمْ حَافِظِينَ (٨٢)﴾
(الأنبياء: ٨١-٨٢)
"And to Sulaiman the wind strongly
raging, running by his command towards
the land which We had blessed. And of
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everything We are the All-Knower . And
of the devils were some who dived for
him, and did other work besides that;
and it was We Who guarded them."
(21:81-82).
Allâh the Almighty also said:
﴿وَلِسُلَيْمَانَ الرِّيحَ غُدُوُّهَا شَهْرٌ وَرَوَاحُهَا شَهْرٌ وَأَسَلْنَا لَهُ عَيْنَ
الْقِطْرِ وَمِنَ الْجِنِّ مَنْ يَعْمَلُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ بِذْنِ رَبِّهِ وَمَنْ يَزِغْ مِنْهُمْ
عَنْ أَمْرِنَا تُذِقْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ السَّعِيرِ (١٢) يَعْمَلُونَ لَهُ مَا يَشَاءُ مِنْ
مَحَارِيبَ وَتَمَاثِيلَ وَجِفَانِ كَالْجَوَابِ وَقُدُورِ رَاسَِاتِ اعْمَلُوا ءَالَ
دَاوُدَ شُكْرًا وَقَلِيلٌ مِنْ عِبَادِيَ الشَّكُورُ (١٣)﴾ (سبأ: ١٢-١٣)
"And to Sulaimân the wind, its morning
(stride from sunrise till midnoon) was a
month's (journey) and its afternoon
(stride from the midday decline of the
sun to sunset) was a month's (journey).
And We caused a fount of (molten) brass
to flow for him, and there were jinns that
worked in front of him, by the Leaves of
his Lord, and whosoever of them turned
aside from Our Command, We shall
cause him to taste of the torment of the
blazing Fire. They worked for him what
he desired (making) high rooms, images,
basins as large as reservoirs, and
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(cooking) cauldrons fixed (in their
places). "Work you, O family of Dawud
with thanks! But few of My slaves are
grateful. " (34:12-13).
It is true that Allâh the Almighty subjected the
wind to His Messenger Sulaiman, but the Qur'ân
also mentioned in Surat al-Ahzâb (The confederates)
that Allâh, Glorified be He, granted His Prophet
victory over his enemy through the wind, which was
sent against them. Allâh the Almighty says in the
Qur'ân:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ جَاءَتْكُمْ جُنُودٌ
فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ رِيًَّا وَجُنُودًا لَمْ تَرَوْهَا وَكَانَ اللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
/
بَصِيرًا﴾ الأحزاب: (٩)
"O you who believe! Remember Allâh's
Favor to you, when there came against
you hosts, and We sent against them a
wind and forces that you saw not. And
Allâh is Ever All-Seer of what you do."
(33:9)
Imâm Muslim narrated on the authority of Ibn
'Abbas that the Prophet
said: "I was granted
victory with As-Sabâ (Easterly wind, which
-
frightened the enemy) and the nation of 'Ad was
destroyed by Ad-Dabûr (Westerly wind). " Imâm al-
Bukhârî also narrated on the authority of Jâbir bin
196

'Abdullah that the Prophet # said (in a long Hadîth)
: "I have been given five things which were not
given to any one else before me:
1. Allâh made me victorious by awe, (by His
frightening my enemies) for a distance of one
month's journey.
".
The other miracle of Sulaiman, which was the
subjection of the devils and the Jinn to him, to work
as he ordered them to do, was mentioned in the
verse reported above. Allâh the Almighty sent angels
to fight with His Messenger # on many occasions,
like on the Days of Uhud, Badr, al-Ahzâb and on
the day of Hunain. Imam al-Bukharî narrated on the
authority of Abû Hurairah that the Prophet # said:
"A strong demon from the Jinns came to me
yesterday suddenly, so as to spoil my prayer, but
Allâh enabled me to overpower him, and so I
caught him and intended to tie him to one of the
pillars of the Mosque so that all of you might see
him, but I remembered the invocation of my brother
Sulaimân "And grant me a kingdom such as shall
not belong to any other after me (38:35) so I let him
go cursed. "128
Allâh also sent a group of the Jinn to hear the
Qur'an as is stated in Surah al-Angaf and they
actually believed in his Message # and returned to
128
Narrated by al-Bukharî in the Book of : "The Prophets".
