Hazrat Shaddaad bin Aws (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said:

While traveling (on the buraaq from Makkah Mukarramah), we passed by a land which contained many date palms. As we came to this land, Hazrat Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) said to me, “Dismount from the buraaq and perform some nafl salaah here.” I thus dismounted and performed some nafl salaah.

After Hazrat Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) and Hazrat Meekaa’eel (‘alaihis salaam) washed the blessed heart of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) with Zam-Zam and placed the seal of prophethood between his blessed shoulders, the Buraaq was brought.

The Buraaq is a heavenly animal which is slightly smaller than a mule in size, but slightly bigger than a donkey. It is white in color and moves extremely swiftly. Such is its speed that in a single step, it travels as far as the eye can see.

Allah Ta‘ala says in the Qur’aan Majeed:

سُبۡحٰنَ الَّذِیۡۤ اَسۡرٰی بِعَبۡدِہٖ لَیۡلًا مِّنَ الۡمَسۡجِدِ الۡحَرَامِ اِلَی الۡمَسۡجِدِ الۡاَقۡصَا الَّذِیۡ بٰرَکۡنَا حَوۡلَہٗ لِنُرِیَہٗ مِنۡ اٰیٰتِنَا ؕ اِنَّہٗ ہُوَ السَّمِیۡعُ الۡبَصِیۡرُ ﴿۱﴾

Glory be to He who had taken His (special) servant in (a short portion of) the night from Masjid-ul-Haraam to Masjid-ul-Aqsa whose precincts We had blessed, in order that we may show him some of Our signs (some of which are mentioned in Surah Najm, such as journeying to Sidrat-ul-Muntaha, seeing Jannah and Jahannam and other divine phenomena). Certainly, He (Allah Ta‘ala) is All-Hearing, All-Seeing (and He will show the marvels of His power to whomsoever He wishes, and that special servant will behold it due to Allah Ta‘ala showing it to him, and he will hear it due to Allah Ta‘ala allowing him to hear it).” (Surah Israa v. 1)

In the terminology of the Ulama, the journey from Musjid-ul-Haraam to Musjid-ul-Aqsa is known as the Israa, and the journey from Musjid-ul-Aqsa to the Sidrat-ul-Muntaha is known as the Mi’raaj. At times, the entire journey, from the beginning to the end, is referred to collectively as the Israa and Mi’raaj.

After Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) returned from Taa’if, Allah Ta‘ala took him from Musjid-ul-Haraam to Musjid-ul-Aqsa, and from Musjid-ul-Aqsa to the seven heavens. Allah Ta‘ala took Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) on this journey with both his body and soul, in a wakeful state, and this entire journey occurred in a single night. This is referred to as the “Israa and Mi’raaj”.

Insha Allah, the details of the Israa and Mi’raaj will be discussed in the chapter relating to the divine miracles of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).

There is a difference of opinion among the Ulama of seerah regarding the date when the Israa and Mi’raaj transpired. From all the various views, the most famous view is that the Israa and Mi’raaj occurred on the twenty-seventh of Rajab.