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Preface
The
Prophet of Islam began
his historical night journey, along with the trusted protector of the
revelation, the Angel Jibra'il from the house of Umm al Hani, the
daughter of his uncle and sister of Amir al‑Mo'minin 'Ali in the blessed city of
Makkah. With the aide of his steed al‑Buraq, he traveled to Bait
al‑Muqaddas, which (at that time) was located in the country of Jordan and is
also known as Masjid al‑Aqsa (the Furthest Masjid). He disembarked at
this place and in a very short period of time, visited various places inside
the Masjid ‑ including Bait al‑Laham, the birthplace of `Isa
al‑Masih ,
in addition to the houses and other important places of the various Prophets.
In some of these places, he even recited a two Rak`at Salat.
In
the next stage (of his journey) he traveled from this spot to the heavens,
where he was witness to the celestial bodies and the entire universe. He spoke
with the spirits of the (previous) Prophets and the Angels; he saw from very
close both Paradise and Hell; and the various stages and levels of the people
of Paradise and those in Hell. It was these unknowns of the creation, the
secrets of the origin of the Universe, the expanse of the world of creation,
and the unlimited power of Allah the Highest, that he was given complete
knowledge of.
Subsequently,
he continued on with his journey until he reached to the region known as Sidratul
' Muntaha, a place that was covered in grandeur and magnificence. It was
from this same path that he traversed that he returned, and upon coming back,
once again visited to Bait al‑Muqaddas, proceeded on to Makkah and
then to his home. On the return trip, he came across a trade caravan from the
tribe of the Quraish who during their journey had lost one of their camels
which they were searching for. The Prophet drank from the water that the people of
the caravan had with them and by the rising of the morning sun, reached back to
the house of Umm al‑Hani.
Upon
his return, the Prophet told Umm al‑Hani of the secrets
(that he saw) and that evening, in a gathering of the people of the Quraish,
lifted all the curtains of the secrets of the Me'raj and his journey and opened
their minds to this event. The word of his travels spread from mouth to mouth
amongst all the groups, and now more than ever, the Quraish were upset (with
him).
The
Quraish, as was their old‑time habit, belied the Prophet and in the gathering, a man
stood up and asked if there was anyone in Makkah who has seen Bait al‑Muqaddas
so that he could ask the Prophet in regards to the physical building. Not
only did the Prophet
describe the physical particularities of Bait al Muqaddas, rather, he even
informed them of the event that took place between Makkah and Bait al‑Muqaddas
‑ and it was not long after that the travelers (of that caravan) reported
the exact events (as had occurred).
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