What is Al-Israa' Wal-Mi'raaj?

 There is so much to be said about the miraculous event of Al-Israa' Wal-Mi'raaj. In this article, we focus on its linguistic meaning, what each word refers to of this exceptional journey, and its mentions in the Quran.

Linguistic meaning of the words Israa' and Mi'raaj

Let's look at the Arabic first: the word إِسْرَاء [israa'] comes from the root letters س ر ي which, in Classical Arabic, carry the meanings of to seep, to spread unobtrusively, to remove, to travel by night. We find these root letters 10 times in the Quran in 3 different forms. The 17th Surah of the Quran is named Al-Israa' in reference to the night journey of the Prophet (SAWS) from Makkah to Jerusalem.

The word مِعْرَاج [mi'raaj] comes from the root letters ع ر ج which have the meanings of mounting, ascending, walking with a limp, calling upon, zigzagging; stairs, ladders, ascending roads. They appear 9 times in the Quran in 3 different forms. A Surah is named based on these root letters as well: Surah Al-Ma'aarij (70), in reference to the Ways of Ascent of the angels to Allah SWT.

What is Al-Israa' Wal-Mi'raaj?

Al-Israa' Wal-Mi'raaj refers to the Prophet's (SAWS) miraculous Night Journey (Al-Israa') from the Ka'bah in Makkah to Masjid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem on the Buraq – the special mount for the prophets – with Jibreel (AS) and the Ascent (Al-Mi'raaj) through the seven stages of the heavens to eventually meet Allah SWT. It is reported in the narrations that Allah SWT gifted this miracle to Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) during the Year of Sorrow – the difficult year during which his beloved wife Khadijah (RA) and then his uncle and protector Abu Talib passed away, after having already endured years of persecution, pains and difficulties as he continued to preach and deliver the message of Islam to those around him, including the brutal rejection of the people of Ta'if.

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