The Year of Grief – The event of Israa wal-Meraaj took place in the “Year of the Grief”. This year was called so because of the following reasons:
The Death of Abu Talib - Abu Talib, who was an uncle of Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) died. Abu Talib was a protection for the Muslims in Makkah against the aggressions of the Kuffar. While the Makkans burst into outrage and disapproval on the call of Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam), Abu Talib was committed to protect and help his nephew. He said: “We love to help, accept your advice and believe in your words. These are your kinspeople whom you have collected and I am one of them, but I am fastest to do what you like. Do what you have been ordered. I shall protect and defend you, but I cannot quit my religion.” Abu Lahab exclaimed: “I swear by Allah that this is a bad thing. You must stop him before the others do.” He (Abu Talib) declared: “I swear by Allah to protect him as long as I am alive.” [Al-Raheeq al-Makhtoom]
Narrated al-Abbas bin Abdul Mutallib (radiyallahu anhu) that he said to the Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam): ‘You have not been of any avail to your uncle (Abu Talib) (though) by Allah, he used to protect you and used to become angry on your behalf.’ The Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) said: “He is in a shallow fire, and had it not been for me, he would have been in the bottom of the (Hell) Fire.” [Saheeh al-Bukharee v: 5, no: 222]
Thus, Abu Talib even though being a Kafir, supported his nephew with money and strength from the ill deliberations of the Kuffar. As long as he was alive, the Pagans could not harm the Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam). However, the death of Abu Talib rendered the Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) weak and gave the polytheist an opportunity to oppress the Muslims. Their harsh behavior made it difficult for the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) to live in Makkah. The confession of Faith and accepting Islam was made impossible for the Companions of Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam), they were subjected to unbearable tortures and oppressions. Anybody who accepted Islaam was given a choice to either leave his faith, or leave his country or that his soul leaves his body; the Kuffar did not agree to any other alternative. But the companions of Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) even in these times of trial and tortures stood firm on their religion and advanced with the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam). Islaam spread, and more and more people accepted the Faith. The spread of Islaam made the Kuffar more aggressive and they tried all possible means to obstruct and cease the spread of Islaam. The Dawah of Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) was made difficult... even staying in Makkah became hard.
Khadijah (radhi allahu anha) passes away - Only two months after the death of Abu Talib, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) experienced another great personal loss. His wife and the mother of the believers, ‘Khadijah (radhi allahu anha)’ passed away. Khadijah was a blessing from Allah to the Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam). She shared the toils and trials of life with him, for twenty-five years. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) deeply mourned over her death, and once said: “She believed in me when none else did. She embraced Islam when people disbelieved me. And she helped and comforted me in her person and wealth when there was none else to lend me a helping hand. I had children from her only.” [Musnad Ahmad (6/118)]
These two painful events took place within a short period of time. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) lost all hopes in guiding the Arabs and turned to al-Taif (a city) seeking support. However, there too he was disappointed and faced agony which increased his grief and sufferings. Rapid succession of misfortune led the Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) to call that period “the Year of Grief”
Allah took His slave for Isra - In the midst of all these sorrows, Allah took His Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) through the great miracle of ‘Isra and Miraaj’ to show him His Signs and provide him support. Allah say: “…in order that We might show him (Muhammad (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) of Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, signs etc.).”
[Soorah al-Isra (17): 1]
With the miracle of Isra and Miraaj, Allah established that even if the Kuffar had closed the doors for His Messenger (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam), Allah is his Supporter and Protector, and the doors of Heavens are open for him. No strength can stop or harm the one who is under the Protection of Allah. Isra wal-Miraaj confirmed the success of the Prophet’s (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) Dawah and victory over his enemies, after all the sorrows and grief.
When did it take place? - The exact date of Isra and Miraaj is controversial. Ibn Katheer (rahimahullah) quoted a number of different scholarly views in al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah (3/108) concerning the exact date of Isra wal-Miraaj. Majority of the scholars support a date between 12-16 months before the migration to Madinah, they not only disagree about a particular day, but the month as well.
