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It is narrated in a Hadith that once the Holy Prophet (pbuh) arrived late for
the Fajr Prayer. After Prayer he told
the people to remain seated. He narrated to them that last night when he was
establishing Prayer he went into a
state of drowsiness. He saw Allah's splendour and beauty in front of him without any veils. Allah
asked him ‘Oh Muhammad! Do you know
what subject these certain angels are conversing about?’ He replied ‘Yes, O Lord! They are conversing about those deeds which remove sins’. Allah asked ‘What are they?’ He answered ‘To lift a step towards the mosque for
congregational Prayer, to stay in the
mosque after the Prayer and to perform ablution despite intolerable
conditions (such as very cold water). There is
happiness and welfare in the life and death of the one who does this. He will be purified from his sins just like the day when his mother gave birth to
him’. Allah then asked him ‘Oh
Muhammad! What are the stages?’ He replied ‘To feed people, to talk
with a soft tone, to get up to
establish Prayer when the world is asleep’.
Allah then ordered ‘Ask for anything from Me’. He answered ‘O Lord! I want
divine guidance to be able to
do good deeds, refrain from
evil deeds and to love the poor. Save me and have mercy on me. When you wish to
test a nation, lift me
without testing me. I am the aspirant of Your love and the love of
the one who loves You and the love
of every deed that takes me closer
to Your love’.
Once the
Holy Prophet was performing the Kasoof Prayer (the Prayer performed when there
is a solar eclipse) and remained
occupied for a long time reciting the Quran, bowing down and prostrating.
During this time his companions saw that he reached his hand forward. They then
saw that he moved back a little. Later when the people questioned him regarding
this incident he told them:-
‘At that
time those things were exposed in front of me of which you have been promised.
Paradise and Hell were displayed just beside this wall. I saw bunches of grapes
hanging in Paradise, I felt like breaking off a bunch. If I did break it you
would have been able to finish it until the Day of Resurrection. I then saw
Hell and have never before seen such a terrifying thing’
KHWAJA SHAMSUDDIN AZEEMI
Mehrāj means to enter the world of the unseen. When a believer attains Mehrāj through prayer, Angels appear in front of him. He travels through the Heavens, and through the blessings of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) he comes to know his Lord.
