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Friday Talks |
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The night journey and the ascending to the heavens
Written by: Sk. Dr. Younis Salih
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa.
28 Rajab 1431 h
09 July 2010 ac
All thanks be to Allah the Lord of the worlds, and peace and prayers be upon the messenger Muhammad.
Dear faithful, Allah says: {you who have faith, fear Allah, and believe in His messenger, He would get you two loads of His mercy, and He would make for you light that you would walk into, and He would forgive you, for Allah is the one who forgives the merciful} 57:28.
Give thanks to Allah for all the mercies He bestowed on to you, those which are visible and those which are not. And remember that one of the most gracious of Allah’s mercies on to you is that He made you part of the nation of Islam, and made you amongst the followers of the messenger Muhammad ppbu.
Dear fellow faithful, Allah has given messenger Muhammad ppbu many advantages and miracles. And one of them is first: the miraculous night journey from the Kaba mosque in Mekka to Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, and second: the ascending to the heavens, that strange journey and the great astonishing miracle.
While the messenger ppbu was asleep at the yard at Al-Kaba before migration to Al-Madinah, someone came to him and slit his chest from just beneath his neck to underneath his stomach. Then his heart was taken out and filled wisdom and faith. Then a white animal called Al-Burq was brought. The messenger ppbu mounted along with Gabriel, until they reached the Al-Aqsa mosque. The messenger ppbu went into the mosque where he found all the prophets assembled, and he led them in a prayer of two prostrations. They all did their prayers behind the messenger ppbu. Then he came out of the Al-aqsa mosque when Gabriel approached him with two jugs to drink. One contained wine and the other contained milk. The messenger ppbu selected the milk. Gabriel said to him: “you chose nature”. Then they ascended into the sky to the nearest heaven. Gabriel asked for it to be opened. He was asked: “Who are you?” He said: Gabriel. He was asked: “and who is with you?” He said: “Muhammad” (ppbu). He was asked: “Was he summoned?” He said: “Yes”. He was told: “He is most welcomed. He is the best that could ever come”. The heaven was opened and they found Adam. He greeted the messenger Muhammad ppbu who greeted him back. Adam said: “welcome righteous son; and righteous prophet”. Then he was taken by Gabriel and ascended to the second heaven. Gabriel asked for it to be opened and it was opened. The messenger ppbu saw Isa the son of Merriam, and saw yahya the son of Zachariah prayers be upon them all. They welcomed him and said a prayer (duaa) for him. Then the messenger ppbu was taken to the third heaven where he met Joseph who welcomed him and also said a prayer for him. Then the messenger ppbu was taken to the forth heaven where he met Idris pbu. Then he was taken to the fifth heaven where he met Aaron who welcomed him and also said a prayer for him. Then the messenger ppbu was taken to the sixth heaven where he met Moses who welcomed him and also said a prayer for him. Then the messenger ppbu was taken to the seventh heaven where he met Abraham with his back resting against the thriving house. The thriving house is a mosque when every day different seventy thousand angels come to visit and they never return to it again. The messenger was taken to the ultimate tree and it was such a beautiful tree. Allah then inspired him what He wished and gave him His rule that it is compulsory to perform fifty prayers each day and night. On his descent down to Moses he said to him: “Go back to your Lord and ask Him to lighten the load. Your nation will not bare that”. The messenger ppbu went back and Allah reduced the number of compulsory prayers by ten. He kept on going back until it settled at five compulsory prayers each day and night. A call was heard saying: {I have passed my law and I have lightened the load for my slaves}. The messenger ppbu was returned to his bed before the morning.
Slaves of Allah, this fantastic story and those great events all happened in one night. Praise be to Allah, and thanks be to Allah, and Allah is the greatest, and there is no other God but Allah.
Muhammad ppbu told his people about what Allah has shown him of the great miracles. They disbelieved him even more, and went on to hurt him more. And they attacked him even more. They asked him to describe to them the Al-Aqsa mosque. Allah made it clearly appear to him, and he started telling them about its minute details. They were not able to contradict anything he said. Abu-Bakr was there listening and every time the messenger ppbu said something, Abu-Bakr used to say: “True, true. I testify that you are the messenger of Allah”. The messenger ppbu told them about a camel train that belonged to Quraish he saw on its way back and he told them the expected time of its arrival. They went on denial and disbelief.
You who have faith, this story of the journey of Muhammad ppbu to the Al-Aqsa mosque and the ascending to the heavens above is a miracle and a lesson for those who have knowledge and faith in their hearts. While those who have sick hearts they doubt and dispute it. Allah says:
{By the Star when it sets, (1) Your friend did not go crazy, nor he was deceived; (2) Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. (3) It is only an inspiration that is inspired, (4) Which one of mighty powers has taught him, (5) One vigorous; and he grew clear to view (6) When he was on the uppermost horizon. (7)Then he drew close and came down (8) Till he was (distant) two bows' length or even nearer, (9) And He revealed unto His slave that which He revealed. (10) The heart did not lie (in seeing) in what it saw. (11) Will you then dispute with him concerning what he sees? (12) And verily he saw him yet another time (13) By the lote-tree of the utmost boundary, (14) Unto which is the Garden of Abode. (15) When a shroud did enshroud the lote-tree, (16) The eye turned not aside nor yet was overbold. (17) Verily he saw one of the greater revelations of his Lord. (18)}53:1-18
One of the clearer points this story shows is the greatness of the status of this messenger in the eyes of Allah. Muhammad ppbu is beloved by Allah, and Allah has made him a leader leading all prophets in a prayer. He gave him a status which was not given to anyone before or after. Allah brought him to places where pens can be heard writing fates. And on his ascent he saw hell and paradise. And all the prophets have affirmed acknowledged his prophet hood.
