Isra miraj

Time flies so fast. Its getting faster each day without us realizing it. It was just last week we were learning from Shaykh Ninowy when he was in Singapore. A week gone by without us realizing it. A split seconds move and this is why Allah said in the Quran By (the Token of) Time (through the ages), Verily Man is in loss, (Surah asr) . Today its a unique blessed day, we had haul of Habib Isa al Haddad and tonight in 1  hours time, we will be commemorating Isra Miraj. Most of us will probably reading mawlid or burdah. Alhamdulilah, we thank Allah for making us being part of the Ummah of Prophet sallahu alaihi wa salam. However, I reminded myself, the whole purpose of devotion shouldnt be an act of being exclusiveness. If someone doesnt belong to a group, it doesnt mean he or she is deprive of spirituality. Prophet salahu alaihi wa salam was alone by himself during Isra Miraj. A sacred journey Allah brought him to discover many things in which was stated in the hadith of Prophet sallahu alaihi wa salam. Therefore, there are those individual who are alone but was never alone cause in their hearts Prophet sallahu alaihi wa salam was alive and they know Allah make them alone for them to focus on their journey to HIM.

The Salaf often reminded us that our Isra Miraj is from our solat since it was in this miraculos sacred journey Prophet sallahu alaihi wa salam reveal to us about solat thus it was obligation upon us to pray 5 times a day. We probably heard many sufistic wonderful stories about Isra Miraj and each one of it is unique in is own way. I am not here to argue its authenticity. Nevertheless, the wisdom of Isra Miraj is to remind us how Allah had perfected the Prophet sallahu alaihi wa salam in HIS own ways.Hes the best creation and the greatest gift to mankind.  To love Prophet sallahu alaihi wa salam is not just to attend majlis of mawlid and burdah but to live the life of Prophet sallahu alahi wa salam characteristic in us. So it become part of us. Its how we deal with people each day. Be patience, be humble, be helpful, be generous, be courteous, be tactful in dealing things with people and many more positive things. There was a saying if you love someone, you would imitate the person in each movement. So how about us? Is our love for Prophet sallahu alaihi wa salam is sorely base on intellectual or its in our hearts?

What really matter in our hearts, is the drive to have the burning desire to live like Prophet sallahu alaihi wa salam which inshaAllah the burning factor will burn our ego, hatred, jealous, envy and all other negative elements in us. May we be like Prophet sallahu alaihi wa salam who is the symbol of servanthood. The sacred journey of Isra Miraj make us realize that our life is indeed a journey. We move from time to time on having different aspect understanding to what we understand today. And Allah is showing us to witness his sign and manifestation of  Glory so do we deny to be in the art of gratitude?. Prophet sallahu alaihi wa salam used to say to his beloved wife Syaidatina Aisha radiaAllahuanha Am I not a thankful servant? Let us think again all this while, have we ever thought about our gratitude to Allah swt. Do you think our daily amal is enough to thank Allah. If not for Allah who give us guidance and help, will it be possible for us to know HIM? Let us do our istigfar to compensate what we missed in  the past as a duty of a servant to Allah swt. Our sins are like foams in the oceans and as high as the mountain touching the sky but we know Allah is the forgiver of all sins. 

Allah said I am the hidden treasure so I created creations so that they know (worship) me. (Hadith Qudsi) Isra miraj also reminded us about solat (prayer) For most of us who are born into a muslim family, we may find solat as a routine, a part of culture but for those who are sincerely seeking Allah, they find solat  as a reality in finding Allah. Allah said And HE (Allah) found you lost and guided you. Quran (Surah Duha) You will find nothingness in you when you performing solat cause you are in the presence of your creator, Allah.  This why solat leads to marifahtullah, a knowledge of Allah. Solat should be a forceful shield for you not to commit any sins, refrain you from backbiting and other calamities for the tongue except remembering Allah swt and reading selawat for Prophet sallahu alaihi wa salam. The haqiqah Muhammadiyah (reality of Prophet sallahu alaihi wa salam) is to make your hearts connect to Allah in solat and at all times. This is why the wirid of istigfar, La Illa ha Il la Allah, selawat upon Prophet sallahu alaihi wa salam became the manual for many servants for them to reach the path of Allah. may Allah guide us and forgive us. may Allah increase our love for his beloved Prophet sallahu alaihi wa salam so that we can enter his domain as Prophet sallahu alaihi wa salam is our door to Allah swt.