Kulaini and Ibn Babawayh have narrated through authentic chains from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) that when the Almighty Allah took the Messenger of Allah (S) to the seven heavens, in the first heaven, the Almighty Allah sent a blessing on the Prophet, and in the second heaven taught him all things obligatory, and in the third heaven sent for him a litter of forty different colored lights which surround the divine empyrean, and whose effulgence eyes cannot sustain.
One of their lights is yellow which is the source of all yellow colors; one is crimson, which is the source of all crimson and one is white, the source of all whites. In the same way are other lights. That litter had silver chains. The Prophet was seated in it and taken to heavens when angels saw they fell in adoration, and uttered praises:
Subboohun Quddoos. Rabbona wa rabbul malaikate war rooh.
Glorified be the Holy One. Our Lord and the Lord of the angels and spirit.
How similar is this effulgence to the effulgence of the empyrean of the Lord. Jibraeel said: Allahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar. The angels fell silent and the gates of heavens opened till on Jibraeel’s announcing the Prophet to them, they flew with the utmost alacrity to salute him. They asked how his brother, Ali was to which he replied that he was in health. Angels said: When you meet him, convey our greetings to him.
The Holy Prophet (S) asked: “Do you know him?” “How can we not know him, when the Almighty Allah has taken confession of your prophethood and his Imamate. We always continue to invoke blessings on you and him. The Almighty Allah decorated the litter further with more lights on the first heaven and none of these resembles the previous lights. And He also added to them many more links.
From there the Holy Prophet (S) was taken to the second heaven. When he reached the door, the angels flew away and fell in adoration reciting the same recitation of: Subboohun Quddoos. Rabbona wa rabbul malaikate war rooh. Whereas Jibraeel said: I testify that there is no god except Allah, twice. The angels heard him and they opened the gates of heavens and asked him who this gentleman is.
Jibraeel said that he is Muhammad (S). They asked if he has appeared to which he replied in the affirmative. The angels saluted me and said: “Convey our greetings to your, brother, Ali also.” I asked: “Do you know him?” “How can we not know him when the Almighty Allah has taken the covenant of love for him and his followers (Shia) till Judgment Day.
And all of us everyday ask of the well being of his Shia and we see them five times a day, that is at the time of prayers. After that the Almighty Allah added forty types of radiances to the previous ones that were different from the former ones and He increased the rings and links. The Holy Prophet (S) says that when I was taken to the sixth heaven, the angels of that place flew to the seventh heaven. And said: Subboohun Quddoos. Rabbona wa rabbul malaikate war rooh.
Whereas Jibraeel said: I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. When the angels heard this testimony, they came running to me and opened the gates of the heavens and said: Welcome, O the first Prophet whom the Lord created and whom He decreed to be the greatest. And the Prophet of the last period of time whom the Almighty Allah sent after all the prophets and the Hashir (account taking) Prophet in whose time, Judgment Day will be held and Nashir Prophet who will spread knowledge, good deeds and perfections among the creatures.
That is he is the seal of the prophets. And Hail Ali who is the best of the legatees. After that the angels greeted me and inquired about the well being of Ali (a.s.). I said: I have left him as my representative on the earth. Do you know him? They said: Once a year we go for the Hajj of Baitul Mamoor and in it is written your name and that of Ali and Hasan and Husain and the Imams from his progeny and the names of all the Shia who will appear till Judgment Day.
We always draw our hand on that documents in order to seek blessings from it. After that the Almighty Allah added forty types of radiances to the previous ones that were different from the former ones and He increased the rings and links. And I was taken to the fourth heaven. I heard muffled sound of angels as if their voices were caught in their chests. The gates of the heavens were promptly opened and angels gathered around me.
Jibraeel said: Hasten to prayers twice and Hasten to deliverance twice. Angels remarked: Two voices are joined together. Through Muhammad (S) we will pray and through Ali (a.s.) would we obtain deliverance. Then Jibraeel (a.s.) said: The prayer is established. The angels said: It is for the followers (Shia) of Ali as they will continue to establish prayer till Judgment Day as it deserves to be established.
Then the angels asked me where and in what condition have I left Ali (a.s.). I asked them: Do you know him? “Why not? There is a book in Baitul Mamoor in which are mentioned the names of Muhammad, Ali and Hasan and Husain and their Shia, in which not a single name will be added or subtracted. And it is a covenant that is taken from us. It is recited to us every Friday. I prostrated in thankfulness and I was addressed by the Almighty Allah: Look beneath your feet. I saw that the Holy Kaaba was below Baitul Mamoor.
If I had dropped anything, it would have fallen in Kaaba. Then a voice came: O Muhammad, this is a Holy sanctuary and you are the Holy Prophet and whatever is present in the earth has a facsimile in heaven. The Lord then commanded me to open my hand, and take of the water flowing from the right pillar of the empyrean, which I did; and for this reason it became meritorious to take up the water for ablution with the right hand.
