Islam prophet’s “Nocturnal Ascent” (Mi’raj)
This book is one of the Allam Mohammad-Baqer Majelis’s works and writings which has been written in Persian. The phenomenon of “Nocturnal Ascent” (Mi’raj) that has been one of the most amazing events in prophet’s life had been noted in some Quran verses and traditions. In this direction, Allame Majlisi, in the book of “Hayat Al-Qolub” (the life of hearts) wrote a chapter about this subject. A summary of considerable views about this subject has been related in this book by him.
####The author’s biography:
Alläme Mollä Mohammad Bägher Majlesi was born in Isfehän’s Där Al-Saltaneh. His birth occurred in an educated family and in the time of Mir Dämäd’s “authority” (maja’iyat), the famous “jurisconsult”(faghih) and philosopher. Alläme Majlesi has been the most famous scholar, jurisconsult, famous “traditionist”(mohadeth), Imamism shi’a, Isfahan’s “Sheykh Al-Islam”(a high religious dignitary) and excel of Isfahan’s scholars in the middle of the second half of the eleventh century A.H. and in the first ten years of the twelfth century. Alläme was the third son of Mollä Mohammad Taghi Majlesi who was also one of the glories of shi’a scholars. In the end of Saffavid government, with great perseverance and patience, through compiling and composing of books, teaching Islamic sciences, educating many students and managing the religious affairs of shiisms in his time, succeed to serve so positively to the Iran’s shia and Muslim people that not any clergyman has had such success.
His most valuable works:
1- “Haqq Al-yaqeen”(reality of certainty) on beliefs
2- “Eyn Al-Hayät”(essence of life) on ethics
3- Heliyat Al-Mutaqin on rules of injunctions
4- Hayät Al-Qolub on history of prophets
5- Jalal Al-Oyun on history of Innocent Ones (p.b.u.th.).
Most of his studies, in the field of religious sciences, was in the presence of his father and other his masters are as follows:
-Mollä Muhammad Saleh Mäzandaräni who was his brother-in –law
-Mollä Hassan-Ali Shushtari
-Mirza Rafi’ Al-din Tabätabäi Näini
-Sheikh Abdollah Ibn sheikh Jäber Ameli
-Mollä Mohsen Feyz Käshäni
-Seyyed Mirzä Jazäyeri, etc.
His students:
1-Seyyed Ne’mat Allah Jazäyeri
2- Mir Mohammad-Saleh Khätun Äbädi
3- Haj Mohammad Ardebili
4- Mir Mohammad-Hossein Khätun Äbädi
5- Mollä Mohammad Majlesi (Alläme’s cousin), etc
Alläme Majlesi had two wives. From the first wife he had one son and two daughters and from the second wife he had one son and one daughter. It has been said that Alläme also had the third wife that from her he had two sons and two daughters. He died in his city (Isfahan) in 1699.3.29A.D. (1110.9.27A.H.). He was buried by Jäme mosque, his activity place and near his house, next to his great scholar father (Mollä Mohammad Taghi Majlesi). His tomb located by the Isfahan Jame’ mosque.
The book structure:
This book including different tittles about “nocturnal ascent (Mi’raj) which some of them are as follows:
-commentary of Mi’raj (nocturnal ascent) verses in “the Star” (najam) sura
-comprehensive tradition of “nocturnal ascent (Mi’raj),
-the first heaven up to seventh
-the “Inhabited House” (beyt Al-ma’mour),
-the Tubä tree
-“Lotus tree of the Utmost”(sedrat Al-montehä),
-Prophet and God’s talking
-listening to the “Izan” (prayer call),
-congregation prayer in the “heaven”(sky),
-reduction in prayer
-in explaining the reason of sufficiency to the five prayer
-in explaining the reason of prophet’s ascenting to the heaven
-characteristic and quality of “Buraq” [Buraq means steed or heavenly horse),
-Buraq’s walking
-bravo to prophet
-on quality of genuflection, prostration, the second “unit” (rak’at), testimony and salutation’s position in prayer
-the reason of prophet’s “be’sat”(prophetic mission),
-the status (place) of Imam Ali in “Nocturnal Ascent”(Mi’raj)”,
-multiplicity of Nocturnal Ascent”(Mi’raj) and the status of “two bow’s length”(qäb qosein), [two bow’s length signifying nearness to God],
-interval between Jesus and final prophet
-the position of Qom city in Nocturnal Ascent”(Mi’raj),
-observing the Räziye and Marziye angels
-the event of “Nocturnal Ascent”(Mi’raj) from Ishmael place” (hajar Ismäil),
-observing of Malik of the Hell
-ascenting from Abtah
-the creek of light
-the value of worship and prayer
-on virtue of Fatima (p.b.u.h.),
-to see the tormented women
-commentary on verse:8 (from “the Star” sura)- [And he is in the highest part of the horizon],
-reason of saying(reciting) prayer in a loud and low voice in the first and last time of ascenting
-Gabriel greeting to Khadijah (p.b.u.h.),
-building the heavenly palaces instead of “azkär”(remembrances or recollections), [means for each one of our “zekr” (remembrances or recollections),will be built the heavenly palaces for us],
-getting accustomed of the prophet (p.b.u.h.) by the name of Ali (p.b.u.h.),
-commentary of the God’s word: “And ask those of our apostles whom we sent before you……” (Verse: 45, “the Embellishment” (zukhruf) sura),
-the news of “Nocturnal Ascent”(Mi’raj) by the Seyyed Ibn Tävus’ word
-entering from “Lotus tree of the Utmost” (sedrat Al-montehä) up to Throne and getting the occult news
-passing from veiling and Imam Ali’s successorship
-paradise in the night of “Nocturnal Ascent”(Mi’raj),
-the Imam Ali’s palace
-descenting of “Izan” (call to prayer),
-the creation of rose
-entering of angels on prophet in the night of “Nocturnal Ascent”(Mi’raj).
Sources :
Islam prophet’s “Nocturnal Ascent” (Mi’raj) by Mohammad-Bagher Majlisi