MUHAMMAD SAW THE MESSENGER OF ISLAM (515 pages, 12/41)
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ting him with stones and injuring his hands and feet. He was compelled to take refuge in an orchard beyond the city limits, which belonged to `Utba bin Rabi’a and his brother Shayba of the Meccan tribe of Shams. There he sat down by the side of the road to rest from the heat of the sun and the pain in his foot. He prayed to Allah Almighty, complaining to Him of his own weakness, little resource and lowliness before men. He did not invoke against the people of Ta’if, fearing the Wrath of Allah that would descend upon them.
The two brothers `Utba and Shayba were in their gardens at the time. They witnessed what had happened to the man of Quraysh, and they were indignant at his treatment. Moreover, they were moved to compassion by his condition, so
they sent their slave ‘Addas, a Christian, to him, offering him a plate of grapes. The Holy Prophet accepted the refreshment, took a bunch of grapes and began eating them, after pronouncing over them the words “Bismillah” (In the name of Allah). The young slave looked at him carefully and said, “By Allah, I have not heard these words spoken since I left my country.”
The Holy Prophet then asked him which place he came from, and what was his religion, and he answered him, “I am a Christian from Nineveh.” “From the town of the righteous man Yunus, the son of Matta,” said the Holy Prophet . ‘Addas was surprised and asked, “How do you know about Yunus, and who are you?” The Holy Prophet then replied, “He is my brother, he was a prophet of Allah, and I am a prophet of Allah, too.” ‘Addas then bent over him and kissed his head, his hands and feet. The two brothers were watching this from afar, and when ‘Addas came back to them, they reviled him for it. He answered his masters, saying, “There is no man in this country better than he; he has told me things that only a prophet can know.”
Then the Holy Prophet returned to Mecca from Ta’if. News of what had transpired at Ta’if had already reached Abu Jahl and his henchmen, and he said, “They did not permit him to enter Ta’if, so let us also refuse him entry into Mecca.” Late at night, the Holy Prophet reached the halfway halt between the two towns at the valley of Nakhlah. There he proposed to rest, and while he was engaged in prayer, a company of Jinn passed by, seven in number and from Nasibin. They witnessed the Prophet reciting the holy words of the Quran. They hearkened to these words and responded, believing in the Prophet’s mission. They returned to their own people as Muslims. The Holy Quran mentions this incident:
And when We turned to thee a company of Jinn giving ear to the Quran; and when they were in its presence they said, ‘Be silent!’ Then when it was finished, they turned back to their people, warning. They said, ‘Our people, we have heard a Book that was sent down after Moses, confirming what was before it, guiding to the truth and to a straight path. O our people. Answer God’s summoner, and believe in him, and He will forgive you some of your sins, and protect you from a painful chastisement. Whosoever answers not God’s summoner cannot frustrate God in the earth, and he has no protectors apart from Him; those are in manifest error.
(The Sand Dunes, 29-32)
This is mentioned in another Sura as well:
Say: “It has been revealed to me that a company of the Jinn gave ear, then they said, ‘We have indeed heard a Quran wonderful, guiding to rectitude. We believe in it, and we will not associate with our Lord anyone.’” (The Jinn, 1-3)
The Sura ar-Rahman, the All-Merciful is addressed to the Jinn, as well as to men. The Holy Prophet was sent as a ‘Mercy for the Worlds’, again confirming his mission to both humankind and Jinn.
Now as the Holy Prophet was approaching Mecca from Ta’if, he knew he would not be welcomed there. When a horseman bound for Mecca overtook him, he asked him to convey a message to a clansman of his mother’s clan, Akhnas bin Shariq. He asked him to extend to him his protection, so that he might enter in safety. But Akhnas sent back a reply, declining, saying he was only a confederate to the home tribe of Quraysh. The Holy Prophet had by now reached the cave of Hira, where he had received the first revelation.
From there he sent word to Suhayl bin ‘Amr, asking him for protection, but Suhayl declined as well, also on the grounds of tribal principles. Then he sent the man to ask Mut’im ibn ‘Adiy, the chief of Bani Nawfal. Mut’im agreed and having girt his weapons, he rode out in the morning with his sons and nephews to escort the Prophet from Hira to Mecca. When Abu Jahl saw him, he asked, “Are you giving him protection, or have you entered his religion?” Mut’im replied, “Granting him protection, of course.” Then Abu Jahl said, “We protect him to whom you give protection.”
Thus the Holy Prophet continued his life in Mecca for a time, praying and preaching inspire of the hostility of the pagan idol-worshippers. He endured much abuse and insult, yet he sought to spread the message he had been entrusted with. He would move among the tribesmen who came to Mecca on the occasion of various fairs and religious feasts, and he tried to set forth to them his view. More often than not he met with incomprehension and derision, all the more so as his own uncle Abu Lahab went round behind his back, telling people that he was crazy and advising them not to listen to his words. It was during this period that the Mi’raj of the Holy Prophet took place.
The Holy Ascension of Prophet Muhammad
(from the Dalail-al-Khayrat Sharhi of Kara Da’ud, d. 1541)
The 178th name of the Prophet, on whom be peace, is Sahib-al-Mi’raj (he who was granted ascent to Heaven). Oh Allah, Thy Benediction be upon the owner of this name. The word ‘Mi’raj’ signifies an instrument that facilitates ascent, such as a flight of stairs. Our Holy Prophet ascended to the heavens on a stairway of precious gems beginning at al-Quds (‘the holy’, i.e. Jerusalem) during his lifetime and in his pure physical form. Among all the prophets and messengers, it was a privilege reserved for the Holy Prophet alone to be granted such an experience. Therefore the appellation Sahib-al-Mi’raj was appended to his name.
Now we shall set forth in full the account of the Mi’raj that the Holy Prophet was honored to experience.
When the Prophet Muhammad had reached his fortieth year, he was sent with mercy for the whole world as a prophet and messenger of God to all people. He began to preach his message and invite people to faith. It was in the twelfth year of his calling, on the twenty-sixth day of the month of Rajab that the Prophet went to the Baytullah (the Kaba) and sat by himself in front of one of the pillars. There he engaged in remembrance and meditation of the Lord Almighty.
