Mi'raj: Difference between revisions
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The time it took for the [[Prophet (s)]] to go to [[Jerusalem]] and [[al-Aqsa Mosque]] and to the skies and his return, did not last longer than one night and the next morning the Prophet (s) was in [[Mecca]]. It is been cited in [[Tafsir al-'Ayyashi (book)|Tafsir ‘Ayashi]] that [[Imam Ja'far b. Muhammad al-Sadiq (a)|Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] said, “The Prophet (s) performed the prayers of ‘Isha and Fajr in Mecca.” Which means that Isra’ and Mi’raj happened between the two. | The time it took for the [[Prophet (s)]] to go to [[Jerusalem]] and [[al-Aqsa Mosque]] and to the skies and his return, did not last longer than one night and the next morning the Prophet (s) was in [[Mecca]]. It is been cited in [[Tafsir al-'Ayyashi (book)|Tafsir ‘Ayashi]] that [[Imam Ja'far b. Muhammad al-Sadiq (a)|Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] said, “The Prophet (s) performed the prayers of ‘Isha and Fajr in Mecca.” Which means that Isra’ and Mi’raj happened between the two. | ||
== | == Location== | ||
There are differences among narrations about the detail of the Prophet’s (s) Mi’raj and whether its beginning and end was the house of Umm Hani, Masjid al-Haram or Shi’b Abi Talib. But it is famously said that in that night, the Prophet (s) was in the house of Umm Hani, daughter of Abi Talib and from there went to Mi’raj and returned there at the end. | There are differences among narrations about the detail of the Prophet’s (s) Mi’raj and whether its beginning and end was the house of Umm Hani, Masjid al-Haram or Shi’b Abi Talib. But it is famously said that in that night, the Prophet (s) was in the house of Umm Hani, daughter of Abi Talib and from there went to Mi’raj and returned there at the end. | ||
Revision as of 11:03, 10 March 2016
Early Islam |
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Al-Miʿraj (Arabic:المعراج, lit. ascent) or al-Isrāʾ (Arabic:الإسراء) is the nightly journey of the Prophet (s) from Mecca to al-Aqsa Mosque and from there to the skies. Both Shi'a and Sunni are unanimous regarding the happening of Mi'raj according to frequent verses and hadiths, but they disagree regarding the time, place, times, condition, and physical or spiritual nature. This event happened in final years of the noble Prophet’s (s) staying in Mecca. In Mi'raj, the Prophet (s) saw divine signs and met the souls of some great prophets (s).
“Mi’raj”
Literally, Mi’raj means “ladder, stairs and anything by which one can ascend” while in usage it refers to the nightly journey of the Prophet (s) from Mecca to al-Aqsa Mosque and from there to the skies and reaching Sadrat al-Muntaha and the position of Divine Qab Qawsayn.
In the Qur’an and Hadiths
According to Fadl b. Hasan Tabarsi, Mi’raj of the Prophet (s) is among the issues that Shia, Sunni, verses along with frequent hadiths support. The story of Mi’raj has been mentioned in the chapters Isra’ and Najm in the holy Qur'an.
Time of Occurrence
Based on a famous report, this nightly journey of the Prophet (s) happened in the final years of his staying in Mecca (After the Bi'tha and before the Hijra), but there are discrepancies among narrations regarding the exact year and whether it was before the demise of Abu Talib or after it.
Nightly Journey
From the two words of “Laylan” and “Asra” in the first verse of chapter Isra’, it can be understood that this journey happened at night. But in the narrations, it is referred to with many differences as in which night it took place. In most cases, it has been narrated to have happened in one of the following nights:
- Eve of Rabi’ al-Awwal 17
- Eve of Rajab 27, according to Mulla Fath Allah Kashani, author of Manhaj al-sadiqin is the most famous report.
- Eve of Ramadan 17
- Eve of Ramadan 21
- Some have also mentioned a night in Shawwal or Rabi’ al-Thani.
The time it took for the Prophet (s) to go to Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque and to the skies and his return, did not last longer than one night and the next morning the Prophet (s) was in Mecca. It is been cited in Tafsir ‘Ayashi that Imam al-Sadiq (a) said, “The Prophet (s) performed the prayers of ‘Isha and Fajr in Mecca.” Which means that Isra’ and Mi’raj happened between the two.
Location
There are differences among narrations about the detail of the Prophet’s (s) Mi’raj and whether its beginning and end was the house of Umm Hani, Masjid al-Haram or Shi’b Abi Talib. But it is famously said that in that night, the Prophet (s) was in the house of Umm Hani, daughter of Abi Talib and from there went to Mi’raj and returned there at the end.
