Isra and Miraj
Also called
Type Observed by Significance Date 2021 Date Observances |
Lailat Al-Miraj, Shab-e-Miraj
Islamic Muslims around the world Mohammad (Peace Be Upon him) ascending to heaven Rajab 27 Thursday, March 11, 2021 (Expected) Offering optional prayers, Reciting Quran |
The Isra and Miraj (Arabic: الإسراء والمعراج, Al-Isra wal-Miraj), are the two parts of a Night Journey that, according to tradition, the Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) took during a single night around the year 621. It has been described as both a physical and spiritual journey. A brief sketch of the story is in Sura Al-Isra also called Isreal,17th sura of the Qur'an,and other details come from the Hadith, supplemental writings about the life of Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him). In the journey, Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) travels on the Buraq to "The farthest mosque" where he leads other prophets in prayer. He then ascends to heaven where he speaks to ALLAH, who gives Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) instructions to take back to the faithful on Earth about the number of times to offer prayers each day.
The Journey is associated with the Lailat Al-Miraj, one of the most significant events in the Islamic calendar.
The Journey is associated with the Lailat Al-Miraj, one of the most significant events in the Islamic calendar.
Other Names of Event
Term |
Language |
Country where term is used |
Lailat Al-Miraj (Arabic: لیلة المعراج) |
Arabic |
Arab World |
Shab-e-Miraj (Persian: شب معراج) |
Persian |
Iran, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh |
Miraç Kandili |
Turkish |
Turkey |
Date of the Journey
The exact date of the Journey is not clear, but is celebrated as though it took place before the Hijra and after Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) visit to the people of Ta’if. It is considered by some to have happened just over a year before the Hijra, on the 22 March, 620 A.D / 27th Rajab, 10 Nabawi.
Brief Story of Event
Panorama of the Western Wall (The Buraq Wall) with the Dome of the Rock (left) and Al-Aqsa mosque (right) in the background
The Isra begins with Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) resting in the Kaaba in Mecca, when the archangel Gabriel comes to him, and brings him the winged steed Buraq.The buraq was said to be longer than a donkey but smaller than a mule it was also said that each stride of the buraq would take you to the horizon. It was the traditional lightning steed of the prophets.
The Buraq then carries Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) to the Masjid Al Aqsa the "Farthest Mosque", which many Muslims believe is "The Noble sanctuary" (Temple Mount) in Jerusalem. Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) alights, tethers Buraq to the Al-Buraaq Wall, and leads the all prophets including Adem (Adam), Musa (Moses), and Isa (Jesus) in prayer.
He then re-mounts Buraq, and in the second part of the journey, the Miraj (An Arabic word that literally means “ladder”), he is taken to the heavens, where he tours the circles of heaven, speaks with the earlier prophets such as Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), and Isa (Jesus),and met the Prophets on various heavens as follows:
ALLAH instructs Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) that Muslims must pray fifty times a day; however, Moses tells Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) that it is very difficult for them and they could never do it, and urges Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) to go back several times and ask for a reduction, until finally it is reduced to five times a day.
After Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) returned to Earth and told his story in Mecca, the unbelieving townspeople regarded it as absurd. Some go to Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) companion Abdullah ibn Abi Qahafa (Abu Bakr) (ALLAH Bless With Him) and said to him,
"Look at what your companion is saying. He says he went to Jerusalem and came back in one night." Abu Bakr in replies, "If he said that, then he is truthful. I believe him concerning the news of the heavens that an angel descends to him from the heavens. How could I not believe he went to Jerusalem and came back in a short period of time when these are on earth?"
It was for this that Abu Bakr is said to have received his famous title from ALLAH, "As-Siddiq", The Truthful.
The Buraq then carries Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) to the Masjid Al Aqsa the "Farthest Mosque", which many Muslims believe is "The Noble sanctuary" (Temple Mount) in Jerusalem. Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) alights, tethers Buraq to the Al-Buraaq Wall, and leads the all prophets including Adem (Adam), Musa (Moses), and Isa (Jesus) in prayer.