A voice then commanded: Wash your face with this water, that you may become pure to behold the light of My majesty and glory; then wash your hands to the elbow, for you will take my word, and draw your wet hands over your feet to the ankles, and over your head, which last act signifies that I will draw the hand of mercy over your head, and send down my blessing on you. Drawing the hand over the foot is because I will carry you up through several regions where foot has never trod, nor will again after you.
Thus was the mode of prayer and ablution established. The Almighty Allah then commanded: O Muhammad, turn to the black stone which is before you, and extol Me according to the number of curtains by saying, Allah is the greatest! And on this account, seven repetitions of this exclamation were ordained for prayer, because the curtains were seven. Each time he passed a curtain, he said, Allah is the greatest! After passing three curtains he came to the oceans of light of the Lord of forgiveness, and on repeating the Takbir he passed two more curtains, and came to another sea of light.
When the last two Takbirs were pronounced, he passed the sixth and seven curtains, and came to still other oceans of light. Therefore it was ordained that three consecutive Takbirs should be pronounced, after which a prayer should be recited, then two more Takbirs and another prayer, next the last two Takbirs, closing with a prayer of steadfast looking to Allah after the example of the Prophet.
He passed the seven heavens and seven curtains of exaltation and glory, and arrived near the place of communion with the merciful Lord of glory; and prayer is the celestial ascent (Meraj) of the believer. When the perfect believer thus ascends and recites the seven Takbirs, the curtains of darkness, which on account of errors of worldly inclination come between him and the Almighty Allah, are removed and he approaches near the Lord of Lords.
The Lord then commanded the Prophet, Now you have arrived at this place of near intercourse with me, pronounce My name. Accordingly the Prophet said, In the name of God the compassionate, the merciful! For which reason this phrase was established to commence chapters and writings. Being commanded to offer praise, he said, Thanks to Allah the Lord of the universe, and proceeded in this manner till he recited the whole Surah commencing with, “Praise be to God, the Lord of creatures.”
A voice then commanded him to recite the Surah on divine unity, saying: That Surah is a description of my praise and attributes. What likeness can exist between me and my creatures? After I had recited this Surah, “Say, God is one God; he begets not, neither is he begotten; and there is not any like unto him.” the voice said, Bow before My exaltation, and put your hands on your knees and look towards My empyrean.
On doing this, light from the effulgence of the glory of Allah overpowered me, and I fell into a swoon and by divine inspiration said: Praise and thanksgiving to the God of glory. In purity I name the Lord of exaltation, and am employed in His praise. After repeating this I soon recovered and the terror of my spirit subsided when by divine inspiration I had seven times pronounced this ascription of praise.
On this account, it was ordained that this expression of praise should, in the performance of prayer, be recited in the bowing (Ruku) position. I was then commanded me to raise my head and stand erect, on which I heard the voices of the angels uttering praises and ascribing unity and thanksgiving to Allah.
I said: Allah hears everyone that utters His praises. I looked up and saw a light more intense than that which before caused me to swoon, and this made the bird of my reason fly away, and my terror was greater than in the former instance. From awe, I fell prostrate before the king, the Lord of glory, and placed my face in the dust of humility, and on account of the exaltation I witnessed, seven times repeated, by divine inspiration, Glory and praise to the exalted Lord.
At each repetition of this ascription, my terror diminished, till I recovered from that state of overwhelming awe, and attained to perfect knowledge of God. I then raised my head from prostration, and sat till relieved from the condition of amazement into which I had fallen. By divine inspiration, I again looked upward, and saw light more overpowering still than I had before witnessed, and again fell involuntarily in prostration before the Lord of vengeance, and seven times more repeated. Glory and praise to God.
Becoming thereby more worthy to behold the divine lights, I again raised my head, and sat for a little time, and looked towards them. For this reason two prostrations in prayer were established, and sitting a short time after them became meritorious (Sunnat). I then arose and stood like a servant before my Lord, when He commanded me to recite again the Surah Hamd, and afterwards Surah Qadr.
Again I stooped with my hands on my knees, and prostrated myself with my head on the ground, as at first, and as I was about to rise, the Almighty Allah commanded, mention My favors to you and pronounce My name. By divine inspiration, I said in the name of Allah and by him: there is no god but Allah, and all perfect names belong to Allah. When I had repeated the two testimonies commanded, pronounce blessings on yourself and your family.
I prayed, O Lord, impart mercy to me and to my family; which was answered with blessings from the Almighty Allah. On looking around I beheld the angels and spirits of the prophets arrayed in ranks behind me, and the Almighty Allah commanding me to salute them, I said peace be upon you and the mercy and blessing of God.
The Almighty Allah then addressed me, saying, I am your peace, mercy and blessing, and of the Imams after you. As the prayer of Meraj consisted of two rakats, there should be no doubt in regard to the number now; that it was the first two units of Noon prayer and the first obligatory prayer on the Prophet.
