The Miraculous Night Journey (Isra’ and Mi‘raj): A Path to True Nearness – Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Reflections on the Glory of Allah (Most High), the Honor of His Messenger, and the Call to Establish Prayer

The Isra’ and Mi‘raj was the Prophet’s miraculous Night Journey from the Sacred Mosque in Mecca to Jerusalem, and then through the heavens. It reminds us of:

• The boundless glory of Allah (Most High), who transcends every limitation.
• Our duty to recognize all creation as signs pointing to Him.
• How faith must be rooted in knowledge, devotion, and service.
• Prayer (salah) as an opportunity for daily ascension to our Lord.

This article explores key lessons from the Isra’ and Mi‘raj and how they illuminate the reality of Divine Oneness (tawhid) in our daily lives.

1. “Exalted Is He Who Carried His Servant by Night”

Allah (Most High) says:

“How gloriously exalted beyond ken or compare

is He who took His slave of a night

from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque”

[Quran, 17:1, translation by Shaykh Nuh Keller]

This verse opens by declaring Allah’s absolute transcendence. The word “Exalted” (subhana) underscores that His glory lies beyond time and space. Our limitations do not bind Him in any way.

2. Creation as a Sign

Allah (Most High) is never veiled. We are the ones veiled by our own heedlessness and sins. He placed patterns in creation so that we might see Him through His signs. Yet these very causes and effects can distract us from the One who created them.

Reflecting on nature, health, and daily comforts should awaken us to their Originator. If we consider how everything—from our intellects to our families—ultimately comes from Allah, we realize that worldly means are only pointers back to Him.

3. A Lesson in Divine Oneness

The Night Journey reaffirms tawhid: Allah alone is the Creator of causes and effects.

We begin the Quran with:

“All praise is for Allah, Lord of all that exists.”

[Quran, 1:2, translation by Shaykh Nuh Keller]

He sustains everything, yet many fail to see the Signifier behind the sign. Some reject Allah outright. Others believe, but remain heedless. Those who strive toward spiritual consciousness see through the veil of worldly norms. They read creation as a sign pointing to the Divine.

4. The “Year of Sorrow” and Its Lessons

Before the Isra’ and Mi‘raj, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) experienced the “Year of Sorrow,” marked by the passing of his noble wife Khadija (Allah be pleased with her) and his protective uncle Abu Talib.

However, the Prophet’s sorrow did not imply despair. Rather, it reflected his deep devotion and immense responsibility for his community. Trials, in his life, brought greater nearness to Allah. His reliance on Allah only grew stronger.

5. The Gift of Prayer

During the Mi‘raj, Allah (Most High) gave our Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) the best of gifts: the formal prayer (salah). Initially set at fifty daily prayers, it was reduced to five—yet their reward remains fifty. [Bukhari; Muslim]

Prayer is our daily “ascension.” We stand in worship to remember our Lord. Allah says:

“And keep well the prayer to remember Me.”

[Quran, 20:14, translation by Shaykh Nuh Keller]

True remembrance is not mere utterance of words; it is the state of being present with Allah. It is to move from forgetfulness to awareness, and then from awareness to deeper presence.

6. Trials, Certainty, and Knowledge

When the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) described his Night Journey, the disbelievers mocked him. Some whose faith was weak doubted. But those whose hearts were firm in knowledge and certitude remained unshaken.

Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him) famously declared, “If he said it, then it is true.” His faith was grounded in clear understanding and a lifetime of witnessing the Prophet’s truthfulness.

In our own times, we face skepticism and confusion. The solution is to nurture faith through sound knowledge, spiritual practice, and keeping good company. We must teach our families why we believe, and help them experience the sweetness of faith in both worship and service.

7. Being Present With the Divine

The Isra’ and Mi‘raj also remind us to rediscover our devotion. When we see the beauty of outward creation, we realize its true Source. Through prayer, remembrance (dhikr), and recitation of the Quran, we ascend spiritually.

We grow in humility by serving others—parents, siblings, neighbors, and all of humanity. Service strips away arrogance and fosters love and gratitude. These qualities bring us closer to the Prophetic example.

8. Connecting to the Beloved Messenger

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) is described as “His servant” (‘abdihi) in the verse of the Night Journey [Quran, 17:1]. Servitude to Allah is the highest rank of honor. It is also the essence of true love.

Love for Allah means to give yourself entirely to Him. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) embodied this love. Through him, we understand how to worship sincerely, care for all creation, and uphold virtuous character.

9. A Continuing Ascension

The Isra’ and Mi‘raj are not mere histories. They are an ongoing lesson in tawhid, devotion, and the marvels that occur when we turn to Allah with sincerity.

Each time we pray, we can ascend from worldly concerns to spiritual presence. Each time we serve another, we ascend from our ego to a station of humility and love. Each time we remember Allah, we ascend from heedlessness to awareness.

May Allah (Most High) grant us sincerity and true nearness. May we tread the path of our beloved Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) toward the ultimate realities of faith.

O Allah, send Your blessings and peace upon our master Muḥammad, his family, and his companions.