197

their people straightaway to warn them and call them
to embrace Islam, as the Prophet # was sent to
mankind and to the Jinn. Allâh the Almighty says:
﴿إِذْ صَرَفْنَا إِلَيْكَ نَفَرًا مِنَ الْجِنِّ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقُرْءَانَ فَلَمَّا
حَضَرُوهُ قَالُوا أَنْصِتُوا فَلَمَّا قُضِيَ وَلُّوْا إِلَى قَوْمِهِمْ مُنْذِرِينَ﴾
(الأحقاف: ٢٩)
"And (remember) when We sent towards
you a group of the Jinn, listening to the
Qur'ân, when they stood in the presence
thereof, they said: "Listen in silence!"
And when it was finished, they returned
to their people, as warners. " (46:29).
Comparing his miracles # to those of tProphet 'Îsâ
(Jesus) &0:
The Qur'an tells us about the miracles that Allâh
the Almighty bestowed upon 'Îsâ (Jesus) , in
many Surahs, including the verse which states:
﴿وَرَسُولاً إِلَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنِّي قَدْ جِئْتُكُمْ بِآيَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ أَنِّي
أَخْلُقُ لَكُمْ مِنَ الطِّينِ كَهَيْئَةِ الطَّيْرِ فَأَنْفُخُ فِيهِ فَيَكُونُ طَيْرًا بإِذْن
اللَّهِ وَأَبْرِئُ الأَكْمَةَ وَالأَبْرَصَ وَأُخْبِي الْمَوْتَى بِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَأُبْنَكُمْ
بِمَا تَأْكُلُونَ وَمَا تَدَّخِرُونَ فِي بُيُوتِكُمْ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لآيَةٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ
كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ﴾ (آل عمران: ٤٩)
"And will send a Messenger to the
Children of Isrâ'îl (saying): "I have
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come to you with a sign from your Lord,
that I design for you out of clay, as it
were, the figure of a bird, and breathe
into it, and it becomes a bird by Allâh's
Leave; and I heal him who was born
blind and the leper and I bring the dead
to life by Allâh's Leave ..... " (3:49).
We have mentioned earlier in this book, many
traditions, which mentioned that the Prophet
spoke to solid stones (that saluted him) and how the
trunk of the date-palm tree moaned when the Prophet
started to use a pulpit, instead of standing beside it.
We also mentioned the Hadîth about the poisoned
sheep, which told the Prophet # that the Jews
poisoned it with the intention to kill him. So, if
bringing a dead person back to life (by Allâh's leave)
is a wondrous sign, then giving life to a solid stone,
who never had a living soul, is even more wondrous.
Also on the Day of Uhud as narrated by Ibn Hishâm
(who wrote the Biography of the Prophet # )
Qatâdah (one of the companions) was hit in his eye
which fell onto his cheek, but the Prophet
took it
in his honorable hand and put it back in its place. By
the will of Allâh it was cured and he continued to see
with his eye as before.
The story of the blind man who regained his sight
with the Du'a' of the Prophet # :
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Imam al-Baihagî related on the authority of
'Uthmân bin Hunaif who said: "I heard the Prophet
# when a blind man came to him and complained to
him that he had lost his sight. The man said to the
Prophet #: "O Messenger of Allâh! I do not have
anyone to lead me (as I am a blind man) and it has
become difficult for me to keep going". The
Messenger of Allâh # then said: "Go and make
Wudû' (ablution) and pray two Rak'as and say: "O
Allâh! I ask You and turn to you by the dignity of
your Prophet Muhammad #, the Messenger of
mercy. O Muhammad! I turn to my Lord, by your
dignity (and honor), to return back my sight to me.
O Allâh! I ask You for his intercession (for me)."
'Uthmân said: "By Allâh, we did not leave our
place, and we did not remain there for long, except
that the man came in as if he had never suffered from
any disease".