He then re-mounts Buraq, and in the second part of the journey, the Miraj (An Arabic word that literally means “ladder”), he is taken to the heavens, where he tours the circles of heaven, speaks with the earlier prophets such as Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), and Isa (Jesus),and met the Prophets on various heavens as follows:
- On the first heaven:Prophet Adem (Adam)
- On the second heaven:Prophet John and Jesus (Yahya and Isa)
- On the third heaven:Prophet Joseph (Yusuf)
- On the fourth heaven:Prophet Enoch (Idris)
- On the fifth heaven:Prophet Aaron (Harun)
- On the sixth heaven:Prophet Moses (Musa)
- On the seventh heaven:Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim)
ALLAH instructs Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) that Muslims must pray fifty times a day; however, Moses tells Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) that it is very difficult for them and they could never do it, and urges Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) to go back several times and ask for a reduction, until finally it is reduced to five times a day.
After Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) returned to Earth and told his story in Mecca, the unbelieving townspeople regarded it as absurd. Some go to Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) companion Abdullah ibn Abi Qahafa (Abu Bakr) (ALLAH Bless With Him) and said to him,
"Look at what your companion is saying. He says he went to Jerusalem and came back in one night." Abu Bakr in replies, "If he said that, then he is truthful. I believe him concerning the news of the heavens that an angel descends to him from the heavens. How could I not believe he went to Jerusalem and came back in a short period of time when these are on earth?"
It was for this that Abu Bakr is said to have received his famous title from ALLAH, "As-Siddiq", The Truthful.
Event of Isra and Mi'raj in View of The Quran and Hadith
Event in the View of The Quran
The event of Isra and Mi'raj are referred to briefly in the Qur'an. For greater detail, they have been discussed in supplemental traditions to the Qur'an, known as hadith literature. Within the Qur'an itself, there is a Verse in chapter 17, which has been named after the Isra, and is called "Chapter Isra" or "Sura Al-Isra". There is also some information in Sura An-Najm, which some scholars say is related to the Isra and Mi'raj. In Sura Al-Isra
بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلًا مِّنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَقْصَى الَّذِي بَارَكْنَا حَوْلَهُ لِنُرِيَهُ مِنْ آيَاتِنَا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ (1) صدق اللہ
پاکی ہے اسے (یعنی اللہ) جو اپنے بندے (محمدصلى الله عليہ وآلہ وسلم) کو، راتوں رات لے گیا مسجد حرام سے مسجد اقصیٰ تک جس کے گرداگرد ہم نے برکت رکھی کہ ہم اسے اپنی عظیم نشانیاں دکھائیں، بیشک وہ سنتا دیکھتا ہے
Purity is to Him Who took His bondman in a part of the night from the Sacred Mosque to the Aqsa Mosque around which We have placed blessings, in order that We may show him Our great signs; indeed he is the listener, the beholder. (This Verse refers to the physical journey of Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) to Al-Aqsa Mosque and from there to the heavens and beyond. The entire journey back to Mecca was completed within a small part of the night.)
