ISLAM & THE MUSLIMS
Blessing or Burden
YOU be the Judge

Part #36-Sura 17“The Night Journey”
By
John W. Bailey


Sura 17 “The Night Journey” speaks of one of the more important events in the life of Muhammad the prophet. The event was his night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and ascension through the seven heavens into the presence of Allah. The Sura starts “Glory be to Him who carried his servant [Muhammad] by night from the sacred temple of Mecca to the temple [Jerusalem] that is more remote, whose precinct we have blessed, that we might show him of our signs! For He is the Hearer, the Seer.”

Muhammad’s night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem was on the back of Al Burak “the lightning” and accompanied by the angel Gabriel. According to the Islamic Hadith tradition, Al Burak was a winged horse like creature. Muhammad went from Mecca to Jerusalem and from the rock that is now covered by the Muslim structure known as the Dome of the Rock, Muhammad ascended through the seven heavens and came into the presence of Allah, from whom Muhammad received instructions for himself and for his followers.

The area that lies under the Dome of the Rock has an important history. The area is located on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem and is known as the Temple Mount in Jewish History. It is believed to be the location where Abraham came to build an alter for the sacrifice of Isaac and the location of the first Jewish temple built by King Solomon.

Muhammad’s night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem is thought to have occurred traditionally around the year 620 A.D. The round trip from Mecca to Jerusalem and back in the course of the night encompassed about 1528 miles.

Sura 17 continues Muhammad’s focus on Monotheism [one God]. In Sura 17:41 “This is a part of the wisdom which thy Lord hath revealed to thee [Muhammad]. Set not up any other god with Allah, lest thou be cast into Hell, rebuked, cast away.” Surah 17:47-49 “When thou recitest the Koran we place between thee and those who believe not in the life to come a dark veil; and we put coverings over their hearts lest they should understand it, and in their ears a heaviness; and when in the Koran thou namest thy One Lord [Allah], they turn their backs in flight.”

Islam, blessing or burden? You be the judge of it all!