Isra and Miraj: the story of the Night Journey
The Isra and Mi‘raj is the Night Journey of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ from Makkah to Al-Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem, and his ascension through the seven heavens, when the five daily prayers were made obligatory. Here is the full story from the Quran and authentic hadith.
Last updated: 4 October 2026
The Isra: Makkah to Jerusalem
سُبْحَٰنَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِۦ لَيْلًۭا مِّنَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ إِلَى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْأَقْصَا ٱلَّذِى بَٰرَكْنَا حَوْلَهُۥ لِنُرِيَهُۥ مِنْ ءَايَٰتِنَآ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ ﴿١﴾
Jibril brought the Buraq, a white riding animal, and the Prophet ﷺ travelled by night to Jerusalem, where he led the prophets in prayer at Al-Masjid al-Aqsa. He was offered milk and wine and chose milk, and Jibril said he had chosen the fitrah (Sahih al-Bukhari 3394; Sahih Muslim 162).
The Mi‘raj: through the seven heavens
| Heaven | Prophet met |
|---|---|
| First | Adam |
| Second | ‘Isa and Yahya |
| Third | Yusuf |
| Fourth | Idris |
| Fifth | Harun |
| Sixth | Musa |
| Seventh | Ibrahim, leaning against the Bayt al-Ma‘mur |
He reached the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary (Sidrat al-Muntaha), described in An-Najm 53:13–18.
The gift of salah
Fifty prayers were made obligatory. On Musa’s advice, the Prophet ﷺ returned to ask for a reduction until they were five, and Allah said they would carry the reward of fifty (Sahih al-Bukhari 349). Salah is the only pillar given directly in the heavens; see how to pray salah.
Lessons of the night
It came after the Year of Sorrow, when the Prophet ﷺ lost Khadijah and Abu Talib: consolation after hardship. It joins Makkah and Jerusalem, and it shows the place of salah. For where it fits in his life, see the seerah; the surah named after it is Al-Isra, in our list of surahs.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Isra and Mi‘raj happen?
In Makkah, about a year before the Hijrah according to many historians. The exact date is not established; it is widely marked on 27 Rajab, but scholars differ on this, and there is no authentic special worship for that night.
Was the journey in body or in a dream?
The majority of scholars hold it was in body and soul, while awake. That is why the Quraysh found it hard to believe, and why Abu Bakr was called as-Siddiq for believing it at once.
What is Al-Masjid al-Aqsa?
The mosque in Jerusalem, the third holiest site in Islam and the first qiblah. The Prophet ﷺ led the prophets in prayer there on the night of the Isra.
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