To explain why the Qur’an has mentioned Masjid al-Haram as the departure of this journey, it is said that Arabs call all Mecca sanctuary of God; therefore, all of it were assumed as mosque and sanctuary of God and the house of Umm Hani was in the sanctuary. Also, the content of some narrations do not agree with the occurrence of Mi’raj in Shi’b Abi Talib.
Its Times
According to some narrations, the Prophet (s) went to Mi’raj more than once. Allama Tabataba’i regarded one of them from Masjid al-Haram and another from the house of Umm Hani and said that the first verses of the chapter Najm approves this. Also, different opinions regarding the place, time and other details of Mi’raj can be justified through this theory.
Description of the Journey
In that night, angel Gabriel came to the Prophet (s) and brought him a conveyance called Buraq and the Prophet (s) got on and moved toward Jerusalem. At the time of mounting on Buraq, it began to show disobedience and Gabriel hit it and told it, “Be calm o Buraq! Previously no prophet has ever mounted on you and in the future, no one like him would ever ride you.” After that hit, Buraq was calm and took him up which was not so high while Gabriel was with him.
Entering al-Aqsa Mosque
In the middle of the way, the Prophet (s) stopped in Medina, mosque of Kufa, Tur Sina and Bethlehem which is the birthplace of Prophet Jesus (s) and prayed there. He (s) then entered al-Aqsa Mosque and prayed there.
Ascending from Qubbat al-Sakhra (the Dome of the Rock)
Apparently, the Prophet (s) ascended to skies from the mosque of Qubbat al-Sakhra. The reason for naming it is the existence of a rock inside it from where the Prophet (s) ascended to the skies. In the travel log of Nasir Khusraw, it has been claimed that upon entrance of the Prophet (s) to the mosque, that rock ascended before him and after his ascent that rock never returned on earth.
Travelling in the Sky of the World and Speaking with the Prophet Adam (s)
From there, the Prophet (s) ascended to the sky of this world and saw Prophet Adam (s) there. Then, angels came to welcome him in groups and greeted him smiling and congratulated him. There, the Prophet (s) saw an angel frowning and angry and when greeted the Prophet (s), did not smile. When the Prophet (s) asked the name of that angel from Gabriel, he answered that, “this is Malik, guard of the hell and has never smiled and his wrath on the enemies of God and sinners is being added continually.” The Prophet (s) then asked Gabriel to show him the hell and when he opened its cap, a flame rose out of it which filled the air.
Speaking with Malik al-Mawt
There, the Prophet (s) also met Malak al-Mawt (Azrael or ‘Izra’il, the Archangel of Death) who was holding a tablet of light in his hand and after he had a conversation with the Prophet (s), said, “all the world in my hand is like a coin in the hand of a man and he flips it. There is no house except I meet five times a day…” That was when the Prophet (s) said, “Indeed, death is the greatest of calamity and the harshest of event.” And then Gabriel said, “the events following death are worse than that.”
Second to Seventh Skies
The Prophet (s) then ascended to the second sky and there, he (s) met Prophet Yahya (s) (John, the Baptist) and Prophet Jesus (s), then with Prophet Joseph (s) in the third sky, with Prophet Idris (s) (Enoch) in the fourth sky, with Prophet Aaron (s) in the fifth sky and with Prophet Moses in the sixth sky.
Seventh Sky
The Prophet (s) then went to the seventh sky and reached where Gabriel was unable to reach and said, “I do not have permission to reach there, and if I approach it as much as a tip of a finger, my wings and feather will burn.”
The Return
On return, the Prophet (s) landed in Jerusalem and went toward Mecca. On his way to Mecca, he (s) encountered a trade caravan of Quraysh who had lost a camel and were searching for it. The Prophet (s) drank from the water they had in a bowl and poured the rest of it on the ground and according to a report, covered the cap of the bowl. He (s) landed in the house of Umm Hani before sunrise, and told her his secret for the first time and then in the daytime, disclosed his secret to the gatherings of Quraysh.
Hadith of Mi’raj
On the night of Mi’raj, a conversation was made between the Prophet (s) and God in the form of a Qudsi hadith which became famous as hadith of Mi’raj.
