ahmaroayoubi
كاتبة متميزة واميرة الاشراف
عدد المساهمات : 307
تاريخ التسجيل : 03/01/2012
العمر : 55
 | موضوع: Al-Isra'a and Al-Mi`raj - the two parts of a Night Journey  الأربعاء مايو 28, 2014 10:37 am | |
| Allah Says in Quran : " Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al- Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing."
Surat Al-Isra'a begins with glorifying Allah ,God, the most fitting action to confirm the bond between Allah ,God and His servants in the atmosphere of compassion and friendliness imparted by the mention of the night journey.
The surah emphasizes the position of the Prophet as God’s servant: "He Who transported His servant by night". The emphasis here is needed in the context of the Prophet’s ascension to heaven where no human being had gone before. It is important in this context that the status of the Peophet’s servitude to Allah ,God should always be remembered.
There must be no confusion of status similar to that which happened in the case of Jesus on account of his birth, his being raised to heaven at the end of his life on earth, and the powers that were given to him during life. All these caused some people to confuse his status and to claim that he had a divine nature. In its simplicity and purity, Islam insists that no similarity could ever exist between Allah and any creature.
The Arabic text of this opening verse uses the verb asra, which denotes “traveling during the night.” It is sufficient then to use this verb to denote the time of the action. Yet the verse adds the phrase laylan or “by night” to give an added sense of the still night and the ease of travel.
The journey from the Sacred Mosque,Kabah, to Al-Aqsa Mosque was one chosen by Allah, the Compassionate Who knows everything. It provided a link between all monotheistic faiths from the time of Abraham and Ishmael to the time of the last Prophet, Muhammad (peace be upon them all).
It also established a link between the holy places in all these religions. It seems that this unusual journey served as an announcement that the last Messenger was the heir to the heritage of all former messengers. His message staked a claim to all these holy places. Thus it becomes a journey that goes beyond the scope of time and place.
The opening verse describes Al-Aqsa Mosque as one with blessed environs. This description shows the blessings surrounding the mosque and flowing in abundance. This impression could not have been given with a direct description such as “the mosque which We have blessed.” This is another example of the refined use of language characteristic of the Qur’an.
The Prophet’s night journey was a telling sign, and it was accompanied by others, as the opening verse says in stating its purpose: " so that We might show him some of Our signs".
Covering the distance between the Sacred Mosque in Makkah and Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem in a very short period that did not allow the Prophet’s bed to become cold is a sign of God’s power, whatever the means used to accomplish it.
It opens our minds to new horizons in the universe and reveals latent potentials within mankind. It shows that those human beings chosen by God to be the bearers of His message have the latent ability to receive whatever greater powers God wishes to give them. It is Allah Who has honored man, giving him a favored position among His creation, and endowed him with such potentials.
"He alone is the One Who hears all and sees all." He indeed hears and sees all that is beyond the reach of our hearing and seeing faculties.
It is especially impressive that the opening verse of this surah starts with glorifying Allah: " Limitless in His glory is He Who transported His servant by night". After defining the purpose of this journey, the surah finishes with highlighting two of God’s attributes, perfect hearing and seeing that encompass all things.
This quick movement across purposes reflects the finest points of the expression used. The glorification is addressed to Allah Himself, and the statement about the purpose of the night journey comes from Him, while the description of God’s powers is made in the form of an indisputable statement. All these forms are combined in one verse so as to give their different imports.
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Al-Aqsa Mosque was the site of the Prophet's Mi`raj. Al-Aqsa Mosque which is also referred to as the first Qiblah (direction of prayer) till the Qiblah was changed to Makkah.
Allah says in Quran :" We have certainly seen the turning of your face, [O Muhammad], toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] are, turn your faces toward it [in prayer]. Indeed, those who have been given the Scripture well know that it is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what they do."
Because of the importance of Al-Aqsa Mosque to people of the monotheistic faiths, Al-Aqsa Mosque and the surrounding area of Al-Haram Al-Sharif remain disputed. Consequently, the area of Al-Aqsa has attracted both intellectual research as well as imagination.
How the area should be referred to is a debate that has found its way into history books: Arab and Muslim Image in European Public Education Textbooks.
Left Behind: The Movie covers a science-fiction scenario in which it is discovered that Al-Aqsa and Temple Mount are not in the same place.
Time of Favor is an Israeli movie with a subplot that centers on one character's involvement in a plot to blow up the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa mosque.
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To read more about Isra and Mi'raj:
Please! click the link below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isra_and_Mi%27raj
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