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The Magnificent Journey: Al-Israa' wal Mi'raaj

Yaser Birjas

category: Aqeedah

source: Muslimmatters.org

reads: 12782

... continued from Page 2

Such reports attesting to the virtue of Madeenah can be found in Sahih Al-Bukhari, Muslim and other collections of hadith.

It is not surprising at all why the Messenger of Allah had to stop in Jerusalem on his way to heavens. It is obvious that he needed to arrive at the gate to heavens and that was in Jerusalem.

The arrival of Prophet Muhammad salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam at Jerusalem had many implications on the concept of religious guidance and leadership. His physical arrival there when there was no mention of him or his message amongst the people of the Holy Land - except for few high priests- meant a lot to the universality of his message. His historical meeting with the prophets and messengers of Allah and especially the prophets of Banu Israel was another sign that the winds of change were about to blow. This was an announcement of a new establishment, the establishment of a new chapter in the Judeo-Christian tradition. It has now received a new addition to its tradition, a Muslim tradition. His arrival at Jerusalem was the beginning of the story, the story that changed the course of history.

Coming up:

Part Two: Ascending the throne of religious leadership

A thematic examination for the surah 17 would probably tell why.

Surah 17, Al-Israa' is also called the chapter of 'Banu Israel' or 'The Children of Israel'. It is not coincidence that the beginning of this surah which speaks about the incident of Israa' was followed by the destiny of the chosen ones 'The Children of Israel'.
Al-Israa'or that night journey happened to take place in Jerusalem, the home of the children of Israel.

Footnotes

[1] See the commentary of Abdullah Yusuf Ali at the very beginning of surah 17 Al-Israa' and the influence of this Mi'raaj literature on the medieval literature of Europe, according to Professor Miguiel Asin in his book 'Islam and the divine comedy'.