May 3, 2004, 12.00am IST
Saniyasnain Khan.
The Prophet Muhammad started receiving revelations from Allah in 610 A D through an angel. When he began to propagate the divine message, the people of Mecca turned against him. In those testing times Khadijah, his wife, and Abu Talib, his uncle, were a great help to him, but shortly thereafter they both died.
When the Meccans seemed to be on the verge of crushing Islam, the Prophet Muhammad had an extraordinary experience. This is known as al-Isra and al-Miraj or the Night Journey and the Ascension.
One night, as the Prophet slept next to the Kabah, the Archangel Jibril woke him and took him on a strange, white-winged animal, called Buraq or lightning, from Mecca to al-Aqsa mosque in faraway Jerusalem. From there Jibril led the Prophet through Heaven’s gates, where he saw countless angels. Angel Jibril then took the Prophet through the Seven Hea-vens, one by one.
Beyond the seventh heaven, the Prophet pas-sed through the veils covering that which is hidden, until at last he came into the divine Light of Allah’s Presence. The Pro-phet looked upon that which the eye cannot see and the mind cannot imagine — the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Time, thought and feelings disappeared; there was only great peace and the brilliance of pure light.
Too soon, the experience ended and he was brought back to earth. The Prophet was amazed to find the spot where he had lain still warm, and the cup he had tipped over was still emptying itself. This incredible experience had taken place in less than a moment.
The morning after, the Prophet told the Meccans what had happened. Most refused to believe him while others were amazed and wanted the Prophet to explain how such a thing could happen. The Prophet’s description of Jerusalem, and the caravans he had seen on the way back to Mecca, convinced them he was telling the truth. For the Prophet, the Night Journey and Ascension was a turning point. After years of persecution and the terrible loss of his wife and uncle, the experience gave him great comfort and the strength to go on. He became convinced that Allah was with him.
Though we may never have the good fortune to experience God with our whole being, both spiritual and physical, as the Prophet did, we can still aspire for the inward, spiritual aspects of the Prophet’s experience.
It was during this experience that Allah’s commandment on prayer or namaz was revealed to the Prophet. He reported that Allah wanted men to pray 50 times a day, but that on the Prophet Moses’ advice, he had appealed for a less difficult routine. At last Allah resolved that there should be five prayers a day. This has remained the practice ever since.
Namaz, or the five daily prayers, is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is the duty of every Muslim to perform these five daily prayers. Here are some of the points which show the purpose of namaz:
1. to bring us closer to Allah;
2. to prevent us from doing indecent, shameful and forbidden things;
3. to purify the heart, develop the mind and comfort the soul;
4. to remind us constantly of Allah and His greatness;
5. to develop discipline and will power;
6. to guide us to the most upright way of life;
7. to show equality, unity and brotherhood;
8. to promote patience, courage, hope and confidence;
9. to develop gratitude and humility;
10. to show obedience and thankfulness to our Creator.
(Today is being observed as the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad.)
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