Post by Mohammed IbRaHim on Jan 30, 2014 23:00:50 GMT 5.5
Mi'raj un nabi Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam
Introduction
Countless Praise and Glorification be to
Almighty Allah, the Creator of the Universe.
Boundless Blessings and Peace be upon
His Most Beloved Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam
The Crown of the Universe
Almighty Allah sent about 124,000 Prophets alayhim as-'salam for the guidance of mankind. He gifted all of them some miracles. These miracles were sound evidences on their Prophethood. Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam is the Essence of the Universe. Truly, he was bestowed with all miracles of the past Prophets alayhim as-'salam. Furthermore, he was presented unique miracles in abundance. The Mi'raj is one of those unique Miracles.
It is only Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam who saw Almighty Allah with his own physical eyes whilst awake. Allahu Akhbar!
Belief in the Unseen represents a major and essential part of Islam. When we review the key principles of Islam such as belief in Allah, the Hereafter, Paradise and Hell, angels and jinn, past prophets and books, we find that all these issues are ghayb (unseen) and need unshakable conviction in the Beloved Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam's truthfulness.
The Night Journey and Ascension (Al-Isra' wa Al-Mi'raj) posed a crucial test for early Muslims to assess their belief in the Unseen. This journey brought to light the unshakeable, firmly rooted faith of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu and the weak faith of some other people who rejected Islam totally once they heard the story.
The Mi'raj is not only one miracle it is a compound of miracles. Here is the story of Mi'raj mentioned by Allah Almighty's Beloved Messenger Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam.
Reward
Al-Israa' and Al-Mi'raj : A Reward for Patience
The Beloved Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) suffered very much in his efforts to guide his people to their happiness in this world and in the hereafter. He met their opposition and resistance when he was calling to Islam in secrecy and later on when he proclaimed it in public. He still could not perform a proper prayer around the Sacred House while there were 360 idols around it and while any polytheist could come and circumambulate the Sacred House, bow and prostrate himself to his idol without having any trouble or interference.
At the time when men and women used to circumambulate the Sacred House naked, Abu Bakr was beaten when he recited verses from the Qur'an around it. 'Utbah ibn Rabi'ah even slapped his face with his shoes. At that time, Sumayah bint Khiyat and her husband Yasir were beaten to death, while Ibn Mas'ud, Abu Dhar, Khubab, Fatimah bint Al-Khattab, and Zunayrah were beaten unconscious. An economic and social boycott was imposed on the Muslims, prohibiting anyone to sell them food or drink, to marry from them, or to visit them, to the point that they had to eat tree leaves. At the same time, the Quraysh presented to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) offers such as these:
1. A very generous bribe that would make him the richest man in the whole peninsula
2. Authority and kingdom so that he would be the first to be obeyed by his people
3. Medical treatment of his disease if he was ill or psychologically disturbed
4. An agreement that he would pray to their gods one day and in return they would pray to his God the other day, which would be against his faith
5. A request that he set places for meeting with the slaves away from the meeting places of the rich, in a compromise based on racial discrimination, which would be against his moral values.
All this would be offered him if he left altogether what he was calling for, or if he left out whatever did not please his people, especially those who had authority and wealth.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) refused but to hold onto the truth and to continue his path. He was exposed to their mockery, insults, and beating despite his esteem and honor among his people. Consequently, he left to another place where he might find refuge and where his call to Islam might be accepted. He went to At-Ta'if, whose people were even more harmful to him than his own people. They neither treated him with the hospitality so famous of the Arabs, nor did they treat him properly as a messenger who had the right to inform them of the word of Allah while they had the right to accept or reject it. They refused to listen and they refused him the right to present his idea in a peaceful way. They set the children and the wicked adults to throw him out like a fugitive who owns nothing but his faith in his God and his determination to continue his call to Islam without giving up any part of it.
Going back to Makkah, his original town, the homeland of his family and his kin and the residence of his wife and children, he was not allowed to enter. He had to take refuge with Al-Mut'am ibn 'Adi. Muhammad turned his face to the sky. He humbly, piously supplicated to God with the best supplication:
O Allah! to You I complain of my weakness, little resource, and lowliness before man. O Most Merciful! You are the Lord of the weak, and You are my Lord. To whom would You confide me? To one afar who will misuse me or to an enemy to whom You have given dominance over me? If You are not angry with me I do not care. Your favor of well-being on me is sufficient for me. I take refuge in the light of Your countenance by which the darkness is illuminated, and the things of this world and the next are rightly ordered, lest Your anger descend upon me or Your wrath not light upon me but come down on me. It is for You to be satisfied until You are well pleased. There is no power and no might except in You.
So Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala rewarded him as follows:
1. A slave called 'Addas responded to his call to Islam. It is known that to lead one person to the way of Allah is better than having all the treasures of this world.
2. Allah sent to him a number of jinn who listened to his preaching and returned to their people to warn them.
3. Six people from Yathrib responded to him and formed a group of pioneers for the call to Islam in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, thereby establishing the foundation for Islam in this land. These six were As'ad ibn Zurarah, 'Awf ibn Al-Harith, Rafi' ibn Malik, Qutbah ibn 'Aamir, 'Uqbah ibn 'Amir, and Jabir ibn 'Abdullah. This happened at a time when all the tribes refused him, including Banu Kalb, Banu Hanifah, Banu 'Amir ibn Sa'sa'ah, Fizarah,
4. A number of the highly esteemed members of their tribes accepted his call. Among them were the poet Suwaid ibn As-Samit, Iyas ibn Mu'adh, Abu Dhar Al-Ghifari, At-Tufayl ibn 'Amr Ad-Dawsy, the head of the tribe of Daws.
5. The Night Journey (Israa') to Jerusalem and the Ascension (Mi'raj) to the Exalted Assembly.
[Then he approached and came closer, and was at a distance of but two bow-lengths or even nearer.] (An-Najm 53: 8-9)
Dr. Salah Sultan
When ?
When did the Mi'raj take place?
The widely help viewpoint by the majority of scholars is that the mi'raj night ascension took place on the 27th of Rajab al-Murajjib, the 7th month of the Islamic Calendar, one year before the migration to Madinah t-ul-Munawwarah.
