One of the Ladders to Heaven is in Palestine

It is clearly known and agreed upon by the entire Muslim community that the Messenger of Allah experienced the event of Isra' (the night journey) from Al-Haram Mosque to Al-Aqsa Mosque and experienced the event of Mi'raj (the ascension) from Al-Aqsa Mosque to the heavens. Has it ever occurred to us why the Messenger of Allah ascended to the heavens from Al-Aqsa Mosque and not directly from Al-Haram Mosque? It would not have been difficult for Allah to raise the Messenger of Allah from Al-Haram Mosque to the heavens. But why must it be via Al-Aqsa Mosque? Many lessons can be taken from that journey. Among them is because one of the ladders to the heavens is located at Al-Aqsa Mosque. This further adds to the glory of Al-Aqsa Mosque, besides being a signal for his Ummah to quickly reclaim Al-Aqsa Mosque and honor it, a realization that was finally fully achieved during the time of the Caliph Amirul MukmininUmar bin Al-Khatthab. Regarding the ladders to the heavens, Allah Ta'ala says:

“A questioner asked concerning a torment bound to happen. For the disbelievers, none can avert it. From Allah, the Lord of the Ascending Stairways (al-Ma’arij). The angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) ascend to Him in a Day the extent of which is fifty thousand years.” (Al-Ma’arij: 1-4) This verse explicitly states that Allah possesses and has established the existence of ascending places or ladders to the heavens. Imam Mujahid bin Jabr interpreted:

“From Allah, the Lord of the Ascending Stairways (al-Ma’arij).” Meaning, places of ascent to the heavens.” (AR. Ath-Thabari in Jami’ Al-Bayan, 23/600) Ma’arij itself comes from the word Mi’raj which means a place of ascent. Ibn Al-Khathib Ar-Razi said:

“His saying, ‘the Lord of the Ascending Stairways’, Al-Ma’arij is the plural of the word mi'raj which means the place of ascent.” (Mafatih Al-Ghaib, 30/638) Regarding the beginning of the Mi'raj event, the Messenger of Allah narrated:

“So I mounted it (Buraq) until I reached Baitul Maqdis. I tethered it exactly at the place where the prophets used to tether (their mounts). Then I entered the Mosque (Al-Aqsa) and prayed two rak’ahs (units of prayer). Then I left the Mosque until Gabriel, peace be upon him, came to me with a vessel of wine and a vessel of milk. I chose the milk. Gabriel, peace and blessings be upon him, said: ‘You have chosen the fitrah (natural disposition).’ Then we were ascended to the heavens and Gabriel requested for it to be opened (the gate of heaven)...” (HR. Muslim: 162 from Anas bin Malik) It is very clear here how the Messenger of Allah experienced the Mi'raj from Al-Aqsa Mosque to the heavens, because one of the places of ascent to the heavens is located in or around Al-Aqsa Mosque, besides the event also being a symbol of the continuous relay of the teachings of the prophets with the teachings brought by the Messenger of Allah. That is why his journey and visit to Al-Aqsa Mosque was his last in his lifetime, as he would not visit Al-Aqsa Mosque after that. However, he entrusted his Ummah to liberate it through many indications. If Masjidil Haram was successfully liberated by the Muslims under his leadership, then Al-Aqsa Mosque was successfully liberated by the Muslims under the leadership of his companion, Al-Faruq Umar bin Al-Khatthab. The existence of ladders to the heavens at Al-Aqsa Mosque also indicates the proximity of the distance between Al-Aqsa Mosque and the heavens. Shaykh Nawawi Al-Bantani interpreted:

“‘Exalted is He who took His Servant by night,’ meaning, purified from partners is the One who journeyed His Servant Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. ‘By night,’ meaning in a small part of the night. ‘from Al-Haram Mosque,’ that is, from the sacred territory of Mecca, from the house of Ummu Hani binti Abi Thalib. ‘To Al-Aqsa Mosque,’ meaning the place furthest from the earth and closest to the heavens, which is the Mosque of Baitul Maqdis(Jerusalem).” (Murah Labid, 1/614) How could it not be? There are dozens, even hundreds, of prophets who have lived and stayed at Al-Aqsa Mosque and in Palestine. Naturally, there were hundreds, even thousands, of revelations that Allah sent down there. Revelations brought by the angels to the prophets and messengers. Was not Prophet Isa also raised to the heavens when he was in Palestine?! Did not Allah speak directly with Prophet Musa on Mount Sinai, which is also located in Palestine?!

Wallahu a’lam (And Allah knows best).