الإسراء والمعراج
The Night Journey and Ascension (Isra wal Mi'raj)
Rajab (according to many scholars), 1.5-2 BH (~620-621 CE)
From Makkah to Jerusalem to the Heavens
In one night, the Prophet ﷺ was transported from Masjid al-Haram in Makkah to Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem (al-Isra), where he led all the prophets in prayer. He was then ascended through the seven heavens (al-Mi'raj), meeting various prophets at each level, until he reached the Sidrat al-Muntaha — the farthest boundary — and was granted audience with Allah, where the five daily prayers were prescribed.
Why this matters
This miraculous journey came at the Prophet's ﷺ lowest point — after the Year of Sorrow and the rejection at Ta'if — as a divine consolation and elevation. The prescription of the five daily prayers (initially fifty, reduced to five through Musa's advice and the Prophet's ﷺ return to Allah) became the pillar of Muslim worship. Abu Bakr earned the title 'As-Siddiq' (The Confirmer of Truth) for his immediate belief in this journey.
Quran references
سُبْحَٰنَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِۦ لَيْلًۭا مِّنَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ إِلَى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْأَقْصَا ٱلَّذِى بَٰرَكْنَا حَوْلَهُۥ لِنُرِيَهُۥ مِنْ ءَايَٰتِنَآ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ
Surah Al-Isra, 1
Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
وَلَقَدْ رَءَاهُ نَزْلَةً أُخْرَىٰ عِندَ سِدْرَةِ ٱلْمُنتَهَىٰ عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلْمَأْوَىٰٓ إِذْ يَغْشَى ٱلسِّدْرَةَ مَا يَغْشَىٰ مَا زَاغَ ٱلْبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ لَقَدْ رَأَىٰ مِنْ ءَايَٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلْكُبْرَىٰٓ
Surah An-Najm, 13-18
And he certainly saw him in another descent At the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary - Near it is the Garden of Refuge - When there covered the Lote Tree that which covered [it]. The sight [of the Prophet] did not swerve, nor did it transgress [its limit]. He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.
Hadith references
Sahih Muslim, #162a
Narrated by: Anas ibn Malik
Grading: Sahih
“The Prophet ﷺ was brought the Buraq and he rode it until he arrived at Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem). He tied the Buraq to the ring used by the prophets. Then he entered the Mosque and prayed two rak'at, then he was taken to the heavens...”