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Islamonline Live Dialogue Editing Desk
Name
Manfield
- Canada
Profession
Question
What are the lessons that a Muslim can learn from such a great occasion?
Answer
We have lots of lessons to learn from the occasion of Al-Israa’ and Al-Mi’raj, some of which are the following:
1. The great virtue and status of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) as a leader and seal of all Prophets of Allah. This is manifested in his leading the prophets in the Salah and their following and their saying: “welcome, the righteous Prophet.”
2. The universality of the Islamic religion as a confirmation and continuation of the preceding religions. We find this in the symbolic act of prayer that prophets offered in Madian, Sinai, and in Jerusalem.
3. The importance of Salah in Islam as it was the only pillar delivered directly by Allah, not through any angel.
4. The importance of the Al-Aqsa mosque and the divine obligation that it has to be under the control of Muslims preserved it as a legacy of all prophets.
As-salamu `alaykum, Prof. Muhammad Al-Mukhtar Al-Shinqiti.
May Allah bless you for the opportunity!
How us, Muslims, should approach miraculous events as the Al-Israa' and Al-Mi`raj, nowadays, when most people thinks that modern science is the “unique” and “complete” form of knowledge?
Salam
Mariam.
Answer
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
There is a good book written by a British scientist called limitation of Science that many people should read today in order to know that science is very limited, and better than the book is the Book of Allah that clearly states: “They ask thee concerning the Spirit (of inspiration). Say: "The Spirit (comes) by command of my Lord: of knowledge it is only a little that is communicated to you, (O men!)" (Al-Israa’: 85)
And Allah says in Surat Yusuf: “and above every one possessed of knowledge is the All-knowing One (i.e. Allah).” (Yusuf: 76)
Therefore, anyone who believes that modern science is the “unique and complete form of knowledge” proves himself wrong and the limitation of his mind, conception and imagination.
Even by the logic of today’s science we see everyday movement of planets and the rise and set of the sun and the moon, which are very huge creatures. How could we believe this is possible while we deny the possibility of a Prophet being raised to Heavens?!
What is the role that should be played by Islamic centers in the west to present this occasion?
Answer
Al-Israa’ and Al-Mi`raj is not just an occasion, but it is a great events worthy of reflection and learning. The responsibility of the Islamic centers is to help Muslims reflect and learn from this great event without indulging in bid’ahs or innovative acts that destroy the significance of such a blessed occasion.
This includes:
1. Giving lectures, lessons, and seminars on the subject.
2. Gathering Muslim in mosques and using this great event to educate them on the seerah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and his struggle for defending truth and conveying the message to us.
3. Opening inter-faith dialogues with people of different faiths in the community, especially the Jews and Christians, as this great event is the crystal clear evidence of the unity of all prophets of Allah in preaching the same message and calling for the same cause.
4. Organizing campaigns to help the people defending Al-Aqsa Mosque and educating the non-Muslim neighbors about the ugliness of occupation and the oppression and atrocities the Palestinians are suffering now.
Name
Muslim
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
I wonder, how to introduced the occasion of Al-Mi`raj to a non-Muslim friend?
Answer
If your friend is from a Christian or Jewish background, as we presume it to be, he must have an idea of the miracles of the Prophets before, among which is the miracle of Prophet Idris who, according to the Bible, was raised to Heaven.
Most of Christians in the second coming of Jesus and that he will take all Christians to heaven for a while (7 years) and then bring them back to earth, which is called the concept of Rapture and Tribulation in the Christian theology. Therefore, if you want to introduce the concept of Al-Israa’ and Al-Mi`raj, you can use these examples. Also, scientific approach to the event is also possible.
I converted to Islam few years ago but there is something I would like to know. What is Al-Israa’ and Al-Mi`raj? Thank you.
Answer
Al-Israa’ in Arabic means the night journey. In Islamic terminology it refers to a miraculous divine trip by Prophet Muhammad from Makkah to Jerusalem. This trip is also referred to in the first verse of surat Al-Israa’ (chapter 17).
Al Mi`raj in Arabic means ascension. In Islamic terminology it refers to a continuation of the same miraculous divine trip from earth to heavens where Prophet S met other prophets and saw many great signs of Allah.
I recommend you to read the commentary on the verse of surat Al-Israa’ and many Hadith in Al-Bukhari and Muslim on the subject.
Name
Dawud
-
Profession
Question
Should we consider all what the Prophet saw on the night of Al-Mi`raj as facts keeping in mind that there are many weak Hadiths to that effect? Please explain?
Answer
The weak hadiths do not count and we should not depend or rely on them. However, there are many authentic hadiths on Al-Mi`raj that are reliable and important.
As for Al-Israa’, it is strictly and explicitly mentioned in the Qur’an, and there is no argumentation about it at all.
As for Al-Mi`raj, only authentic hadiths are to be relied upon in order to avoid any misconception or exaggerations that are commonly found in the popular culture.
Reviewing all authentic hadiths on the subject, we find that most of the facts mentioned in these hadiths are religiously and scientifically convincing and we have to believe in them. A few of these facts have been subject to controversy and disagreements among scholars, such as the idea that the River Nile and Euphrates emanate from Paradise!! This is not compatible with the geographic knowledge of today. Many scholars believe that these must have been mistakes on part of the narrators of the hadiths, and we do not have to believe in something that might clash with obvious and well-established facts.
