Part - The Quran Blog - Enlighten Yourself

The Isrªa` or the Night Journey is an event to remember. When the infidels intensifiedtheir torment of the Prophet and their opposition to Islam, Allah bestowed honour on theProphet. This event had taken place one year before the Hijrah (migration of the Prophetto Madinah). Isrªa` is the journey from the mosque at Makkah to the mosque inJerusalem, that is, from Masjid ul-Harªam to Bait-ul-Muqdas, in a few moments.Mi‘rªajis his journey to the seventh heaven, also in a few moments’ time. These were journeys ofsoul and body. There our beloved Prophet saw the participants of jihªad engaged inharvesting. When they had harvested it, the field returned to its original form. On hisenquiry, Hazrat Jibrªil said, “These are the people who participate in jihªad for the sakeof Alah. An act of piety by them is increased seven hundred fold”.545 [116]He also passed by the people whose heads were smashed with rocks but no sooner werethey smashed they returned to their original shape. The Prophet learnt that they were thepeople who abstained from obligatory prayers.He then came across people who had patch marks on either side of their bodies. Theygrazed, as animals do, and ate thorny bushes and zuqqªum and hot stones. These werethe people who never paid their zakªat.Then he saw men who had before them fresh cooked meat side by side with raw, stalemeat; they preferred the latter and did not touch the former. They were the men whoforsook their legal wives and went after women who were forbidden them.The Prophet then passed by a people whose lips and tongues were cut off with scissorsonly to return to the normal frame. These were the people who incited their fellow-mento violence and mischief.He also saw people whose lips resembled the lips of camels. They ate balls of fire thatejected from their posteriors. The Prophet learnt that these people wickedly devouredthe wealth of orphans in the ephemeral world.Then the Prophet witnessed people who were fed meat cut out from their own body. Heasked what it was that they had done and was told that they were in the habit of makingfun of others and of picking out their faults.The Holy Prophet may blessings of Allah and peace be on him saw other things too on the night ofascension. He met the other Prophets and Messengers preceding him may Allah bless them and givethem peace. They all greeted him and welcomed him. He also offered with them prayers inthe mosque al-Aqsªa.545 [116] Tabarªanªi, Bukhªarªi, Bayhaqªi, Bazzªar.