History & Importance of Shab-e-Miraj
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A.L.L.A.H. (S.W.T.) mentions this glorious night in the Qur'an as Glory is to the One (A.L.L.A.H. S.W.T.) who took His servant Muḥammad (P.B.U.H.) by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque, the surroundings of which We have blessed, that we may show him some of Our sign. Verily, He alone is All-Hearing and All-Seeing. (Al-Quran 17:1)
In the famous Qur'an, Surah Al-Isra, two terminologies, Isra and Miraj, refer to the spiritual and physical journey that Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) undertook in a single night, traveling from M.A.K.K.A. to Jerusalem, which is a long journey. -distance with the help of A.L.L.A.H. (S.W.T.) and traveled even further to the heavens in the sky.
When and how Shab-e-Meraj took place
The miraculous night of Shabe-Miraj took place on 27 Rajab in 621 AD. Rajab is the seventh month of the Islamic calendar.
Prophet Muhammed (P.B.U.H.) witnessed the Miraj in two parts:
Part 1: The journey to Masjid al-Aqsa on the night of Shabe-Miraj
In Part 1, the Beloved Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) was taken from Masjid al-Haram in Mecca to Masjid al-Aqsa (Dome of the Rock) in Jerusalem. This phase is mentioned in the Qur'an as al-Isra. This miraculous journey began with Jibrael (A.S.) coming to Nabi Muhammed (P.B.U.H.) while resting in the Masjid-Haram. Jibrael (A.S.) woke him up and guided him to mount a white animal called Buraq, and he began to fly as soon as he mounted this unique creature at the greatest speed. Burqa took Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) from Masjid-Al Haram to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Burqa was somewhat like a horse but smaller than a horse, and he covered this long distance in a fraction of a second. When Muhammed (P.B.U.H.) reached Al-Aqsa Mosque, he saw that all the other prophets (Ibrahim (A.S.), Musa (A.S.), Isa (A.S.), and many others) who had come before him were present there. Jibrael (A.S.) told the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) to lead them in prayer, and Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) led them all in two rakahs of Namaz.
Jabrael (A.S.) tested Nabi Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) with two cups. One cup was filled with milk and the other with wine. Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) chose milk.
Jabrael (AS) then said to the beloved Prophet:
Praise Allah, who guided you to Fitrah (purity and innocence). If you choose wine, your Ummah will go astray. (An-Nasa: 5657)
Part 2: Ascension on the night of Shab-E-Meraj
In the 2nd part, Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) was raised to the heavens and met A.L.L.A.H. (S.W.T.). Through his ascension to the heavens, Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) was stopped by all the seven layers of the sky, and along the way, Nabi Muhammed met many prophets, one in each heaven. Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) was delighted and excited by all the previous prophets. They all said to Muhammad, 'Welcome, pious prophet and pious brother!' (Bukhari).
(However, Adam (A.S.) and Ibrahim (A.S.) hailed him as a 'pious son').
The following Prophets met him in the 7 Heavens.
1. First Heaven - Adam (A.S.)
2. Second Heaven - Isa (A.S.) and Yahya (A.S.)
3. Third Heaven - Yusuf (A.S.)
4. The Fourth Heaven - Idris (A.S.)
5. Fifth Heaven - Haroon (A.S.)
6. The Sixth Heaven - Musa (A.S.)
7. Seventh Heaven - Ibrahim (A.S.)
(Sahi-Bukhari:3027)
Our Nabi Muhammed (S.A.W.) visited AL-Bait AL-Mamar on Shab e Miraj
After that, Nabi Muhammed (S.A.W.) was taken to AL-Bait AL-Mamur (the house of ALLAH SAW in heaven above). When Prophet Muhammad asked about this place, Jibrael (A.S.) replied:
This is Al Bait-Al-Mamar, where 70,000 angels pray daily, and whoever attends it will never be able to visit this blessing again. (Sahih Bukhari: 3207)
Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W.) visited Sidra-al Mantaha on Shab e Miraj
Then Jibrael (A.S.) took Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) to Sidra-al Muntaha, a huge Lote tree that marks the end of the heavens. At this point, Jibrael (A.S.) stopped because no one was allowed to go behind the tree. Only Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) was honored by Allah (S.W.T.) to cross this border.
We (Muslims) are given the order of Salat (Namaz) on Shab e Miraj.
A.L.L.A.H. (S.W.T.) gave the gift of NAMAZ and ordered Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) to tell his Ummah to pray 50 times a day. Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.), when he returned on his way back, Prophet Musa (A.S.) told him to reduce the number from 50 and said that the Ummah would not be able to offer such a large number of Namaz. Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) returned to Allah (S.W.T.) many times until the Namaz was reduced from 50 to only 5 times. He felt hesitant to go again and have it reduced from 5 times to less. And A.L.L.A.H. (S.W.T.) has promised that the Muslim Ummah will be rewarded with 50 daily prayers who sincerely pray 5 daily prayers. (Subhan Allah)
During this miraculous and pious journey, Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) was also shown Jannat and Jahannam by Jibrael (A.S.) After completing this journey, Buraq took Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) back to Makkah, where he slept. All this journey took place in one night, and when the Prophet returned, he felt that the warmth of his bed was still there.
In Islam and the lives of Muslims, Shab-e-Miraj has great significance as it is one of the holiest nights. However, despite this night being so important and miraculous, Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) never told anyone to celebrate it, and he never did. This is a blessed night, and we must pray and seek forgiveness from A.L.L.A.H. (P.B.U.H.) and be grateful for all the blessings that A.L.L.A.H. (S.W.T.) has bestowed upon us as a Muslim Ummah.