Mi'raj & al-Qur'an
The Mi'raj an-Nabi & the Qur'an al-kareem
Almighty Allah Himself [Exalted is He] mentioned this greatness of His Most Beloved Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam three times in the Glorious Qur'an.
1]. Glorified and Exalted is He who took His chosen worshipper Muhammad Mustufa [Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam], for a journey by night from al-Masjid al-Haram (at Makkah) to al-Masjid al-Aqsa (In Jerusalem), the neighbourhood whereof We have blessed, in order that We might show him of our Aayat (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, etc.) Verily, He is the All-Hearer, All-See'r. (Surat al-Israa 17: 1)
2]. By the lovely shining star (Muhammad, Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam) when he descended from the Ascension your companion neither went astray nor mislead.
And he speaks not of his own desire.
That is not but revelation that is revealed to him.
He was taught by One possessing mighty powers.
Possessor of strength. Then that splendid sight proceeded. And he was on the highest horizon.
Then that splendid sight drew nearer, then came close as well.
So there was a distance of two hands (between the splendid sight and the Prophet but rather less than that.
Now He revealed to His chosen Worshipper whatever he revealed.
The heart lied no in, what he saw.
Do you then dispute with him concerning what he has seen.
An Indeed he saw that splendid sight twice.
Near the farthest Lote -Tree.
Near which is Garden of Eternity.
When that was covering the Lote-Tree, which was covering
The Eye Deviated not nor crossed the limit.
Certainly, he saw a very big sign of his Lord. (Surah an-Najm, 53: 1-18)
3]. And when We said to you, all are under the control of your Lord. And We made not the vision which We had showed you but as a test for the people and also the tree upon which there is curse in Quran. And We frighten them; then nothing increases them but a great contumacy. (Surah al-Israa 17: 60)
Hadith
Hadith of the Night Journey and Ascension
Al-Isra' wa Mi'raj
It is narrated on the authority of Anas ibn Malik Radi Allahu anhu that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
I was brought al-burraq who is an animal white and long, larger than a donkey but smaller than a mule, who would place its hoof at a distance equal to the range of vision. I mounted it and came to Bait-al Maqdis (Jerusalem). I then tethered it to the ring used by the Prophets. I entered the area of the Mosque and prayed two rak'at in it. I then came out and Gabriel alayhis salaam brought me a vessel of wine and a vessel of milk. I chose the milk, and Gabriel said, 'You have chosen al-fitra, the natural way'.
He then ascended with me into the lower heavens and requested that they be opened. It was said: 'Who are you?' He responded: 'Gabriel'. It was then said: 'Who is with you?' He responded: 'Muhammad'. It was then said: 'Has revelation been sent to him?' He responded: 'Revelation has been sent to him'. It was then opened for us and there I was with Adam. He welcomed me and prayed for my well-being.
Then we ascended to the second heaven and Gabriel alayhis salaam requested that it be opened. It was said: 'Who are you?' He responded: 'Gabriel. It was then said: 'Who is with you?' He responded: 'Muhammad'. It was then said: 'Has revelation been sent to him?' He responded: 'Revelation has been sent to him'. It was then opened for us and when I entered Jesus and John welcomed me and prayed for my well-being.
Gabriel alayhis salaamthen ascended with me to the third heaven and requested that it be opened. It was said: 'Who are you?' He responded: 'Gabriel'. It was then said: 'Who is with you?' He responded: 'Muhammad'. It was then said: 'Has revelation been sent to him?' He responded: 'Revelation has been sent to him'. It was then opened for us and there I was with Joseph, who was given a great portion of beauty. He welcomed me and prayed for my well-being.
Gabriel then ascended with me to the fourth heaven and requested that it be opened. It was said: 'Who are you?' He responded: 'Gabriel'. It was then said: 'Who is with you?' He responded: 'Muhammad'. It was then said: 'Has revelation been sent to him?' He responded: 'Revelation has been sent to him'. It was then opened for us and there I was with Enoch. He welcomed me and prayed for my well-being.
Gabriel alayhis salaamthen ascended with me to the fifth heaven and requested that it be opened. It was said: 'Who are you?' He responded: 'Gabriel'. It was then said: 'Who is with you?' He responded: 'Muhammad'. It was then said: 'Has revelation been sent to him?' He responded: 'Revelation has been sent to him'. It was then opened for us and there I was with Aaron. He welcomed me and prayed for my well-being.
Gabriel alayhis salaam then ascended with me to the sixth heaven and requested that it be opened. It was said: 'Who are you?' He responded: 'Gabriel'. It was then said: 'Who is with you?' He responded: 'Muhammad'. It was then said: 'Has revelation been sent to him?' He responded: 'Revelation has been sent to him'. It was then opened for us and there I was with Moses. He welcomed me and prayed for my well-being.
Gabriel alayhis salaam then ascended with me to the seventh heaven and requested that it be opened. It was said: 'Who are you?' He responded: 'Gabriel'. It was then said: 'Who is with you?' He responded: 'Muhammad'. It was then said: 'Has revelation been sent to him?' He responded: 'Revelation has been sent to him'. It was then opened for us and there I was with Abraham who was leaning against the bayt al-ma'mur into which enter seventy thousand angels each day never to return.
Then I was brought to the sidrat al-muntaha, the Lote Tree of the Furthest Limit, whose leaves were like the ears of an elephant and whose fruits at first appeared insignificant. But when Allah spread His command over them they transformed to the point where no one in creation could describe their beauty. Then Allah revealed what He revealed to me. He then made obligatory for me fifty prayers every night and day.
I began my descent until I reached Moses who asked me: 'What has your Lord made obligatory for your community?' I said to him, 'Fifty prayers.' He then said, 'Return to your Lord and ask Him to reduce them, your community will not be able to bear that. I know the people of Israel from long experience and I have tested them.' I then returned to my Lord and said, 'O Lord, make things lighter for my people'. He then reduced it by five prayers for me. I then returned to Moses and he said to me, 'Your community will not be able to stand that. So return and ask Him to make things lighter.' I kept going between my Lord and Moses until Allah said, 'O Muhammad, there are five prayers every night and day. Each prayer is equal to ten prayers making them equal to fifty prayers. Whoever intends a good deed and does not do it, there will be written for him a single good deed. If he does it then there will be written for him ten good deeds. Whoever intends an evil deed and does not do it then there is nothing written against him. If he does it then there is written for him one evil deed.'
