In The Name Of Allah, The Most Compassionate, The Most Merciful

"THE SACRED MONTHS" AND
ISRAA AND MIRRAJ

In the Name of Allah: No Assistance except from Him. Our praise to Allah: No Gratitude except for Him. Glories to you my Lord: You created me and I am in full obedience to your command. I hold my covenant to You by whatever is in my power. I bear witness that there is no Deity except Allah. I send my prayers and greetings to the best among all creatures Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the Messenger of peace who received the last message of the heavens to guide the worlds and delivered Allah's Integrated Legislation and Wisdom in a perfect manner.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Islam, I greet you by the greeting of Islam: Asslamu Alikum Wa Rahmetu Allah Wa Barakath:

For about three months we talked about the Houses of Allah as a branch of prayers. We followed the tradition of interrupting this series of khutab whenever there is a special religious occasion.

These days we have two occasions:

  • 1st we are in the month of Rajab.
  • 2nd Today is the 25th of the month of Rajab.

The night of the 27th is the night of Israa and Mirraj. It will be tomorrow night Inshaa Allah.

I will ask your permission again to talk about these two occasions and reflect on the Muslim attitude.

First of all, I would like to remind myself and you, that one of the main reasons of the gathering in Friday Prayers is to understand the concepts of our religion. And it becomes our responsibility to transfer these concepts to our families (especially our children) and to interchange these concepts with our Muslim friends. Moreover, when you invite or get into an argument with non-Muslims, you will keep these ideas fresh and well comprehended about Islam.

The First Occasion is the Month of Rajab:

Allah Says in Sura # 9 At-Tauba, Verse # 36:

"The number of months in the Sight of Allah is twelve (in a year). So Ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth; Of them four are sacred: That is the right religion. So, wrong not yourselves."

This Verse specifies:

  • First: A demand from all Human beings before and after the Message of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) to observe four months of the year and consider them Haram.
  • Second: Haram means that these four months are sacred, prohibited and unlawful.
  • Third: These four months are three in succession and one single: The three are Zul-Quidah, Zul-Hijjah, and Al Muharram. The single is our month these days "Rajab"
  • Fourth: Allah the Creator of human beings Knew that people are going to fight each other. So He specified an interruption of 4 months through the year so that they may enjoy the peace away from the killing and they might think wisely and end their fight.

    It is also given as a shield each side of the enemies may hide behind in order to stop the fight using the commands of Allah as an excuse to cover their pride and arrogance in harming others.

  • Fifth: About fasting in the month of Rajab: A man once came to the Prophet (PBUH) to advise him on the maximum days of fasting (because the man was very strong and capable). The Prophet (PBUH) advised him
    "Fast a maximum of three days and break your fast three days and repeat fasting and breakfast each three days, in the four sacred Month."

We will talk more about the recommendations of the Prophet (PBUH) for the four sacred months when they come Inshaa Allah.

The second occasion is the night of Israa and Mirraj:

This occasion is one of the important events in the history of Islam. It is mentioned and intentionally separated in two places in the Holy Quraan.

The first place is about the Israa (Journey by Night):

Allah Says in Sura # 17, Al-Israa, Verse # 1:

"Glory to (Allah) Who Did Take His Servant For a journey by night from the Sacred Mosque To the Farthest Mosque the neighborhood whereof We Did Bless, in order that We Might Show him some of Our Signs: For He Is the One Who Heareth And Seeth (all things)."

In the second place in the Quraan Allah Referred to Al Mirraj, where Allah Says in Sura # 53 An-Najm, Verses # 1-18:

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

It will take us days to reflect completely on these verses. Fourteen centuries ago, scholars made many reflections on these verses. Let's talk about some of these in the time allowed and complete Inshaa Allah, in other Fridays.

FIRST:
It is always a tradition in the Holy Quraan that when a phenomenon or a miracle is hard to understand, Allah Does not Give it in straight forward statements but Refers to some other close signs which make the believer get closer to understand the miracle.

In Sura # 17 Al Israa the miracle of Israa was stated clearly:
"Glory to (Allah) Who Did Take His Servant for a Journey by night."
Glorifies the Absolute Power of Allah Who Transferred Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) from Mecca to Jerusalem in no time.

