اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
اَعُوْذُبِااللّٰہِ مِنَ الشَّیْطٰنِ الرَّجِيْم
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
*_Today’s Thought for the day is from Surah Al-Isra Ayah 1_*
*سُبۡحٰنَ الَّذِىۡۤ اَسۡرٰى بِعَبۡدِهٖ لَيۡلًا مِّنَ الۡمَسۡجِدِ الۡحَـرَامِ اِلَى الۡمَسۡجِدِ الۡاَقۡصَا الَّذِىۡ بٰرَكۡنَا حَوۡلَهٗ لِنُرِيَهٗ مِنۡ اٰيٰتِنَا ؕ اِنَّهٗ هُوَ السَّمِيۡعُ الۡبَصِيۡرُ.(1)*
*_Glory be to Him Who took His slave for a journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Distant Mosque, the environs of which We have blessed, so that We might show him some of Our signs. Verily He is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.(1)_*
وہ (ذات) پاک ہے جو ایک رات اپنے بندے کو مسجدالحرام یعنی (خانہٴ کعبہ) سے مسجد اقصیٰ (یعنی بیت المقدس) تک جس کے گردا گرد ہم نے برکتیں رکھی ہیں لے گیا تاکہ ہم اسے اپنی (قدرت کی) نشانیاں دکھائیں۔ بےشک وہ سننے والا (اور) دیکھنے والا ہے.(1)
This Ayah describes the miraculous journey of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) from the Sacred Mosque in Makkah to the Distant Mosque in Jerusalem, also known as Al-Aqsa Mosque this is the first stage.‼️ As for the second stage in which the Prophet SAWS was carried to *‘Sidratul Muntaha’* located in the seventh heaven, it has been narrated in the Surah An-Najm
*This journey, known as Isra wal Mi’raj, was a turning point in the Prophet’s life and a testament to Allah Azzawajal’s power and wisdom.*
_According to the Ayah, Allah Subhanahu wa taa’la took HIS servant on this journey to show him some of HIS signs, emphasizing HIS ability to do anything HE SWT wills. The verse also highlights Allah Azzawajal’s attributes as All-Hearing and All-Seeing, emphasizing HIS omniscience and omnipotence._
*_Act of the Day is:_* to understand that this journey of the Prophet SAWS was physical and it was undertaken in a state of wakefulness.‼️ _The distance between Baitul Maqdis and Makkah is about 1000 miles. In those days this journey took about 40 days to cover this distance, but Allah Azzawajal arranged for the Prophet SAWS to cover it within a night. In the hadith it is mentioned that the Prophet SAWS rode a *‘Buraq’,* and Archangel Jibril was with him, that is this journey was covered on a carrier of lightning-speed._
To understand that the Ayah starts with the word *سبحان Subhan* means *Exalted or perfect*. Therefore it is not beyond the power of Allah Subhanahu wa taa’la to arrange for such a miraculous journey. Those who consider such a thing impossible are under a wrong impression about Allah Azzawajal’s might. As for the objective of this journey, it is stated in the ayah that Allah Azzawajal wanted to show some of HIS signs to HIS Prophet. By the signs are meant those signs which are found in the Aqsa Mosque, and which reflect on monotheism, worship of only one God, the common dawah of the prophets, and their struggle for the religion of truth, the history of the rise and fall of Bani Israil, and Allah Azzawajal’s law of reward and punishment.
From this Ayah there are four lessons that can be learned:
1. Allah Azzawajal calls Prophet Muhammad ﷺ with the title of *’His servant’ بِعَبْدِهٖ* instead of the title Rasool or prophet. This shows one can attain this honour of being called a servant of Allah through his obedience as Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the most noble human being and Allah ﷻ used the word ‘servant’ for him, then that means the status of ‘servant of Allah Azzawajal’ is the highest status for humans.
2. Night is the best time to get closer to Allah Azzawajal by way of praying Tahajjud. Therefore, worshiping and asking for forgiveness at night gets more attention in Islam.
3. The mosque is the best launching pad for believers towards spirituality.
4. Masjidul Aqsa is a holy place that must be guarded by Muslims.
*_May Allah Subhanahu wa taa’la grant us the ability to gain HIS closeness through our acts of Obedience. Aa’meen Ya’Rabbul Aa’lameen._*
JazaK Allâhu khair!