Peace Be upon Hazrat Muhammad who is the Patron and Guide, Shepherd and Comforter, Guardian and Leader, and the Love of all the Ummat. It is he who gathered into himself the Divine radiation and spread its light to the four corners of the earth. He is the mediator between God and man, the Interceder, the Exemplar, the Perfect Man, the Sublime Model for all mankind, the Mirror of the Divine Light and the most excellent Creation of the All-Powerful Creator. Allah has ordered all believers to ask blessings and peace upon him.
“Surely Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Noble Prophet (May Allah bless and keep him). All you who believe, constantly ask blessings and peace upon him.”
In the tenth year of the Prophethood, the Prophet’s Uncle Abu Talib (R.A) died and soon after his death, the Noble prophet’s wife Hazrat Khadijah (R.A), who was a great source of moral strength to him, also died. After these sad events the Noble Prophet went to Taif in hope for spreading Islam only to return with wounds all over his body. Yet he never complained nor did his faith waver in Allah or his mission to guide people to surrender to the will of Allah. But at this low point, he wondered why Allah created him.
To answer, The Almighty showed Hazrat Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) His kingdom, from its loftiest to its lowest. He raised him above the throne and the seat and all the seven heavens and revealed to him his true status, so he knows how much Allah loves him and what all was created out of love for him.
It was on the night of 27th of the lunar month Rajab, one year and five months before Hijra (622 A.D.) when our Noble Prophet was 51 years and nine month old. He was in the house of Umme Hani (R.A.), which was situated between the hillocks of Safa and Marwah near Kaabah at Mecca. Hazrat Jibrael (A.S.) came and informed the Noble Prophet that Allah wanted to personally meet His beloved in Heaven. Accordingly he took the Noble Prophet to the Kaabah where he prayed. Then to Masjid-e-Aksa on a Burak, a heavenly steed (an animal something like an Ostrich which could fly and run as fast as a rocket).
There at the sanctuary of earlier prophets he also prayed. Then Hazrat Jibrael (A.S.) showed him around Hell and Heaven giving brief descriptions of the deeds for which the various groups of people were punished or rewarded. The Noble Prophet met some prophets at various stages of Heaven; he met Hazrat Ibrahim on seventh or the highest stage of heaven. They all paid their respects to the Noble Prophet, the promised one through whom the world be blessed and asked him to plead with Allah for the forgiveness of their respective followers, when he would appear before Allah because he was “Rahmat Ul Lil Aalameen” i.e. The Comforter or the Blessing for the whole universe. Hazrat Jibrael (A.S.) stopped just before they reached the throne of Allah in the seventh stage of heaven, saying he had no power to proceed any further. He asked the Noble Prophet to go ahead alone into the presence of Allah.
When the Noble Prophet arrived in the presence of Allah he stood with bowed head and his hands were place respectfully one upon the other in front of him and recited
Subhaa Nakallaahumma wa bihamdika wa tabaarakasmuka wa ta’alla jadduka wa laa ilaaha Ghairuka
(Glory be to Thee O Allah, and Thine is the praise and blessed is They name, and exalted is Thy Majesty; there is no deity beside Thee)
A-oozu Billahi minash Shaitaanir rajeem
(I seek Allah’s protection against the accursed Satan)
Bismillahir rehmaanir Raheem
(In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful)
Alhamdu Lillaahi Rabbil Aalaameen
(Praise be to Allah Who is Lord Sustainer of the entire universe)
Arrahmanir Raheem
(The Beneficent, the Merciful)
Maaliki yaumid deen
(Sole Owner of the Day of Judgment)
Iyyaaka naabudu wa iyyaaka nastaaeen
(Thee we worship; thee we ask for help)
Ihdinas siraatal mustaqeem
(Show us the Right path)
Siraatal lazeena anaamta alaihim
(i.e. By taking us to one who is on the path of those who Thou hast favored with They Grace)
Ghairail maghdhoobi alaihim, waladh dhaaleen
(Not those, who earn Thine anger, nor those who are astray)
Ameen – Quran I: 1-7
After reciting some more words of praise the Noble Prophet said
Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest) and bowed before the Lord.
Then he recited a number of times Subhana Rabbial Azeem (Glory be to The Sustainer Lord, the Great)
Allah acknowledged by saying Sami Allahu liman hamidah (Allah listens to him who praises Him).
The Noble Prophet straightened himself from his bowing position reciting Rabbana lakal hamd (Oh our Lord, Thine is all praise).
Saying Allahu Akbar he prostrated himself before Allah and recited a number of times Subhana Rabbiyal Aalaa (Glory be to The Sustainer Lord, the Highest).
After he had adored our Lord to his satisfaction, he got up saying Allahu Akbar and sat at the foot of the throne of Allah and chanted
Attahiyyaatu Lillaahi was salaawatu wattayyibaatu (All services rendered by me by words and bodily actions and sacrifice of wealth are in honor of you, Oh Allah).
Allah replied Assalaamu alaika ayyuhan Nabiyyu wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuh (My peace be on thee Oh Prophet! Together with My Mercy and My Blessings).
When the Noble Prophet realized that he alone was being blessed by Allah, whilst he was Rahmat Ul Lil Aalaameen he pleaded immediately with Allah
Assalaamu Alaina wa alaa ibaadil-Laahis saaleheen (Let the Peace of Allah be on worshipers and the righteous servants of the Lord).
Thus covering all righteous worshippers of Allah from Hazrat Aadam (A.S.) till the last true worshipper at the time of destruction of the universe. When the Noble Prophet made such a big request that the Universe be blessed through him, Allah naturally asked what gift have you got to offer in exchange?
The forthright reply was Ash-hadu an la ilaaha illa Laahu (I give evidence that none is worthy of divine worship except Allah) so exceptionally was Allah pleased that He announced
Wa ash-hadu anna Muhaamadan abduhoo wa rasoolahu (and I also give evidence that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger)
This visit of our Noble Prophet to Allah in heaven is called Meraj-un-Nabi. The Noble Prophet pleaded with Allah if it would be possible for Him to bless all his followers with at least some joys of Mehraj which he had the good fortune of enjoying this night and so we were ordered to pray fifty times a day, but that the Noble Prophet, by the advice of Hazrat Musa (A.S.), begged that the number be reduced to five, a request which was granted.
Hence anyone performing these rituals five times a day imagining he is in the presence of Allah and praises Him, Allah personally acknowledges these praises with
Sami Allahu liman hamidah (Allah listens to him who praises Him). This is called Mehraj Ul Momineen.
When the Noble Prophet (s.a.) returned, his bed was warm and side by side the latch on the door was still swinging. In our temporal world of time and space this entire incident took only a few seconds.
Every year, on this special night (27th Rajab) it is recommended to recite durud sharif as much as possible. Unfortunately, in our part of the world, rowdy people take to streets and explosive fireworks disturb the peace of this night. We should remember that it is by extra prayers and durud sharif, this night is to be celebrated.