Just then, Abu Jahl came in to meet with his helpers and henchmen. He saw Muhammad sitting there all on his own, engaged in the worship of his Lord. Seeing him thus, he thought to himself, “I will play him a prank,” and going up close to him, he bent down and asked him, “Oh Muhammad , are you a Prophet?” Muhammad answered him directly, saying, “Yes, I am a Prophet.” Abu Jahl went on to say, “How can you be a prophet whilst you sit here all alone? Where is your following, where are your helpers? Had there been any necessity for a new prophet, the call to prophethood certainly would have come to me. Look at my following, look at the number of my retainers!” And, striking an arrogant pose, he turned around and left. After Abu Jahl had gone, another one of his party came by with his group of followers.
He, too, approached the Holy Prophet sitting there on his own, with the
intention of doing something hurtful to Muhammad . He spoke as Abu Jahl had spoken, then he turned and left. In this way, no less than seven of the notables of Quraysh came by with their accomplices and they all spoke the same words as Abu Jahl, as if they had previously devised a plan. As a result, the Holy Prophet became very dejected and his spirits fell. He thought to himself, “It is now twelve years that I am calling them to Islam and to the belief in the Unity of Allah Almighty. However, far from accepting the Truth, they don’t even understand the concept of the Messenger. A Prophet has no need of a following of servants and retainers. All that is needful to a prophet is Divine Revelation and the order to make known His Divine Command.” Thus the Holy Prophet grew sad.
That night was the twenty-seventh night of the month of Rajab, a Monday night. He proceeded to the house of Umm Hani who was the daughter of Abu Talib, the sister of Ali. She lived in her father’s house, which was situated between Safa and Marwa. The Prophet arrived at her house, and finding him downcast and dispirited, she asked him for the reason of this. The Prophet explained to her what had happened and why he felt as he did. Now, Umm Hani was an intelligent and resourceful woman. She comforted the Holy Prophet and said, “These men undoubtedly know that as a Prophet of Allah bringing the message of Truth you are not in need of servants and accomplices. But as they are a stubborn, envious and ill-tempered lot, they spoke these words with the sole purpose of insulting you and wounding your spirit.” These words served to comfort the Prophet somewhat, but he still remained distraught. It is reported that soon after praying the night prayer (Salat-al-‘Isha), he fell asleep in Umm Hani’s house in a saddened state of mind.
Then the Lord of all Created Beings who had created Rasulullah before anything else, destining him to be a Messenger of many miracles and gifts of mercy to all the people in the world and endowing him with perfection and the ability to awaken love in the hearts of men; the Lord Almighty whose Glory reaches from end to boundless end, other than whom there is no God, in His aspect of Majesty and Might, addressed Himself to the angel Jibra’il , saying, “My Beloved whom I have chosen from amongst all My Creation, the Best of them all, lies sleeping in the house of Umm Hani, aggrieved by the hurtful words of the unbelievers. Let your piety and obedience be an invitation to My Beloved. Go, adorn your dazzling wings with the gems of Paradise and enjoy the dignity of being at his service. Go and tell Mikha’il to leave off the weighing out of provisions this night, tell Israfil to abandon his trumpet for one hour, and tell
Azra’il for this one night to refrain from taking any souls. Tell the angels of the lights and luminaries to festoon the heavens with lamps; tell Ridwan to embellish the gardens of Paradise, and admonish the angels to keep the gate to the pits of Hell firmly fastened and the demons of Hell not to move from their places.
“Tell the Huris to bedeck themselves and to set about scattering precious gems, preparing all the Paradise mansions. Say to the Throne-bearing angels: ‘Wrap the sphere of the skies in its blessed robes and equip yourselves each with seventy thousand angels.’ You, Jibra’il, repair to Paradise and there select a Buraq steed, then descend to the face of the earth. All the punishment in the graves shall be lifted for the duration of this night. Go to My Beloved who fell asleep of sad and dejected mind in Umm Hani’s house, and be his companion. Awaken him gently and explain to him that this night he is to be shown his great destiny and the station of nearness (qurb) that excels all other stations of elevation and honor. Invite him to come along with you.”
Buraq is Dispatched to His Noble Mount
Jibra’il then went to the Paradise gardens where he beheld forty thousand Buraqs as they were grazing. Each one had the name of Muhammad written across its forehead. Among them was one Buraq, which seemed sad and dejected; its head was bowed and tears were streaming from its eyes. Jibra’il approached that Buraq without hesitation and asked him the reason for its distress. The Buraq then said, “As I was prancing about in Paradise Gardens, a voice suddenly came to my ear, which said, ‘Oh Muhammad !’ No sooner had I heard this name spoken than I became enamored of the bearer of this name. For forty thousand years now I have been burning with the fire of separation and the hope of attaining union. Ever since I am weeping, in the sway of intense longing.”
Jibra’il had pity on the state of this Buraq and said to him, “Your beloved Muhammad has this very night been invited to ascend to the Heavens. He needs to be transported from the Masjid-al-Haram (Mecca) to the Masjid-al- Aqsa (Jerusalem) by a Buraq steed. It is you I will select, so come now and attain fulfillment.” Then he saddled the Buraq with a saddle of light and placed a bit in his mouth of green chrysolite. Next he went to the chamber, where the spiritual king of this world and the world to come, the Messenger to both mankind and Jinn, lay sleeping.
Prophet Narrates His Mi’raj
Now, the compilers of Hadith have narrated in six collections of Hadith the story of the Prophet’s Mi’raj as it was told to them by no less than twenty of the venerable companions who heard it as the King of Prophets told it to them himself. This then was his narrative:
“I had fallen asleep in Umm Hani’s house, my eyes were closed, but my heart was wakeful. Suddenly, I heard the voice of Jibra’il in my ear, and rising from my slumber, I sat up, finding myself face to face with the angel Jibra’il . He spoke to me, saying, ‘The Lord Almighty sends you His greetings of peace and invites you to come with me. I will carry you along, for the Lord wishes to shower upon you the diversity of His munificence. Of those that have gone before you, none has ever attained to such munificence, nor will any who are to come after you ever attain to it.’
“I rose and wished to perform my ablutions. Water was ordered to be brought from the heavenly stream of Kawthar. Before I had even uncovered my hands and feet, preparing to take ablution, Ridwan had already brought two jugs full of water from the stream of Kawthar in pitchers of red ruby. He also brought a bowl of green emerald that had four corners to it. In each corner there was a gem that shone like the sun and lit up the night sky. I washed with this blessed water, and they clad me in a wrap of pure light and set upon my head a quilted turban of light.