I then descended until I reached Moses and informed him of what had occurred. He then said to me, 'Return to your Lord and ask Him to make things lighter.' The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace then said, 'I have returned to my Lord until I felt ashamed before Him."
from the hadith collection of Sahih Muslim
Haram shareef
Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam himself mentioned:
"I was near the House (The Sacred Ka'bah) in a state between sleep and wakefulness when I heard someone saying ";
'' He is the third amongst the two persons (Sayyadina Hamza Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu and Sayyadina Ja'far as-Sadiq Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu, his uncles were the other two persons).''
Heart filled with Zam-Zam
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, the One Who exists without a place. To Him belong the endowments and proper commendations. May Allah raise the rank of the Beloved Prophet Muhammad Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam and his kind Al and Companions and protect his nation from what he fears for them. May the Lord of Heavens and Earth grant us the sincere intentions and guide us to the acceptable deeds.
Thereafter, Allah sent the Prophets as a mercy to the slaves and supported them with miracles to indicate the truthfulness of their message. Of all the prophets, our Prophet, Muhammad Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam, was blessed with the most miracles. Al-Isra' and al-Mi'raj are among the many miracles of Prophet Muhammad.
The miracle of al-Isra' is confirmed in the Qur'an. In Surat al-Isra', Ayah 1, Allah said:
... which means: [Praise be to Allah Who enabled His slave, to make the journey at night from Masjid al-Haram in Makkah to Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem, which is surrounded a blessed land.] This journey is also confirmed in the sahih hadith. As such, there is scholarly consensus (ijma') Prophet Muhammad journeyed in body and soul the night of al-Isra' from Masjid al-Haram in Makkah to Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem. Moreover, these scholars indicated the person who denies al-Isra' is a blasphemer for belying the explicit text of the Qur'an al karim.
Before the Prophet took this night journey, the ceiling of the house in which he was staying was opened, and Jibrail alayhis-salaam descended. He cut open the chest (from the throat to the lower part of his abdomen) of the Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam and washed that open area with Zam-zam water. Then he emptied something from a container into the chest of the Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam to increase his wisdom as well as the strength of his belief. This was done to prepare the Messenger of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam for that which he had yet to see in the upper world from among the wonders of the creation of Allah.
''My heart was extracted, washed with the water of Zam Zam, and then restored in its original position. Thereafter it was filled with faith and wisdom.''
After washing the heart, Jibrail alayhis-salaam said, ''The heart was very perfect. There were two eyes which see and two ears which hear.'' An expert of the Qur'an al-karim, Allama Shaykh Ismail al-Haqqi [d.1724] alayhir rahman reported;
Neither any tool was used to split the heart nor was there any bleeding.
[It is recorded in several books of traditions that Jibrai'l alayhis-salaam first opened the breast of the Beloved Messenger of Allah Salla Allahu 'alayhi wa Sallam from above till down to the naval and that Mika'il alayhis-salaam washed the veins, the throat, and the interior of his blessed breast with water from the well Zamzam in order to divest him from every quality unsuitable for a Nabi. They brought a golden dish filled with religion and wisdom, emptied it into the heart, and put it back into its place. Then Jibra'il alayhis-salaam caught hold of his noble hand and led him out.]
al-Burraq
When Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala ordered Jibraeel alayhis salaam to carry with him the burraq for Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam to ride, he went to the paradise of burraqs and there he found forty million burraqs. Every burraq had a crown on its forehead inscribed with the words: "There is no god only Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." Under it was written: "Believe in Me, in My angels, in My books, and in My Rasools (Prophets)." Jibraeel alayhis salaam saw among them a burraq who secluded himself and who sat alone crying. Jibraeel alayhis salaam came to him and asked him why he was in such a state. The burraq answered: "I heard the name of Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam forty thousand years ago, and my yearning for him has prevented me from eating and drinking." Jibraeel alayhis salaam chose that burraq and he took him.
The burraq had the body of a horse but the face of a human being, with big black eyes and soft ears. His colour was that of a peacock whose plumage was set with red rubies and corals, on which sat a white head of musk on a neck of amber. His ears and shoulders were of pure white pearls attached with golden chains, each chain decorated with glittering jewels. His saddle was made of silk lined with silver and gold threads. His back was covered with green emerald and his halter was pure peridot.
The speed of the burraq is according to his sight. His legs reach wherever his eyes can see. Jibraeel alayhis salaam said: "Rasool Allah, this night is your night, and your turn has come to shine in the sky of creation. You are the sun of ancient and recent knowledge, you are the moonlight of the beauties of the worlds, the happiness of creation and the adornment of the lands of human beings and angels. You are the cup of love from the river of milk and honey. The river of Kawther in paradise overflows in anticipation of seeing you. You, the joy of all creation, the pride of paradise, the tables are ready and the palaces of heaven are waiting for your coming!"
"Jibraeel," said Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam, "did you come with a message of mercy or wrath?"
"I came with a message from your Rabb (Lord) to give you a secret."
"What does the Rabb (Lord) of Generosity want to do with me?"
"He wants to shower you with His mercy and all human beings that accept you."
"Give me a moment to prepare myself."
"I brought you water of paradise and a turban with a message inscribed: 'Muhammad the servant of Allah; Muhammad the Prophet of Allah; Muhammad the beloved of Allah; Muhammad the friend of Allah.'"
"Jibraeel, tell me more about that turban."
"Allah created a turban from his light and he entrusted it to Ridhwan alayhis-salaam, the angel-custodian of paradise, and the praising of Ridhwan's host of angels belonged to the owner of that turban before heaven and earth were created. Tonight, when the order came for your visit, Ridhwan took the turban from paradise, and all forty thousand angels said with him: 'Our Rabb (Lord), you have ordered us from time immemorial to praise the owner of that turban. Honour us tonight with his sight and permit us to walk before him.' And Allah granted them what they asked. Then Allah ordered me, Jibraeel alayhis-salaam, to hand Mikaeel alayhis-salaam the precious jar of the pure water of Salsabil, and Mikaeel alayhis-salaam to give to Azraeel alayhis-salaam, and Azraeel to give it to Israfeel alayhis-salaam, then Israfeel to Ridhwan, then Ridhwan alayhis-salaam sent that water another time to the highest paradise: Jannat al-Firdaws, where all the beautiful maiden-angels washed their faces with that water and shone even more brightly. Then they sent back that water to me, and I am giving it to you."
And Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam was showered with the water from paradise. As soon as it touched his noble body he became covered with a garment of subtle angelic light, and Jibraeel alayhis salaam gave him the burraq to ride.
But the burraq stopped and asked Jibraeel:
"Is that Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam who is invited to our Rabb (Lord)?"
Jibraeel said: "Yes."
The burraq asked: "Is he the owner of the blessed pond in paradise?"
Jibraeel alayhis salaam said: "Yes."
The burraq said: "Is he the leader of the people of paradise?"
Jibraeel said: "Yes."
The burraq said: "Is he the intercessor on Judgment-Day?"
Jibraeel alayhis salaam said: "Yes."
At that time the burraq began to melt like ice and snow melt in the light of the sun.
He knelt down and said to the Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam:
"Pride of creation, ride on me; but I have one request to ask of you: Do not forget me on the day of intercession."
Taybah
The Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala alayhi wa Sallam and Jibrail alayhis-salaam arrived to a land with palm trees. Jibrail alayhis-salaam told the Prophet to dismount and pray, so the Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala alayhi wa Sallam dismounted the burraq and prayed two rak'ahs.
Jibrail alayhis-salaam asked him, "Do you know where you prayed?"
... and the Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala alayhi wa Sallam answered, "Allah knows best."
Jibrail alayhis-salaam told him, "This is Yathrib; this is Taybah. " (These are two names for the city of al-Madinah.)
Before the Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala alayhi wa Sallam emigrated to al-Madinah, it was called Taybah and Yathrib.
It earned the name al-Madinah after the Beloved of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala alayhi wa Sallam emigrated to it.
Madyan
Whilst the burraq was flying, it was placing his hoof at a distance equal to the range of vision. Jibra'il alayhis 'salam requested the Beloved Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam to pray:
'' Come down and Pray here ''
Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam came down and prayed. Then he climbed over the burraq again. Jibra'il alayhis 'salam asked the beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam;
'' Did you know upon which place you prayed ''?
Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam answered;
'' No '' Jibra'il alayhis 'salam replied:
'' You prayed at Madyan, (a city on the shore of the Red Sea bordering Tabuk near the valley of Shu'ayb) at the tree of Musa (where Musa alayhis-salaam rested from fatigue and hunger during his flight from Fir'awn)''
ASALATU WA'SALAMU ALAYKA YA RASULLALLAH Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam
Mount Sinai
The burraq continued with the beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam and Jibrail alayhis salaam until they reached another place. Again Jibrail alayhis salaam told the Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam to get down and pray.
The Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam dismounted there and prayed two rakats. Jibrail alayhis salaam informed the Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam of the name of that place; it was Tur Sina*.
*[Mount Sinai where Almighty Allah spoke to Hadrat Musa alayhis-salaam.]
Bayt al-Lahm
Once again the burraq took off with the Beloved Prophet and Jibrail alayhis-salaam. Once again it stopped when it reached a land where the palaces of Syria became visible to them, and the Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam dismounted and prayed two rakahs. This was in Bayt al-Lahm, (Bethlehem, then part of Syria) where Prophet 'Isa (Jesus) bin Maryam alayhis-salaam was born.
Iblees
As the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam was travelling mounted on the Burraq he saw iblees (a devil) from the jinn who was trying to get near him holding a firebrand (flame of fire). Everywhere the Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam turned he would see him. Jibrail alayhis-salaam said to him: "Shall I teach you words which, if you say them, his firebrand will go out and he will fall dead?" The Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam said yes. Jibrail alayhis-salaam said:
Say: a'udhu bi wajhillahi al-karim
wa bi kalimatillahi al-tammat
al-lati la yujawizuhunna barrun wa la fajir
min sharri ma yanzilu min al-sama'
wa min sharri ma ya 'ruju fiha
wa min sharri ma dhara'a fi al-ard
wa min sharri ma yakhruju minha
wa min fitani al-layli wa al-nahar
wa min tawariq al-layli wa al-nahar
illa tariqin yatruqu bi khayrin ya rahman
I seek refuge in the Face of Allah the Munificent
and in Allah's perfect words
which neither the righteous nor the disobedient overstep
from the evil of what descends from the heaven
and the evil of what ascends to it
and the evil of what is created in the earth
and the trials of the night and the day
and the visitors of the night and the day
except the visitor that comes with goodness,
O Beneficent One!
At this the devil perished and the flame was extinguished.
Fi Sabillallah
Amongst the many miracles the Beloved Prophet of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam saw in this journey; there were such people who daily grew and harvested crop, which as soon as they would cut it, new crops would take their place. They sowed in a day and reaped in a day. Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam asked Jibrail alayhis 'salaam ;
'' What is this ''? He replied;
'' These are al-mujahidun (fighters) in the way of Almighty Allah. Their good deeds are increased seven hundred times (in reward), and whatever they spend returns multiplied."
Pharoah
The Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam then noticed a fragrant wind and said: "O Jibrail, what is this sweet scent?" He replied: "This is the scent of the lady who combed the hair of Fir'awn's (Pharoah) daughter and that of her children. As she combed the hair of Fir'awn's daughter the comb fell and she said:
bismillah ta'isa fir'awn -- (In the name of Allah, may Fir'awn perish!)
Whereupon Fir'awn's daughter said: Do you have a Lord other than my father?
She said yes.
Fir'awn's daughter said: Shall I tell my father?
She said yes.
She told him and he summoned her and said: Do you have a Lord other than me?
She replied: Yes, my Lord and your Lord is Allah.
