The Story Of Isra and Miraj for Children

This journey is a miracle, second only to the revelation of the Qur’an! So we must learn about this, and share its significance with our children.

The 27th of Rajab marks the Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and his ascent into the heavens.  

It was such a miraculous and insightful journey that we love reading about it as adults, and children equally enjoy learning about this magical journey to heaven.

Here’s a story that you can read with your children to help them understand this event better. 

 

The Prophet’s Journey from Mecca to Jerusalem

One night while the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was sleeping in Mecca, Angel Jibreel woke him up. He had with him a beautiful creature that was pure white, it was bigger than a donkey but smaller than a horse and had big beautiful wings on its thighs, its name was Al-Buraq.

Angel Jibreel told the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) that he is to come with them.

This night is known as Isra Wal Miraj or The Night of Miraj – on this night prophet Muhammad made the most miraculous and memorable journey ever made by anyone!

The Quran mentions this night in Surah Isra: 

“Who made His servant to go on a night from the Sacred Mosque to the remote mosque of which We have blessed the precincts so that We may show to him some of Our signs; surely He is the Hearing, the Seeing”. 

(Al-Israa’ 17:1)

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) mounted the Buraq and it travelled as fast as the speed of light.  The Buraq travelled all the way to Jerusalem to the Al-Aqsa mosque. Here the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) led the prayer to all the prophets that Allah had sent on this world, from Adam all the way to Isa (may Allah be pleased with them), Subhan’Allah!

After this Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was taken to the heavens, he travelled to the heavens on stairs called Al-Mirqat, in which one step is made of silver, gold, and more. These stairs are hidden away from us. The prophet travelled through 7 heavens, one at a time.

As Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was travelling up through each heaven, he met many of the prophets including Adam, Yahya, Isa, Yusuf, Idris, Harun, Musa and Ibrahim (may Allah be pleased with all of them).  

After the 7th heaven the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was brought into The Divine presence of Allah SWT:  “Then Allah revealed to His servant (pbuh) what He revealed” (Quran 53:10) 

It is here that Allah gave the gift of Salah, and commanded that all Muslims should pray Salah. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) accepted Allah’s command, and as he was leaving he met Musa who asked him what Allah had ordered him to do. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) replied by telling him that Allah had ordered for himself and all the Muslims to pray fifty times a day. Musa urged him to go back to Allah and ask that the number of prayers be reduced, as fifty prayers a day would be too difficult for the Muslims to perform, and that they would surely fail in this.

 

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) went back to Allah and requested that the number of prayers be reduced, Allah agreed and eventually after many requests, the prayers were reduced to just five prayers a day. Allah said that each prayer would count as ten prayers, which means after praying five times a day we are ultimately rewarded as though we have prayed fifty prayers, Subhan’Allah!

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) saw lots of amazing things on this night including many of the wonders of paradise, that Allah has prepared for those who work hard to please Him.

What a beautiful and truly special night this was for Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and indeed all of us too. What a beautiful gift we were sent by Allah (swt), the gift of Salah. Not only does Salah clean away our bad deeds but it also makes us closer to Allah, we will never forget Allah if we pray five times a day and we will always remember to thank Him for all of the things that he has given us.

One of the most beautiful things about this event was how this journey came at a time when the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) was facing much hardship and pain.  It came after the Year of Sorrow, during which he lost his beloved wife Khadijah (ra) and his uncle Abul talib who was his protector and ally.  In addition he had been cruelly rejected by the people of Ta’if, and they chased him out of the city. Being brought into Allah’s presence and meeting the prophets, was a beautiful gift from Allah, that  gave the Prophet (pbuh) great comfort and hope. 

There’s a beautiful verse in the Holy Quran which says: 

إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًۭا

(ina ma’al usri yusra)

“After hardship comes ease” 

(Inshirah 94:5)

This was definitely true for the Prophet (pbuh). There’s a valuable lesson for us all to learn here. However much the Prophet (pbuh) was suffering, he persevered and once he was brought into the presence of  Allah (swt)  and met the prophets, it gave him great comfort. It made him feel very connected and honoured leading the prophets in prayer, and knowing that Allah had chosen him.

It’s time to raise our hands in prayer for our beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), may Allah (swt) bless him generously for bringing the message of Islam to us and teaching us how to perform Salah. Ameen. 

We are truly blessed to have the opportunity to take the time out of our day to pray to Allah (swt) for all his blessings.