The Journey to Bayt al-Muqaddas: Miraculous Events and the Leadership of the Prophets in Prayer

Departure towards Bayt Al-Muqaddas

Then the Beloved Prophet ﷺ mounted the Burāq and departed for Bayt Al-Muqaddas in a most dignified manner, as Sayyidunā 'Allāmah Būṣīrī رَحْمَةُاللّٰهِعَلَيه mentions,

سَرَيْتَ مِنْ حَرَمٍ لَيْلًا اِلٰى حَرَمٍ كَمَا سَرَى الْبَدْرُ فِيْ دَاجٍ مِّنَ الظُّلَمِ

By night, from one haram to another haram you did go Like the full moon travelling the dark sky with its glow

The meaning conveyed is that the Prophet ﷺ travelled on the night of Miʿrāj from the Noble sanctuary of the Ka'bah to the Noble Sanctuary of Bayt Al-Muqaddas in such a glorious manner like the full moon traverses the intensely dark night sky, scattering light.

On this illuminated journey, the leader of the Angels, Sayyidunā Jibrīl عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام accompanied the Prophet ﷺ.²

During the journey, Sayyidunā Jibrīl عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام asked the Prophet ﷺ to alight at a place and offer prayer. He did so and Sayyidunā Jibrīl عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام said, "Do you know where you prayed? You prayed in Taybah (i.e., Madina al-Munawarrah) and the migration will take place towards it."

¹ Qasidah Al-Burdah maʿ Sharhiha 'Asidah al-Shuhdah, p. 237
² Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 3887

Then at another place, Sayyidunā Jibrīl عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام asked the Prophet ﷺ to alight and offer prayer. He did so and Sayyidunā Jibrīl عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام said, "Do you know where you prayed? You prayed at Ṭūr Sīnā¹ (Mount Sinai) where Allah Almighty granted Prophet Mūsā عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام the honour of speaking with Him."

Then at another place, Sayyidunā Jibrīl عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام asked the Prophet ﷺ to alight and offer prayer. He did so and Sayyidunā Jibrīl عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام said, "Do you know where you prayed? You prayed in Bayt Lahm² (Bethlehem), where 'Īsā ibn Maryam was born."³

Some scenes from the journey to Bayt al-Muqaddas

The Beloved Prophet ﷺ was moving on his way to Bayt Al-Muqaddas, witnessing the wonders of Allah's creation when he passed by an old woman standing on the roadside. The Prophet ﷺ asked Sayyidunā Jibrīl عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام, "Who is this?" He replied, "Continue onward O Prophet ﷺ". The Prophet ﷺ continued onwards. Then someone called out, "هُلُمَّ يَا مُحَمَّد O Muhammad come here!" However, Sayyidunā Jibrīl عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام mentioned the same thing, "Continue onward O Prophet ﷺ." Thus, the Prophet ﷺ continued onwards, without stopping. Then he passed by a group who presented their greetings, saying:

اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا اَوَّل، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا اٰخِر، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا حَاشِر

"Peace be upon you, O First One! Peace upon you, O Last One! Peace be upon you, O Hāshir!"

Sayyidunā Jibrīl عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام said, "Return their greeting O Prophet ﷺ," and he did. Then he passed by another group and the same occurred. Then he passed by a third group and the same occurred.

¹ Ṭūr refers to the mountain which lies between Egypt and Jerusalem where Allah Almighty granted Prophet Mūsā عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام the honour of speaking with Him. As for Sīnā, Sayyidunā 'Ikrimah's view is that it is the name of the place where the mountain is situated. (Tafsir al-Maghari, Surah al-Tin, under verse: 2, vol. 10, p. 273)
² Bayt Lahm. This is a place situated 6 miles south of Bayt al-Muqaddas. (Surat Al-Ard, Al-Qism Al-Awwal, p. 158)
³ Sunan al-Nasā'ī: 448

