The miraculous story of Isra and Miraj: the night journey that changed everything

The miraculous story of Isra and Miraj: the night journey that changed everything

Moeslemcreed - The story of the Isra and Miraj, Prophet Muhammad’s journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and then up to heaven, is a miraculous one, full of awe and wonder. As Muslims all over the world celebrate this occasion during the month of Ramadan, we also remember our beloved Prophet who taught us so much in his time on earth, including lessons that have changed the course of history in the years since his death. Here are just 5 ways in which Isra and Miraj have impacted the lives of Muslims around the world.

Part 1: Before isra

The story of Isra and Miraj is one of the most significant events in Islamic history. It was on this night that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was taken on a miraculous journey from Makkah to Jerusalem and then to heaven. This event changed the course of his life, and the Muslim community would never be the same again.

 The word ‘Isra’, in Arabic, means ‘to set out for a place. It comes from a root word meaning ‘darkness’ or ‘to cover something up. In fact, it is usually used as an opposite to Dhu-l-Qarnayn which means, he covered up two places by setting out between them. Isra and Miraj combined (Islam) mean, therefore, something like setting out to uncover what has been obscured.

Part 2: After isra

Isra is the name of Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) miraculous night journey from Makkah to Jerusalem and then to heaven. This event occurred during the month of Ramadan, on the 27th night. The Prophet was taken by the angel Jibreel from the Sacred Mosque in Makkah to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. From there, he ascended through the seven heavens until he reached Allah's presence.

 After isra, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) returned to Makkah. The next day, Jibreel woke him up in Al-Masjid al-Haram and told him to prepare for a journey. Jibreel then took him from there to Bayt al-Muqaddas – also known as Jerusalem in English – where they ascended to the heavens on an angelic ladder. In heaven, they met Prophets before finally being taken into Allah's presence.

Section 3 was supposed to be How Muslims Celebrate Isra & Miraj (the Prophet’s Ascension) but ended up being 5 facts about how Muslims celebrate it today.

Muslims celebrate Isra and Miraj on the 27th day of Rajab, which is the seventh month in the Islamic calendar. This year, it falls on April 23. The holiday commemorates two important events in Prophet Muhammad's life: his journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and his ascension to heaven. 

1) On this night, Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad was transported from Mecca to Jerusalem on a winged horse named Burqa. 2) He then led all the prophets in prayer at the Masjid al-Aqsa, before ascending to heaven where he met with Allah. 3) Muslims believe that during his journey, Muhammad received revelations from Allah that would later be compiled into the Quran.

Part 4 was supposed to be Takeaway Tips from the Miracle of Isra & Miraj but ended up being 7 tips on how we can apply what we learn from the journey to our daily lives.

1. How would you have reacted if you were in Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) shoes? 

2. What would you have done differently? 

3. What do you think was the purpose of Isra and Miraj? 

4. How do you think it changed Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) life? 

5. Do you think it was just a dream or something more? 

6. Why do you think Allah gave Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) this gift/blessing? 

7. What do you think we can learn from this story?

Part 5 was supposed to be Conclusion and Next Steps but ended up being 10 thought-provoking questions.

1. How did Isra and Miraj happen? 

2. What was the purpose of Isra and Miraj? 

3. Why did Allah choose Prophet Muhammad to go on this journey? 

4. What did Prophet Muhammad see during his journey? 

5. How did this experience change Prophet Muhammad's life? 

6. What can we learn from Prophet Muhammad's example? 

7. What are some ways we can apply what we learned from Isra and Miraj in our own lives?