Introduction of Shabe-Miraj
In Isalm, Shabe-Miraj, Shab E Meraj, or Lailat al Miraj is considered to be one of the pious and miraculous nights in which ALLAH (S.W.T.) invited HIS beloved Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) to the Arsh(the throne of ALLAH S.W.T.) and met him.
ALLAH (S.W.T.) mentions in Quran about this glorious night as Glory be to the One (ALLAH S.W.T.) Who took His servant Muḥammad (PBUH) by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We may show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He alone is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing. (Al-Quran 17:1)
Isra- means to travel/ walk
Miraj or Meraj – means to ascend/go up to heights/elevate
In the glorious Quran, in Surah Al-Isra, the two terminologies named Isra and Miraj indicate the spiritual, as well as the physical journey that Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) took in a single night and, traveled from MAKKA to Jerusalem which is a long-distance with the help of ALLAH (S.W.T.) and the traveled even longer to the heavens in the skies.
When and how Shab-e-Meraj took place
The miraculous night, Shabe-Miraj took place on the 27th of Rajab in the year 621 AD. Rajab is the seventh month of the Islamic calendar.
Prophet Muhammed (P.B.U.H.) witnessed Miraj in two parts:
1st Part: Travel to Masjid al-Aqsa on the Night of Shabe-Miraj
In the 1st part, the beloved Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) was taken from Masjid al-Haram in Makkah to the Masjid al-Aqsa (Dome of the rock) in Jerusalem. This stage is mentioned as al-Isra in the Quran. This miraculous journey started with Jibrael (A.S.) coming to Nabi Muhammed (P.B.U.H.) while he was resting in the Masjid-Haram. Jibrael (A.S.) woke him up and guided him to sit on the white animal called Buraq and he began to fly as soon as he mounted on this unique creature in the greatest speed. The Buraq took Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) from Masjid-Al Haram to the masjid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem. The Buraq was an animal something like a horse but smaller than a horse and it covered this long distance in a fraction of seconds. Upon reaching the Masjid Al-Aqsa, Muhammed (P.B.U.H.) saw that all the other prophets (Ibrahim (A.S.), Musa (A.S.), Isa (A.S.), and many others) who came before him were present there. Jibrael (A.S.) told the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) to lead them in prayer and Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) led them all in two rakahs Namaz.
Jibrael (A.S) then tested Nabi Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) with two cups. One cup was filled with milk and the other with wine. Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) chose milk.
Jibrael (A.S) then said to the beloved Prophet:
Praise be to Allah Who has guided you to the Fitrah (purity and innocence). If you have chosen the wine, your Ummah would have gone astray. (An-Nasai: 5657)
2nd Part: Ascend to Heavens on the Night of Shab-E-Meraj
In the 2nd part, Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) was elevated to the heavens and met ALLAH (S.W.T.). Through his ascension to the heavens, Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) was stopped by all the seven layers of the sky and along the way, the Nabi Muhammed met many Prophets one on each heaven. Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) was greeted by all the previous prophets with delight and excitement. They all said to Muhammad ‘Welcome, O pious Prophet and pious brother!’ (Bukhari).
(Adam (A.S.) and Ibrahim (A.S.), however, welcomed him as a ‘pious son’).
Following Prophets met him on 7 Heavens
1. First Heaven- Adam (A.S.)
2. Second Heaven – Isa (A.S.) and Yahya (A.S.)
3. Third Heaven – Yusuf (A.S.)
4. Fourth Heaven – Idris (A.S.)
5. Fifth Heaven – Haroon (A.S.)
6. Sixth Heaven – Musa (A.S.)
7. Seventh Heaven – Ibrahim (A.S.)
(Sahi-Bukhari:3027)
Our Nabi Muhammed (S.A.W.) visited AL-Bait AL-Mamur on Shab e Meraj
Then The Nabi Muhammed (S.A.W.) was taken to AL-Bait AL-Mamur (ALLAH SAW’s house on the heaven on the top). Prophet Muhammad when asked about this place, Jibrael (A.S.) replied:
This is Al Bait- Al-Mamur where 70,000 angels perform prayers daily and who attends it never will never be able to again attend this blessing. (Sahih Bukhari: 3207)
Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W.) visited Sidrat-al Muntaha on Shab e Miraj
After that Jibrael (A.S.) then took Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) to Sidrat-al Muntaha, which is a huge Lote tree and it marks the end of the heavens. At this point, Jibrael (A.S.) stopped as nobody is allowed to go beyond the tree. Only Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) was honored by ALLAH (S.W.T.) to pass through this boundary.
We (Muslims) get the order of Salat (Namaz) on Shab e Miraj
ALLAH (S.W.T.) then gave the gift of NAMAZ and ordered Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) to tell his Ummah to pray 50 times a day. Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) when returned on his way back, Prophet Musa (A.S) told him to reduce the number from 50 and said that the Ummah won’t be able to offer such a large number of namaz. Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) went back to ALLAH (S.W.T.) many times until the Namaz was reduced from 50 to 5 times only. He felt hesitant to go again and get it reduced from 5 times to any lesser. And ALLAH (S.W.T.) promised that the Muslim Ummah will be rewarded equal to 50 daily prayers whoever will pray sincerely the 5 daily prayers. (Sub’hanAllah)
During this miraculous and pious journey, Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) was also shown the Jannat and the Jahannam by Jibrael (A.S.)
After the completion of this journey, the Buraq took Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) back to Makkah, where he was sleeping. This whole journey took place in one night and when the Prophet came back, he could feel the warmth of his bed was still there.
There is a great significance of Shab-e-Miraj in Islam and in the lives of Muslims as it is one of the most sacred nights. However, despite being this night such important and miraculous, Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) never told anyone to celebrate it and he himself never celebrated as well. this night is a blessed night and we must pray and seek forgiveness from ALLAH (P.B.U.H.) and be grateful for all the blessings we have been bestowed upon by ALLAH (S.W.T.) upon us being a Muslim Ummah.
And ALLAH Knows Best