30 July 2008

Shab-e-Miraj "The Night of the Ascent," commemorating the occasion when the Prophet Muhammad was taken into heaven and granted a vision of the divine resplendence. It is celebrated on the twenty-seventh day of the month Rajab. In some Muslim countries, the houses and streets are decorated with bright bunting and at night are brightly lit with electric lights. In the evening, worshippers assemble in the mosques. Many devout Muslims spend the night in prayer. Shab-e-Miraj is also an occasion for Muslims to give alms to the poor, one of the central requirements of Islam.
In Islamic tradition, the Isra and Mi'raj (Arabic: الإسراء والمعراج‎, al-’Isrā’ wal-Mi‘rāğ) are the two parts of a journey that Muhammad took in one night, in 621 AD (1 BH)

The Isra begins with Muhammad resting in the Kaaba in Mecca, when the archangel Gabriel comes to him, and brings him the winged steed Buraq, who carries Muhammad to the "farthest mosque". The location of this mosque was not explicitly stated in the Qur'an, but is traditionally considered to be the Noble SanctuaryJerusalem. There, Muhammad alights, tethers Buraq, and leads other prophets in prayer. He then gets back on Buraq, and in the second part of the journey, the Mi'raj, is taken to the heavens, where he tours the circles of heaven, and speaks with the earlier prophets, and with Allah. Allah tells him to enjoin the Muslims to pray fifty times a day; however, Moses tells Muhammad that they would never do it, and urges Muhammad to go back several times and ask for a reduction, until finally it is reduced to five times a day. (Temple Mount) in
After Muhammad returned to Earth and tells his story in Mecca, the unbelieving townspeople regard it as absurd. Some go to Muhammad's companion Abu Bakr and tell him, "Look at what your companion is saying. He says he went to Jerusalem and came back in one night." Abu Bakr in reply, tells them, "If he said that, then he is truthful. I believe him concerning the news of the heavens — that an angel descends to him from the heavens. How could I not believe he went to Jerusalem and came back in a short period of time — when these are on earth?" It was for this that Abu Bakr is said to have received his famous title "Us-Siddiq", The Truthful.
The story is celebrated each year via a festival primarily for children, the Lailat al Miraj. Muslims bring their children to the mosques, where the children are told the story, allowed to pray with the adults, and then afterwards food and treats are served.
In this verse of the Holy Quran, Allah has mentioned about the Prophet's (P.B.U.H) Ascention (MERAJ). On the night of 27th Rajab , Allah sent Angel Jibraeel to take the Prophet (P.B.U.H) on a journey to the seven skies on BURAQ (a very fast moving horse) . This journey is called MERAJ.

On the night of 27th Rajab Angel Jibraeel came and woke the Prophet (P.B.U.H) upon Allah's command and conveyed Allah's message. He (P.B.U.H) perform ablution (wuzu) , came out of His house, ascend on the Buraq and first visited the Holy Kaaba and from there to the Aqsa Mosque. From Aqsa Mosque they went towards the sky. They passed all the seven steps of the skies and reached the place called "SIDRAT-UL-MUNTAHA". Then Angel Jibraeel told The Prophet (P.B.U.H) that he could not accompany Him any further. If he took even a step forward He would burn . The Prophet (P.B.U.H) travelled alone until the Buraq reached the destination and stopped.

Then an enlighted platform "RAF RAF" came and the Prophet (P.B.U.H) sat on it and reached a place called "QAAB-A-QAUSAIN-O-ADNA". Here He (P.B.U.H) spoke with Allah. During their talk Allah gave instructions of Hazrat ALI (A.S) Imamat (reference : TAFSEER QUMMI).

During the journey the Prophet (P.B.U.H) not only travelled from The Holy Kaaba to Aqsa Mosque and from there to different steps of skies but also met Angels and other Prophets of Allah. Other Prophets offered the Prayers behind the Prophet (P.B.U.H).

The Prophet (P.B.U.H) also saw Heaven and Hell. He (P.B.U.H) visited the different levels of Heaven and saw the different kinds of punishment given to the wrong doers in Hell.

On His (P.B.U.H) return from MERAJ Allah made Prayers five times a day obligatory on all the Prophet's (P.B.U.H) followers.

The night of 27th Rajab is an auspicious night where the Muslims spend the whole night offering prayers and fast during the day. Fasting on this day has many rewards according to one Riwayat , fasting on 27th Rajab is equivalent to fasting for 70 years.

Concerning MERAJ Imam Jaffer Sadiq (A.S) has said :

" HE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE THE EVENT OF MERAJ IS NOT AMONGST US."


"Allah IS THE EXALTED ONE WHO TOOK HIS SERVANT ONE NIGHT FOR A VISIT FROM THE SACRED MOSQUE (IN MAKKAH) TO THE REMOTE AQSA MOSQUE (IN JERUSALEM). Allah HAS BLESSED THE SURROUNDINGS OF THE AQSA MOSQUE.HE TOOK HIS SERVANT ON HIS VISIT TO SHOW HIM (MIRACULOUS) EVIDENCE OF HIS (EXISTENCE).IT IS HE WHO IS ALL-HEARING AND ALL-AWARE."


In this verse of the Holy Quran, Allah has mentioned about the Prophet's (P.B.U.H) Ascention (MERAJ). On the night of 27th Rajab , Allah sent Angel Jibraeel to take the Prophet (P.B.U.H) on a journey to the seven skies on BURAQ (a very fast moving horse) . This journey is called MERAJ.

On the night of 27th Rajab Angel Jibraeel came and woke the Prophet (P.B.U.H) upon Allah's command and conveyed Allah's message. He (P.B.U.H) perform ablution (wuzu) , came out of His house, ascend on the Buraq and first visited the Holy Kaaba and from there to the Aqsa Mosque. From Aqsa Mosque they went towards the sky. They passed all the seven steps of the skies and reached the place called "SIDRAT-UL-MUNTAHA". Then Angel Jibraeel told The Prophet (P.B.U.H) that he could not accompany Him any further. If he took even a step forward He would burn . The Prophet (P.B.U.H) travelled alone until the Buraq reached the destination and stopped.

Then an enlighted platform "RAF RAF" came and the Prophet (P.B.U.H) sat on it and reached a place called "QAAB-A-QAUSAIN-O-ADNA". Here He (P.B.U.H) spoke with Allah. During their talk Allah gave instructions of Hazrat ALI (A.S) Imamat (reference : TAFSEER QUMMI).

During the journey the Prophet (P.B.U.H) not only travelled from The Holy Kaaba to Aqsa Mosque and from there to different steps of skies but also met Angels and other Prophets of Allah. Other Prophets offered the Prayers behind the Prophet (P.B.U.H).

The Prophet (P.B.U.H) also saw Heaven and Hell. He (P.B.U.H) visited the different levels of Heaven and saw the different kinds of punishment given to the wrong doers in Hell.

On His (P.B.U.H) return from MERAJ Allah made Prayers five times a day obligatory on all the Prophet's (P.B.U.H) followers.

The night of 27th Rajab is an auspicious night where the Muslims spend the whole night offering prayers and fast during the day. Fasting on this day has many rewards according to one Riwayat , fasting on 27th Rajab is equivalent to fasting for 70 years.

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