بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
ٱلصَّلَاةُ وَٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِ ٱللَّٰهِ ﷺ
Dear respected reader, pause for a moment. Breathe.
Because the Mi‘raj has now entered a realm where language struggles, logic kneels, and the heart begins to tremble. From the Fifth Heaven to the Seventh, this journey is no longer about altitude. It is about honor, love, warning, and nearness. Here, even angels slow their wings.
And you—yes, you—are invited to walk emotionally alongside the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
The Fifth Heaven: Beauty Wrapped in Mercy
As the gate of the Fifth Heaven opened, the atmosphere changed—lighter, purer, almost silver in its glow. Standing there was a luminous figure whose white beard flowed upon his blessed chest, radiating gentleness and compassion.
It was Prophet Hārūn (Aaron) عليه السلام.
The moment his eyes fell upon the Beloved ﷺ, the heavens echoed with words that still resonate today:
مَرْحَبًا بِالأَخِ الصَّالِحِ وَالنَّبِيِّ الصَّالِحِ
“Welcome, O righteous brother and righteous Prophet.”
— (Sahih Muslim: 164)
A Warning That Shakes the Soul
But the journey was not just about beauty; it was about truth. During the ascension, the Prophet ﷺ was shown people with swollen bellies like houses, unable to stand.
He asked, "Who are these, O Jibril?"
Jibril replied: "These are the consumers of Ribā (interest/usury)." (آكِلُو الرِّبَا)
A silent but thunderous message for the Ummah: Spiritual elevation demands moral purity. One cannot ascend to Allah while crushing the poor through injustice.
The Sixth Heaven: Tears of a Mighty Prophet
As the journey continued, the Sixth Heaven unfolded—a realm of awe and majesty. Here stood Prophet Mūsā (Moses) عليه السلام, tall, dignified, holding the strength that once faced Pharaoh.
They met. They exchanged Salām. But as the Prophet ﷺ moved forward, Mūsā عليه السلام began to weep.
When asked why, he replied:
غُلَامٌ بُعِثَ بَعْدِي يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ مِنْ أُمَّتِهِ أَكْثَرُ مِمَّنْ يَدْخُلُهَا مِنْ أُمَّتِي
“A young Prophet sent after me, yet more people from his Ummah will enter Paradise than from mine.”
— (Sahih al-Bukhari: 3887)
These were not tears of jealousy. Imām Aḥmad Razā Khān (rahimahuLlah) explains in Fatāwā Riḍawiyyah that these were tears of awe (Ghibtah)—recognition of the unmatched rank of Muhammad ﷺ and the divine preference granted to his Ummah.
Do you realize what this means? You belong to the Ummah that made a mighty Prophet cry—not from loss, but from witnessing Allah’s generosity towards you.
The Seventh Heaven: The Father of Monotheism
Now the journey reached its peak within creation. The Seventh Heaven. Here stood Bayt-ul-Ma‘mūr (البيت المعمور)—the celestial Ka‘bah—around which 70,000 angels perform ṭawāf daily, never to return again.
Leaning against it was Prophet Ibrāhīm (Abraham) عليه السلام—the one who walked into fire for Tawḥīd. He welcomed his beloved descendant ﷺ and sent a specific message to you:
“Convey my salām to your Ummah and tell them: Paradise has pure soil, and its seeds are:
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، وَلاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
SubḥānAllāh, Al-Ḥamdu liLlāh, Lā ilāha illaLlāh, Allāhu Akbar.”
— (Jami` at-Tirmidhi: 3462)
Sidrat-ul-Muntaha: Where Creation Ends
Beyond the Seventh Heaven stood Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (سِدْرَةُ الْمُنْتَهَى). A tree unlike anything known to human imagination. Its leaves were like elephant ears, its fruits like great vessels, and it was shrouded in colors that no tongue can describe.
Here, even Jibrīl (Gabriel) عليه السلام stopped.
With humility, the Archangel said: “If I advance even a hair’s length, I will burn in divine light.”
Only Love Proceeds
And then… The Prophet ﷺ went alone. No angel. No direction. No time.
Angels feared to spread their wings—yet the Beloved of Allah walked onward… towards the Throne. This was the beginning of Qāba Qawsayn (قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ). This was where nearness replaced distance.
Why This Journey Matters Today
This is not ancient history. The Mi‘raj teaches us:
- Spiritual growth requires moral reform: We must cleanse ourselves of sins like Ribā.
- Your Status: This Ummah carries unmatched divine favor.
- The Key: The path to Allah passes through following Muhammad ﷺ.
