Some whys of Meraj

 In the 12th year after the declaration of Prophethood, the night after the 26th of Rajab, Allah Ta'ala granted the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) the heavenly journey of Meraj.

 

Why Rajab

 

Allah Ta'ala selected the month of Rajab for the journey of Meraj, as Rajab is the month of Allah Ta'ala.  As given in a Hadith in Kanz Ul Ummal.

 

Why Monday

 

Allah Ta'ala has granted many distinctions to Monday.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was born on Monday, He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) declared His Prophethood on Monday, the command for Hijra also came on Monday, the demise of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), which is a special day for the Ummah, also was on Monday.  The night in which the journey of Meraj occurred is also Monday.

 

Thus, Monday also has been granted excellence and has been made almost an equal to Friday, so that another witness is also ready for the Ummah.  In this way, all arrangements have been made for the Maghfirah (forgiveness) of the Ummah.

 

Two days and 2 nights in the week make the dark deeds of the Ummah more radiant, so that in Qiyamah when the Ummah is presented, it is more radiant than all others.  Because of the blessings of these days, even the minutest good deeds of the Ummah will turn into huge mountains of virtue.  This was the reason why Monday was made the night of Meraj.

 

Why did the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) go to Masjid Aqsa

 

The first reason as to why the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was taken to Masjid Aqsa was that this should serve as a proof for the disbelievers.  The heavenly worlds are not seen by the disbelievers, then how would they affirm and acknowledge Meraj?  They had seen Masjid Aqsa.  They asked the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) about Masjid Aqsa.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) told them about Masjid Aqsa and about the caravans, which He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) had seen on the way, so that with His true words, a proof is established for the disbelievers.  (Subul Ul Huda War Rashad, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 17)

 

Imam Muhammad Bin Yousuf As Saalhi (May Allah Ta'ala shower His mercy on him) says that in Syria, the gathering of Hashr will occur.  The intent of Allah Ta'ala in taking the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) to Masjid Aqsa is that when His blessed feet land there, then in Qiyamah, it will be a source of ease for the Ummah and because the blessings of His blessed feet, standing there will become easier.  (Subul Ul Huda War Rashad, Vol. 3, Pg. No. 18)

 

The desire of Masjid Aqsa

 

Hadhrat Muhaddith-e-Deccan (May Allah Ta'ala shower His mercy on him) says:

 

Translation: Baitul Muqaddis (Masjid Aqsa) would pray thus:  O Lord Almighty!  I have been honored by the presence of all Prophets.  Now no desire remains in my heart.  If there is, I want to see the blessed feet of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  The desire to meet Him is burning inside me.  To fulfill the desire  of Baitul Muqaddis, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was taken to there.  (Merajnama, Pg. No. 29)

 

Why did the journey start from the house of Hadhrat Umme Haani (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with her)

 

The journey of Meraj started from the house of Hadhrat Umme Haani (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with her) and not from the house of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  The wisdom here is that it is among the etiquette of the house of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) that one should not enter it without permission.  The Holy Quran says:

 

O Believers! Do not enter the houses of the Holy Prophet [blessings and peace be upon him] unless permission is granted to you for a meal. Nor (reach so early as to) wait for the cooking of the meal. But when you are invited then enter (at that time). Then when you have eaten the meal, (get up from there and) disperse without delay and do not linger on in eagerness for talk. Surely your (sitting for long in this) manner discomforts the Holy Prophet[blessings and peace be upon him]; and he feels reluctant to (ask) you (to leave) but Allah does not hesitate in (saying) the Truth. And when you ask them (the pure wives) for something, ask them from behind a curtain. This (regard and nice manner) causes great purity for your hearts and for their hearts. And it is not (at all lawful) for you that you cause inconvenience to the Holy Messenger of Allah [blessings and peace be upon him], nor is this (lawful) that you marry his (pure) wives after him, till the end of time. Surely it is the most grievous sin in the sight of Allah.  Surah Ahzaab (33:53)

