About the Surah
Surah Title : الإسراء
English Title : Al-Isra
Order in Al-Mushaf : 17
Number of Verses : 111
Type : makkah
Page Number in Al-Mushaf : From Page 282 To Page 293
Al-Isra
سُبۡحَٰنَ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَسۡرَىٰ بِعَبۡدِهِۦ لَيۡلٗا مِّنَ ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡحَرَامِ إِلَى ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡأَقۡصَا ٱلَّذِي بَٰرَكۡنَا حَوۡلَهُۥ لِنُرِيَهُۥ مِنۡ ءَايَٰتِنَآۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡبَصِيرُ
1Glorified (and Exalted) is Allah Who took his slave [Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] for a journey by night from Masjid-al-Haram (at Makkah) to Masjid-al-Aqsa (in Jerusalem), whose neighbourhood We have blessed (religious blessing is that there are many Prophets buried there, and worldly blessing is that it has very fertile land), to show him Our various signs. [e.g. (i) to travel long distance in very short time (ii) meeting previous Prophets (iii) talking to these Prophets (iv) travelling to various skies and observing extraordinary signs of Allah]. Indeed, Allah is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer [i.e. Allah heard Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and saw the circumstances surrounding him. Accordingly, Allah honoured him with this unique journey and bes-towed upon him nearness to Him.]
1The reason for descending the verse
From Anas ibn Malik (r.a), Rasulullah (s.a.w) said, “I was brought by al-buraq which is an animal that is white and long, larger than a donkey but smaller than a mule, which would place its hoof at a distance equal to the range of vision. I mounted it and walked with it to Bayt-al Maqdis (in Jerusalem). I then tied it up to the ring used by the prophets. I entered the area of the Mosque and prayed two rak’at in it. I then came out and Jibril brought me a vessel of wine and a vessel of milk. I chose the milk.” (Narrated by Ahmad in his Musnad)
