The Night Journey and Ascension : Khutbah by Shaykh Nooruddeen Durkee and Past Posts

Qubbat al-Sakhra (Dome of the Rock), Masjid al-Aqsa, Haram al-Sharif, Jerusalem (photo credit)

The Dome of the Rock houses the rock upon which Mohammad, the Messenger of God, Divine peace and blessings to his noble soul, is said to have ascended to heaven, the same rock upon which Abraham, Divine peace be upon him offered up his most beloved one, in the Jewish tradition, the Foundation Stone, said to be the first part of the world that came into being at the creation. Some tradition points that it is the very place from where Jesus Christ, Divine peace be upon him, also rose to Heaven. It is also on the site of the inner sanctum of the Second Temple of Jerusalem (the Holiest of Holies) on the platform known as the Temple Mount, which Muslims refer to as the "Noble Sanctuary." The holiness of the site to the three Abrahamic faiths is intense.

According to Sacred Knowledge, each and every one of the Divine Informers, the Great Message Bearers of God has experienced ascension. Quoting from the book: Teachings of Perfect Masters by Henry Bayman where he quotes the teaching of Sufi Master Ahmet Kayhan Dede, may Allah bless him, as:

"There has been no prophet without ritual Prayer, nor without Ascension (miʿraj). Many of them have ascended twice.

Adam had his first Ascension when his spirit was created by God. His second Ascent occurred at the mountain of Arafat together with our mother Eve.

Idris (Enoch), in accordance with the Quranic verse – ‘We raised him to a high place’ – ascended and did not come back. Noah, at the time of the Flood associated with his name, ascended while on the ship he made by God’s command.

Abraham ascended to heaven twice: First, when he was thrown into the fire, and second, at the moment when he was about to sacrifice his beloved son Ishmael.

Jonah, at the time when he was swallowed by the whale, was inspired by God Almighty with the verse: ‘There is no god but You. Glory be to You, I have been of the wrongdoers’ [21:87]. By repeating this verse, he made his Ascension in the belly of the whale.

King Solomon, the son of David, told his father he would accept prophethood on two conditions. He said to him: ‘If God Almighty grants the prophethood on both physical and spiritual grounds, I will accept it.’ God was pleased with these words of Solomon, and his request was granted. This became his Ascension, because he wanted it that way.

As for Moses, he also performed two Ascensions. In his first ascent, right after his birth his mother placed him in a basket of bulrushes and set him adrift on the Nile. His second ascent occurred on Mount Sinai [Horeb].

Jesus also had two Ascensions. In the first one, the Virgin Mary was asked: ‘How did you get pregnant?’ Jesus answered from his mother’s womb: ‘My mother’s words are the truth, heed my mother.’ His second ascent happened during the Crucifixion (his ascension was spiritual).

The Ascension of the Prophet Muhammad was superior to those of the other prophets. Crossing the Seven Heavens, he performed his Ascension starting from the seventh, conversed with God, and returned with the greatest good news to his community and all mankind. "

This current lunar Month called Rajab is the month in which the 27th is specially marked as the date on which Muhammad Mustafa, the Messenger of God ascended to Heaven. This incident is known as Isra and Mi'raj.

Shaykh Nooruddeen Durkee, may Allah bless him and grant him good life, gave a very important Khutbah or Friday sermon touching upon the importance of this month and special worship that is recommended for this month. Please listen to this talk by following this link: Download the talk as Mp3. Recorded in June 2012.

More of his Sermons can be downloaded from the Official Green Mountain School website here.

Detailed talk on Isra and Mir'aj by Shaykh Nooruddeen Durkee where he recounts the story of the mystical experience for the Prophet alayhi-s-salataal salaam

Watch via Youtube: (+) Part 1 of 7 (+) Part 2 of 7 (+) Part 3 of 7
(+) Part 4 of 7 (+) Part 5 of 7 (+) Part 6 of 7
(+) Part 7 of 7 Note that this talk was recorded in 2011.

Over the last few years I have shared a number of posts regarding during this special time when the door of special blessings are opened for those who wish to turn to the all Merciful, the One Who alone is the Creator of all that is in heaven and in earth, the One Who alone reserves the right to forgive, the One Who alone is the Bestower of Never ending Mercy. You may click on the links below to access the posts.