Ramadhan, the Month of God (17)

Salaam and welcome to the 17th episode of Ramadhan, the Month of God.

As usual, we first recite the special supplication of the day:

“O Allah, guide me this day to righteous works; fulfill therein my needs and hopes, O You who do not stand in need of explaining or asking, O You who know what is in the hearts of the creatures; bless Muhammad and the pure ones of his Progeny!”

According to some narrations, the 17^th of Ramadhan is the anniversary of the  Me’raj or Ascension to the highest point in the heavens and then back to Planet Earth in a fraction of a night by Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). During this celestial journey God Almighty showed His Last and Greatest Prophet the mysteries of creation and the wonders of the universe, including events to till Day of Judgment.

It was on this night in Mecca, before the Prophet’s migration to Medina that Gabriel descended with the celestial mount “Buraq” – which means faster than the speed of light. In a few moments the Prophet found himself in the Masjid al-Aqsa or the Remote Mosque, which could be the one in Bayt al-Moqaddas, or as per other narrations, located in the heavens. Narrations also speak of his lightning visit that night to the Grand Mosque of Kufa in Iraq that used to be the house of Prophet Noah and was in ruins in those days. He also made stops at Medina, which in the near future would be the capital of his ideal government, and at Mount Sinai where God Almighty used to speak to Prophet Moses.

Thus, in the twinkling of an eye, Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) was in the ethereal heavens, meeting the prophets of the past, including Jesus, who is still alive and was never crucified as alleged, and will return in the end times to earth to assist the Prophet of Islam’s last and 12th Infallible Heir, Imam Mahdi (AS) in establishing the global government of peace, prosperity, and justice.

According to narrations, Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) passed through the 7 heavens, beholding wonderful scenes which no human has ever witnessed. He met angels, who saluted him and was shown Paradise and its denizens, as well as hell and its dwellers. Then for the next lap of the journey ahead he mounted “Raf-Raf” which is faster than “Buraq” and no one knows its speed. Gabriel took him to “Sidrat-al-Muntaha”, the highest point in the heavens, and then requested him to proceed ahead, saying he himself cannot go any further, and his wings will be burned if he dared. It was God’s Will to summon the Best of his creation to His proximity.

It is narrated that from behind the dazzling curtain of celestial light the Voice chosen by God – Who is far glorious to have any place, form, shape, or voice – to speak was that of Imam Ali (AS), because it was the most soothing voice for Prophet Mohammad (SAWA).

Thus, the Me’raj or the celestial journey is among the greatest miracles of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA). The journey was physical and not spiritual, and neither a vision. Those who doubt it, or conjecture that it was journey of the soul and not the body, cannot be called true Muslims.

On reaching Planet Earth, the Prophet of Islam stopped briefly at Bayt al-Moqaddas before heading toward Mecca. On his way, he came across a caravan which gave him some water to drink. Then the Prophet alighted at the house of his cousin, Umm Hani, the sister of Imam Ali (AS).

When the Prophet informed his companions of this great miracle, some started skepticism, at which the Prophet told them to wait till the arrival of a certain caravan in Mecca. Days later when that caravan arrived, it was surprised to see the Prophet to whom water had been given to drink during the brief meeting.

In the beginning of Surah Isra', God says, "Immaculate is He who carried His servant on a journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose environs We have blessed, that We might show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He is Hearing, Seeing."

The prominent exegete of the holy Qur'an, Allamah Seyyed Mohammad Hussain Tabatabai, says regarding this ayah: Praise belongs to God who majestically carried His servant Mohammad (SAWA) on a journey by night to show him His power and sovereignty.

The Prophet of Islam narrated to the Muslims the words of the Creator, including admonishments and commandments that cover a wide variety of issues. This account became famous as Hadith Me'raj and is a collection of the dialogue between the Prophet and God Almighty. In the beginning of the hadith, the Prophet asked God, "O God!  What is the best deed?" God answered, "Nothing is superior with Me than putting trust in Me and satisfaction with what I have ordained."

This brief answer is the key to remove the obstacles that exists on the way of human sublimity.

In another part of Hadith Me'raj, God told His Prophet, "O Ahmad! Worship is 10 parts; 9 parts of it are seeking halal (or permissible) sustenance. Hence, if you prepare your food and drinks through halal means, you will be under My protection."

The Prophet asked, "O God! What is the best and first worship?" God answered, "The beginning of worship is fasting and silence."

This statement indicates that silence and fasting are the first step in servitude of God. As long as man's tongue is unchecked and he speaks every futile word, he has is not marching on the path of servitude. Stomach is the same. If man eats whatever he desires and whenever he wants, he will turn into an animal that just wants to fill the stomach.

Then the Prophet asked, "My Lord! What is the impact of fasting?" God answered, "Fasting instills wisdom; wisdom inspires cognizance and cognizance leads to certitude. When a servant attains the status of certitude he will be free from the bondage of hardship or ease."

 What took place in the great event of Me'raj, was the result of the Prophet's pure and sincere servitude to God. This peerless personality ascended the highest point in the heavens regarding which God Almighty says in ayahs 7 to the 18 of surah Najm:

“While he was on the highest horizon; Then he drew nearer and nearer, until he was within two bows’ length or even nearer, whereat He revealed to His servant whatever He revealed. The heart did not deny what it saw. Will you then dispute with him about what he saw?! Certainly he saw it yet another time.  Certainly he saw some of the greatest signs of his Lord.’ By the Lote Tree of the Ultimate Boundary, near which is the Garden of the Abode, when there covered the Lote Tree what covered it. The gaze did not swerve, nor did it overstep the bounds. Certainly he saw some of the greatest signs of his Lord.”

RM/AS/SS