 

The angels are also included in this command as the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is the Prophet for all creation, as given in this Hadith of Sahih Muslim:

 

I have been sent as the Prophet towards all creation.  (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 523; Musnad Imam Ahmad Bin Hambal, Hadith No. 8969; Zujajatul Masabeeh, Vol. 5, Pg. No. 8)

 

Hadhrat Mulla Ali Qari (May Allah Ta'ala shower His mercy on him) writes in Mirqaat in the interpretation of this Hadith: 

 

Translation: I have been sent as the Prophet towards the whole universe, all genie, humans, angels, beasts and plant life. 

 

Therefore, it is not permissible for even angels to enter the house of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) without His permission.  The night of Meraj, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) went to the house of Hadhrat Umme Haani (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with her), so that the angel could come to Him.

 

Why did Jibreel enter the house from the roof

 

The night of Meraj, Jibreel (May peace be upon him) presented a great example of respect and reverence of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  When he came to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), he did not enter the house from the door, but entered the house from the roof.  The rule is:

 

And it is no righteousness that you enter your houses from the rear.  Surah Baqarah (2:189)

 

One reason is that entering house in a strange manner is an indication is that the journey is also wondrous.  Entering the house from the roof is an indication that the journey is also going to be one of ascent.

 

Another reason is that whenever Jibreel (May peace be upon him) came to the presence of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), he would become the very personification of respect and would request permission.  Out of respect, he would not come closer to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) suddenly, but he would be constantly requesting the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  When the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would grant him permission, then he would come close to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and with sit parallel-legged.

 

Thus, in many different types of books of Hadith like the Sihah, Sunan, etc., there are many Hadith of this kind.  As an example, the following Hadith is being reproduced here:

 

Translation of Hadith: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abdullah bin Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says: We were present before the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Suddenly a person with a beautiful face, fragrant odor and in a clean dress came to His presence and said:

 

Assalamulaikum, O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  May I come closer to you?  Then He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Come closer.  He came a little closer.  In the same way, he kept requesting for permission many times and kept coming closer to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

 

In Musnad Imam Ahmad Bin Hambal, the Hadith is with a slight change:

 

Jibreel said: Assalamulaikum O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Walaikum Assalam.  Then he said: O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) may I come closer?  He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Come closer.

 

In Kanz Ul Ummal, the words are like this:

 

Jibreel (May peace be upon him) said: May I come closer to You, O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)!  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Come closer to me.

 

If on the night of Meraj also, Jibreel (May peace be upon him) had entered in the normal manner, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would have had to welcome him.  It was not acceptable to Allah Ta'ala that His Beloved should be disturbed out of His sleep and that He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) should have had to welcome Jibreel (May peace be upon him).  Thus, the angel was ordered to enter the house from the roof.

 

Why Burraq

 

Burraq is a mount from Jannah.  It was brought to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Instead of this, it could have been that the distance was shortened for the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), the earth could have been rolled up for Him, so that one step of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) could have been in Makkah and the next in Masjid Aqsa.  This was not done.  This is because all this is common in the Auliya (saints), but a mount which completes the journey in the blinking of an eye is the distinction of the Prophets.

 

Another reason is that the Burraq was not brought because it was needed, but it was to grace the Burraq and to express the grandeur of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

 

When the elite of this world are invited, a mode of conveyance is also sent to them.  This is to respect and revere the person.  Similarly, Allah Ta'ala sent such a mount for His beloved Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) that no human had ever rode one like it.

 

Allah Ta'ala could have sent any of the usual mounts of Arabia and made it fast like the Burraq, or any conveyance from the future could also have been sent, but it was not so.  This is to show that the way the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is incomparable, His mount also should be such that before Him no one had rode one and after Him no one ever will. 

 

If any vehicle from the future had been sent, then in the later times, people would have used such vehicles.  For this reason, Allah Ta'ala sent a mount from Jannah, on which no one else from the world can travel.