Leading the Noble Prophets in Prayer on the Night of the Ascension (Miraj)

Questions and answers from Madani Muzakarah

1. Leading the noble prophets صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in prayer on the Night of the Ascension (Mi’raaj)

Question: Did the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم lead the prophets عَـلَـيْـهِمُ الـصَّلٰوةُ وَالـسَّـلَام in prayer?

Answer: The Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم led the prophets عَـلَيْـهِم الـسَّـلاَم in prayer on the night of Mi’raaj in Masjid al-Aqsa, Jerusalem.^[1]

Namaz-e-Aqsa main tha yehi sirr, ‘iyaan hon ma’ni-e-awwal aakhir

Key dast bastah hain peechay haazir, jo saltanat aagay kar ga`ay thay^[2]

In the section “jo saltanat aagay kar gaye thay”, the poet is indicating towards the noble prophets عَـلَيْـهِم الـسَّـلاَم; they were the kings of their nations, and on the night of Mi’raaj, they were standing behind the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in rows. ^[3]

2. Travelling beyond what the mind can comprehend  

Question: We have heard that we should not refer to Allah Almighty as “the one above” or say, “Allah Almighty is upon the Throne (Arsh)”, but we have also heard that on the night of Mi’raaj, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم went towards the Throne to meet Allah Almighty and the Throne is above. What is the meaning of this?

Answer: It is true that the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم went to the Throne to meet Allah Almighty. However, it is not mentioned where he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم beheld Allah Almighty. A’la Hazrat, the Imam of Ahl al-Sunnah, Maulana Shah Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْـه states:

Khirad say keh do kay sar jhukale, gumaan say guzray guzarnay wale

Pare hain yaan khud jihat ko laalay, kisay bataye kidhar gaye thay^[4]

Explanation of Raza’s poetry:

Khirad means intellect and understanding. Gumaan means imagination. Jihat means direction. The meaning of this couplet is that the intellect should be told to surrender and not think, because the one who was travelling went beyond the imagination; direction itself is baffled [metaphorically speaking]; not above, nor below, neither right, nor left. With his own eyes and whilst awake, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was honoured with beholding Allah Almighty. As for in what way and how, these matters are not to be dwelled upon, but they should be accepted as having taken place.^[5]

3. Why did the Mi’raaj occur?

Question: Why did the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم undertake the Mi’raaj journey?

Answer: The Mi’raaj is a miracle of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Allah Almighty called him and made him His guest, which is why he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم went on the Mi’raaj journey.

تَبَارَکَ الـلّٰـهُ! Shaan teri, tujhi ko zaiba hai bay niyaazi

Kahin to vo josh e لَنْ تَرَانی, kahin taqazay visal ka thay^[6]

Explanation of Raza’s poetry:

The majesty of Allah Almighty is such that He is Independent, and this is befitting of Him. In one instance, whilst standing on mount Sinai, Prophet Musa عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام said: رَبِّ اَرِنِیْۤ  ‘O Lord! I wish to see you.’ Allah Almighty said: لَنْ تَرٰىنِیْ  ‘You will certainly not be able to see me.’^[7] On the other hand, the beloved Prophet of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was resting when Jibraeel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام arrived and woke him by brushing his camphor-filled eyes against the soles of the Prophet’s صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم feet.^[8] This is the rank of the beloved. There is a difference between the Kaleem and the Habib.

Udhar say payham taqazay aana, idhar tha mushkil qadam barhana

Jalal o haibat ka saamna tha, jamal o rahmat ubhartay thay^[9]

4. The Mi’raaj is a great miracle

Question: During Rabi al-Awwal, we heard about many miracles of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Is the Mi’raaj also a miracle of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم?

Answer: Yes, the Mi’raaj is certainly also a great miracle of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. The Mi’raaj, in fact, is a collection of miracles, as numerous miracles occurred during the journey.^[10]

5. How did the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم reach the heavens?

Question: How did our Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم reach the heavens?

Answer: The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم travelled on the Buraaq to different places and eventually reached Sidrah al-Muntaha (a tree of the farthest boundary).^[11]

As Sidrah al-Muntaha is the limit for Sayyiduna Jibraeel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام, he stopped here.^[12]  Then, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was presented with a conveyance known as “Raf Raf”. However, even this could not proceed ahead. So, by the mercy of Allah Almighty, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم travelled further ahead.^[13]  Allah Almighty granted the Mi’raaj to the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم as a miracle. The conveyances were there due to the respect given to the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, not because he needed them.^[14]

6. Is shaking the legs an act of the Devil?

Question: Is shaking the legs an act of the Devil?

Answer: I have never come across the idea that shaking the legs is an act of the Devil. This could be something made up by the public. Nonetheless, one should consult scholars کَثَّرہُمُ الـلّٰـه السَّلام to verify such statements prior to proclaiming them.^[15]