The Prophet’s journey began when Jibril (AS) came to him, split open his chest, and washed it with zam-zam water. Jibril (AS) then took a basin that was filled with wisdom and faith, and poured it into the Prophet’s chest; and then, finally, Jibril (AS) closed his chest, held him by his hand, and took him on his night journey.
As Al-Hafidh Ibn Hajar ® pointed out, this was the second of three occasions on which the Prophet’s chest was split open by Jibril (AS): “The Prophet’s chest was also split open when he first received revelation; this we learn from a hadith that is related by Abu Na’im in Dalail An-Nubuwwah. What distinguished the first splitting of his chest – which occurred when he (SAW) was a child living among the people of Banu Sa’ad – was the cleansing process that is described in Anas’s account that is related in Muslim: Jibril {extracted his heart,} removed from it a blood clot, and said,’ This is the portion of Shaitan (the devil) in you.’ Since, while still a child, the Prophet (SAW) was cleansed from the evil effects of the Shaitan, he (SAW) grew up in the best way possible: He (SAW) was protected from the Shaitan at all times. Then his chest was split open when he first received revelation, a cleansing that took place as a way of honoring him, and so that his heart would be pure, strong, and fully prepared to receive revelation. Finally, his heart was split open when he undertook a night journey to the heavens; this cleansing took place so that he could be in a ready and pure state to speak privately with his Lord upon reaching the seventh heaven. It is also possible that the wisdom behind the last washing was so that he could be completely purified with a third washing, for it is a part of his Shari’ah that a complete and well-done purification involves washing each body part three times.” (Fathul bari)
During his night journey, the Prophet (SAW) ascended so high into the heavens that he was able to hear the sounds of pens being used for writing above the seventh heaven. Also during his night journey, the five daily prayers were made obligatory upon him and the people of his nation. In the early stages of his night journey, the Prophet (SAW) led the Prophets of past nations in two units of prayers; this was just one of the many amazing things that happened that night.
Upon returning to Makkah in the last part of the night, the Prophet (SAW) proceeded to tell others about his miraculous journey. Disbelievers rejoiced, hoping that the Prophet’s account of his journey would shake the hearts of some believers and turn them away from their faith; initially, they were pleased to see some Muslims waver in their faith. But then their hopes were crushed when Abu Bakr (RA) stood resolutely beside the Prophet (SAW) informing the Quraish that if he believed, as he most certainly did, that the Prophet (SAW) received news from the heavens in the passing of an instant, why should he not believe him about his night journey. This, among other incidents, resulted in Abu Bakr (RA) being given the title “As-Siddiq (the truthful one)”.
The Prophet (SAW) was not discouraged by the way he was treated by the Quraish; instead, he patiently continued to preach the message of Islam. Three more years went by, years during which he (SAW) would perform the five daily prayers, but years that became increasingly more difficult for him (SAW) and his companions (SAW). With his uncle, Abu Talib, dead, the Prophet (SAW) had little protection from his family; thus the Quraish became even more emboldened in their campaign of persecution and torture against the Muslims. Finally, when thirteen years had gone by since the beginning of his mission, the Prophet (SAW) was granted permission by Allah (SWT) to migrate to Al-Madinah, a city whose inhabitants had embraced Islam and who were eager to shelter and protect the Prophet (SAW) against his enemies.
After the Prophet (SAW) settled down in Al-Madinah, Allah (SWT) began to reveal to him the rest of Islam’s legislation – such as fasting, zakat, and hajj. Allah (SWT) continued to reveal laws and legislations to the Prophet (SAW) for the next ten years, a process that culminated with the revelation of Allah’s saying: “This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” (Qur’an 5: 3)
(Ends)
by Sa’eed bin Ali bin Wahf Al-Qahtani
