One of the most miraculous nights in Islamic history is the night the Prophet (peace be upon him) was carried, body and soul, from Mecca to Jerusalem and then to the heavens. This journey, known as al-Mi'raj, is narrated in two surahs of the Quran — al-Isra' and an-Najm. This sermon explores the Quranic evidence of al-Mi'raj, the meaning of the journey, how the obligation of salah was instituted on this night, and the believer's daily mi'raj through prayer.
Mi'raj in the Quran
Allah opens Surah al-Isra' with this great journey:
— Al-Isra' 17:1Glory be to Him who took His servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
The verse narrates the Isra' portion — the journey from Mecca to Jerusalem. The Mi'raj portion — the ascent from al-Masjid al-Aqsa to the heavens — is described in Surah an-Najm:
— An-Najm 53:13-18And he certainly saw him in another descent at the Lote-tree of the Utmost Boundary, near which is the Garden of Refuge. When the lote-tree was covered by what covered it, his sight did not waver, nor did it transgress. He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.
This journey included the Prophet's (peace be upon him) meeting with his Lord, being shown Paradise and Hell, and meeting the prophets who had come before him.
"Subhan" — Beginning with Glorification
The first word of Surah al-Isra' is "Subhan" — that Allah is far above every imperfection. The word says this: the human mind struggles to grasp ascending through seven heavens, going from Mecca to Jerusalem in a single night and returning; but Allah is above every limit.
When a Qurayshi questioned the Mi'raj, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) answered: "If he has said it, it is true" — al-Tirmidhi, Tafsir, no. 3140. This is why he was given the title as-Siddiq. It is an example of what iman means: trusting Allah's messenger even when one does not understand.
Salah Was Made Obligatory This Night
On the night of Mi'raj, the Prophet (peace be upon him) received the greatest gift for his ummah: the five daily prayers. The hadith sources narrate this event as follows:
First, 50 prayers were prescribed. When the Prophet met Musa (peace be upon him), Musa said: "Your ummah cannot bear this; go back and ask for a reduction." The Prophet repeatedly went back; finally 50 were reduced to 5 — but Allah declared: "Their reward will be written as 50."
— Sahih al-Bukhari, Salat, no. 349That night five prayers were made obligatory upon me; but each is rewarded ten times — so the reward is as if 50 prayers.
The hadith shows both the grandeur and the mercy of salah: it appears small but is great; appears simple but is the gift of mi'raj.
The Believer's "Daily Mi'raj"
Classical Islamic tradition calls salah "the believer's mi'raj." The meaning: that night the Prophet (peace be upon him) came near Allah in body; when the believer prays, even with the body on the ground, the soul draws near to Allah.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) makes this clear in a practical hadith:
— Sahih Muslim, Salah, no. 482The closest a servant comes to his Lord is when he is in sajdah; so make much du'a [in it].
So every sajdah is an opportunity for mi'raj. Mi'raj is not only a memory from a single night; it is an essence we can live again in every salah.
What to Do This Night
For the believer wishing to revive Mi'raj Night:
1. Read Surahs al-Isra' and an-Najm: the Quranic armor of this night. Reading them with their translation is greatly blessed.
2. Renew salah: this is the night the gift of salah was given. How beautiful that a believer should close this night with the intention "from now on I will not miss any salah."
3. Reflect on sidq (truthful trust): Abu Bakr's (may Allah be pleased with him) example — believing even when not understanding. Use this night's atmosphere to enter this dimension of iman.
4. Learn what you don't know about salah: What is ta'dil al-arkan? What is the tahiyyat? The meaning of the salli and barik supplications? Learning more about salah this night is a beautiful intention.
5. Tell children about Mi'raj: tonight tell the children which journey the Prophet (peace be upon him) made, how salah was commanded. Love for salah will settle in their hearts.
6. Remember the two mosques: Mi'raj also recalls the sacredness of al-Masjid al-Aqsa. For Muslim consciousness, the Palestine question is not only political but a sacred bond.
The Three Gifts of Mi'raj
The Prophet (peace be upon him) returned from Mi'raj with three great gifts:
- The five daily prayers.
- The last two verses of Surah al-Baqarah (Amana ar-Rasul). These verses are the believer's daily armor until the Day of Judgment.
- The glad tidings that whoever dies without associating partners with Allah will enter Paradise. Allah Himself gave this promise: "Whoever of your ummah dies not associating partners with Allah will enter Paradise."
An ummah carrying these three gifts is truly a rich ummah.
Living Mi'raj With VAAZ
The VAAZ app's Quran reader presents the entire Surah al-Isra' in Arabic with translation; Surah an-Najm is available too. The du'a archive contains Amana ar-Rasul and other Mi'raj du'as. Prayer times recall the five daily mi'rajes.
For a deeper understanding of salah, see A Sermon on Salah; among the Blessed Nights, see A Sermon on Regaib Night and A Sermon on Bara'at Night.
Mi'raj Night is the night the Prophet met Allah and the believer's daily mi'raj, salah, was gifted. To commemorate this night is to renew salah. Two raka'at offered tonight may be like prayers offered on a thousand nights — as much as the sincerity of intention.
References
- The Qur'an, Al-Isra' 17:1, Diyanet translation.
- The Qur'an, An-Najm 53:13-18, Diyanet translation.
- al-Tirmidhi, Kitab at-Tafsir, Hadith No. 3140.
- Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab as-Salat, Hadith No. 349.
- Sahih Muslim, Kitab as-Salah, Hadith No. 482.