What is Al-Isra’ wal-Mi‘raj? How do I explain the Night Journey to my child?

Question

Bloomtivo Academy · Accepted Answer

Al-Isra’ wal-Mi‘raj is the miraculous night journey of the Prophet ﷺ from Makkah to Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem (Al-Isra’), and then up through the heavens (Al-Mi‘raj). On this journey Allah gave the five daily prayers. Tell it as a story of comfort after a very sad year. The story in four stepsA sad year: the Prophet ﷺ had lost his wife Khadijah and his uncle Abu Talib.Al-Isra’: in one night he travelled from Masjid al-Haram in Makkah to Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem (Quran 17:1).Al-Mi‘raj: he rose through the seven heavens and met earlier prophets.The gift of prayer: prayer was first made fifty, then reduced to five, with the reward of fifty (Sahih al-Bukhari 349).What children can take from itLessonSimple way to say itAllah comforts us after hard times“Allah gave the Prophet ﷺ a special gift after his sad year.”Prayer is special“It’s the only worship given in the heavens.”Masjid al-Aqsa matters“It is one of the three most important masjids.”Muslims differ on the exact date, and on whether to mark the night specially. Many families simply use the time of year to talk about the story.Teacher’s tip: Show your child Makkah and Jerusalem on a map. Explain the journey took weeks by camel, but the Prophet ﷺ did it in one night.Our Seerah programme tells the Prophet’s life story step by step.

Lesson	Simple way to say it
Allah comforts us after hard times	“Allah gave the Prophet ﷺ a special gift after his sad year.”
Prayer is special	“It’s the only worship given in the heavens.”
Masjid al-Aqsa matters	“It is one of the three most important masjids.”

What is Al-Isra’ wal-Mi‘raj? How do I explain the Night Journey to my child?

The story in four steps

What children can take from it

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