The Calendar

The Night of Mi’raj

The night of Isra and Mi’raj, which took place in the month of Rajab, harbors in itself much plentifulness, and the gifting or granting of that which is desired. This miraculous journey had been foreshadowed by a long line of adversities such as unrelenting oppression and torture, all of which were directed at the Noble Companions and the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) invited people to Islam in Makkah for thirteen years until the hijrah. However, the people there came out against this precious invitation out of pure obstinacy and jealousy. They were unwilling to abandon their idols, which were symbols of tribal power, even though they did not benefit them. They tried to block the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and the believers, tyrannizing them on every occasion. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and all of his Companions were isolated to a particularly rocky area outside of Makkah, where they faced a devastating boycott. During the three years of oppression, however, Muslims were exposed to hunger, poverty, and distress.

After these difficult times, Rasulullah’s (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) heart faced further sorrow with the passing of two people dear to him. First, his uncle, who regarded and protected him as a son, Abu Talib, passed away. A short time after that, his closest supporter, the beloved mother of believers, Khadija (radiyallahu anha), also breathed her last. Subsequently, he traveled to Taif and met further suffering. All of these distressing circumstances touched the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) so much that that year came to be known as the Year of Grief.

During such a time, Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) bestowed the miracle of Mi’raj upon the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) on the twenty-seventh night of Rajab. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) went from Makkah to Jerusalem with Jibril (alayhissalam) by riding an animal named Buraq. Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) states that the event called ‘Isra’ (The Night Journey) in the Qur’an al-Karim took place as follows:

“Exalted is He who took His Servant [the Prophet Muhammad] by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.” (Al-Isra, 1)

The main part of Rasulullah’s (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) journey began after this point. This journey is known as “Mi’raj,” which means to ascend and to elevate. During Mi’raj, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) ascended to the upper heavens. There he saw a few of the Prophets on each layer and approached the Almighty Lord with a nearness that none in all of creation before him had ever achieved.

As stated in the ayah: when the distance between them became two bows’ length or shorter, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Attahiyyātu lillāhi wassalawātu, wattayyibāt” meaning, “All greetings are for Allah, and all prayers and goodness.”

Then Allah the Most High responded to His Messenger with: “assalāmu alayka ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh” “Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.”

Our beloved Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) wanted his ummah to participate in this mercy and blessing. Then said: “assalāmu alaynā wa alā ibādillāhis-sālihīn” “Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah.”

Then Jibril (alayhissalam) and all angels in heavens who saw this said: “Ash-hadu an lā ilāha illallāh wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasūluh” “I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger.”

Here we are, as Muslims, referring to the Mi’raj of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) by reciting this greeting and supplication in every salah we pray. By speaking these words, we remind ourselves that our prayers could be our Mi’raj.

The Value of Shaban

Shaban is the eighth month of the lunar calendar and the second of the three holy months. Its name comes from the root word “sh’ab,” which means “dispersion, separation, to branch out, and to grow.”

When the month of Shaban was first called this, according to the solar calendar, the trees were branching. Later on, this month continued to be remembered by this name, even when it fell to winter or summer, by rotation of the lunar calendar’s months.

This month, which is valued in Islam, is honored with the night of Barat. And it is made the second of the three holy months. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) fasted during most of Shaban and stated that the most valued fasting after Ramadan is this. He elaborated: “That (Shaban) is a month between Rajab and Ramadan, which is neglected by many people. And it is a month in which an account of the deeds (of human beings) is presented before the Lord of the universe, so I wish that my deeds be presented at a time when I am in a state of fasting.”

Moreover, he attributed it to himself by saying: “Rajab is the month of Allah, Shaban is my month, and Ramadan is the month of my ummah.”

Anas bin Malik (radiyallahu anh) narrated: 

“The companions of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would dedicate themselves to reading the Qur’an when they sighted the crescent of the month of Shaban. Believers would calculate the zakat of their wealth in this month and give them to the poor and needy to help those who would fast in Ramadan. Judges and governors would summon the prisoners in jails, curtailing their punishments or pardoning them. Merchants would pay their debts and receive their dues. They would enter into itikaf when they saw the crescent of the month of Ramadan.”