Dear Mansoor Tirmizi,

Walekum Assalam WRWB,

May Allah increase your knowledge and reward you for it. Please, find the answers underneath each of your questions

Q.1.    Historically, we know that Masjid-Al-Aqsa (Palestine) was built by Waleed-bin-Abdul Malik in around 700 Hegira. Then, what is this mosque which is mentioned in the Qur’an in the first verse of Surah Al-Isra?

Answer

I am reproducing here the comment of Abdullah Yusuf Ali on this subject. It will insha Allah clarify the point:

“The Farthest Mosque must refer to the site of the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem on the hill of Moriah, at or near which stands the Dome of Rock. This and the Mosque known as the Farthest Mosque (Masjid al Aqsa) were completed by the Amir ‘Abd al Malik in A. H. 68. The chief dates in connection with the Temple are: It was finished by Solomon about B.C. 1004; destroyed by the Babylonians about 586 B.C.; rebuilt under Ezra about 515 B.C.; turned into an idol temple by Antiochus 167 B.C.; restored by Herod in B.C. 17; completely razed to the ground by the Emperor Titus in A.C. 70.”

 

Q. 2.    Why do we say that this verse is about Mairaj? And if it really is then, why Allah did not talk or give hint about the journey of Mairaj? Why did he talk about only from Masjid-Al-Haram to Masjid-Al-Aqsa?

Answer

First, the first verse of the Qur’anic chapter Al-Isra’ is not about the Ascension (Me‘raj) to the heavens, but it is about the Night-Journey (Al-Isra’) of the Messenger of Allah from Makkah to Jerusalem. Second, Allah does talk about the Ascension of the Messenger (S) to the Heavens in verses 7 to 18 of the Qur’anic chapter An-Najm. Please see, also, my article on Ascension on this website 

 

Q. 3.    Some people put questions on the taking place of this Mairaj Event? Please help me know the truth. I want to read some books of those who reject Mairaj. Please give me the name of four or five books.

Answer

Some ahadith say that the Mother of Believers Hazrat A‘isha (R) and the companion of the Prophet Hazrat M‘uawiyyah (R) were of the opinion that the Night Journey and the Ascension had taken place in the dream of the Messenger of Allah (S). They had based their opinion on a Qur’anic verse 60 of the chapter Al-Isra’. The interpretation of this verse is very controversial. Most of the scholars regard the word “ruyya” as physical seeing, and not seeing in a dream. For a detailed discussion on this topic, please see Tafhimul Qur’an, and Fi Zilal il Qur’an.

 

Hope these answers will satisfy your thirst of knowledge. Allah knows best.

Wassalam
Dr. Syed Hasanuddin Ahmad