Ascending in Place
The Night Journey and Ascension (al-Isra’a wal Ma’raaj) is an experience in our Prophet’s life that we love to hear and retell. Our children also relish hearing about a flying horse named al-Buraaq that travels as fast as the speed of light, all the prophets congregating and praying together in Al Aqsa, and the Prophet Musa (as) conversing with the Prophet Muhammad (sas) in order to negotiate down our salah :)
There are so many lessons that we continuously derive from this momentous occasion. Spreading salaam on every level of Jannah, being in conversation with Allah (swt), drawing so close to Him that even the Angel Jibril could not enter that sacred sanctuary; it is truly a climactic experience for our beloved Messenger (sas). His ascension to Allah (swt) is the healing balm that’s gifted to him after the distress of losing his uncle and protector Abu Talib, and his confidant and greatest ally, Khadija (ra).
Their deaths came at the heels (and as a result) of the Qurayshi tribes mercilessly boycotting and starving the Banu Hashem tribe for three tortuous years. After the death of Abu Talib, Abu Lahab becomes the new chieftain of Banu Hashem and refuses to offer protection to the Prophet Muhammad (sas). This gives the Prophet (sas) no choice but to find protection elsewhere, and he travels to Taif where he is pelted with stones until his feet begin to crack and bleed. Broken and dismayed, he makes a fervent dua to Allah (swt) asking for His mercy. Shortly thereafter, our Prophet (sas) ascends to his Lord.
As we stay home and think about what’s ahead of us in the coming weeks, we should take some time out of our day to reflect on how this experience in the life of the Prophet Muhammad (sas) can remain relevant to us. Can we ascend to Allah (swt) while remaining firmly rooted in place?
When we think of Bilal (ra) being shackled by his former slave master, Umayyah ibn Khalaf, we can’t help but be amazed by the fortitude that he exhibits in the face of unbelievable torment. He never relents in his proclamation of Ahadun Ahad (one, one) which distresses and embarrasses his enemy, Umayyah. Tawheed frees Bilal. His shackles never prevent him from ascending to the highest levels of iman.
Then there’s Owais Qarni (ra) who devotes his life caring for his sick mother and never has the opportunity to meet the Prophet (sas). And yet, due to his deep devotion and steadfastness, he is still honored with the title of being a companion to the Prophet Muhammad (sas); an honor that is bestowed upon him by the Prophet (sas) himself.
Many of us may feel some form of tightening and emotional unease as the freedom to move at will is taken away from us. One of the most beautiful things about Islam, however, is that Allah teaches us that with every distress, the believer should be hopeful in regards to what awaits him/her. Use the experience of al Israa wal Ma’raaj to ascend to the One who created you. The One that knows the inner turmoil within you and the outer chaos that is happening outside of you.
Break the shackles that have been holding you back from your true purpose on this Earth and ascend to Allah- whether it's through your prayer, your service, or your patience, cultivate a plan that takes you one step closer to your ma’raaj. As ibn Ata’illah writes in his hikam: “Do not stop mentioning God just because your heart is not present. Forgetting Him completely is worse than being inattentive while you are mentioning Him; perhaps He will elevate you from being inattentive to being attentive, and from being attentive to being fully present with Him, and from being fully present with Him to being fully absent from anything but Him. This is not difficult for God (35:17).”
May Allah make us of those who fully ascend to Him (swt).