282 Page Notes

17 Al-Isra

Page 282 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 282 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 282 of the Qur'an marks the beginning of Surah Al-Isra (The Night Journey), verses 1 through 7. This page introduces one of the most miraculous and spiritually significant events in Islamic history: the Isra (Night Journey) of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ from Makkah to Jerusalem. It also transitions immediately into a historical reflection on the Children of Israel, the blessings of the Torah given to Moses, and the divine decrees concerning the rise and fall of nations based on their corruption.

The Hadith and Sunnah provide the foundational, eyewitness accounts of the Night Journey and explain the theological links established in these verses.

1. The Miraculous Night Journey (Verse 1)

"Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs..." (Qur'an 17:1)

This single verse summarizes an epic event that is detailed extensively across dozens of authentic Hadiths. The Sunnah maps out the mechanics of the Isra—the journey on the celestial mount, the arrival in Jerusalem, and the leadership of the Prophet ﷺ over all previous messengers.

• The Transport on Al-Buraq:
  Anas ibn Malik narrated a lengthy, foundational Hadith where the Prophet ﷺ detailed the exact beginning of this journey:
  "I was brought al-Buraq—a white animal, smaller than a mule but larger than a donkey, whose stride reaches as far as its eye can see. I mounted it and rode until I reached Jerusalem (Bayt al-Maqdis)..." (Sahih Muslim 162)

• Leading the Prophets in Prayer:
  Upon arriving at Al-Masjid al-Aqsa, the spiritual focal point highlighted in this verse, the Prophet ﷺ anchored his role as the final messenger by leading a congregational prayer where the souls of all past prophets were gathered. The Prophet ﷺ related:
  "...I tied the animal to the ring used by the prophets before me. Then I entered the Masjid and prayed two units of prayer inside it..." (Sahih Muslim 162)

• The Sacred Status of Al-Aqsa:
  Because verse 1 explicitly states that Allah "blessed its surroundings," the Sunnah firmly establishes Al-Aqsa as one of the three holiest sanctuaries in Islam. Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
  "Do not undertake a journey to visit any mosque except three: this Mosque of mine (in Madinah), the Sacred Mosque (in Makkah), and the Mosque of Al-Aqsa (in Jerusalem)." (Sahih al-Bukhari 1189)

2. Noah as a Grateful Servant (Verse 3)

"O descendants of those We carried [in the ship] with Noah. Indeed, he was a grateful servant." (Qur'an 17:3)

After mentioning Moses, Allah reminds humanity of their lineage trace back to the survivors of the Great Flood with Prophet Noah (Nuh), highlighting his trait of intense gratitude (Shakuran).

• The Intercession on the Day of Judgment:
  The Sunnah connects this exact description of Noah to his standing on the Day of Resurrection. In the famous long Hadith of Intercession (Shafa'ah), humanity will rush to Noah seeking his help, explicitly referencing this scriptural title:
  "...They will go to Noah and say, 'O Noah! You are the first of the messengers sent to the earth, and Allah has named you a grateful servant (Abdan Shakura). Intercede for us with your Lord!'..." (Sahih al-Bukhari 4712)

3. The Decrees and Destructions of Jerusalem (Verses 4–7)

"And We decreed for the Children of Israel in the Scripture: 'You will surely cause corruption on the earth twice, and you will surely reach [a degree of] great haughtiness.' So when the promise came for the first of them, We sent against you servants of Ours - those of great military might..." (Qur'an 17:4–5)

These verses outline historical cycles where corruption led to conquest and the defilement of the sanctuary in Jerusalem by foreign powers (historically associated with empires like the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar and later the Romans).

• The Prediction of Contextual Trials:
  While these verses deal predominantly with past historical fulfillments recorded in scripture, the Sunnah contains multiple warnings about the sanctity of Jerusalem changing hands and facing severe trials over time. The Prophet ﷺ counted the shifts surrounding Jerusalem as signs of the approaching final eras. Auf ibn Malik narrated that the Prophet ﷺ told him:
  "Count six signs before the Hour: my death, then the conquest of Jerusalem, then a plague that will afflict you..." (Sahih al-Bukhari 3176)