Muhammad's Last Years, Death and Night Journey to Heaven | Middle East And North Africa

MUHAMMAD'S LAST YEARS

Muhammad at the Kaaba

From this time of his return to Mecca, Muhammad was generally accepted by the faithful as the true final prophet. Muhammad continued to lead his community both spiritually and in practical matters until his death in 632. During the last two years of his life, Muhammad led fellow Muslims on pilgrimages to Mecca, where the Kaaba was relieved of its idols and dedicated to the worship of Allah. Since then, praying at the Kaaba has been the ultimate goal of the pilgrimage, or hajj, which every able-bodied adult Muslim is expected to make at least once in his or her lifetime.

By the time of the Prophet's death ten years after his migration to Medina, most of the Arabian Peninsula, including the city of Mecca, had converted to Islam. Muhammad spent the last two years of his life living mostly in Medina but presiding over a theocracy in Mecca. He became both a political and religious leader of Arabia and spent his time preaching and consolidating his political power, and occasionally received a revelation or two. Muhammad urged previously-persecuted followers to practice their religion in peace.

As the a leader of Mecca Muhammad declared a general amnesty, liberalized slavery laws and "humanized the harsher elements of Arab tribal law." Order was established and civil disputes were settled by evoking the word of God. New converts from the outside were welcomed in Mecca and Medina and missionaries were sent to all parts of Arabia.

Within two years Islam had spread throughout the Arabian peninsula, uniting tribes that had previously been at each other’s throats for as long as anyone could remember. Two months before his death Muhammad led a great pilgrimage to Mecca accompanied by more than 120,000 men a women. His last sermon, on Mount Arafat, delivered just two weeks before his death, is remembered with the “Day of Standing,” the central event of the Hajj.

Websites on Muhammad: Encyclopædia Britannica britannica.com ; Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet — PBS Site pbs.org/muhammad ; Prophet Muhammad prophetmuhammad.com; Islamic History: History of Islam: An encyclopedia of Islamic history historyofislam.com ; Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World oxfordislamicstudies.com ; Sacred Footsetps sacredfootsteps.com ; Internet Islamic History Sourcebook fordham.edu/halsall/islam/islamsbook ; Islam IslamOnline islamonline.net ; Institute for Social Policy and Understanding ispu.org; Islam.com islam.com ; BBC article bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam ; Islam at Project Gutenberg gutenberg.org

Muhammad’s Death

Muhammad died on June 8, 632 at the age of 62 on the same day he was born with his head on the lap of his favorite wife Aisha after he had fallen ill with a fever during a trip in Medina. Before he died he delegated his day to day businesses to Abu Bakr. He was buried near the spot he died, in Aisha’s hut at the edge of a mosque. Muhammad’s tomb is in Medina.

According to tradition Muhammad went to heaven, an experience he described before his death in the Night Journey. Sura 17:1 in the Qur’an reads: “Glory be to Him who carried His servant at night from the Holy Mosque to the Further Mosque, the precincts of which have been blessed, that we might show might show him some signs." This brief account was later expanded into a mystical Night Journey from Mecca to Jerusalem, in which the Prophet was miraculously transported from the Kaaba to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, where he was welcomed by all the great prophets who preceded him. He then flew to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem (where Abraham nearly sacrificed his son Ishmael) and then ascended to through the seven levels of heaven with the angle Gabriel as his escort.

In another version of the story, Muhammad was carried to heaven on Buraq, a fantastic creature that “was smaller than a mule and larger than an ass" and had a human face, often described as part horse, part woman and part peacock. On the way through heaven met Adam in the lowest heaven and Jesus in the fourth heaven and he received advise from Moses, Aaron, Enoch, John the Baptist and is welcomed by Abraham in the seventh heaven before he is whisked into paradise for a meeting with God.

Muhammad’s Night Journey and Ascent to the Heavens

mourning at the death of Muhammad

In 621, the year before he left for Medina and 11 years before his death, Muhammad made a stunning announcement to his followers. He told them that the archangel Gabriel (Jabraʾil) had transported him to the city of Jerusalem, where he miraculously taken to heaven and given a tour of paradise. [Source: Encyclopedia.com]

Muhammad said that, while sleeping near the Kaaba, he was awakened by the angel Gabriel. Muhammad and placed on a mystical steed called Buruq, who flew him to Jerusalem, which is referred to in the Koran as al-masjid al-aqsa (Further Mosque). There, according to tradition, Muhammad climbed a ladder leading to the throne of God. Along the way to the throne, Muhammad met Abraham, Moses, Joseph, John the Baptist, and Jesus, as well as other prophets. During his meeting with God, Muhammad received guidance for the final number of daily prayers that Muslims should perform, set at five. [Source: John L. Esposito “Worldmark Encyclopedia of Religious Practices”, 2000s, Encyclopedia.com]

On the day Muhammad took night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem to heaven, Muslims believe, Muhammad devised the custom of praying five times a day. Some Muslims believe the Prophet journey was a visionary experience not a real one. Some believe it was a real, physical trip. A rare painting of this event was painted by a Persian artist who left the prophet's face blank so there would be accusations of icon-worshiping.