ALLAH said in Sura An-Najm, 53rd sura of the Qur'an, Ayats 8 to 18
بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ ﴿٨﴾ فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَىٰ ﴿٩﴾ فَأَوْحَىٰ إِلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ مَا أَوْحَىٰ ﴿١٠﴾ مَا كَذَبَ الْفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰ ﴿١١﴾ أَفَتُمَارُونَهُ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ ﴿١٢﴾ وَلَقَدْ رَآهُ نَزْلَةً أُخْرَىٰ ﴿١٣﴾ عِندَ سِدْرَةِ الْمُنتَهَىٰ ﴿١٤﴾ عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ الْمَأْوَىٰ ﴿١٥﴾ إِذْ يَغْشَى
السِّدْرَةَ مَا يَغْشَىٰ ﴿١٦﴾ مَا زَاغَ الْبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ ﴿١٧﴾ لَقَدْ رَأَىٰ مِنْ آيَاتِ رَبِّهِ الْكُبْرَىٰ ﴿١٨﴾ صدق اللہ
پھر وہ جلوہ نزدیک ہوا پھر خوب اتر آیا (8) تو اس جلوے اور اس محبوب میں دو ہاتھ کا فاصلہ رہا بلکہ اس سے بھی کم (9) اب وحی فرمائی اپنے بندے کو جو وحی فرمائی (10) دل نے جھوٹ نہ کہا جو دیکھا (11) تو کیا تم ان سے ان کے دیکھے ہوئے پر جھگڑ تے ہو (12) اور انہوں نے تو وہ جلوہ دوبار دیکھا (13) سدرة المنتہیٰ کے پاس (14) اس کے پاس جنت الماویٰ ہے (15) جب سدرہ پر چھا رہا تھا جو چھا رہا تھا (16) آنکھ نہ کسی طرف پھر نہ حد سے بڑھی (17) بیشک اپنے رب کی بہت بڑی نشانیاں دیکھیں (18)اللہ
Then the Spectacle became closer, and came down in full view. (8) So the distance between the Spectacle and the beloved was only two arms’ length, or even less. (The Heavenly Journey of Prophet Mohammed Peace Be Upon Him was with body and soul) (9) So ALLAH divinely revealed to His bondman, whatever He divinely revealed. (10) The heart did not deny, what it saw. (The Holy Prophet was bestowed with seeing ALLAH) (11) What! So do you dispute with him regarding what he saw? (12) And indeed he did see the Spectacle again. (13) Near the lote-tree of the last boundary. (14) Close to which is the Everlasting Paradise.(15) When the lote-tree was being enveloped, by whatever around it. (16) The sight did not shift, nor did it cross the limits. (17) Indeed he saw the supreme signs of his Lord. (18)
Event in the View of Hadith
There are number of hadiths relating to this event in books of hadiths but we are mentioned here that hadith which is comprehensive.
Narrated Anas bin Malik, Malik bin Sasaa said that ALLAH's Apostle described to them his Night Journey saying, "While I was lying in Al-Hatim or Al-Hijr, suddenly someone came to me and cut my body open from here to here." I asked Al-Jarud who was by my side, "What does he mean?" He said, "It means from his throat to his pubic area," or said, "From the top of the chest." The Prophet further said, "He then took out my heart. Then a gold tray of Belief was brought to me and my heart was washed and was filled (with Belief) and then returned to its original place. Then a white animal which was smaller than a mule and bigger than a donkey was brought to me." (On this Al-Jarud asked, "Was it the Buraq, O Abu Hamza?" I (i.e. Anas) replied in the affirmative). The Prophet said, "The animal's step (Was so wide that it) reached the farthest point within the reach of the animal's sight.
I was carried on it, and Gabriel set out with me till we reached the nearest heaven. When he asked for the gate to be opened, it was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel answered, 'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Mohammad.' It was asked, 'Has Mohammad been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!' The gate was opened, and when I went over the first heaven, I saw Adam there. Gabriel said (To me). 'This is your father, Adam; pay him your greetings.' So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious son and pious Prophet.'
Then Gabriel ascended with me till we reached the second heaven. Gabriel asked for the gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel answered, 'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Mohammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel answered in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!' The gate was opened. When I went over the second heaven, there I saw Yahya (John) and Isa (Jesus) who were cousins of each other. Gabriel said (to me), 'These are John and Jesus; pay them your greetings.' So I greeted them and both of them returned my greetings to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.'
Then Gabriel ascended with me to the third heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Mohammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his is!' The gate was opened, and when I went over the third heaven there I saw Joseph. Gabriel said (To me), 'This is Joseph; pay him your greetings.' So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.'
Then Gabriel ascended with me to the fourth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Mohammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed, what an excel lent visit his is!' The gate was opened, and when I went over the fourth heaven, there I saw Idris. Gabriel said (To me), 'This is Idris; pay him your greetings.' So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.' Then Gabriel ascended with me to the fifth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel.' It was asked. 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Mohammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his is! So when I went over the fifth heaven, there I saw Harun (Aaron), Gabriel said, (To me). This is Aaron; pay him your greetings.' I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.'
