Mukhtasar Muslim

Narrated from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: A white Buraq was brought before me, and it is an animal, white in color, tall, higher than a donkey and smaller than a mule, it would place its hoof where its gaze would reach (so in a moment it could reach the sky). He said: I mounted it and came to Bayt al-Maqdis. He said: There I tied that animal to the ring to which the other Prophets used to tie their animals (this ring is at the door of the mosque, and tying it shows that a person must take care and precaution for his belongings, and this is not against reliance on Allah). Then I entered the mosque and prayed two rak‘ahs, then came out, and Jibril (peace be upon him) came with two vessels, one containing wine and the other milk. I chose the milk, so Jibril said, “You have chosen the natural disposition (fitrah).” Then Jibril (peace be upon him) took me to the heavens. (When we reached there) the angels asked for the door to be opened. They asked, “Who is it?” Jibril said, “It is Jibril.” They asked, “Who is with you?” Jibril (peace be upon him) said, “It is Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).” The angels asked, “Has he been called?” Jibril (peace be upon him) said, “Yes, he has been called.” Then the door was opened for us and I saw Adam (peace be upon him), and he welcomed me and prayed for my well-being.

Then Jibril (peace be upon him) ascended with us to the second heaven and asked for the door to be opened. The angels asked, “Who is it?” He said, “Jibril.” The angels asked, “Who is with you?” He said, “Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).” The angels asked, “Has he been commanded to come?” Jibril (peace be upon him) said, “Yes, he has been commanded.” Then the door was opened and I saw the two maternal cousins, ‘Isa ibn Maryam and Yahya ibn Zakariya (peace be upon them). Both welcomed me and prayed for my well-being.

Then Jibril (peace be upon him) ascended with us to the third heaven and asked for the door to be opened. The angels asked, “Who is it?” Jibril (peace be upon him) said, “Jibril.” The angels asked, “Who is with you?” Jibril (peace be upon him) said, “Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).” The angels asked, “Has he been sent for?” Jibril (peace be upon him) said, “Yes, he has been sent for.” Then the door was opened and I saw Yusuf (peace be upon him). Allah had given him half of all beauty. He welcomed me and prayed for me.

Then Jibril (peace be upon him) took us to the fourth heaven and asked for the door to be opened. The angels asked, “Who is it?” Jibril (peace be upon him) said, “Jibril.” They asked, “Who is with you?” Jibril (peace be upon him) said, “Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).” The angels asked, “Has he been called?” Jibril (peace be upon him) said, “Yes, he has been called.” Then the door was opened and I saw Idris (peace be upon him). He welcomed me and prayed for me. Allah, Glorious is He, has said: “And We raised him to a high station.” (So by high station, this fourth heaven is meant.)

Then Jibril (peace be upon him) ascended with us to the fifth heaven and asked for the door to be opened. The angels asked, “Who?” He said, “Jibril.” The angels asked, “Who is with you?” Jibril (peace be upon him) said, “Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).” The angels asked, “Has he been called?” Jibril (peace be upon him) said, “Yes, he has been called.” Then the door was opened and I saw Harun (peace be upon him). He welcomed me and prayed for me.

Then Jibril (peace be upon him) ascended with us to the sixth heaven and asked for the door to be opened. The angels asked, “Who is it?” Jibril (peace be upon him) said, “Jibril.” The angels asked, “Who is with you?” He said, “Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).” The angels asked, “Has Allah sent for him?” Jibril (peace be upon him) said, “Yes! He has sent for him.” Then the door was opened and I saw Musa (peace be upon him). He welcomed me and prayed for me.

Then Jibril (peace be upon him) ascended with us to the seventh heaven and asked for the door to be opened. The angels asked, “Who is it?” Jibril (peace be upon him) said, “It is Jibril.” They asked, “Who is with you?” Jibril (peace be upon him) said, “Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).” The angels asked, “Has he been called?” He said, “Yes, he has been called.” Then the door was opened and I saw Ibrahim (peace be upon him) reclining with his back against the Bayt al-Ma‘mur. (From this it is known that sitting with one’s back towards the qiblah is not a sin.) And every day seventy thousand angels enter it, who will never return to it again.

Then Jibril (peace be upon him) took me to Sidrat al-Muntaha. Its leaves were as large as elephant ears and its fruits like big jars (a large vessel in which two water skins or more of water can fit). Then when that tree was covered by Allah’s command, its state became such that no creature can describe its beauty.

Then Allah, Glorious is He, inspired into my heart whatever He inspired, and fifty prayers were made obligatory upon me in the night and day. When I descended from there and reached Musa (peace be upon him), he asked, “What has your Lord made obligatory upon your ummah?” I said, “Fifty prayers have been made obligatory.” He said, “Return to your Lord and ask for a reduction, for your ummah will not be able to bear it. I have tested and tried the Children of Israel.” So I returned to my Lord and said, “O my Lord! Make it lighter for my ummah.” Allah reduced it by five prayers. I returned to Musa (peace be upon him) and said, “Allah has excused me five prayers.” He said, “Your ummah will not be able to bear it, so return to your Lord and ask for a reduction.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: I kept going back and forth between my Lord and Musa (peace be upon him) until Allah, Glorious is He, said, “O Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)! There are five prayers in every day and night, and for every prayer there is the reward of ten prayers. So that makes fifty prayers.” (SubhanAllah! How gracious is the Master to His servants, that they pray five prayers and receive the reward of fifty.) And whoever intends to do a good deed but does not do it, one good deed is written for him, and if he does it, then ten good deeds are written for him. And whoever intends to do an evil deed but does not do it, nothing is written against him, and if he does it, only one evil deed is written.

Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: I descended and came to Musa (peace be upon him), and he said, “Return to your Lord and ask for a reduction.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: I kept going back to my Lord until I became shy of Him. (That is, now I am ashamed to go again.)