Israk Mikraj

The 27th of Rejab (the 7th month of the Islamic calendar) commemorates the night of Prophet Muhammad ascent to heaven, also known as Israk Mikraj. Prophet Muhammad rode to heaven on a winged horse known as a buraq. It flew from Mecca to Jerusalem, the buraq carried the Prophet through the seven levels of heaven where he met some earlier prophets of Islam, and brought him home before the night was over. After this momentous night, the five daily prayers were established.


Narrated Abu Huraira: "On the night Allah's apostle was taken on a night journey (Mikraj), two cups; one containing wine and the other milk, were presented to him at Jerusalem. He looked at it and took the cup of milk. Jibril said, " Praise to be Allah who guided you to Al-Fitra (the right path), if you had taken the cup of wine, your nation would have gone astray."


On Prophet Muhammad's journey from Masjid al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque) to Masjid al-Aqsa (the Farthest Mosque), Allah enabled him to see some of his wondrous creations. Allah enabled the Prophet to see the world (dunya) like an old woman.

However this old woman was wearing a great deal of jewellery, and in this there is an indication signifying the reality of the world.


Allah enabled the Prophet to see Iblis. The Prophet saw something on the side of the road which did not dare to stand in his way or speak to him. What the Prophet saw was Iblis.

The Prophet smelled a very nice odour. He asked Jibril about this pleasant scent and Jibril informed him this good smell was coming from the grave of the woman whose duty used to be to comb Pharaoh's daughter's hair.

The Prophet also saw people whose lips and tongues were clipped with scissors made of fire. Jibril told the Prophet, "These are the speakers of sedition (fitna) who call people to misguidance."

He also saw a bull which exited a very small outlet, then was trying in vain to return through that small outlet. Jibril told the Prophet, "This is the example of the bad word - once spoken, it cannot be returned."

The Prophet saw grazing like animals, with very little clothing on their private parts. Jibril told the Prophet, "These are the ones who refused to pay zakat."

The Prophet saw angels smashing some people's heads with rocks. These heads would return to the shape they had been, and then the angels would smash their heads again and so on. Jibril told the Prophet, "These are the ones whose heads felt too heavy to perform prayer, the ones who used to sleep without praying."

On his journey the saw people who were competing to eat some rotten meat - ignoring meat that was sliced and unspoiled. Jibril told the Prophet, "These are people from your nation who leave out that which is permissible (halal), and consume which is forbidden (haram)."

Also, the Prophet saw people who were drinking from the fluid coming from the bodies of fornicators (water mixed with blood). Jibril indicated to the Prophet these were the ones who were drinking the alcohol which is prohibited in this world.

The Prophet saw people scratching their faces and chests with brass finger nails. Jibril said, "These are the examples of those who commit gossip (ghibah).

Other than that the Prophet saw was a woman hanging from her hair with her brain boiling; these are women who do not cover their head from the sight of men who are not their muhrim, and a woman hanging from her tongue and her hands came out from her hip with burning oil thrown inside her throat; these are women who love to hurt their spouses with bad words.

And a woman who was tied on both hands and legs while being encircled by snakes and scorpions; these are women who are able to pray and fast and did not seek permission from their spouses to go out from their houses and did not take specified bath after their monthly or confinement periods are over, a woman who ate her own flesh while fire burning under her; these are women who love to beautify themselves for other men who are not their muhrim and those who love to talk about other people's imperfections.

And a woman shaped like a dog with snakes and scorpions entering her mouth and coming out of her bottom; these are women who are in constant anger to their spouses and lied to other people. 

Subhanallah.

May the story of Israk Mikraj be a reminder to all of us and strengthen our faith in Allah and our Prophet Muhammad SAW, insyaallah. Amin.

Sources; Postcolonialweb and Slideshare