This woman had two sons and a husband. Fir'awn summoned them and he began to entice the woman and her husband to renege on their religion, but they refused. He said: Then I shall kill you. She said: Be so good as to bury us all together in a single grave if you kill us. He replied: Granted, and it is your right to ask us. He then ordered that a huge cow made of copper be filled with boiling liquid (oil and water) and that the hairdresser and her children be thrown into it. The children were taken and thrown in one after the other. The second and youngest was still an infant at the breast. When they took him he said: Mother! fall and do not delay for verily you are on the truth. Then she was thrown in with her children."
He (Ibn Abbas) said: "Four spoke from the cradle as they were still infants: this child, Yusuf's alayhis-salaam witness (cf. 12:26), Jurayj's companion, and 'Isa ibn Maryam."
Prescribed Salat
Then the Beloved of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam saw people whose heads were being crushed with very large boulders and stones, but then each and every time they would return to their original state. This process continued at pace without reccess. The beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam said: "O Jibrail, who are these people?" Jibrail alayhis-salaam replied: "These are the people whose heads were too heavy to get up and pray their compulsory prayers."
Sadaqa
Then he saw a people who wore small patched material (loincloths) on the fronts and on their backs. They were roaming the way camels and sheep roam about. They were eating thistles and zaqqum -- the fruit of a tree that grows in hell and whose fruit resembles the head of devils (37:62-63) -- and white-hot coals and stones of Gehenna.
Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam said: "Who are these, O Jibrail?"
Jibrail alayhis salaam replied:
"These are the ones who did not meet the obligation of paying sadaqa from what they possessed, whereas Allah never kept anything from them. Basically they do not pay zakah of their wealth."
Adultery
Then the Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam saw people who had in front of them excellent meats disposed in pots and also putrid, foul meat, and they would eat from the foul meat and not touch the good meat.
The Beloved Messenger of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam asked : "What is this, O Jibrail?"
Jibrail alayhis-salaam replied: "These are the men from your Community who had an excellent, lawful wife at home and who would go and see a foul woman and spend the night with her; and the women who would leave her excellent, lawful husband to go and see a foul man and spend the night with him. Those who leave out that which is permissible halal, and consume that which is forbidden haraam.
Just Advisers
In the same way, the Beloved of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam saw such a people whose tongues and lips were being cut with iron scissors. As before once cut they would reform, i.e return to their original state.
Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam asked Jibrail alayhis-salaam, who these people were ?
Jibrail alayhis-salaam replied : ''These are those advisers who do not act upon their own instructions.''
Lurk not
Then they came to a plank in the middle of the road which not even a piece of cloth nor less than that could cross except it would be pierced. The beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam said: "What is this, O Jibrail?"
Jibrail alayhis salam replied: "This is what happens to those of your Community who sit in the middle of the road and cut it" and he recited:
wa la taq'adu bi kulli siratin tu'iduna wa tasudduna 'an sabilillah man amana bihi wa tabtaghunaha 'iwajan
Lurk not on every road to threaten wayfarers and to turn away from Allah's path him who believes in Him, and to seek to make it crooked (7:86).
Devourer of Interest
Then the Beloved of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam saw a man swimming in a river of blood. As he was doing this he was being struck in his mouth with rocks and stones which he subsequently swallowed. Allah ta'ala's Most Beloved Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam asked,
''O Jibra'il! Why is this ?''
Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam replied,
''This is an example of the Devourer of interest, this is what happens to those who eat usury."
Trust
After passing the devourer of interest they came across a man who had gathered a heap of wood. Although unable to carry the pieces of wood he was still increasing them. The Beloved Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam asked,
''Who is this man?''
Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam replied,
''This is a man from your followers who had the trust of the people. He is not able to pay them back but still insists on carrying on in this manner.''
Fitnah
Then the beloved Messenger of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam saw such people whose tongues and lips were being cut with an iron pair of scissors; each time they were sliced they would return to their original state to be sliced again without respite. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam asked;
''Who are these people?''
Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam replied;
''These are preachers of fitnah [mischief] from your community who advise people what they themselves do not do''.
Backbiting
Afterward they passed by people with nails of brass, who were scratching their faces and chests. The Beloved Messenger of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam asked;
'' O Jibra'il! Who are these people? ''
Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam replied;
'' These are those people who used to backbite and insult others, they ate the flesh of people and tarnished their reputations."
Hollow repentance
Then they came across a small hole. A very big ox emerged from within it. The ox intended to return to the same hole but could not. The beloved Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam asked,
''O Jibra'il! What is this?''
Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam replied,
''This is a man from your community who speaks big words; he repents over them and intends to return but cannot. An example of the bad word--once spoken, it cannot be returned.
Paradise
(al-Shami added:)
He then came to a valley in which he breathed a sweet, cool breeze fragrant with musk and he heard a voice.
He said: "What is this, O Jibrail?"
He replied: "This is the voice of Paradise saying: O my Lord, bring me what You have promised me for too abundant are my rooms, my gold-laced garments, my silk, my brocades, my carpets, my pearls, my coral, my silver, my gold, my goblets, my bowls, my pitchers, my couches, my honey, my water, my milk, my wine!
And He says: You will have every single Muslim and Muslima, every Mu'min and Mu'mina, and everyone who has believed in Me and My Messengers and did excellent deeds without associating a partner to Me nor taking helpers without Me.
Anyone who fears Me will be safe,
and whoever asks Me I shall give him,
and whoever lends Me something I shall repay him,
and whoever relies on Me I shall suffice him.
I am Allah besides Whom there is no god. I never fail in My promise. Successful indeed are the believers! Blessed is Allah, therefore, the best of Creators! And Paradise answered: I accept."
Jahanam
Then the Beloved Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam came across a valley. Here he heard an awful sound and smelled a stench-carrying wind.The Beloved of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam asked;
''O Jibra'il! What is this?''
Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam replied; ''This is the voice of the Hell-Fire''.
It was saying, ''O my Lord! Gave me what did you promise with me,
Certainly, my chins, my iron necks, my fire, my boiling water, my ugly trees and my punishment are increased. My depth is increased. My flames became strong. So bring to me what You promised me.
Almighty Allah replied,
''Every idolater man and woman, every unbeliever man and woman, every wicked man and woman and every proud man and woman who do not believe in the Day of calculation (Reckoning) are for you.''