Then Gabriel ascended with me to the sixth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked. 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Mohammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. It was said, 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!' When I went (Over the sixth heaven), there I saw Moses. Gabriel said (To me),' This is Moses; pay him your greeting. So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.' When I left him (Moses) he wept. Someone asked him, 'What makes you weep?' Moses said, 'I weep because after me there has been sent (As Prophet) a young man whose followers will enter Paradise in greater numbers than my followers.'
Then Gabriel ascended with me to the seventh heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel.' It was asked,' Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Mohammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!' So when I went (Over the seventh heaven), there I saw Abraham. Gabriel said (To me), 'This is your father; pay your greetings to him.' So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious son and pious Prophet.' Then I was made to ascend to Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (The Lote Tree of the utmost boundary) Behold! Its fruits were like the jars of Hajr (A place near Medina) and its leaves were as big as the ears of elephants. Gabriel said, 'This is the Lote Tree of the utmost boundary' . Behold ! There ran four rivers, two were hidden and two were visible, I asked, 'What are these two kinds of rivers, O Gabriel?' He replied,' As for the hidden rivers, they are two rivers in Paradise and the visible rivers are the Nile and the Euphrates.'
Then Al-Bait-ul-Mamur (The Sacred House) was shown to me and a container full of wine and another full of milk and a third full of honey were brought to me. I took the milk. Gabriel remarked, 'This is the Islamic religion which you and your followers are following.' Then the prayers were enjoined on me: They were fifty prayers a day. When I returned, I passed by Moses who asked (Me), 'What have you been ordered to do?' I replied, 'I have been ordered to offer fifty prayers a day.' Moses said, 'Your followers cannot bear fifty prayers a day, and by ALLAH, I have tested people before you, and I have tried my level best with Bani Israel (In vain). Go back to your Lord and ask for reduction to lessen your followers' burden.' So I went back, and ALLAH reduced ten prayers for me. Then again I came to Moses, but he repeated the same as he had said before. Then again I went back to ALLAH and He reduced ten more prayers. When I came back to Moses he said the same, I went back to ALLAH and He ordered me to observe ten prayers a day. When I came back to Moses, he repeated the same advice, so I went back to ALLAH and was ordered to observe five prayers a day. When I came back to Moses, he said, 'What have you been ordered?' I replied, 'I have been ordered to observe five prayers a day.' He said, 'Your followers cannot bear five prayers a day, and no doubt, I have got an experience of the people before you, and I have tried my level best with Bani Israel, so go back to your Lord and ask for reduction to lessen your follower's burden.' I said, 'I have requested so much of my Lord that I feel ashamed, but I am satisfied now and surrender to ALLAH's Order.' When I left, I heard a voice saying, 'I have passed My Order and have lessened the burden of My Worshipers."
Narrated Anas bin Malik, Malik bin Sasaa said that ALLAH's Apostle described to them his Night Journey saying, "While I was lying in Al-Hatim or Al-Hijr, suddenly someone came to me and cut my body open from here to here." I asked Al-Jarud who was by my side, "What does he mean?" He said, "It means from his throat to his pubic area," or said, "From the top of the chest." The Prophet further said, "He then took out my heart. Then a gold tray of Belief was brought to me and my heart was washed and was filled (with Belief) and then returned to its original place. Then a white animal which was smaller than a mule and bigger than a donkey was brought to me." (On this Al-Jarud asked, "Was it the Buraq, O Abu Hamza?" I (i.e. Anas) replied in the affirmative). The Prophet said, "The animal's step (Was so wide that it) reached the farthest point within the reach of the animal's sight.
I was carried on it, and Gabriel set out with me till we reached the nearest heaven. When he asked for the gate to be opened, it was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel answered, 'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Mohammad.' It was asked, 'Has Mohammad been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!' The gate was opened, and when I went over the first heaven, I saw Adam there. Gabriel said (To me). 'This is your father, Adam; pay him your greetings.' So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious son and pious Prophet.'
Then Gabriel ascended with me till we reached the second heaven. Gabriel asked for the gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel answered, 'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Mohammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel answered in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!' The gate was opened. When I went over the second heaven, there I saw Yahya (John) and Isa (Jesus) who were cousins of each other. Gabriel said (to me), 'These are John and Jesus; pay them your greetings.' So I greeted them and both of them returned my greetings to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.'
