AL-ISRA’ AND Al-MI‘RAJ (The Miraculous Night Journey from Makkah to the Farthest Mosque in
Jerusalem, and the Ascent through the Spheres of Heavens)
The last days of the Makkan phase of the Prophet’s life are noted for alternate fortunes ranging  between two extremes: gradual success and continual persecution. However, glimpses of propitious  lights were looming on the distant horizon, to ultimately materialize in the event of the Prophet’s Night
Journey to Jerusalem and then Ascension through the spheres of the heavens.
As for its exact date, it is still controversial and no common consent has been reached. However, the  majority of jurists is in favour of a date between 16-12 months prior to migration to Madinah. The  following is a epitome of the details of that miraculous event narrated on the authority of Ibn Al-
Qayyim.
The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) was carried in body from the Sacred Mosque in Makkah  to  the Distant Mosque in Jerusalem on a horse called Al-Buraq in the company of Gabriel, the archangel.
There he alighted, tethered the horse to a ring in the gate of the Mosque and led the Prophets in  prayer. After that Gabriel took him to the heavens on the same horse. When they reached the first  heaven Gabriel asked the guardian angel to open the door of heaven. It was opened and he saw
Adam,  the progenitor of mankind. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) saluted him and the other welcomed him  and expressed his faith in Muhammad’s Prophethood. He saw the souls of martyrs on his right and  those of the wretched on his left.
Gabriel then ascended with the Prophet to the second heaven, asked for opening the gate and there  he  saw and saluted John, son of Zachariya (Yahya bin Zakariya) and Jesus, son of Mary. They returned  the  salutation, welcomed him and expressed their faith in his Prophethood. Then they reached the third  heaven where they saw Joseph (Yusuf) and saluted him. The latter welcomed the Prophet and  expressed faith in his Prophethood. The Prophet, in the company of Gabriel, then reached the fourth  heaven where he met the Prophet (Idris) and saluted him. Prophet Enoch returned the salutation and  expressed faith in his Prophethood. Then he was carried to the fifth heaven where he met the Prophet
Aaron (Harun) and saluted him. The latter returned the salutation and expressed faith in his
Prophethood. In the sixth heaven he met Moses (Musa) and saluted him. The latter returned the  salutation and expressed faith in his Prophethood. Muhammad (Peace be upon him) on leaving, saw  that Moses began to weep. He asked about the reason. Moses answered that he was weeping because  he witnessed a man sent after him as a Messenger (Muhammad) who was able to lead more of his  people to the Paradise than he himself did. Then Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) reached  the  seventh heaven and met Abraham (Ibrahim) (Peace be upon him) and saluted him. The latter  returned  the salutation and expressed faith in his Prophethood. Then he was carried to Sidrat-al-Muntaha (the  remotest lote tree) and was shown Al-Bait-al-Ma‘mûr (the much frequented house) which is like the
Ka‘bah (Sacred House) encompassed daily by seventy thousand angels, so that the angels who once  encompassed it would not have their turn again till the Resurrection. He was then presented to the
Divine Presence and experienced the thrill of witnessing the Divine Glory and Manifestation at the  closest possible propinquity. There the Lord revealed unto His servant that which He revealed, and  ordained fifty daily prayers for him. On his return, he spoke to Moses that his followers had been  enjoined to pray fifty times a day. Moses addressing the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “Your  followers cannot perform so many prayers. Go back to your Lord and ask for a remission in number.”
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) turned to Gabriel as if holding counsel with him. Gabriel nodded,
“Yes, if you desire,” and ascended with him to the Presence of Allâh. The All-Mighty Allâh, Glory is to
Him, made a reduction of ten prayers. He then descended and reported that to Moses, who again  urged  him to request for a further reduction. Muhammad (Peace be upon him) once more begged his Lord to  reduce the number still further. He went again and again in the Presence of Allâh at the suggestion of
Moses for reduction in the number of prayers till these were reduced to five only. Moses again asked  him to implore for more reduction, but he said: “I feel ashamed now of repeatedly asking my Lord for  reduction. I accept and resign to His Will.” When Muhammad(Peace be upon him) went farther, a
Caller  was heard saying: “I have imposed My Ordinance and alleviated the burden of My servants.”
There is however some difference as regards the issue whether the Prophet saw Allâh with his physical