Name
Fatimah
- Netherlands
Profession
Question
Simply how can we introduce Al-Israa' and Al-Mi`raj to our young kids who are curious about the issue?
Answer
That is a good question. Kids usually like strange stories due to their unlimited imagination and this is a very beautiful and miraculous story that they will enjoy. Every parent should use his or her techniques and tools to introduce this story in a convincing way. For example, parents may use planets and spaceships to explain the buraq and the ascension to heavens.
The teachings or Al-Israa’ and Al-Mi`raj are to be highly focused on. You may read previous answers in order to derive some lessons to teach your kids.
Name
Zaman
-
Profession
Question
How could the Prophet lead all prophets in Salah? Did Allah bring them all to life? How he did that?
Answer
The whole issue is miraculous and about the world of spirits and unseen. Allah is All-CAPABLE of bringing prophets back to life anytime and of gathering them together at any place.
What is important for the Muslim is not how this happened but what does this mean. The significance of this part in the story is that we Muslims believe in all Prophets of Allah without distinction between any of them. Allah Almighty says, “The messenger believeth in that which hath been revealed unto him from his Lord and (so do) the believers. Each one believeth in Allah and His angels and His scriptures and His messengers We make no distinction between any of His messengers…” (Al-Baqarah: 285)
Name
Muhammad Muinul Islam
- Bangladesh
Profession
Lecturer
Question
I have read all the write ups available on IslamOnline website about Al-Israa’ and Al-Mi`raj. In this context, I want to know about the following issues:
1. Did Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) see Allah face-to-face in his Mi`raj?
2. Why the vicinity of Jerusalem is so important and why Allah blessed this areas?
3. How far is it true that Muhammad met with Hazrat Abdul Qader Jilani and Khaja Muinuddin Chisty before he ride on Buraq?
Jazzaka Allahu Khairan.
Answer
1. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saw Allah the Almighty in Al-Israa’ and Al-Mi`raj but I would not use the expression “face-to-face” because this is a physical term. We should stay away from the concept of “how” and “where” when we talk about Allah. All what Muslims need to believe in is to affirm the fact that the Prophet saw His Lord and they should not go beyond this.
2. Jerusalem is so important and it is blessed by Allah because Allah made it a place of prophethood and messages, a place of connection between the creator and the created. The importance of any place in Islam in not based on the beautiful scenery that exists in it or the “prosperity” of the people living there, but it is based on how much significant this is place in terms of showing servitude and worship to Allah.
It is worthy mentioning here that Prophet Ibrahim (peace and blessings be upon him) took his family from his prosperous and civilized homeland (Iraq) to the desert of Makkah and he explained why: “O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation, by Thy Sacred House; in order, O our Lord, that they may establish regular Prayer…” (Ibrahim: 37)
3. It is not true that Prophet Muhammad met Abdul Qader Jilani or Khaja Muinuddin Chisty. Those people were not even born at that time, nor do we have any authentic narration to confirm this meeting. So, the whole issue is based on heresy and popular oral traditions. Also, when we talk about the Unseen, the Muslim has to be cautious not to depend on any weak hadith and to depend only on authentic reports.
Name
Ashraff
- Sri Lanka
Profession
Student
Question
Al-Salaamu Alaykum.
It's pity that we modern day Muslims still have doubts about this event. Al-Israa’ and Al-Mi`hraj. Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) was the first person to believe and accept this Night journey of our beloved Prophet at the time where men has not achieved any progress on technologie or space.
Now that we have witnessed many progress in this field how can we Muslims who believes in Allah still can have any doubts about this event. My view is that Allah has spoken about this journey in the Qur’an and after that there shouldn't be any questions or doubts related to this event. Please comment if I’m wrong.
Answer
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
I will comment but you are totally right. Belief in the Unseen is an integral part of religion and it is the first characteristic of the righteous as we read in Surat Al-Baqarah: “This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear Allah; Who believe in the Unseen.” (Al-Baqarah: 3)
I would like to share a story with my brothers and sisters reading this dialogue. I heard a Christian fundamentalist preacher in the US saying “some people do not believe that the whale swallowed Prophet Yunus (Jonah) but if the Bible said that Jonah swallowed the whale I would believe it. How can the Muslim have doubts regarding the Qur’an which is preserved by Allah and be weaker in faith than those who believe in this distorted book?!
Name
Dawud
-
Profession
Question
Has the Prophet saw His Lord on that Night?
Answer
We answered this question previously.
Again, the issue is controversial and the Prophet’s Companions held different views on the issue.
If we take the opinion of those who believe that the Prophet saw His Lord, which I personally subscribe to, it should not be understood in a physical way, as Allah says: “No sight can grasp Him, but His grasp is over all sights: He is above all comprehension, yet is acquainted with all things.” (Al-An`am: 103)
Name
concerned
- Australia
Profession
Question
How can a youth camp done at the time of the occasion benefit from it? Do you have any practical programs to apply in this regard?
Answer
1. Bring some good speakers to talk about the significance of this event, especially the importance of Salah, the unity of Prophets, the universality of Islam, the special relation with the People of the Book and the importance of Al-Aqsa mosque and Jerusalem, occupation and oppression suffered by the Palestinians.
2. Do some art work on Al-Quds using nasheeds, poetry, plays, and crafts.
3. Try to arrange for some fundraising campaigns for Palestinian children and people in general as the first line of defense of Al-Aqsa.