“The story of this turban is this: eight thousand years before the creation of Adam, the angel Ridwan wound this turban in my name. Since that time up until now, forty thousand angels stand about this turban reciting praises and glorifying the Lord. After every single one of their glorifications, they recite blessings (Salat-wa-Salam) upon me. That turban has forty thousand folds, and in every one of these folds there are four lines of writing.
In the first line is written: Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. In the second line is written: Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah. In the third line is written: Muhammad is the Beloved of Allah.
In the fourth line is written: Muhammad is the Friend of Allah.
“After this, Jibra’il covered my back with a cape of light and fastened around my waist a belt of red rubies. He placed in my hand a whip made of green emeralds, which was embellished with four hundred pearls, each of which shone like the morning star. He clad my feet in a pair of slippers crafted from green emerald. Thereafter he took me by the hand and led me to the Haram.”
In another narration, the Prophet continues his account as follows:
“I made my ablution with the waters of the Zamzam well. Then I circled the Holy House seven times and prayed two Rak’ats at the Maqam Ibrahim. I came to the place called the Khatm and there sat down for a bit to rest. While I was sitting there, Jibra’il split my chest asunder and brought two large basins filled with knowledge and wisdom, respectively. Mikha’il brought three basins full of Zamzam water wherein they washed my entrails and my bosom. Then he opened up my heart and took from it the small black clump of clotted blood, while saying, ‘This bit of clotted blood is the reason why men feel fear when they behold an awesome sight. I have taken it from you, for tonight you will behold the Heavens and the Lote Tree, the Divine Throne and Divine Court and the many strange and wonderful things they contain, and many great angelic creatures. Therefore I have cleansed you of this clot, so that you might gaze at whomever you will and speak what needs to be said without fear or constraint.’ He then took from the basin the knowledge and wisdom contained in it and placed it within my heart. He tucked it in and closed my chest again, so that there remained no trace or scar.
“Jibra’il then took me by the hand and led me to a place outside of Mecca. I saw there the other great archangels, Mikha’il, Israfil and Azra’il, each surrounded by seventy thousand angels of their company. When they beheld me, they all stood to respectful attention and I gave them my greetings of peace. In answer to my greetings, they proclaimed the boundless graces of the Lord.
“Presently, Jibra’il said to me, ‘Oh Prophet of Allah , I have brought you this Buraq from the Gardens of Paradise. Mount it now, for the Lord on High awaits your coming.’ I turned and saw the Buraq, which was as bright as the sun and as swift as a flash of lightning. As soon as he lifted his foot to take a step he had already reached as far as the eye could see. In addition, this Buraq had two wings by his side, which he
used whenever he wished to fly through the air.”
The wise and learned have this to say about the Buraq: his body is smaller than that of a mule, but larger than that of a donkey. He speaks pure, intelligible Arabic. The Lord has created each of his limbs from a different set of precious materials. His hooves are made of corals; his feet are of gold. His chest is of red ruby stone, while his back is made pearls. The wings at his side are of ruby red. His tail resembles the tail of a camel. According to a different narration, his tail resembles that of a peacock and is of extreme comeliness. His mane was that of a horse while his feet resembled those of a camel. He was saddled with a saddle from Paradise, and his stirrups were of red ruby, beset with jewels.
Our Holy Prophet’s narration continues as follows:
“The angel Jibra’il held the stirrups for me, saying, ‘Mount!’ As I made ready to mount him, the Buraq stirred restively. Jibra’il addressed him, ‘Oh Buraq, are you not ashamed of yourself? How dare you dare behave with such insolence? By the Grace of Allah Almighty whose Glory is vast and whose bounties are all-encompassing, beside whom there is no other Lord, never will you see a rider of greater merit and excellence!’ At the angel’s words, the Buraq blushed with shame and began to tremble all over. Large drops of sweat trickled from his brow and he said, ‘Oh Jibra’il , I have a request to make, and it was from this urgency that I behaved thus, not because I am reluctant to fulfill my duty. Now you have put me to shame.’”
The Holy Prophet then turned to the Buraq and asked him what his request was and how it might be fulfilled. “Oh my Prophet ,” replied the Buraq, “I have been stricken with love for you since before time began. For untold eons, I was immersed in yearning, submerged in an agony of love. Now, by the Grace of Allah, I have been granted the boon of beholding your light and perceived your blessed scent. My love now has blossomed forth and increased thousand fold. On the Day of Gathering, when you rise from your blessed resting-place, you will be brought to the place of gathering on a Buraq steed. The request of my love is this: that you will mount no other steed than me on that tremendous day, thereby completing my happiness and filling my heart with the light of joy.” The Holy Prophet answered and said, “I granted the Buraq his request and promised that I would mount no other than him on that day.”
After hearing from the Buraq that he would be brought to the Site of Judgment on back of a Buraq, the Prophet , the Glory of all Creation, the Quintessence of
all Being grew thoughtful as he pondered the fate and state of his nation on that day. The Lord Almighty who is aware of every hidden thing then made the angel Jibra’il ask Muhammad the reason for his sudden sadness. The Holy Prophet replied:
“I have been informed by the Buraq of the honor that will be shown to me on that mighty day in that I will be fetched and mounted on a Buraq. It occurs to me to reflect on the state of my nation on that day: they are but weak, far from perfect, sinful mortals; how, on the Day of Judgment, will they go on foot to the place of assembly which is at a distance of fifty thousand years bearing the weight of all their sins? How will they manage to cross the bridge of Sirat, which is a stretch of three thousand years’ wayfaring?
“I was then informed by Divine inspiration that Divine Grace would reach every single one on that day. Just as the Lord would send a Buraq to fetch me from my grave, so every single soul belonging to my nation would be sent a Buraq to bring him to the Site of Judgment. They would cross the Bridge of Sirat in a flash and they would traverse a road of fifty thousand years as if in a single moment. ‘This is a Favor and Grant of Kindness to your nation, oh Muhammad ,’ I was told, ‘therefore, let your mind be easy on this account.’
There is a verse in the Holy Quran relating to these events:
On that day that We shall muster the God-fearing to the All-Merciful with pomp.
