The Night Journey and Ascension (2)

The Prophet was then escorted to the second level of heaven. Jibreel asked for the door to be opened, and there the Prophet saw two cousins, the prophets Yahia bin Zakariya (John son of Zechariah) and Isa bin Maryam (Jesus, son of Mary).

The Prophet greeted them and they returned the greeting, and then they testified that Muhammad was Allah’s Prophet. On the third level of heaven, the Prophet met Yusuf (Joseph) . After an exchange of greetings, Yusuf also testified that Muhammad was Allah’s Prophet.

The Prophet met Idress on the fourth level of heaven. Both prophets exchanged greetings, and Idress testified that Muhammad was the Prophet of Allah.

The fifth level of heaven was where the Prophet met Haroon (Aaron), who, like all the previous prophets, exchanged greetings and testified that Muhammad was Allah’s Prophet.

Musa (Moses) awaited the Prophet on the sixth level of heaven. After greeting the Prophet and testifying that Muhammad was indeed a Prophet, Musa began to weep. When he was asked why he was weeping, he said, “The reason for my tears is that a youth was commissioned as prophet after me, but his followers will enter heaven in greater numbers than mine.”

When the Prophet reached the seventh level of heaven, he met Ibraheem (Abraham) resting against Bait Al-Ma’mur, a celestial house of worship which seventy thousand different angels circumambulate every day. The Prophet Ibraheem returned the greeting of his descendant and testified that Muhammad was the Prohet of Allah.

At this point, the Prophet was then led up to Sirat Al- Muntaha, a tree of Paradise. Its leaves were the size of an elephant’s ears, and its fruits the size of small pitchers. It was covered by golden moths, and no words can describe this beauty.

The Prophet was then brought before Allah the Almighty. Since no human eyes could take in the majesty of Allah, the Prophet could not actually look upon Allah, but he stood in close proximity to Him. Allah informed the Prophet that it was no obligatory for his followers to perform prayers fifty times a day. The Prophet was then led away by Jibreel. Musa, however, halted the Prophet and asked him what Allah had commanded.

“Fifty prayers a day,” the Prophet said, “Your followers are not strong enough. Go back to your Lord and ask him to make it lighter,” Musa advised. The Prophet looked at Jibreel who said, “You may do so if you so desire.”