Seventh The Night Journey of al-Isra' and al-
Mi‘râj:
The Night journey refers to the miraculous
journey of the Prophet # from Makkah to al-Aqsa
Mosque in Jerusalem and his Ascent through the
Heavens. Allâh the Almighty says in the Qur'ân:
﴿سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَى بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلاً مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى
الْمَسْجِدِ الأَقْصَى الَّذِي بَارَكْنَا حَوْلَهُ لِنُرِيَهُ مِنْ ءَايَاتِنَا إِنَّه هُوَ
200

"Glorified be He (Allâh) Who took His
slave Muhammad for a journey by night
from al-Masjid al-Harâm (at Makkah) to
al-Masjid al-Aqsâ (in Jerusalem), the
neighborhood whereof We have blessed,
in order that We might show him
(Muhammad # ) of Our signs. Verily,
He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer."
(17:1).
Imam al-Bukhari narrated on the authority of
Anas Ibn Malik who reported on the authority of
Mâlik Ibn Sa'sa'ah (May Allâh be pleased with them)
that Allâh's Messenger # described to them his night
journey saying: "While I was lying in al-Hatîm or
al-Hijr, suddenly someone came to me and cut my
body open from here to here" and pointed to his
chest. "He then took out my heart. Then a golden
tray full of Belief was brought to me and my heart
was washed and filled (with belief) and then
returned to its original place. Then a white animal
which was smaller than a mule and bigger than a
donkey was brought to me." Al-Jârûd (who was
sitting by his side) then asked: "Was it the Bûrâq O
Abû-Hamzah? Anas replied in the affirmative: "The
Prophet # said: "The animal's step (was so wide
that it) reached the farthest point within the reach
of the animal's sight. I was carried on it, and
Jibrîl set out with me till we reached the nearest
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heaven. When he asked for the gate to be opened it
was asked: "Who is it?" Jibril answered: "Jibrîl".
It was asked: "Who is accompanying you?" Jibril
replied: "Muhammad." It was asked: "Has
Muhammad been sent (as a Messenger) ?" Jibrîl
replied: "Yes." Then it was said: "He is welcome.
What an excellent visit is his!" The gate was
opened, and when I went over the first heaven, I
saw Adam there. Jibril said (to me): "This is your
father, Adam; pay him your greetings." So, I
greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and
said: "You are welcome, O pious son and pious
Prophet." Then Jibril ascended with me till we
reached the second heaven. Jibril asked for the gate
to be opened. It was asked: "Who is it?" Jibril
answered: "Jibrîl". It was asked: "Who is
accompanying you?" Jibrîl replied: "Muhammad."
It was asked: "Has Muhammad been sent (as a
Messenger)?" Jibril replied: "Yes." Then it was
said: "He is welcome. What an excellent visit is
his!" The gate was opened, and when I went over
the second heaven, there I saw Yahya (John) and
'Îsâ who were cousins. Jibril said (to me): "These
are Yahyâ and 'Îsâ; pay them your greetings. " So,
I greeted them and both of them returned my
greetings and said: "You are welcome, O pious
brother and pious Prophet." Then Jibril ascended
with me to the third heaven and asked for its gate to
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be opened. It was asked: "Who is it?" Jibrîl
answered: "Jibrîl". It was asked: "Who is
accompanying you?" Jibril replied: "Muhammad."
It was asked: "Has Muhammad been sent (as a
-
Messenger)?" Jibrîl replied: "Yes." Then it was
said: "He is welcome. What an excellent visit is
his!" The gate was opened, and when I went over
the third heaven, there I saw Yusif. Jibril said (to
me): "This is Yûsif; pay him your greetings." So, I
greeted him and he returned my greetings to me
and said: "You are welcome, O pious brother and
pious Prophet." Then Jibril ascended with me to
the fourth heaven and asked for its gate to be
opened. It was asked: "Who is it?" Jibril answered:
"Jibrîl". It was asked: "Who is accompanying
you?" Jibril replied: "Muhammad. " It was asked:
"Has Muhammad been sent (as a Messenger)?"
Jibril replied: "Yes." Then it was said: "He is
welcome. What an excellent visit is his!" The gate
was opened, and when I went over the fourth
heaven, there I saw Idris. Jibril said (to me): "This
is Idrîs; pay him your greetings. " So, I greeted him
and he returned my greetings to me and said: "You
are welcome, O pious brother and pious Prophet."