(Mary, 85)
The Holy Prophet then continued in his narrative:
“Learning of the promise of the Lord’s Favor and Kindness, I mounted upon the Buraq filled with joy. Jibra’il and a following of seventy thousand angels were at my right stirrup, Mikha’il with seventy thousand angels was at my left stirrup, and every one of these angels held in his hand a candelabrum of light. Behind me went Israfil with seventy thousand angels and on his shoulder he bore the saddlecloth of the Buraq. I begged his pardon for its great size and that he was made to carry it, since it nearly covered him entirely, but he answered me, ‘Oh Rasulullah , how many thousands of years have I been praying for the favor of being permitted to bear this weight of your Buraq’s
covering! At last the All-Gracious Lord has heard my pleas and granted me this favor!’ ‘Why did you pray for this?’ I asked him. Israfil answered, ‘For how many thousands of years did I worship the Divine Throne!’
“At last there came a voice addressing me, saying, ‘What is it that you long for? Your prayer has been accepted.’ I replied, ‘Oh my Lord, when his time on earth has come, I pray that I might be granted one hour in the service of the intercessor for his sinful nation, whose name the King on the Day of Judgment has deigned to write on the base of the Divine Throne beside His own Blessed Name.’ To this the Almighty Lord replied, ‘I grant you your prayer. There will come one night during his lifetime in which I will grant him the experience of My Nearness. I will bring him from his lowly station on earth up to the highest Heaven. I will open for him the gates of My treasure houses with the Key of Witnessing. I will lead him from Mecca to the Bayt-al- Maqdis (Jerusalem), and until he arrives there, you will have the honor of carrying the saddle cloth of his mount.’”
The Holy Prophet then continued:
“That night, the Buraq’s feet did not touch the ground. All the way from Mecca to Jerusalem were spread the fine, flowered silks from Paradise, on which the Buraq trod. On my way, suddenly one Ifrit (demon) appeared before me and leaned towards me, with flames leaping from his mouth. Jibra’il then said to me, ‘Oh Rasulullah , let me teach you a few words to say, which will extinguish the fire of this Ifrit and undo his existence.’ ‘Do teach me, please!’ I replied and he taught me these words:
A’udhu bi-wajhi-llahil-karim wa bi-kalimati-llahi-t-tammat-allati la yujawizuhunna barrun wa la fajir, min sharri ma yanzilu min-as- sama’i wa ma ya’ruju fiha wa min sharri ma yakhruju minha wa min fitan-il-layli wa-n-nahari wa min tawariq-il-layli wa-n-nahari illa tariqan yatruku bi-khayrin, ya Rahman!
(I seek refuge in the gracious nature of my Lord Allah, and in the perfection of the Divine Word which neither the righteous nor the transgressor is able to breach, from the evil which descends from the sky and that which rises up to it; and from the evil which comes forth from the sky; and from the tribulations of the night and the day, and
from all the calamities of night and day, except for those that result in benefit, oh Lord of Mercy!)
“When this Du’a was recited, the fire of this Ifrit died down and the creature ceased to exist. A voice then came from my right side, saying, ‘Oh Muhammad , stay for a moment and linger; for there is something I wish to ask you...’ This voice called me three times, but I paid it no heed and went on. Then I heard a voice calling me from my left side, and it said, ‘Oh Muhammad , wait awhile, I need to ask you something.’ But again I listened not to it and passed on. Then I beheld a woman, magnificently bedecked in costly robes and lavishly bejeweled. When I passed close by her, I saw that she was a very old woman. Thrice she spoke to me, saying, ‘Stop!’ but I heeded not her call and passed on. “Ahead of me I saw an old man, bent over his staff and trembling in every limb. He, too, requested me thrice to stop and stay with him. ‘Look at me and pity my condition,’ he said, ‘let me enjoy your beauty, for I have something I want to ask you.’ But I passed him by, not heeding his pleas. After a while, I beheld a fresh youth of surpassing beauty whose face shone with light, ‘Stay, oh Muhammad ,’ he addressed me, ‘for I have things to ask of you.’
“At his words, the Buraq halted, and I gave him Salams. After responding to my greetings, he said, ‘Good tidings to you! All good is in you alone and in your nation.’ To this I rejoined, ‘Alhamdulillah!’ and Jibra’il echoed my words. I then asked him who these people were whom I had just seen. He answered, ‘The voice coming from the right was the voice of the unbelievers. Had you stopped there, your nation would have been overpowered by them, and reduced to contempt after your time. The voice coming from your left was that of the Christians; had you paused to stop there, your nation would have been overpowered by the Christian peoples after your time and subjugated by them. The woman you saw was this world, the dunya. She appears finely decked out and attractive to those who wish to possess her. Her decorations and fine robes are meant to fool and deceive mankind.
‘The fact that she appears to be an old woman indicates that the Last Day has drawn nigh. Had you been swayed by her appeal, your whole nation would have become obsessed with the goods of this world and would have worshipped them. The old man you saw was the accursed
devil, Shaytan himself. He knows how kind and merciful you are by nature, so he tried to ensnare you by appearing pitiful to you. It was nothing but a guile to stay you. Had you been fooled by his words, your nation would never have been saved from his wiles, up to the very last drop of their blood, he would have gained the upper hand over very many of them. As for the young lad you saw, he is the religion of Islam. It was there that you stopped; therefore, after your time, your entire nation will be safe from the machinations of the enemy and the religion of Islam will endure.
‘You had been concerned with a number of questions regarding your nation, such as, ‘What will happen when they go out at night into the desert and run into a company of malevolent Jinn? What will be their state after I am gone?’ Allah Almighty who knows all that is hidden and what is manifest then made that Ifrit appear to you and taught you the means of salvation. After your time, there will be no religion that will overcome this religion of Islam. The nation of Muhammad will live according to the Divine Law of the Shari’a. Thus, in the final end, they will be saved from the wiles of Shaytan and reach to safety. Islam will remain on earth until the Day of Judgment. All that you have seen are signs from Allah who wishes to awaken you and relieve you of your fears and doubts.’ And thus, Jibra’il explained to me these visions.
“After some time we reached a place where date palms were plentiful. Jibra’il told me to dismount there and to pray, so I did. When I had finished praying, Jibra’il asked me whether I knew this place where I had prayed and he told me that it was called Tayyiba (which is one of the names for Madinah al-Munawwara). And he told me that before long I would migrate to this place. Next we came to a place, which was all white. Again Jibra’il told me to dismount and to pray there. Then he asked me if I knew the place, and when I did not he explained that this was the tree beneath which Musa had prayed when he came to the land of Madian.