Before the Journey
Angel Jibreel (alaihis-salaam) opened the Prophet’s (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) breast, extracted his heart and washed it with the water of Zam-Zam. Narrated Anas bin Malik (radiyallahu anhu): “The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) said: “The night, Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) was taken for a journey from the sacred mosque (of Mecca) Al-Ka'ba. Three persons came to him (in a dream) while he was sleeping in the Sacred Mosque before the Divine Inspiration was revealed to him. One of them said: “Which of them is he?” The middle (second) Angel said: “He is the best of them.” The last (third) angle said: “Take the best of them.” Only this happened on that night. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) did not see them till they came on another night, i.e. after the Divine Inspiration was revealed to him (Fateh al-Baree p: 258, Vol. 17), and he saw them, his eyes were asleep but his heart was not and so is the case with (all) the Prophets (alaihis-salaam); their eyes sleep while their hearts are awake. Therefore, those angels did not talk to him until they carried him and placed him beside the well of Zam-Zam. From among them, Jibreel (alaihis-salaam) took charge of him. He cut open (the part of his body) between his throat and the middle of his chest (heart), took all the material out of his chest and abdomen and then washed it with the water of Zam-Zam with his own hands till he cleansed the inside of his body, and then a gold tray containing a gold bowl full of belief and wisdom was brought. Jibreel (alaihis-salaam) then stuffed his chest and throat, blood vessels with it and then closed it (the chest).” [Saheeh al-Bukharee v: 9, no: 608, v: 1, no: 345, v: 5, no: 227]
Israa means the Prophet’s (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) journey in body and soul from al-Kaaba in Makkah to the ‘Masjid al-Aqsa’ in Jerusalem by an amazing beast called al-Buraq and his return back to Makkah.
Al-Buraq – The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) was carried from the Sacred Mosque in Makkah to Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem on a beast called ‘al-Buraq’ in the company of Angel Jibreel (alaihis-salaam). The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) described al-Buraq saying: “I was brought the Buraq, a long white beast, slightly bigger than a donkey but smaller than a mule which when trotting (ride), would place its next step as far as its eyesight could see. I mounted it until I reached al-Quds, Jerusalem. There I tied it up to the same ring used by the Prophets.” [Saheeh Muslim and Saheeh al-Bukharee]
Narrated Anas ibn Malik (radiyallahu anhu): “On the night when the Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) was taken up to Heaven, al-Buraq was brought to him, bridled and saddled, but it proved refractory (stubbornness), so Jibreel (alaihis-salaam) said to it: “Is it to Muhammad (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) you are doing this? No one more honorable in Allah's Sight has mounted you than he.” It then poured with sweat.” [at-Tirmidhee no: 5920 and Musnad Ahmad]
The meaning of al-Buraq in the Arabic language is ‘Beam, send out light.
Today, science tells us that light is the fastest traveling entity in the world. It travels at the speed of 700 million miles an hour. Fourteen hundred years ago, when no scientist had even imagined the swiftness of the light or it’s reality, Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) called this fast traveling beast ‘al-Buraq’ on the basis of its fast pace. This is a proof for the truthfulness of the religion of Islaam and the Prophet-hood of Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam). Today, if science testifies to some fact then it is the truthfulness of Islam and Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam), as Allah says: “we will show them our signs in the Universe and in their own-selves, until it becomes manifest to them that this (the Qur’aan) is the truth.” [Soorah al-Fussilat (41): 53]
Formerly, people objected: ‘where did such a creature appear, which took the Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) from one part of the world to the other and through the spheres of the Heavens in one single night?’ Today, we see man-made rockets and missiles traveling miles in minutes. When man, who is a creature of Allah can create such fast traveling machines, then why cannot Allah, the Creator of mankind create a beast, which could travel millions of miles.
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