Lailat al-Miraj — The Night Journey and Ascension of the Prophet (SAW)

The Night of the Journey

On 27 Rajab, the Islamic world commemorates one of the most extraordinary events in prophetic history: the Isra wal-Miraj — the Night Journey and Heavenly Ascension of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

In Bohra practice, this night is observed with special prayers, gatherings, and remembrance. The majlis of Syedna (TUS) during this period typically includes a description of the Miraj and its inner significance, and mumineen gather for nawafil (supererogatory prayers) and dua throughout the night.

Al-Isra — The Night Journey

Al-Isra (الإِسرَاء — “the night journey”) refers to the Prophet’s (SAW) miraculous journey from Masjid al-Haram in Mecca to Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem, undertaken in a single night:

سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَى بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلاً مِّنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الأَقْصَى الَّذِي بَارَكْنَا حَوْلَهُ لِنُرِيَهُ مِنْ آيَاتِنَا “Glory be to the One who took His servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, the surroundings of which We have blessed, to show him of Our signs.” — Quran 17:1

The Prophet (SAW) was transported on the Buraq (البُرَاق) — a creature of light, described as between a donkey and a mule in size, moving with such speed that each stride reached the horizon. This journey, which would take weeks by any normal means of travel, was completed in a single night.

At Masjid al-Aqsa, the Prophet (SAW) led all the previous Prophets in prayer — Adam, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa, and all the Anbiya prayed behind him — affirming his station as the Seal of Prophets and the leader of all the messengers of Allah.

Al-Miraj — The Heavenly Ascension

Al-Miraj (المِعرَاج — “the ladder” or “the ascension”) refers to the ascent through the seven heavens and beyond:

The Prophet (SAW), accompanied by Jibril (AS), ascended through the seven heavens, encountering the Prophets stationed at each level:

Beyond the seventh heaven lay the Sidr al-Muntaha (سِدرَةُ المُنتَهَى — the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary) — the furthest point any created being had ever reached. Even Jibril (AS) could not proceed beyond this point.

At the Sidr al-Muntaha, the Prophet (SAW) was received into the Divine Presence and spoke directly with Allah — a station unique to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) among all creation.

The Gift of Salah

Among the most important events of the Miraj was the commandment of Salah (prayer). Initially, Allah commanded fifty prayers daily. On his descent, the Prophet (SAW) encountered Musa (AS), who urged him to return and request a reduction:

“Your community will not be able to bear fifty prayers. Go back to your Lord and ask Him to reduce it for you and for them.”

The Prophet (SAW) returned multiple times until the prayers were reduced to five — while maintaining the reward of fifty, because Allah had decreed: “My word does not change.”

The five daily prayers are thus the gift of the Miraj to the Prophet (SAW) and, through him, to the ummah.

The Inner Meaning — Ismaili Ta’wil

In Ismaili Tayyibi ta’wil, the Miraj carries layers of inner meaning:

The journey as spiritual ascent: The Miraj is understood as a model of the soul’s journey toward Allah — ascending through the layers of spiritual reality, leaving behind the physical world, passing through the heavens of prophetic wisdom, and arriving at the station of direct knowledge of the Divine.

The seven heavens as seven levels of spiritual reality: Each heaven and its Prophet represents a stage of spiritual and intellectual development. The soul that seeks knowledge must pass through these stages — the stage of Adam (the first principle), the stage of Ibrahim (the seeker who broke idols), the stage of Musa (the receiver of Law), and so on — before reaching the station of pure prophetic consciousness at the Sidr al-Muntaha.

The salah as the Miraj of the mumin: The Prophet (SAW) is reported to have said: “al-salatu mi’raj al-mu’min” — “Prayer is the ascension of the believer.” Every salah is an opportunity for the mumin to undertake the same inner journey that the Prophet (SAW) made physically — ascending from the material world, through the heavens of remembrance and sincerity, toward nearness to Allah.

The Buraq as the vehicle of walayah: In ta’wil, the Buraq that carried the Prophet (SAW) represents the walayah of the Imam — the spiritual vehicle that carries the soul upward toward divine knowledge. Without walayah, the soul is grounded; with walayah, it ascends.

Observance in Bohra Practice

The night of 27 Rajab is observed in Bohra communities with:

Special prayers: Nawafil and specific prayers recommended for this night. Many mumineen spend part or all of the night in prayer and zikr.

Majlis: Gatherings where the story of the Miraj is narrated, the ta’wil is explored, and salawat is recited abundantly.

Du’a and reflection: Time spent in personal dua — especially dua for spiritual ascent, for purification of the soul, and for nearness to the Prophet (SAW) and the Imam.

Salawat: The Miraj night is a night for abundant salawat — blessings upon the Prophet (SAW) who undertook this journey and who, through his Miraj, earned for the umma the gift of salah.

Key Dua for Lailat al-Miraj

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَاجعَلنَا مِمَّن يَستَضِيءُ بِنُورِهِ وَيَسلُكُ سَبِيلَهُ وَيَنتَهِجُ مِنهَاجَهُ “O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and make us among those who are illuminated by his light, walk his path, and follow his way.”

Historical Context

The Miraj occurred in the final year before the Hijra (approximately 620–621 CE) — a period of intense trial for the Prophet (SAW). His beloved wife Sayyida Khadija (AS) had passed away, his protector Abu Talib had passed away — it was the “Year of Grief” (Am al-Huzn).

In this darkest period, Allah granted the Prophet (SAW) this extraordinary gift: a direct encounter with the Divine Presence. The Miraj thus carries a message of consolation: those who are tried most severely by this world are the ones taken closest to Allah.

See also: Prophet Muhammad, Understanding Namaz, Levant Masjid Al Aqsa, Sayyida Khadija, Abu Talib