“When Musa was fleeing from Pharaoh, he came to this land. Outside the city of Madian he saw some shepherds watering their flocks, and he saw two girls who were standing at a distance from the well, waiting for their turn
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ting him with stones and injuring his hands and feet. He was compelled to take refuge in an orchard beyond the city limits, which belonged to `Utba bin Rabi’a and his brother Shayba of the Meccan tribe of Shams. There he sat down by the side of the road to rest from the heat of the sun and the pain in his foot. He prayed to Allah Almighty, complaining to Him of his own weakness, little resource and lowliness before men. He did not invoke against the people of Ta’if, fearing the Wrath of Allah that would descend upon them.
The two brothers `Utba and Shayba were in their gardens at the time. They witnessed what had happened to the man of Quraysh, and they were indignant at his treatment. Moreover, they were moved to compassion by his condition, so
they sent their slave ‘Addas, a Christian, to him, offering him a plate of grapes. The Holy Prophet accepted the refreshment, took a bunch of grapes and began eating them, after pronouncing over them the words “Bismillah” (In the name of Allah). The young slave looked at him carefully and said, “By Allah, I have not heard these words spoken since I left my country.”
The Holy Prophet then asked him which place he came from, and what was his religion, and he answered him, “I am a Christian from Nineveh.” “From the town of the righteous man Yunus, the son of Matta,” said the Holy Prophet . ‘Addas was surprised and asked, “How do you know about Yunus, and who are you?” The Holy Prophet then replied, “He is my brother, he was a prophet of Allah, and I am a prophet of Allah, too.” ‘Addas then bent over him and kissed his head, his hands and feet. The two brothers were watching this from afar, and when ‘Addas came back to them, they reviled him for it. He answered his masters, saying, “There is no man in this country better than he; he has told me things that only a prophet can know.”
Then the Holy Prophet returned to Mecca from Ta’if. News of what had transpired at Ta’if had already reached Abu Jahl and his henchmen, and he said, “They did not permit him to enter Ta’if, so let us also refuse him entry into Mecca.” Late at night, the Holy Prophet reached the halfway halt between the two towns at the valley of Nakhlah. There he proposed to rest, and while he was engaged in prayer, a company of Jinn passed by, seven in number and from Nasibin. They witnessed the Prophet reciting the holy words of the Quran. They hearkened to these words and responded, believing in the Prophet’s mission. They returned to their own people as Muslims. The Holy Quran mentions this incident:
And when We turned to thee a company of Jinn giving ear to the Quran; and when they were in its presence they said, ‘Be silent!’ Then when it was finished, they turned back to their people, warning. They said, ‘Our people, we have heard a Book that was sent down after Moses, confirming what was before it, guiding to the truth and to a straight path. O our people. Answer God’s summoner, and believe in him, and He will forgive you some of your sins, and protect you from a painful chastisement. Whosoever answers not God’s summoner cannot frustrate God in the earth, and he has no protectors apart from Him; those are in manifest error.
(The Sand Dunes, 29-32)
This is mentioned in another Sura as well:
Say: “It has been revealed to me that a company of the Jinn gave ear, then they said, ‘We have indeed heard a Quran wonderful, guiding to rectitude. We believe in it, and we will not associate with our Lord anyone.’” (The Jinn, 1-3)
The Sura ar-Rahman, the All-Merciful is addressed to the Jinn, as well as to men. The Holy Prophet was sent as a ‘Mercy for the Worlds’, again confirming his mission to both humankind and Jinn.
Now as the Holy Prophet was approaching Mecca from Ta’if, he knew he would not be welcomed there. When a horseman bound for Mecca overtook him, he asked him to convey a message to a clansman of his mother’s clan, Akhnas bin Shariq. He asked him to extend to him his protection, so that he might enter in safety. But Akhnas sent back a reply, declining, saying he was only a confederate to the home tribe of Quraysh. The Holy Prophet had by now reached the cave of Hira, where he had received the first revelation.
From there he sent word to Suhayl bin ‘Amr, asking him for protection, but Suhayl declined as well, also on the grounds of tribal principles. Then he sent the man to ask Mut’im ibn ‘Adiy, the chief of Bani Nawfal. Mut’im agreed and having girt his weapons, he rode out in the morning with his sons and nephews to escort the Prophet from Hira to Mecca. When Abu Jahl saw him, he asked, “Are you giving him protection, or have you entered his religion?” Mut’im replied, “Granting him protection, of course.” Then Abu Jahl said, “We protect him to whom you give protection.”
Thus the Holy Prophet continued his life in Mecca for a time, praying and preaching inspire of the hostility of the pagan idol-worshippers. He endured much abuse and insult, yet he sought to spread the message he had been entrusted with. He would move among the tribesmen who came to Mecca on the occasion of various fairs and religious feasts, and he tried to set forth to them his view. More often than not he met with incomprehension and derision, all the more so as his own uncle Abu Lahab went round behind his back, telling people that he was crazy and advising them not to listen to his words. It was during this period that the Mi’raj of the Holy Prophet took place.
The Holy Ascension of Prophet Muhammad
(from the Dalail-al-Khayrat Sharhi of Kara Da’ud, d. 1541)
The 178th name of the Prophet, on whom be peace, is Sahib-al-Mi’raj (he who was granted ascent to Heaven). Oh Allah, Thy Benediction be upon the owner of this name. The word ‘Mi’raj’ signifies an instrument that facilitates ascent, such as a flight of stairs. Our Holy Prophet ascended to the heavens on a stairway of precious gems beginning at al-Quds (‘the holy’, i.e. Jerusalem) during his lifetime and in his pure physical form. Among all the prophets and messengers, it was a privilege reserved for the Holy Prophet alone to be granted such an experience. Therefore the appellation Sahib-al-Mi’raj was appended to his name.
Now we shall set forth in full the account of the Mi’raj that the Holy Prophet was honored to experience.
When the Prophet Muhammad had reached his fortieth year, he was sent with mercy for the whole world as a prophet and messenger of God to all people. He began to preach his message and invite people to faith. It was in the twelfth year of his calling, on the twenty-sixth day of the month of Rajab that the Prophet went to the Baytullah (the Kaba) and sat by himself in front of one of the pillars. There he engaged in remembrance and meditation of the Lord Almighty.
