POBNEWS24, Dhaka Jan 27, 2025 : Narrated Malik ibn Sa’sa’ah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “One night I was lying on my back in the innermost part of the Ka’bah. Suddenly a stranger came to me. He cut open my throat from the base of my neck to the top of my navel. Then a golden bowl full of faith was brought to me and my heart was washed. Then it was filled with faith and put back in its original place.
Then a white vehicle, smaller than a mule and larger than a donkey, was brought before me. It was called ‘Buraq’. It would place its feet wherever its sight could go. I was made to ride on it. Gabriel (peace be upon him) took me on a journey and when it reached the nearest heaven, it asked me to open its door. It was asked, ‘Who are you?’ He said, ‘Gabriel.’ It was asked again, ‘Who else is with you?’ He said, ‘Muhammad (peace be upon him).’ It was asked again, ‘Has he been summoned?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ It was said, ‘Welcome to him! His arrival is very good.’ Then the door was opened. I entered and saw Yahya and Isa (peace be upon him). They were cousins. Gabriel (peace be upon him) said, ‘This is Yahya (peace be upon him) and that is Isa (peace be upon him).’ You greet them. When I greeted them, they both returned the greeting and said, “Welcome to the righteous brother and the righteous Prophet.”
Gabriel (AS) took me to the third heaven and asked me to open the door. It was asked, “Who are you?” He said, “Gabriel.” It was asked again, “Who is with you?” He said, “Muhammad (PBUH).” It was asked again, “Has he been summoned?” He said, “Yes.” It was said, “Welcome to him. His arrival is very blessed.” Then the door was opened. When I entered, I found Yusuf (AS) there. Gabriel (AS) said, “This is Yusuf (AS). Greet him.” I greeted him. He responded to the greeting and said, “Welcome to the righteous brother and the righteous Prophet.”
Gabriel (AS) took me higher and went to the fourth heaven and asked me to open the door. It was asked, “Who are you?” He said, “Gabriel.” It was asked again, “Who is with you?” He said, “Muhammad (PBUH).” It was asked again, “Has he been summoned?” He said, “Yes.” It was said, “Welcome to him. His arrival is very good!” Then the door was opened. When I entered, I saw Idris (AS) there. Gabriel (AS) said, “This is Idris (AS). Greet him.” I greeted him. He replied, “Welcome to the righteous brother and the righteous Prophet.”
Gabriel (AS) took me higher and told me to go to the fifth heaven and open the door. It was asked, who? He said, Gabriel. It was asked, who else is with you? He said, Muhammad (PBUH). It was asked, has he been summoned? He said, yes. It was said, welcome to him! His arrival is very blessed! Then the door was opened and I entered. There I saw Aaron (AS). Gabriel (AS) said, this is Aaron (AS), greet him. When I greeted him, he replied, welcome to the righteous brother and the righteous prophet.
Gabriel (AS) took me higher. When he reached the sixth heaven and asked to open the door, I was asked, “Who?” He said, “Gabriel.” I was asked, “Who else is with you?” He said, “Muhammad (PBUH).” I was asked, “Has he been summoned?” He said, “Yes.” I was told, “Welcome to him. How excellent is his arrival!” Then the door was opened and I entered. There I saw Moses (PBUH). Gabriel (PBUH) greeted me, “This is Moses (PBUH), greet him.” I greeted him, and he replied, “Welcome to the righteous brother and the righteous prophet.” When I passed by him, he wept. I was asked, “Why are you weeping?” He said, “I weep because a young man has been sent as a prophet after me whose ummah will enter Paradise in greater numbers than my ummah.”
Gabriel (AS) took me to the seventh heaven. When I asked him to open the door, he was asked as before, “Who is it?” He said, “Gabriel.” He was asked again, “Who else is with you?” He said, “Muhammad (PBUH).” He was asked, “Has he been summoned?” He said, “Yes.” Then he was told, “Welcome to him! How good is his arrival!” When I entered, I saw Abraham (PBUH). Gabriel (PBUH) said, “This is your father Abraham (PBUH). Greet him.” I greeted him. He replied, “Welcome to the righteous son and the righteous prophet.”
Then I was taken up to Sidratul Muntaha (a tree in the seventh heaven). I saw that its fruit was like the yams of the Hajar region and its leaves were like the ears of elephants. Gabriel (peace be upon him) said, “This is Sidratul Muntaha.” I also saw four rivers there. Two rivers were hidden and two were visible. I asked, “O Gabriel! What is the meaning of these rivers?” He said, “The two hidden rivers are the two rivers that flow in Paradise. The two visible rivers are the Nile (in Egypt) and the Euphrates (in Iraq).
I was shown the Sacred House. Then a vessel of wine, a vessel of milk and a vessel of honey were brought before me. I took the milk and drank it. Gabriel (peace be upon him) said, “This is a sign of the Fitrah (nature). You and your Ummah will be established on the truth.”
Then fifty prayers were made obligatory upon me. I accepted them and was returning. As I was passing by Moses (peace be upon him), he said, “What are you commanded to do?” I said, “We have been commanded to pray fifty prayers daily.” He said, “Your people will not be able to pray fifty prayers daily. By Allah! I have tested people before you. I have worked hard for the guidance of the Children of Israel. So go back to your Lord and ask Him to reduce the prayers for your people.” I went back and prayed as He advised me. Allah reduced the prayers for me by ten. When I returned to Moses (peace be upon him), he said the same thing. I went back to Allah. He reduced the prayers for me by ten more. When I returned to Moses (peace be upon him), he said the same thing. I went back again. Then Allah forgave me for ten more prayers. When I returned to Moses (peace be upon him), he said the same thing. I went back again. Allah reduced my prayers by ten times and ordered me to pray ten times every day. When I returned to Moses, he said the same thing. So when I went back again, I was ordered to pray five times every day.
When I returned to Moses (peace be upon him), he asked, “What have you been ordered to do?” I said, “I have been ordered to pray five times a day.” He said, “Your people will not be able to pray five times a day. I have tested people before you and have tried my best to guide the Children of Israel. Return to your Lord and pray for less for your people.” I said, “I have prayed to my Lord so much that I feel ashamed to return, but I am pleased with this command of Allah and I entrust my affairs and those of my people to Allah.” When I passed Moses (peace be upon him) and moved forward, a caller from Allah announced, “I have issued My command and made it easy for My servants.”
Source: Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim
