Amir Suhail Wani

The Night of Ascension, or Lailat al-Mairaj, is one of the most significant events in Islamic history, deeply rooted in religious and spiritual dimensions. This miraculous journey, which took place in the twelfth year of Prophet Muhammad’s mission, not only brought him closer to the Divine but also bestowed upon him and the Muslim ummah a spiritual legacy that continues to resonate across centuries.

It was during this event that Prophet Muhammad was taken from Makkah to Jerusalem and then ascended to the heavens, a journey that transcended human experience and revealed profound truths about the Creator, the cosmos, and the human soul.

The Mairaj is a pivotal moment in Islam, affirming the deep connection between the Creator and His creation. It is said that on this night, Prophet Muhammad was chosen to journey through realms that no mortal had ever traversed. The Qur’an describes the event in Surah Al-Isra (17:1), stating, “Glory be to the One who took His servant by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.”

This verse captures the initial stage of the journey, where Prophet Muhammad was taken from the Ka’bah in Makkah to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. It is here that the Prophet encountered numerous prophets, including Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), Isa (Jesus), and others. Each prophet prayed with him, and it was in this gathering that the deep bonds between the Prophets of Islam were affirmed. Prophet Muhammad led the prayer in the congregation, marking a significant moment of unity among the prophets.

From Jerusalem, the Prophet ascended to the heavens, experiencing what can only be described as a journey through divine realms, passing through the seven heavens, where he met various prophets and witnessed scenes of celestial grandeur. In the first heaven, he encountered Adam, in the second heaven, he met Yahya (John the Baptist) and Isa, in the third, he met Yusuf (Joseph), and in the fourth, he met Idris.

As the Prophet ascended further, each level of the heavens offered him encounters with different figures, culminating in his meeting with Ibrahim in the highest heaven, where he was granted a view of the ultimate reality.

One of the most significant moments of the Mairaj was the Prophet’s encounter with Allah. In this intimate and transcendent experience, the Prophet was blessed with the divine command for the five daily prayers, which would become a central pillar of the Islamic faith.

As narrated in Hadith, the Prophet described this encounter by saying, "When I reached a place, Allah revealed to me the obligation of prayer, fifty prayers a day. I returned and met Musa (AS), who asked me what was ordained for me. I told him, and he advised me to return to Allah and ask for a reduction. I went back to Allah, and He reduced it to forty. I returned to Musa, who advised me to ask for more reduction. This continued until the number of prayers was reduced to five."

The five prayers, while few remain an enduring reminder of the believer’s constant connection to Allah, a spiritual link that transcends time and space.

Mairaj marked the deepening of the Prophet’s relationship with Allah, and through him, the relationship between the believer and their Creator was further clarified. The night of ascension revealed that prayer (Salah) was not just an obligation, but a means of direct communion with Allah, transcending all boundaries of time and space. The night also imbued the believer’s soul with a sense of awe and wonder at the mysteries of the unseen world, encouraging reflection on the greatness of God and the limits of human understanding. It was a profound reminder that despite the struggles of this earthly existence, the believer is always part of a much grander, divine scheme that stretches beyond the visible world.

On a deeper intellectual level, Mairaj challenges the believer to reconsider the limits of reason and the capabilities of the human mind. In the context of modernity and scientific inquiry, it serves as a reminder that there is more to existence, and than is beyond empirical means.

The event stretches the boundaries of rationality, teaching that true knowledge is a gift from the Divine, often beyond human understanding. This provides a crucial insight for contemporary society, where the quest for knowledge sometimes leads to an over-reliance on the material and the empirical. The Mairaj invites believers to acknowledge the existence of realms beyond the physical and to recognize that intellectual humility is essential to the pursuit of true wisdom.

Culturally, the Mairaj carries a timeless significance in the Islamic world. It is a day of reflection, prayer, and celebration, reinforcing the central role of the Prophet in the hearts and lives of Muslims. The event emphasizes not just the greatness of the Prophet’s mission, but also the cultural importance of prayer in the everyday lives of Muslims, transcending borders, languages, and ethnicities. Across the Muslim world, the night of Mairaj is marked with special prayers, gatherings, and remembrance, where communities come together to reflect on the teachings of the Prophet and renew their commitment to the values of Islam. It serves as a reminder of the unity of the ummah, as the shared reverence for the Prophet’s experience connects believers across generations and geographies.

In contemporary terms, the Mairaj holds particular relevance in a world where individuals often experience a disconnect from the spiritual realm due to the fast pace of modern life, material pursuits, and the overwhelming demands of technology. It invites the believer to step back, reflect, and reconnect with the divine. In the noise of daily existence, Mairaj provides a moment to pause and contemplate the deeper purpose of life, encouraging believers to find tranquility in their relationship with Allah and to seek spiritual fulfillment above worldly success. Furthermore, in an era marked by division and strife, the Mairaj signifies a universal symbol of peace, urging individuals to aspire towards spiritual harmony, inner peace, and mutual understanding.

The Mairaj also included a vivid and profound afterlife that serves as lessons for the living. The Prophet saw the punishments of those who had sinned, such as the torment faced by those who consumed the flesh of others through slander and gossip. These scenes provided a powerful reminder of the consequences of one’s actions and emphasized the importance of maintaining righteousness and moral integrity.

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In every sense, the Mairaj is a divine event that transcends time, offering spiritual, intellectual, and cultural lessons that remain as relevant today as they were fourteen centuries ago. Through the Mairaj, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was reminded of his sacred mission, and through his example, humanity is continuously called to seek knowledge, reflect on the mysteries of existence, and find solace in the remembrance of the Divine. It is a timeless event, bridging the past with the present, that continues to guide the hearts and minds of Muslims in their journey of faith. As the Qur’an states in Surah Al-Isra (17:1), “We granted him a mighty journey”—one that continues to inspire believers to this day.