2. The Night Journey (Al-Isra)

Surah Al-Isra begins with one of the most extraordinary events in Islamic history—the miraculous night journey of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):

The verse begins with "Subhan" (Glory be), expressing marvel at Allah's power manifested in this miraculous event. The term Isra refers specifically to the night journey from Masjid al-Haram in Makkah to Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem. What follows this terrestrial journey is the Mi'raj (ascension), in which the Prophet (peace be upon him) was elevated through the seven heavens.

Several profound aspects of this verse deserve contemplation. First, Allah refers to Muhammad (peace be upon him) as "His servant" ('abdihi), emphasizing the Prophet's primary identity as a devoted worshiper before anything else. Second, the journey occurred "by night" (laylan), during a time when Jerusalem was a considerable distance from Makkah—a journey that would typically take weeks by conventional means.

It is essential to understand that this journey was not merely spiritual or dream-like in nature, but a physical reality experienced by the Prophet (peace be upon him) in body and soul. Had it been merely a dream, it would not have represented a significant test of faith for the believers, nor would the disbelievers have found it so implausible. When the Quraysh challenged the Prophet about this journey, Allah enabled him to accurately describe details of Jerusalem that he had never physically visited before that night. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) earned his title "As-Siddiq" (the Truthful) for his immediate acceptance of this event without hesitation.

During this blessed journey, the Prophet (peace be upon him) not only traveled to Jerusalem but also led other prophets in prayer at Masjid al-Aqsa before ascending through the heavens. In each heaven, he encountered previous prophets, ultimately reaching a point beyond which even Angel Jibril could not proceed. There, according to the majority opinion among scholars, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was granted the extraordinary privilege of beholding Allah (swt)—an honor that even Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) had sought but was not granted during his earthly life.

This miraculous journey also marked the divine prescription of the five daily prayers, initially commanded as fifty prayers before being reduced to five through the Prophet's intercession, while maintaining the reward of fifty. The journey thus established one of the fundamental pillars of Islamic practice while demonstrating Allah's boundless mercy and the special status of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) among all creation.