ISRA AND MIRAJ Q&A
Q: What is Isra and Miraj?
A: It is the Night Journey and the Ascension, which occurred on the 27th day of Rajab, the seventh month of the Muslim lunar calendar.
Q: What is the significance of Isra and Miraj?
A: The Prophet Muhammad made a miraculous journey from Mecca to the Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem in 621 C.E. He then traveled to the heavens where God commanded him to initiate prayers five times each day.
Q: What was the significance of the occasion in early Islamic history?
A: To Muslims, the event solidified their belief in the prophethood of Muhammad, who was bestowed with a miracle from God. The event also established Jerusalem as a holy place for Muslims, with its centerpiece Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Q: What does the tradition of the Prophet Muhammad say about the significance of al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem?
A: Before Muslims turned their faces toward Mecca in prayer they turned to Jerusalem. Prophet Muhammad said that visiting al-Aqsa mosque is a religious practice only comparable to the pilgrimage to Mecca. The Prophet also stated that a prayer in al-Aqsa mosque is multiplied 500 times.
Q: Why do Muslims educate their children and communities about Isra and Miraj?
A: To remember the genesis of the most important duty in Muslim life: the daily prayer; and to remember the significance God has placed on Jerusalem and the Aqsa Mosque.
Source: CAIR-NET