What is Islam - eBook
The Mi’raaj in Detail
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.