Dajjaal
The Beloved Messenger of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam saw Dajjaal [anti-christ] whilst in a fully awaken state.
It was said, ''Yaa Rasulullah! How did you see him?
Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam replied,
He was very large similar to an elephant, extremely white and blind from one eye as it was shining like a star. His hair resembled the branches of a tree, and his form similar to Abd 'al-Uzza bin Qat'aan (who died in Jahiliyya).
Pillars of Islam
Soon after the Beloved Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam saw a pillar, shining like a pearl, which was being held by the angels.
Nabi-e-karim Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam asked; ''What are you holding?''
The Angels replied, ''We are holding the pillar of Islam. We have been ordered to place it in Syria.'' (End of al-Shami's addition.)
[The Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam called Syria the purest of Allah's lands, the place where Religion, belief and safety are found in the time of dissension, and the home of the saints for whose sake Allah sends sustenance to the people and victory to Muslims over their enemies:
1. Ibn 'Asakir in Tahdhib tarikh Dimashq al-kabir relates from Ibn Mas'ud that the Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam compared the world to a little rain water on a mountain plateau of which the safw had already been drunk and from which only the kadar or dregs remained. al-Huwjiri and al-Qushayri mention it in their chapters on tasawwuf, respectively in 'Kashf al-mahjub' and 'al-Risala al-qushayriyya'. Ibn al-Athir defines safw and safwa in his dictionary al-Nihaya as "the best of any matter, its quintessence, and purest part." The quintessence spoken of by the Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam is Syria, because he called Syria "the quintessence of Allah's lands" (safwat Allah min biladih). Tabarani related it from 'Irbad ibn Sariya and Haythami authenticated the chain of transmission in his book 'Majma' al-zawa'id', chapter entitled 'Bab fada'il al-sham'.
2. Abu al-Darda' narrated that the Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam said:
As I was sleeping I saw the Column of the Book being carried away from under my head. I feared lest it would be taken away, so I followed it with my eyes and saw that it was being planted in Syria. Verily, belief in the time of dissensions will be in Syria.
al-Haythami said that Ahmad narrated it with a chain whose narrators are all the men of the sahih -- sound narrations -- and that al-Bazzar narrated it with a chain whose narrators are the men of sound hadith except for Muhammad ibn 'Amir al-Antaki, and he is thiqa -- trustworthy.
In the version Tabarani narrated from Ibn 'Amr in al-Mu'jam al kabir and al-Mu'jam al-awsat the Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam repeats three times: "When the dissensions take place, belief will be in Syria." One manuscript bears: "Safety will be in Syria." al-Haythami said the men in its chain are those of sound hadith except for Ibn Lahi'a, and he is fair (hasan).
3. al-Tabarani relates from 'Abd Allah ibn Hawala that the beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam said:
"I saw on the night that I was enraptured a white column resembling a pearl, which the angels were carrying. I said to them: What are you carrying? They replied: The Column of the Book. We have been ordered to place it in Syria. Later, in my sleep, I saw that the Column of the Book was snatched away from under my headrest (wisadati). I began to fear lest Allah the Almighty had abandoned the people of the earth. My eyes followed where it went. It was a brilliant light in front of me. Then I saw it was placed in Syria." 'Abd Allah ibn Hawala said: "O Messenger of Allah, choose for me (where I should go)." The Prophet said: alayka bi al-sham -- "You must go to Syria."/
al-Hafiz al-Haythami said in Majma' al-zawa'id: "The narrators in its chain of transmission are all those of sound hadith, except Salih ibn Rustum, and he is thiqa -- trustworthy."
4. Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal radi Allahu anhu relates in his Musnad (1:112):
The people of Syria were mentioned in front of 'Ali ibn Abi Talib Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu while he was in Iraq, and they said to him: Curse them, O Commander of the Believers. He replied: No, I heard the Messenger of Allah say: "The Substitutes (al-abdal) are in Syria and they are forty men, every time one of them dies, Allah substitutes another in his place. By means of them Allah brings down the rain, gives (Muslims) victory over their enemies, and averts punishment from the people of Syria."
al-Haythami said in Majma' al-zawa'id: "The men in its chains are all those of sound hadith except for Sharih ibn 'Ubayd, and he is trustworthy (thiqa)." There are more hadiths on the abdal which we cite elsewhere in the present work.]
Caller : Jews
Whilst the Beloved Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam was going, suddenly someone called him from his right side,
''O Muhammad ! Look at me, I will ask you.''
The Beloved of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam did not answer him. But he asked,
''O Jibra'il! Who is this?''
Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam replied,
''This is the caller from the Jews. If you had answered him, your followers would have become Jews after you.
Caller : Christians
The Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam continued travelling and he heard someone calling him from his left:
"O Muhammad, look at me, I want to ask you something!"
But the Messenger of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam did not respond. Then he said: "Who was this, O Jibrail?"
He replied: "This is the herald of the Christians. If you had answered him your Community would have followed Christianity."
A beautiful lady
Afterwards, the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam came across a lady. She was extremely attractive decked with every female ornament Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala had created. Her arms were exposed. She requested, ''O Muhammad ! Look at me, I will ask you.''
The Beloved Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam did not attend her. Then he asked, ''O Jibra'il ! Who was she?''
Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam replied,
''She was this world. If you had turned to her, your followers would have preferred this world to the hereafter.''
Devil
Whilst the Beloved Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam was on his way, suddenly he came across an old man who was calling him to his side of the way, ''O' Muhammad ! Come towards me''
Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam requested, ''Keep on going, O' Muhammad ''
The Beloved of Allah ta'ala Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam asked, ''O Jibra'il! Who is this?''
Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam replied, ''This was an enemy of Almighty Allah. He intended to divert you to himself.''
This Dunya
Next, the Beloved Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam saw an old lady on one side of the way who was saying,
''O Muhammad ! Look towards me''
The Beloved of Allah ta'ala Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam did not turn to her but instead asked,
''O Jibra'il! Who is this lady?''
Jibra'il 'alayhis-salaam replied, ''This is an example of the life of this world, where so much life has passed. It has as much left to live as the remaining lifetime of this old woman."''
