“Indeed, He has seen of the greatest signs of His Lord”

Prepared By: Imam Basyouny Nehela

Historical Islamic events are very rich with lessons and benefits for both Muslims and
non-Muslims. We are required as Muslims to read, reflect and commemorate our
historical events in order to analyze and understand the circumstances around us. It is
said that, “any nation which has a history would not be defeated but rather continues to
develop and improve itself”. And I think today, we are in need of studying and learning
about our Islamic history to comfort ourselves and comprehend some of the divine laws
of our Lord.

As such, I would like to take this opportunity to celebrate and discuss with you some
lessons from the Isra and Me’raj (or Mi’raaj) journey.

It is a well-known event to all of us. We heard it many times and spoke about it many
other times, but I believe that every time, we need to review it with a different
perspective and approach based on the circumstances and the situations with which we
are surrounded. For example, today as a Muslim community, we are looking for
appropriate and practical solutions and means to uplift and develop the status of our
community, spiritually, morally, socially, and politically. This is so that we may be able to
assume our role in offering the greatest contributions to the society at large. Thus, I see
that the journey of Isra and Me’raj, quietly, can demonstrate some benefits and lessons
through which we can be inspired towards the great attainment.

As all of us know, the Isra and Me’raj occurred only ten years from the prophecy of
Mohamed (pbuh) to humankind. Allah (swt) opened all the Heavens for him, met with
him, and spoke directly to him during this journey. Allah (swt) gave the Prophet (pbuh)
the honor of leading the prayer in congregation with all the past prophets in the best of
places after the Masjid Al-haram and the Masjid Anabawe: Masjid Al-Aqsa. In addition,
Allah (swt) also showed him many manifestations of His signs through unexpected
miracles. Allah (swt) says:”He has indeed seen major signs of His Lord”.

My dear brothers and sisters, what we are looking for today is the same as what the
Prophet (pbuh) had wanted on that blessed journey: to be close to Allah and for Allah to
be close to us, for Allah to change the situation of the suffering Umma, the support of
Allah (swt), and Allah (swt) to be with us with His power. We wish to be able to pray in
the Masjid Al-Aqsa, and we need to see some of the signs of Allah (swt),

Allah (swt) the Almighty could have given the Prophet (pbuh) this reward of Isra and
Me’raj during the first year of his Prophecy, but instead Allah (swt) did not, until the
Prophet (pbuh) had gone through the reasons and the conditions required in obtaining
this reward. Therefore, we must ask ourselves how Allah (swt) gave and honored the
Prophet with these great bounties and support.
Three essential things were the reasons for this divine reward of the Isra and Me’raj and
its subsequent benefits.

The first reason and requirement is the insistence and perseverance in conveying
Islam, and reaching out to people in spite of the ignorance, the obstacles, and the
shortage of resources.
My dear brothers and sisters, it is a very important reason and cause for gaining Allah’s
help and guidance.

Although the Prophet (pbuh) was prevented from making Dawah in Makkah and guiding
people to their true Creator, he persisted and migrated to Taef to spread the Dawah
there. He also directed some of his companions to migrate to Al-Habasha, joining its
just king who later embraced Islam. Although the Prophet (pbuh) was opposed and the
people rejected his message, he persisted and delivered the message even to the Jinn
(or Spirits) as Allah (swt) recorded in the Quran.

The lesson here is that nothing can stop the true believers from conveying the message
of Allah and representing its principles and values amongst all humankind.

The second reason and requirement was to make constant supplication and Dua’a.
The true servants of Allah (swt) do not give up this tool of communication with Allah.
They always ask Allah (swt) and they insist in their Dua’a because they know that the
sincere supplication is the most effective way towards Allah and the weapon of the true
believer as the Prophet (pbuh) said.

We find the Prophet (pbuh) before the event of the Isra and Me’raj diligent in making
sincere Dua’a, begging Allah (swt) asking Him (swt) to change his situation, asking
Allah (swt) to grant him His victory, asking Allah (swt) to guide the people to His path,
asking Allah (swt) to forgive his own shortcomings and help him to be righteous and be
a true believer, and to make him a reason behind the salvation of people..

My dear brothers and sisters, that is what Allah (swt) loves to see from His servants, He
loves to see insistent and sincere servants, Allah loves for His servant to say “O My
Lord and the Lord of everything that exists”, “O Sustainer of every living thing“, and to
say when facing the wrongdoers and the transgressors or when facing any kind of
difficulties: “My Lord protect me, O Almighty be with us, help us, support us”.

When we make this kind of Dua’a sincerely, Allah (swt) will certainly answer us. Allah
(swt) speaks in the Quran about Prophet Noah. And Noah made Dua’a to his Lord
“…indeed I am overpowered so give me victory”, and so Allah gave him a quick victory
and a great miracle as we all know.

That is what the Prophet (pbuh) did when his people expelled him, besieged him,
tortured his companions, and insulted him.
The third reason and requirement for the blessings and the rewards of Allah swt
was to endure trials and tribulations. As we all know, the Prophet (pbuh) and his
companions suffered and were persecuted during the first period of the Dawah while in
Makkah.

Some companions were tortured and some were killed, and even the Prophet (pbuh)
himself was a target and was harmed. But they were steadfast for the religion of Allah
(swt) and sacrificed what they owned to establish and spread the word of Allah (swt) on
this Earth.

Allah (swt) says in the Quran about the Prophet’s conditions during those times:”…Until
the messengers of Allah (swt) gave up and were certain that they had been rejected,
then our victory came to them”.

The Prophet (pbuh) and his companions passed this condition successfully; for ten
years or more they had undergone difficult circumstances and terrible aggression from
their people. Their only saying during all this time was that it is what Allah and His
messenger had promised to us and Allah and His messenger are truthful.

My dear brothers and sisters, we cannot feel the value of the support of Allah (swt) and
the value of good things unless we pass the required test. Allah (swt) says in the
meaning of: ”With hardship will be ease, indeed with hardship will be ease”.

My dear brothers and sisters, after these three reasons and requirements were
achieved by the Prophet (pbuh) and his companions, Allah (swt) then rewarded the
Prophet (pbuh) by giving him the chance to pray in the Masjid Al-Aqsa, and to assume
the leadership of guidance to Allah until the day of judgment.

And then Allah granted a way out for his people and his followers, and He (swt) saved
them from the aggression and mischief by ordering them to migrate into Medina two
years after Isra and Me’raj. And thus Allah (swt) permitted His Deen to be spread on this
Earth.

My dear brothers and sisters, we must know that the circumstances and the hardship
that we may be experiencing today are only the first step towards the victory and the
reward of Allah (swt), but we need to sustain our making Dua’a, as our Prophet (pbuh)
did. We must reach out to others in the most creative and attractive way then let our
sincere contributions and beneficial engagement proudly represent Islam and say
without hesitation that we are Muslims.

My dear brothers and sisters, if these three things happen, then Allah (swt) will reward
us and will show us many of His signs as He did for the Prophet (pbuh) through the
miracle of Isra and Me’raj.