In Islamic tradition, the Isra and Mi'raj (Arabic: الإسراء والمعراج‎, al-’Isrā’ wal-Mi‘rāğ) are the two parts of a journey that Muhammad took in one night, around the year 620. Many Muslims consider it a physical journey but some Islamic scholars consider it a dream.^[1] A brief sketch of the story is in verses 1 and 60 of one of the Qur'an chapters (#17: sura al isra), and other details were filled in from the supplemental writings, the hadith.

The Isra begins with Muhammad resting in the Kaaba in Mecca, when the archangel Gabriel comes to him, and brings him the winged steed Buraq, who carries Muhammad to the "farthest mosque". The location of this mosque was not explicitly stated in the Qur'an, but is traditionally considered to be the Noble Sanctuary (Temple Mount) in Jerusalem. There, Muhammad alights, tethers Buraq, and leads other prophets in prayer. He then gets back on Buraq, and in the second part of the journey, the Mi'raj, is taken to the heavens, where he tours the circles of heaven, and speaks with the earlier prophets, and with Allah. Allah tells him to enjoin the Muslims to pray fifty times a day; however, Moses tells Muhammad that they would never do it, and urges Muhammad to go back several times and ask for a reduction, until finally it is reduced to five times a day.

(... from Wikipedia on 2009-01-01 00:32:21 )