Maulana Mufti Mohammad Qasim Qasemi
Prepared and arranged by: Dawood Gurgij
Background of the “”Isra” and “Miraj”
” سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَى بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلًا مِّنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَقْصَى الَّذِي بَارَكْنَا حَوْلَهُ لِنُرِيَهُ مِنْ آيَاتِنَا إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ”
In the history of Islam and according to some famous sayings of historians, a great and instructive event has happened in the month of Rajab [Isra’a: 1]. That event is the “Ascension of the Holy Prophet, May Allah bless him and grant him peace.” Some have said the event of the Ascension in the month of Rabi-ul-Awal and Rabi-ul-Thani, but Hafez Muqadasi; Muhaddith and one of the great scholars of history has said the famous saying that the Ascension took place on the twenty-seventh of Rajab.
What is the background of the Ascension event? And what lessons does it have? In this regard, one should think and study. The flow started from here; When the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was in Makkah and called to Islam, and his days and nights were spent in calling for monotheism and monotheism, propagating the divinity and lordship of Allah Almighty, and directing people to Allah Almighty, in those days, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and his companions faced excruciating hardships and tortures.
Abu Talib, the uncle of the Prophet, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, was a good supporter for him and had saved his chest to support him. In those days, Quraysh did not have the courage to take a tough decision against the Holy Prophet, but when Abu Talib passed away, the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, saw the Quraish’s rejection of the call to Allah, and the Quraish’s opposition intensified. Even that day has been recorded in history and it is not forgotten in the Prophet’s biography that an ignorant Qureshi took dirt and sprinkled it on the head of the Holy Prophet. Such events and similar encounters were repeated and the Messenger of Allah, May Allah bless him and grant him peace, began to think.
Prophet’s journey to Taif to preach the mission
Why did the Messenger of God, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, choose Taif? The Prophet (peace be upon him) had information that Taif was a cultural center and that there was a relationship and rivalry between Quraysh and Taif. The Quraish worshiped the idol “Hebel” and the sectarians worshiped the idol “Lat”. There were tribal, economic and racial rivalries between the Quraish and the people of Taif. The people of Taif were happy people. It is known that the people of Hijaz and Makkah used to spend their summer in Taif to have fun.
The Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, thought that the people of Taif are understanding people and that there is unkindness in Makkah, so he went there to offer the invitation. Maybe they will accept Islam and their acceptance will have an effect on the people of Makkah. That is why the Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, chose Taif for his invitation. But there was an unpleasant encounter with them and the generals expressed disrespect towards the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.
Psychologists and sociologists say that the wealth, pride and arrogance of the people of Taif was the reason for their disregard to the Prophet’s call. Because their region was advanced, they despised others and because they had blessings, they ignored the words of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
The people of Taif were known for their hospitality, but they showed a lot of indifference, unkindness and violence towards the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and they made a bad decision that instead of honoring and feasting, they lined up their children and teenagers on the way that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, was returning. Insult the Messenger of Allah and throw stones at him. When the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, would take a step, a stone would fall and his blessed body would become bloody. It is hard to imagine how much that Prophet (peace be upon him) was mocked, mocked, humiliated and beaten. Who is this character? Mercy to the worlds, the Imam of the Prophets and Messengers, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and the Sweet Prophet. In short, the Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, was subjected to a new and difficult test during his trip to Taif.
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