(Revealed at Mecca)

111 Verses in 12 Sections

Sections of Al-Israa (Bani-Israel)

1. The Apostle Muhammad taken on a visit to the heavens.

2. None shall bear the burden of others.

3. Goodness and submission to parents ordained.

4. Moral conduct.

5. Everything in the heavens and in the earth glorifies God.

6. Gentleness in dealings enjoined.

7. Satan’s pride against Man.

8. Every people will be summoned with their own Imam (or Guide).

9. Times of Prayer and the Midnight Prayer.

10. Qur’an inimitable.

11. No cause for any one to disbelieve any Apostle of God.

12. Those gifted with knowledge.

Important Topics

1. The ‘Mi‘raj’ (or the Ascension) of the Holy Prophet. This is an important verse - to be read along with the note on it. (Verse 1).

2. The good or bad done by man is, for or against his own self. (Verse 7).

3. Every man’s action will cling to his own neck on the Day of Judgment. (Verse 13).

4. None shall bear the burden of the other. (Verse 15).

5. Goodness to parents, kindly and submissive treatment to them, enjoined. (Verse 23).

6. Everything in the Universe declares the glory only of God. (Verse 44).

7. The similitude of the Resurrection. (Verses 49-52).

8. Some Prophets exalted over the others. (Verse 55).

9. The visions given to the Holy Prophet Muhammad. (Verse 60).

10. The arrogance and the disobedience of Satan. (Verse 61).

11. Satan has no authority over God’s own devout servants. (Verse 66).

12. On the Day of Judgment every one will be summoned along with the leader or the Imam whom he followed during his life. (Verse 71).

13. Whoever is blind (at heart) in this life will be blind also in the life Hereafter. (Verse 72).

14. The timings of the prescribed five daily prayers. (Verse 78).

15. Tahajjud (Midnight prayers) specially commended. (Verse 79).

16. Truth shall always triumph and falsehood shall vanish. (Verse 81).

17. The question about ‘Ruh’ (Spirit). (Verse 85).

18. Even if men and jinn join together, never shall they be able to bring a Book like the Qur’an. (Verse 88).

19. Those endowed with knowledge, fall in obeisance to God, prostrating to Him. (Verse 107).

20. God to be remembered or addressed with the Beautiful names of His. (Verse 110).

21. God has not taken any son or daughter to Him nor has He any partner in His Kingdom or Authority nor a helper or protector. (Verse 111).

Introduction

This chapter begins and ends with prominent references to Israelites. It has been named, ‘Bani Israel’ or the Israelites. The chapter contains a great amount of admonition with reference to the power and prosperity of the Israelites, how they were given and how they lost the goodness which earned for them the favour of their Lord. When they were blessed with prosperity, they forgot God, their real Benefactor and returned to the evil ways which brought upon them the calamitous displeasure of God.

The chapter opens with a reference to Mi‘raj the Ascension of the Holy Prophet Muhammad into the heavens at the invitation from the Lord, where he was shown the wonders of the Universe and the high positions of unique excellence in store for him and the distinctive status of his Vicegerent Ali Ibn Abi Talib and his divinely chosen issues and the blissful abode of his faithful followers. There are references to the ministry of Moses and the guidance afforded for the Israelites, how Noah with his faithful adherents was granted safety in the Ark. If anyone does any good he does it for his own self. Qur’an gives a firm guidance and glad tidings to the believers. None shall bear the burden of the other.

A Faithful is one who is always mindful of the Hereafter and strives for it. It is the decree of the Lord that He alone should be worshipped and that only goodness be done to parents with utmost kindness and humility. The nearest of kin be given their due. One should neither be niggardly nor extravagant. Infanticide forbidden. The heir of a slain one be helped by law and punishment should not exceed the limits. Measures and weights to be used correctly. Vain and idle talk to be avoided. Every organ of the physical body of a human being shall be brought to account about its usage. Gentleness and modesty in gait, prescribed. Repeated guidance to the people of Noah increased only the adamance and the persistence among the disbelievers. Everything in the Universe sings only the glory of God.

The Quraysh’s hatred against hearing the Word of God when it was recited. The hearts and the hearing of the adamant disbelievers covered by God. The infidels’ disbelief in the Resurrection. To talk gently. Some Apostles of God being graded higher than the others. The Ascension of the Holy Prophet - The Cursed Tree - Reference to Iblis’ refusal to do obeisance to Adam and Satan’s vow to lead the issues of Adam astray. Satan having no hold upon the chosen ones of God. He who is blind of faith in this world shall be deprived of seeing the Light of Salvation on the Day of Judgment. The Five Times Prayers prescribed.

The Tahajjud, i.e., the midnight prayers highly commended - Truth firmly established and falsehood gone - Spirit being only the command of the Lord. God alone is the Reckoner. The impossibility of bringing anything similar to Qur’an even if men and the Jinn joined together. Miracles together. Miracles are wrought at the independent Will of the Lord and not for the whim and fancy of the people. The Almighty God can create similar worlds. Moses given the nine miracles - God to be remembered with His Excellent names. The grace and the glory of God, man should always celebrate.