Just then, Abu Jahl came in to meet with his helpers and henchmen. He saw Muhammad sitting there all on his own, engaged in the worship of his Lord. Seeing him thus, he thought to himself, “I will play him a prank,” and going up close to him, he bent down and asked him, “Oh Muhammad , are you a Prophet?” Muhammad answered him directly, saying, “Yes, I am a Prophet.” Abu Jahl went on to say, “How can you be a prophet whilst you sit here all alone? Where is your following, where are your helpers? Had there been any necessity for a new prophet, the call to prophethood certainly would have come to me. Look at my following, look at the number of my retainers!” And, striking an arrogant pose, he turned around and left. After Abu Jahl had gone, another one of his party came by with his group of followers.
He, too, approached the Holy Prophet sitting there on his own, with the
intention of doing something hurtful to Muhammad . He spoke as Abu Jahl had spoken, then he turned and left. In this way, no less than seven of the notables of Quraysh came by with their accomplices and they all spoke the same words as Abu Jahl, as if they had previously devised a plan. As a result, the Holy Prophet became very dejected and his spirits fell. He thought to himself, “It is now twelve years that I am calling them to Islam and to the belief in the Unity of Allah Almighty. However, far from accepting the Truth, they don’t even understand the concept of the Messenger. A Prophet has no need of a following of servants and retainers. All that is needful to a prophet is Divine Revelation and the order to make known His Divine Command.” Thus the Holy Prophet grew sad.
That night was the twenty-seventh night of the month of Rajab, a Monday night. He proceeded to the house of Umm Hani who was the daughter of Abu Talib, the sister of Ali. She lived in her father’s house, which was situated between Safa and Marwa. The Prophet arrived at her house, and finding him downcast and dispirited, she asked him for the reason of this. The Prophet explained to her what had happened and why he felt as he did. Now, Umm Hani was an intelligent and resourceful woman. She comforted the Holy Prophet and said, “These men undoubtedly know that as a Prophet of Allah bringing the message of Truth you are not in need of servants and accomplices. But as they are a stubborn, envious and ill-tempered lot, they spoke these words with the sole purpose of insulting you and wounding your spirit.” These words served to comfort the Prophet somewhat, but he still remained distraught. It is reported that soon after praying the night prayer (Salat-al-‘Isha), he fell asleep in Umm Hani’s house in a saddened state of mind.
Then the Lord of all Created Beings who had created Rasulullah before anything else, destining him to be a Messenger of many miracles and gifts of mercy to all the people in the world and endowing him with perfection and the ability to awaken love in the hearts of men; the Lord Almighty whose Glory reaches from end to boundless end, other than whom there is no God, in His aspect of Majesty and Might, addressed Himself to the angel Jibra’il , saying, “My Beloved whom I have chosen from amongst all My Creation, the Best of them all, lies sleeping in the house of Umm Hani, aggrieved by the hurtful words of the unbelievers. Let your piety and obedience be an invitation to My Beloved. Go, adorn your dazzling wings with the gems of Paradise and enjoy the dignity of being at his service. Go and tell Mikha’il to leave off the weighing out of provisions this night, tell Israfil to abandon his trumpet for one hour, and tell
Azra’il for this one night to refrain from taking any souls. Tell the angels of the lights and luminaries to festoon the heavens with lamps; tell Ridwan to embellish the gardens of Paradise, and admonish the angels to keep the gate to the pits of Hell firmly fastened and the demons of Hell not to move from their places.
“Tell the Huris to bedeck themselves and to set about scattering precious gems, preparing all the Paradise mansions. Say to the Throne-bearing angels: ‘Wrap the sphere of the skies in its blessed robes and equip yourselves each with seventy thousand angels.’ You, Jibra’il, repair to Paradise and there select a Buraq steed, then descend to the face of the earth. All the punishment in the graves shall be lifted for the duration of this night. Go to My Beloved who fell asleep of sad and dejected mind in Umm Hani’s house, and be his companion. Awaken him gently and explain to him that this night he is to be shown his great destiny and the station of nearness (qurb) that excels all other stations of elevation and honor. Invite him to come along with you.”
Buraq is Dispatched to His Noble Mount
Jibra’il then went to the Paradise gardens where he beheld forty thousand Buraqs as they were grazing. Each one had the name of Muhammad written across its forehead. Among them was one Buraq, which seemed sad and dejected; its head was bowed and tears were streaming from its eyes. Jibra’il approached that Buraq without hesitation and asked him the reason for its distress. The Buraq then said, “As I was prancing about in Paradise Gardens, a voice suddenly came to my ear, which said, ‘Oh Muhammad !’ No sooner had I heard this name spoken than I became enamored of the bearer of this name. For forty thousand years now I have been burning with the fire of separation and the hope of attaining union. Ever since I am weeping, in the sway of intense longing.”
Jibra’il had pity on the state of this Buraq and said to him, “Your beloved Muhammad has this very night been invited to ascend to the Heavens. He needs to be transported from the Masjid-al-Haram (Mecca) to the Masjid-al- Aqsa (Jerusalem) by a Buraq steed. It is you I will select, so come now and attain fulfillment.” Then he saddled the Buraq with a saddle of light and placed a bit in his mouth of green chrysolite. Next he went to the chamber, where the spiritual king of this world and the world to come, the Messenger to both mankind and Jinn, lay sleeping.
Prophet Narrates His Mi’raj
Now, the compilers of Hadith have narrated in six collections of Hadith the story of the Prophet’s Mi’raj as it was told to them by no less than twenty of the venerable companions who heard it as the King of Prophets told it to them himself. This then was his narrative:
“I had fallen asleep in Umm Hani’s house, my eyes were closed, but my heart was wakeful. Suddenly, I heard the voice of Jibra’il in my ear, and rising from my slumber, I sat up, finding myself face to face with the angel Jibra’il . He spoke to me, saying, ‘The Lord Almighty sends you His greetings of peace and invites you to come with me. I will carry you along, for the Lord wishes to shower upon you the diversity of His munificence. Of those that have gone before you, none has ever attained to such munificence, nor will any who are to come after you ever attain to it.’
“I rose and wished to perform my ablutions. Water was ordered to be brought from the heavenly stream of Kawthar. Before I had even uncovered my hands and feet, preparing to take ablution, Ridwan had already brought two jugs full of water from the stream of Kawthar in pitchers of red ruby. He also brought a bowl of green emerald that had four corners to it. In each corner there was a gem that shone like the sun and lit up the night sky. I washed with this blessed water, and they clad me in a wrap of pure light and set upon my head a quilted turban of light.