The Miracle is explained to the Arabs at that time who were used to cover this distance in a month time. The indication of the miracle is that the Prophet (PBUH) during Israa saw some Arabs searching for their lost sheep. The Arabs then heard a voice leading them to the place where the sheep was. This incident was the same as Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) told the people that it was his voice in his journey back even before those who heard his voice came and justified the same story.

So the Israa was intended to be Given by Allah as an obvious sign to Show the non-believers, a miracle and so they should believe that Mohammed (PBUH) was sent to them from the Supreme Power, and this was One of Allah's Miracles.

In MIRRAJ:
Allah gives the simple example, which starts by (The star when it goes down). Every one can see the star falling down from a very far distance. Suddenly while it is shinning in our eyes we can see it's descent in no time.

This is a materialistic example very close to a journey in space, the moving power behind this ascension is the Absolute Power of Allah.

AN EXAMPLE IS:
If you want to travel from here to Seattle, you can take your car, it will take you probably 12 hours or you can take a Jet Airplane, which will take 2 hours. If you take a rocket, it may take only 5 minutes.

So the power you use specifies the time of the journey. If the power is the Absolute Power of Allah, it will take no time.

SECOND:
Allah Specifies the mosque of the Dome of the Rock, the neighborhood which has been Blessed by Allah.

Allah Is Leaving this Verse in the Quraan as a reminder for all Muslims:
This place in Jerusalem is blessed, it is your responsibility to keep it as Allah Left it for you.

This is the Verse, which calls all the believers allover the world to work day and night to free it so that it regains its name as the blessed place and the sacred mosque.

THIRD:
Historically, this miraculous occasion took place one year before the Hijra from Mecca to Madina. As we are well aware, Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) sacrificed everything for the Love of Allah. He was persecuted, tortured, threatened, jeered at, slandered and taunted. The year of the occasion of Israa and Mirraj was called the "year of sorrows" to the Prophet (PBUH). In that year:

  • His wife Khadija died, so he lost the tranquility in his own private house.
  • His Uncle Abu Talib died, so he lost the support inside his tribe and private community.
  • In that year also, the people of Al-Taif not only did not welcome Mohammed (PBUH), but also forced him to leave their town and threw stones at him. By this he lost the third level which may support him in other tribes (the Arabian community at large).

At the end of that year Allah Granted the Prophet (PBUH) a miracle: A night journey and ascension to the upper heaven and back to his house in one night.

THE LESSON IS:

Those who keep their faith, those who stay Believers in the Absolute Power of Allah will get the highest reward.

AND THE OTHER APPLICABLE LESSON THESE DAYS IS CLEARLY SEEN:
In the Arabian countries, in the middle east, in Africa West and South; East and North; and in Bosnia and Herscovina, in Palestine the blessed place, in Kashmir, Afganistan and Pakistan, in all the countries in which Muslims are oppressed and killed.

For the true believers who are fighting the internal and external plots against them. For all those who did not loose faith and trust in Allah, we say, what Allah Promised them in Sura # 2 Al Baqarah , Verse # 214:

"Ah! Verily, the help of Allah Is (always) near!"

We say:
Allah Who Gave Victory and Reward to his Prophet (PBUH) left for you the message in the Verses of Israa and Mirraj. That is:
HE IS THE SUPREME POWER . SO:

  • Keep the faith to get the victory.
  • The reward you will earn is bigger than the amount of suffering you endure.
  • Just remember the highest level of Mujahdeen, remember his suffering and his reward.
  • Remember the Prophet (PBUH).

Ask Allah forgiveness and be sure that He, Almighty will Respond and Reward you.

Praise be to Allah:

"Who Forgiveth Sin, Accepteth Repentance, Is Severe in Punishment, and Is all-Bountiful. There is no god But He: to Him Is the Final Goal."(40-3)

I ask Allah to shower His Peace and Prayers on Prophet Muhammad, his family and all his companions.

Dear Muslims:

Allah Says in Sura # 2 Al Baqarah, Verse # 214 :

"Or do you think that you shall enter paradise without such trials as came to those who passed away before you ? They encountered suffering and adversity and were so shaken in spirit, that even the Prophet and those of faith who were with him cried "when will come the Help of Allah?" Ah! Verily, the Help of Allah is always near!"

I will pray and ask Allah, Please say Amen