The Night Journey made Jerusalem the third holiest city in Islam, even though Muhammad probably never went there in the normal way, and affirmed the continuity of Islam with Judaism and Christianity. Muhammad is said to have ascended to heaven at the site of the Temple Mount, where the ancient Jews First Temple of Solomon and Their Second Temple once stood. Today, the Dome of the Rock marks the spot in Jerusalem from which Muslims believe that Muhammad made his ascent to heaven.

The Hadiths on Muhammad’s Night Journey

Muhammad’s Night Journey to Jerusalem is called Israa in Arabic and the Ascent to the Heavens is called the Miraj in Arabic:. The main source on the event is Ibn 'Abbas, a cousin of Muhammad. He is quoted as saying in the Hadiths: "And We granted the vision (Ascension to the heavens) which We made you see (as an actual eye witness) was only made as a trial for the people....The sights which Allah's Apostle was shown on the Night Journey when he was taken to Bait-ul Maqdis (i.e. Jerusalem) were actual sights, (not dreams). And the Cursed Tree (mentioned) in the Quran is the tree of Zaqqum (itself). [Source: Sahih al-Bukhari Collection of Hadiths: Volume 5, Book 58, Number 228]

The Prophet said, "On the night of my Ascent to the Heaven, I saw Moses who was a tall brown curly-haired man as if he was one of the men of Shan'awa tribe, and I saw Jesus, a man of medium height and moderate complexion inclined to the red and white colors and of lank hair. I also saw Malik, the gate-keeper of the (Hell) Fire and Ad-Dajjal amongst the signs which Allah showed me." (The Prophet then recited the Holy Verse): "So be not you in doubt of meeting him' when you met Moses during the night of Mi'raj over the heavens" (32.23). According to Anas and Abu Bakra: "The Prophet said, "The angels will guard Medina from Ad-Dajjal (who will not be able to enter the city of Medina)." [Source: Sahih al-Bukhari Collection of Hadiths: Volume 4, Book 54, Number 462]

In the Hadiths, Abbas bin said: Malik bin Sasaa said that Allah's Apostle described to them his Night Journey saying, "While I was lying in Al-Hatim or Al-Hijr, suddenly someone came to me and cut my body open from here to here." I asked Al-Jarud who was by my side, "What does he mean?" He said, "It means from his throat to his pubic area," or said, "From the top of the chest." The Prophet further said, "He then took out my heart. Then a gold tray of Belief was brought to me and my heart was washed and was filled (with Belief) and then returned to its original place. Then a white animal which was smaller than a mule and bigger than a donkey was brought to me." (On this Al-Jarud asked, "Was it the Buraq, O Abu Hamza?" I (i.e. Anas) replied in the affirmative). The Prophet said, "The animal's step (was so wide that it) reached the farthest point within the reach of the animal's sight. I was carried on it, and Gabriel set out with me till we reached the nearest heaven. [Source: Sahih al-Bukhari Collection of Hadiths: Volume 5, Book 58, Number 227]

Muhammad in Heaven

Muhammad's Night Journey

According to the Hadiths: “When he asked for the gate to be opened, it was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel answered, 'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has Muhammad been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!' The gate was opened, and when I went over the first heaven, I saw Adam there. Gabriel said (to me). 'This is your father, Adam; pay him your greetings.' So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious son and pious Prophet.' Then Gabriel ascended with me till we reached the second heaven. Gabriel asked for the gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel answered, 'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel answered in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!' The gate was opened.

“When I went over the second heaven, there I saw Yahya (i.e. John) and 'Isa (i.e. Jesus) who were cousins of each other. Gabriel said (to me), 'These are John and Jesus; pay them your greetings.' So I greeted them and both of them returned my greetings to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.' Then Gabriel ascended with me to the third heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his is!' The gate was opened, and when I went over the third heaven there I saw Joseph. Gabriel said (to me), 'This is Joseph; pay him your greetings.' So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.' Then Gabriel ascended with me to the fourth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed, what an excel lent visit his is!'

“The gate was opened, and when I went over the fourth heaven, there I saw Idris. Gabriel said (to me), 'This is Idris; pay him your greetings.' So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.' Then Gabriel ascended with me to the fifth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel.' It was asked. 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his is! So when I went over the fifth heaven, there I saw Harun (i.e. Aaron), Gabriel said, (to me). This is Aaron; pay him your greetings.' I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.' Then Gabriel ascended with me to the sixth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked. 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. It was said, 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!'