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Afterwards, Sayyidunā Jibrīl عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام said to the Prophet ﷺ, "The old lady you noticed standing by the roadside was the world, it has as much time left as the remaining lifetime of that old woman. The one who tried to draw you towards himself was Iblis (shaytan), the enemy of Allah Almighty. He wanted you to incline towards him. Those that greeted you were Prophet Ibrāhīm, Prophet Mūsā and Prophet 'Īsā عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَام."¹

Prophet Mūsā عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام in Prayer

It is mentioned in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim that when the Prophet ﷺ passed the grave of Prophet Mūsā عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام, which was by some red sand dunes, he was standing praying in his grave.²

Arrival at Bayt Al-Muqaddas

In this manner, witnessing the wonders of Allah's creation and meeting the Prophets عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَام, the Beloved Prophet ﷺ arrived in Bayt Al-Muqaddas where Masjid Al-Aqṣā is situated. The Prophet ﷺ entered from the right gate of the city, went towards the Masjid³, and tied the Burāq using the ring on the door of the Masjid which the previous Prophets عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَام used to tie their mounts to. Later, Sayyidunā Jibrīl عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام brought the Burāq into the courtYard of the Masjid and pierced a stone using his finger and tied the Burāq there.⁴

¹ Dala'il Al-Nubuwwah Li al-Bayhaqi, vol. 2, p. 362
² Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2375
³ Sunan al-Nasā'ī: 448
⁴ Al-Sirah Al-Halabiyyah, vol. 1, p. 523 selected; Sharh Al-Zurqani 'Ala Al-Mawahib, Al-Maqsad Al-Khamis, vol. 8, p. 103, summarised

Leadership of the Prophets عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَام in Prayer

In order to make apparent the lofty status of the Prophet ﷺ, all the Prophets عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَام had been gathered in Bayt Al-Muqaddas.¹ When he arrived, upon seeing him, they all greeted him and at the time of prayer, they all put him forward to lead them. Then Sayyidunā Jibrīl عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام took the hand of the Prophet ﷺ, brought him forward, and he led them all in prayer.²

Sayyidunā 'Allāmah Būṣīrī رَحْمَةُاللّٰهِعَلَيه says,

وَقَدَّمَتْكَ جَمِيْعُ الْاَنْۢبِيَاءِ بِهَا وَالرُّسُلُ تَقْدِيْمَ مَخْدُوْمٍ عَلٰى خَدَمِ³

In leading prayer, all Prophets and Messengers placed you forward giving you preference Like the one served is placed forward before his servants out of reverence

The meaning of the couplet is that all the Prophets عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَام put forward the Prophet ﷺ to lead the prayer at Bayt Al-Muqaddas like the way one served is placed before the ones who serve him.

سُبْحَٰنَ اللّٰه Glory be to Allah Almighty! What a prayer! All the Prophets and Messengers عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَام are followers in prayer, the leader of all the Prophets ﷺ is their Imām, and the place of prayer is the first qiblah. Without doubt, there has never been a prayer like this in existence nor have the heavens witnessed such an event. In any case, the intricate virtue of the Beloved ﷺ of being the first and the last was laid open on the night of al-Isra', the veil was lifted from this secret and this meaning became as bright as daylight because today, the Prophet ﷺ who was the last Messenger to be sent forth was leading all the previous Prophets and Messengers in prayer. Explaining this very secret, the reviver of Islam, the Imām of Ahl al-Sunnah, Imām Aḥmad Razā Khān رَحْمَةُاللّٰهِعَلَيه says,

Namaz-e-Aqsā mayn tha yehi sirr,        'iyaṉ hoṉ ma'na-e-awwal aakhir
Keh dast basta hayṉ peechay haazir,  jo saltanat aagay kar gaye thay

The secret of the prayer at Aqṣā was to reveal the meaning of 'the First' and 'the Last'
For standing behind him in prayer with folded hands, are all those who had reigned in the past

¹ Sunan al-Nasā'ī: 448
² Sunan al-Nasā'ī: 448; Al-Mu'jam al-Awsat li-Tabarani: 3879; Al-Sirat al-Halabiyah, vol. 1, p. 525
³ Qasidah Al-Burdah Ma' Sharhiha 'Asidah al-Shuhdah, p. 240