“Glorious is He Who made his servant travel by night from Al- Masjid-ul-Haram to Al-Masjid-ul-Aqsa whose environs We have blessed, so that We let him see some of Our signs.

Surely, He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.” Shab e Mai’raaj the 27th night of the month of Rajab.

Believers celebrate this night in connection with the journey of Mai’raaj of Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. This night is celebrated as Eid Mai’raaj u Nabee, Jashn e Mai’raaj un Nabee in Pakistan. Gatherings of Zikr are conducted, in this regard we are gathered here, and may Allaah Kareem accept our participation (Aameen). It is impossible to give details of this journey therefore I will tell you this event summarily. Keep this important point in mind that one who denies the journey of Mai’raaj from Masjid al Haram to Masjid al Aqsa is Kaafir (non-believer) because it has been clearly mentioned in Holy Quraan.

The one who does not believe the journey from Masjid Al Aqsa to heavens is Faasiq (wrong doer). The one who does not believe the journey from heavens to Kabaah Kausaien is devoid of love of Ieemaan and blessings. This visit has been mentioned in the Holy Quraan. First I will give answers to few objections and then I will discuss the journey.

Allaah Almighty says,

“Glorious is He Who made his servant travel by night” LAIELLAN, means within the short part of the night. From Masjid al Haram to Masjid al Aqsa.

Which Masjid Aqsa, that Masjid Aqsa whose environs have been blessed by Allaah Kareem.

Why did Allaah [Ta’aalaa] made Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to visit, in order to show His signs that belong to vision.

No doubt Allaah Kareem is All Hearing and All Watching. In this verse Arabic word INNAHUU there is zameer which according to some scholars points towards Allaah that

He made his servant visit while others say it is pointing towards Prophet Muhammad ﷺ i.e. he was made to visit.

I accept both versions that Allaah Almighty is watching and hearing the Prophet and Prophet Muhammad [Peace be upon Him] seeing and hearing Allaah Kareem; so dispute got solved.

This verse started with the word SUBHAAN, which means devoid or free from all objections and shortcomings. By starting with the word “Subhaan”, Allaah Kareem has shunned all the objections.

Those people who say how a human being visited heavens, how he lived without oxygen, on this earth one may stay on one leg but cannot raise both legs how the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ went at such height, there are two zones in the atmosphere one is so much cold other is so much hot how he passed from there, how he completed such a long journey in a small part of the night.

Allaah Kareem has answered all objections by saying that Great is “HE” Who took Prophet on that journey.

We all know that Allaah [Ta’aalaa] can do whatever He likes, He has no limits or weakness; we cannot even think of any Weakness or limit for HIM.[Jalla Shaanuhu]

If Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had made such claim that he visited Masjid al Aqsa, Heavens and beyond that in a short part of night all Muslims would have accepted and approved it.

But Allaah Kareem was aware that there will be such persons who would raise objections, Allaah [Jalla Shaanuhu] did not want to have objections over His beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ therefore Allaah Almighty said I took him on that journey so whoever has any objection he may Object to Me Allaah [Ta’aalaa] not Prophet ﷺ as whoever objects Allaah Kareem, people will come to know that he does not believe in the powers of Allaah [Ta’aalaa].

Therefore Allaah Kareem did not ask Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to claim but claimed Himself that He took prophet to that journey [Laielatul Mai’raaj].

I have said something that is enough for the believers, in spite of all this there are people who measure belief with rationale or common sense; they do not have answers regarding their own existence.

I would not like to waste time in their fruitless discussion and objections. I would just like to ask, if one believes in Qur’aan and Allaah Ta’aalaa, is there any space for objections yet? No.

However, few people say that this was spiritual Mai’raaj not of the physical body or this event happened in the dream. Those people who say that it happened in the dream are worse than Abu Jahal.

If this had been dream, Abu Jahal would never had objected because he himself had dreams as a human being. He also objected that how did Prophet Muhammad ﷺ travel such a long distance with his physical body? Those who say Mai’raaj was a dream they live in dreams because my Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had Mai’raaj with physical body while he was awake.

Speech excerpt Hazrat Allaamah Kaukab Noorani Okarvi.