What Happened During Mi'raj - Animation Video
12 years into his prophethood, Prophet Muhammad embarks on a journey like other. He was taken from his home in Mecca at night and travelled to Masjid al Aqsa in Jerusalem and from there he ascended to the heavens were he spoke to Allah (SWT). Watch to find out more.
During the 12th year of the Prophet Muhammad's propagation of Islam in Mecca, one of the most significant events in the lifetime of the Prophet took place. Allah recounts this journey in the Qur'an: "glory to the One who took His servant finite, from the sacred mosque to the Furthest Mosque, whose surroundings We have left so that We may show him some of Our signs" (17:1).
This journey was called the Mi'raj, or the Ascension. But what exactly happened during this ascension?
One night after the Isha prayers, the Prophet was asleep in the house of Umm Hani, the daughter of Abu Talib, which was in the vicinity of the Ka'abah, when he was woken up by the Angel Gabriel, who had brought a lightning fast horse with wings named the Buraq for the Prophet to ride upon. The Prophet rode this horse, which took him from the sacred mosque in Mecca, to Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem.
When he arrived there, he climbed on a rock, and began his ascension into the heavens. As he journeyed through the different levels of heavens, accompanied by Gabriel, the Prophet was welcomed by rows of Angels as well as numerous prophets. Through his journey he met many prophets, such as Prophet Adam, Prophet Yahya, Prophet 'Isa, Prophet Yusuf, Prophet Idris, Prophet Harun, and Prophet Musa, peace be upon them all.
He also witnessed the state of many evil-doers, and how they were being punished in Hell for the various crimes they had committed. As Prophet Muhammad continued to ascend, he reached the highest levels of heaven. And there came a point where Gabriel halted and informed the Prophet: I can go no further or my wings will burn. This was where a large, enigmatic Lote tree was located, which marked the end of the 7th Heaven. Beyond this, only the Prophet had the capacity to ascend, and it was here that he engaged in conversation with Allah, as it is mentioned in the Qur'an.
"Then He drew nearer and nearer" (53:8), "until He was within two bows length, or even nearer" (53:9), "whereas He revealed to His servant whatever He revealed" (53:10). "The heart did not deny what it saw" (53:11). "Will you then dispute with him about what he saw?" (53:12). "Certainly he saw it. The greatest signs yet one more time" (53:13). "By the Lote tree of the ultimate boundary" (53:14), "near which is the garden of the Abode" (53:15). "When they covered the loot tree, what covered it?" (53:16). "The gaze did not swerve, nor did it overstep the bounds" (53:17). "Certainly he saw some of the greatest signs of his Lord"(53:18).
During his conversation with Allah, many things were revealed to the Prophet, including, most importantly, the obligation of the daily prayers. And he witnessed many great signs of his Lord. By the end of this journey, the Prophet returned back to Masjid al-Aqsa on the Buraq, and then to Mecca, before the time of fajr.