Muhammad Meets Moses and Abraham in the 6th and 7th Heavens

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Muhammad makes a short visit to Hell
According to the Hadiths: “When I went (over the sixth heaven), there I saw Moses. Gabriel said (to me),' This is Moses; pay him your greeting. So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.' When I left him (i.e. Moses) he wept. Someone asked him, 'What makes you weep?' Moses said, 'I weep because after me there has been sent (as Prophet) a young man whose followers will enter Paradise in greater numbers than my followers.' Then Gabriel ascended with me to the seventh heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel.' It was asked,' Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!'

“So when I went (over the seventh heaven), there I saw Abraham. Gabriel said (to me), 'This is your father; pay your greetings to him.' So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious son and pious Prophet.' Then I was made to ascend to Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (i.e. the Lote Tree of the utmost boundary) Behold! Its fruits were like the jars of Hajr (i.e. a place near Medina) and its leaves were as big as the ears of elephants. Gabriel said, 'This is the Lote Tree of the utmost boundary) . Behold ! There ran four rivers, two were hidden and two were visible, I asked, 'What are these two kinds of rivers, O Gabriel?' He replied,' As for the hidden rivers, they are two rivers in Paradise and the visible rivers are the Nile and the Euphrates.'

“Then Al-Bait-ul-Ma'mur (i.e. the Sacred House) was shown to me and a container full of wine and another full of milk and a third full of honey were brought to me. I took the milk. Gabriel remarked, 'This is the Islamic religion which you and your followers are following.' Then the prayers were enjoined on me: They were fifty prayers a day. When I returned, I passed by Moses who asked (me), 'What have you been ordered to do?' I replied, 'I have been ordered to offer fifty prayers a day.' Moses said, 'Your followers cannot bear fifty prayers a day, and by Allah, I have tested people before you, and I have tried my level best with Bani Israel (in vain). Go back to your Lord and ask for reduction to lessen your followers' burden.' So I went back, and Allah reduced ten prayers for me. Then again I came to Moses, but he repeated the same as he had said before. Then again I went back to Allah and He reduced ten more prayers. When I came back to Moses he said the same, I went back to Allah and He ordered me to observe ten prayers a day. When I came back to Moses, he repeated the same advice, so I went back to Allah and was ordered to observe five prayers a day.

“When I came back to Moses, he said, 'What have you been ordered?' I replied, 'I have been ordered to observe five prayers a day.' He said, 'Your followers cannot bear five prayers a day, and no doubt, I have got an experience of the people before you, and I have tried my level best with Bani Israel, so go back to your Lord and ask for reduction to lessen your follower's burden.' I said, 'I have requested so much of my Lord that I feel ashamed, but I am satisfied now and surrender to Allah's Order.' When I left, I heard a voice saying, 'I have passed My Order and have lessened the burden of My Worshippers."”

Muhammad’s Tomb

The Prophet's Mosque in Medina is where Muhammad is buried. The second most important Muslim site after Mecca and known in Arabic as Masjid ar-Rasul, it features towering minarets and is supported by arches of basalt and limestone with geometric designs. A high green dome marks Muhammad's tomb, which contains gold and silver grillwork around green-draped bier. On the red carpets believers pray and read Qur’ans. It is forbidden to pray to Muhammad so the pilgrims that gather here direct their prayers to Allah.

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Masjid Nabavi in MedinaThe simple mosque that Muhammad built is a simple green-domed structure within the Prophet’s Mosque. The mosque complex also contains the grounds of Muhammad’s house. Muhammad said that the empty space between the house and mosque---an area of a few hundred square feet---is the garden of Paradise, the only earthy manifestation of heaven,

The Prophet's Mosque is dominated by Egyptian-style neo-Ottoman Empire structures built in the 20th century. The Prophet's Pilgrims was renovated under the Ottoman Caliph Abd al-Majid in 1860 and enlarged by the Saudi government in 1955. In the 1980s and 90s, it was enlarged to ten times the Ottoman-era size to 165,000 square feet. A state-of the-art air conditioning system in another building is considered the largest of it kind in the world.

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons

Text Sources: Internet Islamic History Sourcebook: sourcebooks.fordham.edu ; Arab News, Jeddah; “Islam, a Short History” by Karen Armstrong; “A History of the Arab Peoples” by Albert Hourani (Faber and Faber, 1991); “World Religions” edited by Geoffrey Parrinder (Facts on File Publications, New York); “Encyclopedia of the World’s Religions” edited by R.C. Zaehner (Barnes & Noble Books, 1959); Metropolitan Museum of Art, National Geographic, BBC, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Smithsonian magazine, The Guardian, Al Jazeera, Times of London, The New Yorker, Time, Newsweek, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Library of Congress and various books and other publications.

Last updated April 2024