Then Gabriel ascended with me to the third heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Mohammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his is!' The gate was opened, and when I went over the third heaven there I saw Joseph. Gabriel said (To me), 'This is Joseph; pay him your greetings.' So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.'
Then Gabriel ascended with me to the fourth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Mohammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed, what an excel lent visit his is!' The gate was opened, and when I went over the fourth heaven, there I saw Idris. Gabriel said (To me), 'This is Idris; pay him your greetings.' So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.' Then Gabriel ascended with me to the fifth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel.' It was asked. 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Mohammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his is! So when I went over the fifth heaven, there I saw Harun (Aaron), Gabriel said, (To me). This is Aaron; pay him your greetings.' I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.'
Then Gabriel ascended with me to the sixth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked. 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Mohammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. It was said, 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!' When I went (Over the sixth heaven), there I saw Moses. Gabriel said (To me),' This is Moses; pay him your greeting. So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.' When I left him (Moses) he wept. Someone asked him, 'What makes you weep?' Moses said, 'I weep because after me there has been sent (As Prophet) a young man whose followers will enter Paradise in greater numbers than my followers.'
Then Gabriel ascended with me to the seventh heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel.' It was asked,' Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Mohammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!' So when I went (Over the seventh heaven), there I saw Abraham. Gabriel said (To me), 'This is your father; pay your greetings to him.' So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious son and pious Prophet.' Then I was made to ascend to Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (The Lote Tree of the utmost boundary) Behold! Its fruits were like the jars of Hajr (A place near Medina) and its leaves were as big as the ears of elephants. Gabriel said, 'This is the Lote Tree of the utmost boundary' . Behold ! There ran four rivers, two were hidden and two were visible, I asked, 'What are these two kinds of rivers, O Gabriel?' He replied,' As for the hidden rivers, they are two rivers in Paradise and the visible rivers are the Nile and the Euphrates.'
Then Al-Bait-ul-Mamur (The Sacred House) was shown to me and a container full of wine and another full of milk and a third full of honey were brought to me. I took the milk. Gabriel remarked, 'This is the Islamic religion which you and your followers are following.' Then the prayers were enjoined on me: They were fifty prayers a day. When I returned, I passed by Moses who asked (Me), 'What have you been ordered to do?' I replied, 'I have been ordered to offer fifty prayers a day.' Moses said, 'Your followers cannot bear fifty prayers a day, and by ALLAH, I have tested people before you, and I have tried my level best with Bani Israel (In vain). Go back to your Lord and ask for reduction to lessen your followers' burden.' So I went back, and ALLAH reduced ten prayers for me. Then again I came to Moses, but he repeated the same as he had said before. Then again I went back to ALLAH and He reduced ten more prayers. When I came back to Moses he said the same, I went back to ALLAH and He ordered me to observe ten prayers a day. When I came back to Moses, he repeated the same advice, so I went back to ALLAH and was ordered to observe five prayers a day. When I came back to Moses, he said, 'What have you been ordered?' I replied, 'I have been ordered to observe five prayers a day.' He said, 'Your followers cannot bear five prayers a day, and no doubt, I have got an experience of the people before you, and I have tried my level best with Bani Israel, so go back to your Lord and ask for reduction to lessen your follower's burden.' I said, 'I have requested so much of my Lord that I feel ashamed, but I am satisfied now and surrender to ALLAH's Order.' When I left, I heard a voice saying, 'I have passed My Order and have lessened the burden of My Worshipers."
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Manaqib-e-Ansar, Hadith Number 3887, Classification of Hadith: Sahih)
Observance
Muslims celebrate this event by offering optional prayers during this night, and in some Muslim countries, by illuminating cities with electric lights and candles. The celebrations around this day tend to focus on children and the young. Children are gathered into a mosque and are told the story of the Isra and Mi'raj. After prayer (Salah, where the children can pray with the adults if they wish) food and treats are served. Esoteric interpretations of Islam emphasise the spiritual significance of Mi'raj, seeing it as a symbol of the soul's journey and the potential of humans to rise above the comforts of material life through prayer, piety and discipline.