Then Jibril ascended with me to the fifth heaven
and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked:
""Who is it?" Jibril answered: "Jibrîl" It was
asked: "Who is accompanying you?" Jibril replied:
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"Muhammad." It was asked: "Has Muhammad
been sent (as a Messenger) ?" Jibril replied: "Yes."
Then it was said: "He is welcome, What an
excellent visit is his!" The gate was opened, and
when I went over the fifth heaven, , there I saw
Hârûn. Jibrîl said (to me): "This is Hârûn ; pay
him your greetings." So, I greeted him and he
returned my greetings to me and said: "You are
welcome, O pious brother and pious Prophet."
Then Jibril ascended with me to the sixth heaven
and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked:
""Who is it?" Jibril answered: "Jibrîl". It was
asked: "Who is accompanying you?" Jibrîl replied:
"Muhammad." It was asked: "Has Muhammad
been sent (as a Messenger)?" Jibril replied: "Yes."
Then it was said: "He is welcome, What an
excellent visit is his!" The gate was opened, and
when I went over the sixth heaven, there I saw
Mûsâ. Jibrîl said (to me): "This is Mûsâ; pay him
your greetings. " So, I greeted him and he returned
my greetings to me and said: "You are welcome, O
pious brother and pious Prophet." When I left him
he wept. Someone asked him: "What makes you
weep?" Mûsâ said: "I weep because after me there
has been sent (as a Prophet) a young man whose
followers will enter Paradise in greater numbers
than my followers." Then Jibril ascended with me
to the seventh heaven and asked for its gate to be
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opened. It was asked: "Who is it?" Jibrîl answered
: "Jibrîl" It was asked: "Who is accompanyun;
you?" Jibril replied: "Muhammad. " It was asked.
"Has Muhammad been sent (as a Messenger)?"
Jibril replied: "Yes." Then it was said: "He is
welcome. What an excellent visit is his!" So, when
I went (over the seventh heaven), there I saw
Ibrâhîm. Jibrîl said (to me): "This is your father;
pay him your greetings." So, I greeted him and he
returned the greetings to me and said: "You are
welcome, O pious son and pious Prophet." Then I
was made to ascend to Sidrat al-Muntahâ (i.e. the
Lote Tree of the farthest limit). Behold! There ran
four rivers, two were hidden and two were visible. I
asked: "What are these two kinds of rivers O
Jibrîl?" He replied: "As for the hidden rivers, they
are two rivers in Paradise and the visible rivers are
the Nile and the Euphrates." Then al-Bait al-
Mu'mûr (i.e. the Sacred House) was shown to me
and a container full of wine and another full of
milk and a third full of honey were brought to me.
I took the milk. Jibril marked: "This is the Islamic
religion which you and your followers are
following." Then the prayers were enjoined on me;
they were fifty prayers a day. When I returned, I
passed by Mûsâ who asked me: "What have you
been ordered to do?" I replied: "I have been
ordered to offer fifty prayers a day." Mûsâ said:
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"Your followers cannot bear fifty prayers a day,
and by Allâh I have tested people before you, and I
have tried my level best with Banî Isrâ'îl (in vain).
Go back to your Lord and ask to reduce the burden
for your followers." So, I went back and Allâh
reduced ten prayers for me. Once again I came to
Mûsâ but he repeated the same as he had said
before. So again I went back to Allâh and He
reduced ten more prayers. When I went back to
Mûsâ he said the same, so I went back to Allâh
and He ordered me to observe ten prayers a day.
When I came back to Mûsâ, he repeated the same
advice, so I went back to Allâh and was ordered to
observe five prayers a day. When I came back to
Mûsâ he said: "What have you been ordered?" I
replied: "I have been ordered to observe five
prayers a day." He said: "Your followers cannot
bear five prayers a day, and no doubt I have
experience of the people before you, and I have
tried my level best with Banî Isrâ'îl so go back to
your Lord and ask to reduce the burden on your
followers. " I said: "I have requested so much of my
Lord that I feel ashamed, but I am satisfied now
and surrender to Allâh's order." When I left, I
heard a voice saying: "I have passed My Order and
have reduced the burden of My Worshippers.
