As-Siddiq Institute & Mosque (ASIM)
In all worship, you need Allah’s support. We recite in Surah Fatihah, “Iyyaka na`abudu wa iyyaka nasta`een, We worship You and we seek Your help,” as we are not strong, we are weak, we make mistakes and Allah (swt) forgives us. But insha'Allah, we can carry out the order that grandshaykhs have given, that Mawlana Shaykh Hisham (q) has given, and speak a few words about Mi`raaj. The Night Journey is a big chapter, or in some books volumes. We will not discuss all of it, but will give brief points.
Awliyaullah have said we must know that when Rasoolullah (s) went on the Night Journey, he (s) went from Mecca to Bayt al-Maqdis in Quds ash-Shareef, Jerusalem with the Buraaq. Allah (swt) gave him the Buraaq, whom they say is the evidence that he went with his body, because ad-daaba tuyoor il-jism, it is an animal and they carry only physical bodies. Some people say only his (s) Ruh went, but not only by the soul: it is our Ahl as-Sunnah wa ’l-Jama`ah belief that he went on the Night Journey with his body and his soul. Prophet (s) was 52 years old, one year before he went to Madinah. In Mecca al-Mukarramah, Allah sent Sayyidina Jibreel, Sayyidina Mika`il, Sayyidina Israfeel (`alayhimu ‘s-salam) and other angels, who took Rasoolullah (s) to Quds ash-Shareef in the blink of an eye, and some say it was less. Nevertheless, Allah (swt) does not need time and has no limits.
So he (s) went with that holy animal from Jannah, from Mecca to Quds ash-Shareef and then from Bayt al-Maqdis to the First Heaven. It is said that Rasoolullah (s) ascended the Mi`raaj, the stairway made of gold, silver and gems, to the First Heaven, and from there he travelled on the wings of angels through all the Heavens up to the Seventh Heaven, and from there on Sayyidina Jibreel’s wings to the Sidrah.
Prophet (s) was carried by heavenly creatures on Earth and through Heavens to Sidrat al-Muntaha to that Lote Tree, which is said is Barzakh, that its upper branch is the Lights and the lower roots go to Jahannam. It is the combination of the two worlds: the Barzakh and the maqaam of Sayyidina Jibreel (a). From there, Rasool (s) went on raffraff, beautiful cushions Allah (swt) provided.
At the `Arsh, in his physical body, it is said he arrived at The Two Feet. Now we cannot say it is physical feet, because ar-Rahman `ala ‘l-`Arsh istauwaa, “ar-Rahman has ascended over The Throne”, which is a maqaam. Rasool (s) has come to know al-Mustauwaa, (istauwaa means “he ascended”), and in the level of Ascension he (s) also saw that by Allah’s (swt) Qudrah. From there, it is said at that level of `Arsh he left his composition, tarkeeb, taraka tarkeeba, with the raffraff at that Mustauwaa, and he went with the `Ayn, Essence, and Allah (swt) knows what that is.
I am mentioning this because when he reached that Level (`Ayn), Allah gave Rasoolullah (s) the salaah/prayers at that very intimate level between him and Allah. It is said He gathered all the prayers that were scattered among prophets.
FAJR
The first one who prayed Fajr was Sayyidina Adam (a). It is said when Allah (swt) made him land on Earth from Paradise it was night, so the darkness of dunya overtook him. When he stopped seeing after having previously seen, he was very afraid and sad. When he saw Fajr come, he prayed two raka`ats Shukr that the Noor/Light has come and the darkness has gone. Allah accepted his repentance and sent this Noor of harmony, success, tawfeeq and took away the darkness of mukhalafa, disobedience, and Adam (a) was given the Light of success to his worship at Fajr time. That’s why we awake at Fajr, to see that darkness go away and to say, “Oh Allah! The darkness of my disobedience is going away and the Light of Your Hidayah is coming through.”
DHUHR
Sayyidina Ibrahim (a) prayed at Dhuhr, after zawaal. Why? Because Allah sent the animal to be sacrificed, and on the first day of Hajj, we know we have to sacrifice the animal before Dhuhr, early on, before throwing the stones. So when Allah sent Ibrahim (a) the animal, he prayed four raka`ats of Shukr at Dhuhr time: the first raka`at because his son was spared; the second, because Allah was pleased with him; the third, because his son was patient; and fourth, because Allah took away the sadness that entered his heart.
`ASR
The first prophet to pray `Asr was Sayyidina Yunus (a) after Allah saved him from the darkness of the belly of the whale.
MAGHRIB
The first prophet to pray Maghrib was Sayyidina `Isa (a), and why three raka`ats? Awliyaullah have explained, the first raka`at was to deny Lordship to himself and his mother [as Christians had wrongly ascribed] and confirm it to his Lord.
ISHA
Sayyidina Musa (a) was the first to pray at `Isha.
Allah (swt) gathered all these prayers of the prophets and gave them to the Ummah of Muhammad (s). So keep your prayers as they are very valuable and were prayed by prophets.
WITR
All the other prayers were performed by prophets, but Allah (swt) gave the Witr to Rasoolullah (s). He first prayed Witr when he lead the prayer for all the angels on Sidrat al-Muntaha.
Rasoolullah (s) is our Beloved who was honored, especially on this night. Allah (swt) showed Rasoolullah (s) to everyone. He is the Best on Earth and the Best in Heavens. He is Imam on Earth and Imam in Heavens, and he gave us the gift of prayer, by which you will reach Allah (swt), and without which nobody reaches Allah. You have to pray all the prayers!
Rabbana wa ta qabal du`a, O our Lord, accept our du`a, as Sayyidina Ibrahim prayed, “My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and [many] from my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my supplication. Our Lord, forgive me and my parents and the Believers on the Day the Account is established." (Surah Ibrahim, 14:40,41)
Bi sirree Surat al-Fatihah.
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