Ibrahim, Musa & Isa
(al-Shami added:)
As the Most Beloved of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam went on he was met by some people who said onto him:
"Peace be upon you, O' First One! ''
''Peace upon you, O' Last One! ''
''Peace be upon you, O' Gatherer!"
Jibra'il 'alayhis salaam said to him: "Return their greeting," and he did. Then he saw them another time and they said the same thing. Then he saw them a third time and again they greeted him.
The Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam asked, "Who are they, O' Jibrail?"
Jibra'il 'alayhis salaam replied: "Ibrahim, Musa, and 'Isa." They are the Prophets of Allah the Almighty.
Grave of Musa
The Most Beloved of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam then passed by Hadrat Musa alayhis-salaam as he was praying in his grave at a place of red sandhills. He was tall, with long hair and brown complexion, similar to one of the shanu'a -- the (Yemeni) men of pure lineage and manly virtue. He was saying with a loud voice: "You have honoured him and preferred him!" Then Allahs Beloved Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam greeted him and he returned his greeting.
Musa alayhis-salaam said: "Who is this with you, O' Jibrail?"
Jibrail alayhis-salaam replied: "This is Ahmad."
Musa alayhis-salaam said: "Welcome to the Arabian Prophet who acted perfectly with his Community!" and he made an invocation for blessing on his behalf. He further added: "Ask ease for you Community."
They continued travelling and the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam said: "O' Jibrail, who was this?"
Jibrail alayhis-salaam replied: "This is Musa ibn 'Imran."
The Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam asked: "Who was he reprimanding?"
Jibrail alayhis-salaam said: "He is reprimanding his Lord."
The Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam said: "He reprimands his Lord and raises his voice against his Lord?!"
Jibrail alayhis-salaam said: "Allah the Exalted knows Musa's bluntness."
Sayyadina Ibrahim
They passed by a large tree whose fruit seemed like a thornless berry (of the kind that gives shade to men and cattle). Under the tree was an elderly man who was resting with his children. There were lamps and a great light could be seen. The Beloved Messenger of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam said:
"Who is this, O Jibrail?" He replied: "Your father Ibrahim."
The Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam greeted him and Ibrahim 'alayhis salaam returned his greeting and said: "Who is this with you, O Jibrail?" He replied: "This is your son Ahmad." He said:
Welcome to the unlettered Arabian Prophet who has conveyed the message of his Lord and acted with perfect sincerity with his Community!
'O my son, you are going to meet your Lord tonight, and your Community is the last and the weakest of all Communities -- therefore, if you are able to have your need fulfilled concerning your Community, or most of it, be sure to do it!
Then he invoked for goodness on his behalf.
Hell-Fire
They continued travelling until they reached the valley that is in the city -- that is: the Hallowed House (Jerusalem) -- when lo and behold! the Gehenna (hell-fire) was exposed to them like a carpet unfolded. They (the noble Companions) said:
"O Messenger of Allah, how was it?"
Allahs Beloved Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam He replied: "Like cinders."
Nabi led the Salaat
They continued travelling until they reached Bayt al-Muqaddas in Palestine. They entered it by its Southern gate. Allahs Beloved Messenger Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam dismounted the Burraq and tied it at the gate of the mosque, using the ring by which the Prophets [Allah give them peace] tied it before him. One narration states that Jibra'il 'alayhis salaam came to the Rock and placed his fingers in it, piercing it, then he tied the Burraq using the spot he had hollowed out.
The Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam entered the mosque from a gate through which the sun and the moon could be seen when they set. He prayed two cycles of prayer and did not tarry long before a large crowd of people had gathered. The Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam recognised all the Prophets, some standing in prayer, some bowing, some prostrating. Then a caller called out to the prayer and the final azaan (call to prayer) was made. They rose and stood in lines, waiting for the one who would lead them. Jibra'il 'alayhis salaam took the hand of Allahs Final Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam and brought him forward. He led them in two cycles of prayer.
[Shaykh Muhammad ibn 'Alawi alayhir rahman said:
This took place before his ascension according to the highest probability. Najm al-Din al-Ghiti said: "The narrations agree to the fact that the Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam prayed among the other Prophets in Jerusalem before his ascension." This is one of the two possibilities mentioned by Qadi 'Iyad Radi Allahu anhu. Hafiz Ibn Hajar Radi Allahu anhu said: "This is apparently the case. The second possibility is that he prayed among them after he came down from the heaven, and they came down also." Ibn Kathir Radi Allahu anhu also declared the former scenario as the sound one. Some said: "What is the objection to the possibility that the Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam prayed among them twice, since some of the hadiths mention that he led them in prayer after his ascent?"]
The following is related from Hadrat Ka'b Radi Allahu anhu:
Jibra'il 'alayhis salaam raised the call to prayer. The angels descended from the heaven. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala gathered all the Messengers and Prophets. Then the Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam prayed as the leader of the angels and Messengers.
When he left Jibra'il 'alayhis salaam asked him: "O Muhammad, do you know who prayed behind you?"
He said no. Jibra'il 'alayhis salaam said: "Every single Prophet whom Allah has ever sent."
Sermons
(Al-Shami adds:) Abu Hurayra Radi Allahu anhu's narration related by al-Hakim who declared it sound, and by al-Bayhaqi, states: Then the Prophet met the spirits of the Prophets. They glorified their Lord, after which Ibrahim 'alayhis salaam said:
Praise to Allah Who has made taken me as His intimate friend, Who has given me an immense kingdom, Who has made me a prayerful Community and one by whom prayer is led, Who has rescued me from the fire and made it cool and safe for me!
Then Musa 'alayhis salaam glorified his Lord and said:
Praise be to Allah Who has spoken to me directly, Who has brought to pass the destruction of Fir'awn and the salvation of the Children of Israel at my hands, and Who has made from among my Community a people who guide others through truth and establish justice upon it!
Then Dawud 'alayhis salaam glorified his Lord and said:
Praise be to Allah Who has brought me an immense kingdom, Who has softened iron for my hands, and subjected to me the mountains and the birds which laud Him, and has given me wisdom and unmistakable judgment in my speech!