On that night Allah showed the natural nature of this nation, through the selection of milk over wine.
On the most honored place of all, the rule which made the five prayers compulsory was passed. It was delivered to the prophet directly without a mediator as in the case with every other rule in the Islamic faith. That only reflects the status and importance of this worship and the care which Allah gives it. Slaves of Allah fear Allah and keep up the daily prayers. This who does not keep up the prayers then he or she disconnects his ties with his or her Lord.
Allah clearly states in the Koran that the messenger ppbu does not speak off his own desire. In fact what he says are words which has been inspired by Allah. Be careful, do not doubt and do not question what he says. Be like Abu-Baker the greatest believer of this nation. When the people came to tell him about the story of the journey and the ascent to the heavens, implying that it is so fantastic to be true, he said: “if he told you this then he is telling the truth”.
This night journey and the ascent to the heavens happened for certain before the messenger migrated out of Mekka to Al-Madina. But the exact year and month are still in dispute by the historians. Some say it happened during the month of Rabee- Al-Awal and some say during Rabee Al-Thani. Others say it was the month of Rajab and some say it was Ramadan, and some say Shawal. None of those has definite evidence. And remember that the night itself when it happened was not celebrated in any special way. Any special celebration is a misguided innovation. There are those who celebrate it on the 27th of Ramadan, and that is wrong and a big mistake. If it was correct, if it was right then the companions would have done it before us. But they didn’t.
Slaves of Allah, the best guidance are that of the messenger Muhammad ppbu. And the most evil of all matters are innovations added to them, for every innovation is a heresy or deviation, and every heresy is a misguidance, Stay with the group or the mass, for Allah is with the mass. And all thank be to Allah the Lord of the worlds.
Adhan - The call to prayer.
- The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.
Ansar (or Al-Ansar):
Assalam Alaikum - The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.
- is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God.
Aya (or Ayah):
- is a mountain outside the city of Mecca that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day.
Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat):
Badr - The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.
Caliph - A Muslim ruler. See: (Khalifa)
Dajjal - Antichrist or the False Massiah.
Dawah - The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.
Deen (Din) - Religion or way of life.
- talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help.
Duaa: a prayer in the form of
Fatwa - Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.
Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.
Fiqh - Religious law.
Hadeeth: is something reported that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.
Hajar - The Black Stone set into the corner of the Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.
Hajj - The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.
Hasana or hasanas: is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.
Hadith - The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.
Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.
Hijra (or Hejrah): the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.
Ibadah - Worship. All the words and deeds with which Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.
Iblis - (Ibleese): On of Satan's names.
Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn Omar.
Imam (or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.
Iman: belief or faith
Injil (Enjeel) - The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the Christians.
Islam - Submission, the religion of all the prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.
Jannah - The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of the faithful in the afterlife.
Jihad: is striving in the line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the fight one's self against temptations. It also means "holy war."
Jinn - Supernatural, invisible beings race of beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on Judgment Day.
Ka'aba: A cube shaped building in Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers. Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage in a ritual known as Tawaf.
Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".
Khutbah - A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.
Kufr - Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.
Koran - Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)
Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the Arabian peninsula (in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Then it was called Yathrib.
Masjid - A center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.
Masiah - A sin, or a sinful act
Mecca or Makkah: is the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).
Mosque - A Muslim house of worship.
Muhajir - (Muhajireen) Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median and Ethiopia.
Muhammad - the final messenger and prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah
Muslim - One who holds faith to the religion of Islam.
Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.
Nasara - Christians. Nasrani: A Christian individual. Nasraniah: Christianity.
Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.
Paradise - Another word for heaven. A garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels. All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.
PPBU (P.B.U.H.) : Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the messenger or make a reference to him.
Qadar - Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.
Qadr - (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.
Qibla - The direction which Muslims turn for daily prayers, towards Mecca.
Quraish - An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger Muhammad belonged.
Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.
Salat - Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is performed to worship Allah five times daily.
Shiaa: A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.
Shirk - Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of Monotheism or Tawheed.
Siam or Soam- Fasting
Sunni: is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.
Sunna (Sunnah): Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes. It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all Muslims.
Surah - A chapter of the Koran.
Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.
Tauhid - Tawheed - Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)
Taqwah - Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person to understand God.
Taurat: The old Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.
Ummah - the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.
Umrah - (Amrah): A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic year, Umrah can be performed at any time.
Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.
Zaboor - The Psalms
Zakat - The third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.