"129
129
Narrated by al-Bukharî in the Book of "The Merits of al-Ansâr."
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The Hadîth of al-Isra' was narrated by more
than 20 of the companions of the Prophet , and was
reported in all the books of the Hadîth.
The Prophet # prays at al-Aqsa mosque before
ascending to heaven:
Imâm Muslim narrated on the authority of Anas
Ibn Mâlik who said the Messenger of Allâh # said: "
I was brought al-Burâq, who is an animal white
and long, larger than a donkey but smaller than a
mule, who would place his hoof at the farthest
point within the reach of its sight. I mounted it and
came to Bait al-Mqdis (al-Aqsa) in Jerusalem, then
tied it by the ring used by the Prophets. I entered
the Mosque and prayed two Rak'at in it, and then
came out and Jibril brought me a vessel of wine
and a vessel of milk. I chose the milk, and Jibril
said: "You have chosen the Fitrah (natural
instinct). "130
Ibn Hishâm reported in his Seerah (Biography of
the Prophet ) that the next morning, after the
Prophet
returned to Makkah, he told the
Quraishites about what had happened. Most of them
said: "By Allâh This is clear nonsense! A caravan
takes a month to go to Syria and another to return,
did Muhammad go and return in one night?" Some
people asked Abu Bakr: "What do you think of your
130
Narrated by Muslim in the Book of : "Faith".
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friend Abu Bakr? He alleges that he went to al-Aqsâ
Mosque last night, offered prayer in it , and returned
to Makkah. " He answered that they were lying about
the Prophet #, but they asserted the truth of the
story and said that he was there in the mosque telling
the people about it. Abu Bakr said: "By Allâh, if he
says so, then it is true. And what is amazing in that?
By Allâh, he tells me that a revelation from Allâh
comes down to him from the heavens to the earth in
an hour of a day or night and I do believe him, and
that is more uncommon than that at which you
wonder!" He then went to the Prophet #, and knew
that these reports were true. Abu Bakr said: "O
Prophet of Allâh, have you told the people that you
went to al-Aqsâ Mosque last night?" The Messenger
of Allâh #, answered in the affirmative, so Abû Bakr
said: "O Prophet of Allâh , describe it to me, for I
have been there. " The Prophet #, said: "It has been
elevated to me so as to be able to see it." He #, kept
on describing it, while Abû Bakr said: "This is true.
I verify that you are the Messenger of Allâh", until
he had finished the description. Then the Prophet
said: "And you, Abû Bakr, are as-Siddiq (the
verifier of truth). " Since then he was entitled "As-
Siddîq".
There is no wonder that this journey is one of
the greatest miracles of the Prophet #, regarding all
the courses of the journey, which took place
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overnight. The fact that the Prophet #, asc. nded to
the seventh heaven is in itself a great miracle, but
what makes it even greater is that he met the
previous Prophets who were sent before him after
they had actually died, and spoke to them as thev
already knew that he # would be sent after them.
Muslim scholars also like to stress the fact that it was
on that night, that the prayer (which is the most
important daily worship of the Muslim) was enjoined
on the Muslims, i.e. it was ordained directly from
Allâh the Almighty, to His Messenger #, and not
through the Divine Revelation through Jibril which
reflects the crucial importance of prayer in Islam.
One of the contemporary biographers of the Seerah
of the Prophet #, commented on his seeing the Nile
and the Euphrates in Paradise saying: "The Prophet
said that he saw two visible rivers -the Nile and the
Euphrates- and two hidden ones. It appears that the
two visible rivers, the Nile and the Euphrates,
symbolically describe the area in whose fertile
valleys, Muhammad's Message would settle, and the
people whereof would always remain adherent
standard bearers of Islâm that would be passed from
one generation to another. This in no way suggests
that they well up from Paradise. "131
131
Safi-ur-Rahmân al-Mubarakfûrî “ar-Rahîq al-Makhtûm" (the
Sealed Nectar), (Riyad,, Saudi Arabia, Dar-us-Salâm Publications,
1ª ed., 1416H-1996) pp. 149-150.
209