Then Sulayman 'alayhis salaam glorified his Lord and said:
Praise be to Allah Who has subjected the winds to my command as well as the devils, so that they did as I wished and constructed for me elevated sanctuaries, images, large bowls the size of ponds, and vessels fixed in their spot (due to their size), Who has taught me the language of birds and has brought me a part of every good thing, Who has subjected to me the armies of the devils and the birds and has preferred me over many of His believing servants, Who has brought me an immense kingdom which no one after me may possess, and Who has made my kingdom a goodly one wherein there is no reckoning nor punishment!
Then 'Isa ibn Maryam 'alayhis salaam glorified his Lord and said:
Praise be to Allah Who has made me His word, Who has fashioned me after Adam's likeness whom He created out of earth then said to him: Be, and he was, Who has taught me the Book and the Wisdom and the Torah and the Evangel, Who has caused me to heal the blind and the leper and to raise the dead by Allah's permission, Who has raised me and cleansed me and granted me and my mother protection against the cursed devil, so that the devil had no path by which to harm us! (End of al-Shami's addition).
Final Sermon
Every Prophet [Allah bless them and give them peace] then glorified his Lord in the best of language, and the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam said: ''All of you have glorified their Lord and I am going to glorify my Lord also'':
al-hamdu lillah al-ladhi arsalani rahmatan li al-'alamin
wa kaffatan li al-nasi bashiran wa nadhira
wa anzala 'alayya al-qur’ana fihi tibyanun li kulli shay’
wa ja'ala ummati khayra ummatin ukhrijat li al-nas
wa ja'ala ummati wasatan
wa ja'ala ummati hum al-awwaluna wa al-akhirun
wa sharaha li sadri wa wada 'a anni wazri
wa rafa'a li dhikri
wa ja'alani fatihan khatiman!
Praise belongs to Allah Who has sent me, a mercy to the worlds
Sent to all without exception, a bearer of glad tidings and a warner,
Who has caused to descend upon me the Qur'an in which there is a perfect exposition of all things,
Who has made my Community the best Community ever brought out for the benefit of mankind,
Who has made my Community a mean and a middle,
Who has made my Community in truth the first and the last of all Communities,
Who has expanded my breast and has relieved me of my burden,
Who has exalted my name,
And has made me the Opener and the Sealer!
Upon hearing this Ibrahim 'alayhis-salaam then remarked 'this is why Muhammad is better than you.'
[The Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam then discussed Judgement Day.]
Day of Judgement
[Continued from the Final Sermon of Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam ]
Then they brought up the matter of the Hour and referred it to Ibrahim 'alayhis salaam, but he said: "I have no knowledge of it." They turned to Musa 'alayhis salaam but he said: "I have no knowledge of it." They turned to Isa 'alayhis salaam and he said:
As for the time when it shall befall, no one knows it except Allah. As for what my Lord has assured me (concerning what precedes it), then: the Dajjal or Antichrist will come forth and I will face him with two rods. At my sight he shall melt like lead: Allah shall cause his destruction as soon as he sees me. It will be so that the very stones will say: O' Muslim, behind me hides a disbeliever, therefore come and kill him! And Allah shall cause them all to die.
People will then return to their countries and nations. At that time Ya'juj and Ma'juj (Gog and Magog) shall come out. They will come from every direction. They will trample all nations underfoot. Whatever they come upon they will destroy. They will drink up every body of water.
At last the people will come to me complaining about them. At that time I will invoke Allah against them so that He will destroy them and cause their death until the whole earth will reek of their stench. Allah will send down rain which shall carry their bodies away and hurl them into the sea.
I have been assured by my Lord that once all this takes place then the Hour will be as the pregnant mother at the last stages of her pregnancy. Her family does not know when she shall suddenly give birth by night or by day. (End of al-Shami's addition)
Milk
The Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam then felt the greatest thirst that he had ever felt, whereupon Jibrail alayhis-salaam brought him a vessel of wine and a vessel of milk. He chose the latter. Jibrail 'alayhis-salaam said:
"You have chosen fitra – natural disposition – and if you had drunken the wine, your Community would have strayed from the right way and none but a few of them would have followed you."
[The Most Noble Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam said, "Every child is born with a natural disposition (kullu mawludin yuladu 'ala al-fitra); then his parents convert him to Judaism, or Christianity, or Zoroastrianism. It is the same with the animal which delivers a perfect baby animal. Do you find it missing anything?" Bukhari shareef narrates it. Muslim shareef omits the mention of the animal. Tirmidhi' shareef's narration (hasan sahih) also omits it, but adds: "O Messenger of Allah, what if the child dies before that?" He replied: "Allah knows best what they would have done."
The hadith master al-Zabidi Rahmatullahi 'alayh said in his commentary on Imam Ghazali' Radi Allahu anhu's Ihya entitled Ithaf al-sadat al-muttaqin bi sharh ihya' 'ulum al-din (The gift of the godwary masters: commentary on Ghazali's "Giving life to the sciences of the Religion"): "Born with a natural disposition: the definite case indicates that it is commonly known, and it consists in Allah's disposition with which He endows all people, that is, the innate character with which He creates them and which predisposes them to accept Religion and to differentiate between the wrong and the right."]
Another narration states: There were three vessels and the third contained water. Jibrail alayhis-salaam said: "If you had drunk the water your Community would have perished by drowning."
And a further narration also states: That one of the vessels presented to him contained honey instead of water, and that he then saw the wide-eyed maidens of Paradise to the left of the Rock. He greeted them and they returned his greeting. Then he asked them something and they replied with an answer that cools the eyes.
Ladder
Then the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam was brought the ladder by which the spirits of the children of Adam alayhis-salaam ascend. Creation never saw a more beautiful object; it had alternate stairs of silver and gold and came down from the Highest and Amplest Garden of Paradise, Jannat al-firdaws. It was incrusted with pearls and surrounded with angels on its right and left.
The Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam began his ascent with Jibrail alayhis-salaam until they reached one of the gates of the nearest heaven called Bab al-hafazha. There an angel stood guard, named Isma'il, who was the custodian of the nearest heaven. He inhabits the wind. He never ascends to the heaven nor descends to earth except on the day that the Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam left his life on earth. In front of him stood seventy thousand angels, each angel commanding an army of seventy thousand more.
Continue to the First Heaven