“The story of this turban is this: eight thousand years before the creation of Adam, the angel Ridwan wound this turban in my name. Since that time up until now, forty thousand angels stand about this turban reciting praises and glorifying the Lord. After every single one of their glorifications, they recite blessings (Salat-wa-Salam) upon me. That turban has forty thousand folds, and in every one of these folds there are four lines of writing.
In the first line is written: Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. In the second line is written: Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah. In the third line is written: Muhammad is the Beloved of Allah.
In the fourth line is written: Muhammad is the Friend of Allah.
“After this, Jibra’il covered my back with a cape of light and fastened around my waist a belt of red rubies. He placed in my hand a whip made of green emeralds, which was embellished with four hundred pearls, each of which shone like the morning star. He clad my feet in a pair of slippers crafted from green emerald. Thereafter he took me by the hand and led me to the Haram.”
In another narration, the Prophet continues his account as follows:
“I made my ablution with the waters of the Zamzam well. Then I circled the Holy House seven times and prayed two Rak’ats at the Maqam Ibrahim. I came to the place called the Khatm and there sat down for a bit to rest. While I was sitting there, Jibra’il split my chest asunder and brought two large basins filled with knowledge and wisdom, respectively. Mikha’il brought three basins full of Zamzam water wherein they washed my entrails and my bosom. Then he opened up my heart and took from it the small black clump of clotted blood, while saying, ‘This bit of clotted blood is the reason why men feel fear when they behold an awesome sight. I have taken it from you, for tonight you will behold the Heavens and the Lote Tree, the Divine Throne and Divine Court and the many strange and wonderful things they contain, and many great angelic creatures. Therefore I have cleansed you of this clot, so that you might gaze at whomever you will and speak what needs to be said without fear or constraint.’ He then took from the basin the knowledge and wisdom contained in it and placed it within my heart. He tucked it in and closed my chest again, so that there remained no trace or scar.
“Jibra’il then took me by the hand and led me to a place outside of Mecca. I saw there the other great archangels, Mikha’il, Israfil and Azra’il, each surrounded by seventy thousand angels of their company. When they beheld me, they all stood to respectful attention and I gave them my greetings of peace. In answer to my greetings, they proclaimed the boundless graces of the Lord.
“Presently, Jibra’il said to me, ‘Oh Prophet of Allah , I have brought you this Buraq from the Gardens of Paradise. Mount it now, for the Lord on High awaits your coming.’ I turned and saw the Buraq, which was as bright as the sun and as swift as a flash of lightning. As soon as he lifted his foot to take a step he had already reached as far as the eye could see. In addition, this Buraq had two wings by his side, which he
used whenever he wished to fly through the air.”
The wise and learned have this to say about the Buraq: his body is smaller than that of a mule, but larger than that of a donkey. He speaks pure, intelligible Arabic. The Lord has created each of his limbs from a different set of precious materials. His hooves are made of corals; his feet are of gold. His chest is of red ruby stone, while his back is made pearls. The wings at his side are of ruby red. His tail resembles the tail of a camel. According to a different narration, his tail resembles that of a peacock and is of extreme comeliness. His mane was that of a horse while his feet resembled those of a camel. He was saddled with a saddle from Paradise, and his stirrups were of red ruby, beset with jewels.
Our Holy Prophet’s narration continues as follows:
“The angel Jibra’il held the stirrups for me, saying, ‘Mount!’ As I made ready to mount him, the Buraq stirred restively. Jibra’il addressed him, ‘Oh Buraq, are you not ashamed of yourself? How dare you dare behave with such insolence? By the Grace of Allah Almighty whose Glory is vast and whose bounties are all-encompassing, beside whom there is no other Lord, never will you see a rider of greater merit and excellence!’ At the angel’s words, the Buraq blushed with shame and began to tremble all over. Large drops of sweat trickled from his brow and he said, ‘Oh Jibra’il , I have a request to make, and it was from this urgency that I behaved thus, not because I am reluctant to fulfill my duty. Now you have put me to shame.’”
The Holy Prophet then turned to the Buraq and asked him what his request was and how it might be fulfilled. “Oh my Prophet ,” replied the Buraq, “I have been stricken with love for you since before time began. For untold eons, I was immersed in yearning, submerged in an agony of love. Now, by the Grace of Allah, I have been granted the boon of beholding your light and perceived your blessed scent. My love now has blossomed forth and increased thousand fold. On the Day of Gathering, when you rise from your blessed resting-place, you will be brought to the place of gathering on a Buraq steed. The request of my love is this: that you will mount no other steed than me on that tremendous day, thereby completing my happiness and filling my heart with the light of joy.” The Holy Prophet answered and said, “I granted the Buraq his request and promised that I would mount no other than him on that day.”
After hearing from the Buraq that he would be brought to the Site of Judgment on back of a Buraq, the Prophet , the Glory of all Creation, the Quintessence of
all Being grew thoughtful as he pondered the fate and state of his nation on that day. The Lord Almighty who is aware of every hidden thing then made the angel Jibra’il ask Muhammad the reason for his sudden sadness. The Holy Prophet replied:
“I have been informed by the Buraq of the honor that will be shown to me on that mighty day in that I will be fetched and mounted on a Buraq. It occurs to me to reflect on the state of my nation on that day: they are but weak, far from perfect, sinful mortals; how, on the Day of Judgment, will they go on foot to the place of assembly which is at a distance of fifty thousand years bearing the weight of all their sins? How will they manage to cross the bridge of Sirat, which is a stretch of three thousand years’ wayfaring?
“I was then informed by Divine inspiration that Divine Grace would reach every single one on that day. Just as the Lord would send a Buraq to fetch me from my grave, so every single soul belonging to my nation would be sent a Buraq to bring him to the Site of Judgment. They would cross the Bridge of Sirat in a flash and they would traverse a road of fifty thousand years as if in a single moment. ‘This is a Favor and Grant of Kindness to your nation, oh Muhammad ,’ I was told, ‘therefore, let your mind be easy on this account.’
There is a verse in the Holy Quran relating to these events:
On that day that We shall muster the God-fearing to the All-Merciful with pomp.