Reaction of Quraysh
The story of Mi’raj which seemed to be impossible to Quraysh made their chiefs angry the most. They denied the Prophet (s) and said, “there are people in Mecca who have seen Jerusalem; to prove it, describe the building!” The prophet (s) not only described the buildings of Jerusalem, but also reported the events on the way between Mecca and Jerusalem and said that in the middle of the way, I encountered a caravan from a tribe who had lost a camel and had a bowl full of water in their goods from which I drank and then covered it. Also, I encountered a group a camel of whom had escaped and had broken a leg.” Quraysh said, “Report on the caravan of Quraysh.” The Prophet (s) said, “I saw them in Tan’im as a grey camel was walking ahead of them, carrying a palanquin on its back and they must enter Mecca now. Quraysh became very angry at such definite news and said, “We will see the truth or lies of his word now.” Soon, a caravan entered the city and Abu Sufyan and the passengers approved the details of the Prophet’s (s) report.
Condition of Mi’raj
Most exegetes believe that the Prophet (s) went to Jerusalem and from there to skies with his body and soul. But, Khawarij denied it and also Jahmiyya and Shaykhiyya believed it happened spiritually only. According to some narrations, when the Prophet (s) arrived in Bayt Ma’mur and near Sadrat al-Muntaha, some of his companions accompanied him.
The Prophet’s (s) Reports from Mi’raj
In the night of Mi’raj, he (s) saw some great signs of God. There are some reports from what the Prophet (s) saw in the skies, dwellers of paradise and the hell and angels.
According to narrations reported by Shaykh Saduq and others, one of the places the Prophet (s) saw travelling above the earth was the land of Qom which glittered as a spot and when asked Gabriel about that spot, he answered, “It is the land of Qom, where believing servants and the followers of your household will gather and wait for deliverance and will endure hardships and grief.” The Prophet (s) also met the souls of some great prophets including prophets Adam (s), Abraham (s), Moses (s) and Jesus (s) and led their prayer.
Fruits of Mi’raj
- Obligation of daily prayer
- Last verses of chapter Baqara
- Revelation regarding the caliphate of Imam Ali (a)
- Forgiving of sins except polytheism
- Advising about cupping
- Abu Said Khidri reported that the Prophet (s) said, “at the night when Gabriel took me to Mi’raj, when we came back, I told him, ‘O Gabriel, do you have any request from me?’ he said, ‘my request is that you send regards to Khadija on behalf of the Almighty God and on behalf of me.’” When the Prophet (s) met Khadija, gave her regards from God and Gabriel and she replied, “Surly, Allah, He is the Peace, and from Him is peace and towards Him is peace and with Gabriel be peace.”
Position of Mi’raj in Literature and Art
Since the time of Al Jalayir, Mi’raj of the Prophet (s) is among the essential ideas for Iranian painting. There are pictures available from this period about the Prophet’s (s) Mi’raj the oldest one of which is made by Ahmad Musa, one of the famous painters of this period. Pictures of the Prophet’s (s) Mi’raj reached their pinnacle in the next period of painting in Iran which was the school of Harat. Many books have been found from this period especially at the time of Shahrokh which have pictured the Prophet’s (s) Mi’raj. One of these books is Mir Haydar’s Mi’raj Nama in Uyghur language which has depicted different moments of Prophet’s (s) Mi’raj. In a picture, Shah Muzaffar Siyah Qalam has depicted the Prophet (s) at the time of Mi’raj riding the human faced Buraq which is accompanied by Gabriel.
Nizami’s Khamses are among the most important books which have depicted pictures from the Prophet’s (s) Mi’raj at the time of Timurids and periods contemporary with them.
Mi’raj Painted by Sultan Muhammad
One of the most famous works of painting at the time of Safavids is a Khamse of Nizami belonging to the time of Shah Tahmasb which is a depiction of the famous scene of the Prophet’s (s) Mi’raj painted by Sultan Muhammad. This work, together with three other works attributed to him, are placed in the illuminated manuscript of Nizami’s Khamsa ordered by Shah Tahmasb Safavi and its painting and calligraphy have been made between 942 AH and 947 AH. Its calligrapher has been Shah Mahmud Nayshaburi, the famous calligrapher of 10th century AH. In this work, the picture of the Prophet (s) whose face has been covered with a white mask is depicted riding Buraq among the great crowd of angelic creatures with 15 angels and Gabriel is guiding him flying ahead of Buraq.
Farshchian’s Mi’raj
This work is painted in the size of 101 * 81.5 cm. Beside the picture of the Prophet (s), angels are in state of supplication. In this painting which depicts the night of Mi’raj, a foce can be seen which draws the hand of the Prophet (s) towards God and the higher we look, the more angels fade in the Divine Essence of God.
Other Works
- Mi’raj of the Prophet (s) made by Reza Asl Najafi
- Mi’raj Namas and paintings about Mi’raj, especially the painting of the Mi’raj of the Prophet (s) kept in Malek library and national museum belonging to Astan Quds Razavi with the record number of 5995.