The Night Journey and Ascension: A Test of Faith Before the Migration
About one year before the migration to Medina, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ experienced the event of Al-Isra and Al-Mi‘raj (the Night Journey and Ascension).
Mecca witnessed one of its most turbulent days when Muhammad ﷺ informed the people that he had been taken during the night to the Sacred Mosque in Mecca, then to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, and from there ascended to the heavens before returning on the same night.
Quraysh welcomed this announcement with joy, believing that it was clear proof of what they considered to be Muhammad’s falsehood. They thought that such a claim would weaken his followers, drive people away from him, and discourage those who were considering accepting his message.
However, Quraysh’s expectations quickly failed.
They rushed to Abu Bakr and asked him:
“Do you believe what Muhammad says? He claims that he was taken to Jerusalem and then ascended to the heavens before returning in the same night.”
Abu Bakr replied with complete certainty:
“If Muhammad said it, then it is true.”
They asked in amazement:
“You believe him in this matter?”
He answered:
“I believe him in matters even greater than this.”
With this response, Quraysh’s hopes collapsed. Instead of weakening the believers, the event strengthened their faith and revealed the depth of Abu Bakr’s trust in the Prophet ﷺ.
Quraysh attempted to use the Night Journey as another opportunity to attack Muhammad ﷺ, accusing him of exaggeration, falsehood, and even madness. Yet their campaign had an unexpected result: it increased people’s curiosity about Muhammad, his character, and his message.
Many began seeking to know more about him, listening to his teachings and examining the principles of the new faith. They were deeply moved by the Qur’anic verses that described the Night Journey, with their powerful language and profound meaning.
God says:
The Qur’anic Confirmation of Al-Isra and Al-Mi‘raj
The Qur’an also affirmed the extraordinary nature of the Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ Night Journey and Ascension. Among the verses associated with this event are the opening verses of Surah An-Najm:
Al-Isra and Al-Mi‘raj: Beyond Human Understanding
Before concluding the discussion of Al-Isra and Al-Mi‘raj, it is important to consider the possibility of this event from the perspectives of reason and human knowledge.
Although earlier generations may have found the concept of the Night Journey and Ascension difficult to understand, modern generations have witnessed remarkable achievements that demonstrate the extraordinary possibilities of travel and communication.
Humanity has seen satellites travel around the Earth at tremendous speeds, and people have become familiar with technologies whose inner workings remain unknown to most users.
Millions of people wear watches without knowing how their mechanisms function. Millions own radios without understanding how sounds can be transmitted across continents and oceans. The same applies to airplanes, automobiles, and countless other inventions that were once beyond imagination.
Therefore, those who question the possibility of Al-Isra and Al-Mi‘raj based solely on human reasoning should remember that human understanding has limits. The inability of the mind to comprehend something does not necessarily mean that it is impossible.
The event of Al-Isra and Al-Mi‘raj belongs to a realm beyond ordinary human experience, and it invites reflection on the relationship between reason, knowledge, and revelation.
Islam in Yathrib: The Beginning of a New Hope
The first signs of success began to appear in Yathrib, and hope grew that this city would become the place from which the dawn of Islam would emerge and spread throughout the world.
The people of Yathrib possessed unique circumstances that made them more prepared than many other Arab communities to accept Islam and embrace the new faith. The city was home to two different groups: one that had come from the north, the Jews, and another that had migrated from the south, the Arab tribes, especially the Aws and Khazraj.
The interaction between these groups created several important factors that prepared Yathrib for the arrival of Islam.
1. Greater Familiarity with Divine Religions
The Arabs of Yathrib were among the closest Arab communities to the traditions of the revealed religions. Through their interactions with the Jews, they had heard about God, revelation, resurrection, judgment, Paradise, Hell, and other religious concepts.
Unlike many Arabs who were unfamiliar with such ideas, the people of Yathrib already had a background that made them more receptive to the message of Islam.
2. Jewish Prophecies About the Coming Prophet
Ibn Hisham mentioned that there had been ongoing tensions between the Arabs and Jews of Yathrib. Whenever the Arabs gained victory over the Jews, the Jews would say:
“The time of a prophet who will be sent is near, as we find in our scriptures. When he appears, we will follow him and use his support to defeat you.”
The Qur’an also refers to the attitude of some among the People of the Book who recognized the signs of the coming messenger:
These expectations had already created an atmosphere in which the idea of a coming prophet was familiar among the people of Yathrib.
3. The Rivalry Between Aws and Khazraj
Another important factor was the long-standing conflict between the two major Arab tribes of Yathrib: Aws and Khazraj.
Years of disputes and battles had weakened both sides, leading each tribe to seek alliances and support against the other. Among the most famous conflicts between them was the Battle of Bu‘ath, which took place only a few years before the migration of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to Yathrib.
These social and historical circumstances helped prepare Yathrib to become a place where the message of Islam could find acceptance, support, and eventually establish a new community.