(Mary, 85)
The Holy Prophet then continued in his narrative:
“Learning of the promise of the Lord’s Favor and Kindness, I mounted upon the Buraq filled with joy. Jibra’il and a following of seventy thousand angels were at my right stirrup, Mikha’il with seventy thousand angels was at my left stirrup, and every one of these angels held in his hand a candelabrum of light. Behind me went Israfil with seventy thousand angels and on his shoulder he bore the saddlecloth of the Buraq. I begged his pardon for its great size and that he was made to carry it, since it nearly covered him entirely, but he answered me, ‘Oh Rasulullah , how many thousands of years have I been praying for the favor of being permitted to bear this weight of your Buraq’s
covering! At last the All-Gracious Lord has heard my pleas and granted me this favor!’ ‘Why did you pray for this?’ I asked him. Israfil answered, ‘For how many thousands of years did I worship the Divine Throne!’
“At last there came a voice addressing me, saying, ‘What is it that you long for? Your prayer has been accepted.’ I replied, ‘Oh my Lord, when his time on earth has come, I pray that I might be granted one hour in the service of the intercessor for his sinful nation, whose name the King on the Day of Judgment has deigned to write on the base of the Divine Throne beside His own Blessed Name.’ To this the Almighty Lord replied, ‘I grant you your prayer. There will come one night during his lifetime in which I will grant him the experience of My Nearness. I will bring him from his lowly station on earth up to the highest Heaven. I will open for him the gates of My treasure houses with the Key of Witnessing. I will lead him from Mecca to the Bayt-al- Maqdis (Jerusalem), and until he arrives there, you will have the honor of carrying the saddle cloth of his mount.’”
The Holy Prophet then continued:
“That night, the Buraq’s feet did not touch the ground. All the way from Mecca to Jerusalem were spread the fine, flowered silks from Paradise, on which the Buraq trod. On my way, suddenly one Ifrit (demon) appeared before me and leaned towards me, with flames leaping from his mouth. Jibra’il then said to me, ‘Oh Rasulullah , let me teach you a few words to say, which will extinguish the fire of this Ifrit and undo his existence.’ ‘Do teach me, please!’ I replied and he taught me these words:
A’udhu bi-wajhi-llahil-karim wa bi-kalimati-llahi-t-tammat-allati la yujawizuhunna barrun wa la fajir, min sharri ma yanzilu min-as- sama’i wa ma ya’ruju fiha wa min sharri ma yakhruju minha wa min fitan-il-layli wa-n-nahari wa min tawariq-il-layli wa-n-nahari illa tariqan yatruku bi-khayrin, ya Rahman!
(I seek refuge in the gracious nature of my Lord Allah, and in the perfection of the Divine Word which neither the righteous nor the transgressor is able to breach, from the evil which descends from the sky and that which rises up to it; and from the evil which comes forth from the sky; and from the tribulations of the night and the day, and
from all the calamities of night and day, except for those that result in benefit, oh Lord of Mercy!)
“When this Du’a was recited, the fire of this Ifrit died down and the creature ceased to exist. A voice then came from my right side, saying, ‘Oh Muhammad , stay for a moment and linger; for there is something I wish to ask you...’ This voice called me three times, but I paid it no heed and went on. Then I heard a voice calling me from my left side, and it said, ‘Oh Muhammad , wait awhile, I need to ask you something.’ But again I listened not to it and passed on. Then I beheld a woman, magnificently bedecked in costly robes and lavishly bejeweled. When I passed close by her, I saw that she was a very old woman. Thrice she spoke to me, saying, ‘Stop!’ but I heeded not her call and passed on. “Ahead of me I saw an old man, bent over his staff and trembling in every limb. He, too, requested me thrice to stop and stay with him. ‘Look at me and pity my condition,’ he said, ‘let me enjoy your beauty, for I have something I want to ask you.’ But I passed him by, not heeding his pleas. After a while, I beheld a fresh youth of surpassing beauty whose face shone with light, ‘Stay, oh Muhammad ,’ he addressed me, ‘for I have things to ask of you.’
“At his words, the Buraq halted, and I gave him Salams. After responding to my greetings, he said, ‘Good tidings to you! All good is in you alone and in your nation.’ To this I rejoined, ‘Alhamdulillah!’ and Jibra’il echoed my words. I then asked him who these people were whom I had just seen. He answered, ‘The voice coming from the right was the voice of the unbelievers. Had you stopped there, your nation would have been overpowered by them, and reduced to contempt after your time. The voice coming from your left was that of the Christians; had you paused to stop there, your nation would have been overpowered by the Christian peoples after your time and subjugated by them. The woman you saw was this world, the dunya. She appears finely decked out and attractive to those who wish to possess her. Her decorations and fine robes are meant to fool and deceive mankind.
‘The fact that she appears to be an old woman indicates that the Last Day has drawn nigh. Had you been swayed by her appeal, your whole nation would have become obsessed with the goods of this world and would have worshipped them. The old man you saw was the accursed
devil, Shaytan himself. He knows how kind and merciful you are by nature, so he tried to ensnare you by appearing pitiful to you. It was nothing but a guile to stay you. Had you been fooled by his words, your nation would never have been saved from his wiles, up to the very last drop of their blood, he would have gained the upper hand over very many of them. As for the young lad you saw, he is the religion of Islam. It was there that you stopped; therefore, after your time, your entire nation will be safe from the machinations of the enemy and the religion of Islam will endure.
‘You had been concerned with a number of questions regarding your nation, such as, ‘What will happen when they go out at night into the desert and run into a company of malevolent Jinn? What will be their state after I am gone?’ Allah Almighty who knows all that is hidden and what is manifest then made that Ifrit appear to you and taught you the means of salvation. After your time, there will be no religion that will overcome this religion of Islam. The nation of Muhammad will live according to the Divine Law of the Shari’a. Thus, in the final end, they will be saved from the wiles of Shaytan and reach to safety. Islam will remain on earth until the Day of Judgment. All that you have seen are signs from Allah who wishes to awaken you and relieve you of your fears and doubts.’ And thus, Jibra’il explained to me these visions.
“After some time we reached a place where date palms were plentiful. Jibra’il told me to dismount there and to pray, so I did. When I had finished praying, Jibra’il asked me whether I knew this place where I had prayed and he told me that it was called Tayyiba (which is one of the names for Madinah al-Munawwara). And he told me that before long I would migrate to this place. Next we came to a place, which was all white. Again Jibra’il told me to dismount and to pray there. Then he asked me if I knew the place, and when I did not he explained that this was the tree beneath which Musa had prayed when he came to the land of Madian.
“When Musa was fleeing from Pharaoh, he came to this land. Outside the city of Madian he saw some shepherds watering their flocks, and he saw two girls who were standing at a distance from the well, waiting for their turn
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