Surah Al-Isra 17:1-10 - Quran Translation Commentary

1. Immaculate is He who carried His slave by night from Masjid-i-Haram (the Sacred Mosque) to the far distant Mosque, the surrounding of which We have blessed, so that We might show him some of Our signs. Verily, He alone hears all and observes all.¹

2. And We gave Moosa the Book² and appointed it a guidance for Bani Israil, saying: “Take no other guardian than Myself”.³

3. ” You are the descendants of those whom We carried (in the Ark) with Nooh⁴” Verily, he was a truly grateful slave.

4. And in the Book We declared for Bani Israil: “You verily will cause mischief in the earth twice, and you will become great transgressors.

5 “So when the time for fulfillment of the promise came, We sent against you slaves of Ours or great strength, who ravaged your dwellings, and the promise was fulfilled.⁶”

6. Then We gave you victory over them, and We aided you with wealth and children and increased your numbers.⁷“

7. If you did good, you did good for yourselves, and if you did evil, it is for the same.⁸ And when the time for the fulfillment of the second promise came, We sent, mighty slaves against you so that they might disfigure your faces and to enter the mosque as they entered it the first time, and to destroy everything that they laid their hands on.⁹

8. It may be that your Lord will have mercy on you, and if you repeat (the evil act), We will repeat (the punishment).¹⁰ We have appointed Hell a prison-house for the disbelievers”. ¹¹

9. Verily, this Qur’an guides to that path which is the straightest,¹² and gives glad tidings to the believers who perform good acts that theirs will be a great reward.

10, And for those who do not believe in the Hereafter, We have prepared a painful punishment.

Commentary

1. The event narrated in this ayah is known by the name of ‘Isra’ or ‘Mi’raj’. Here is described the traveling of a distance from Makkah to Baitul Maqdis in one night, which was the first stage of Mi’raj (Ascension). As for the second stage in which the Prophet was carried to ‘Sidratul Muntaha’ located in the seventh heaven, it has been narrated in the Surah An-Najm. Therefore, we will confine ourselves to explain only those points which relate to the first stage of this journey, i.e. Isra (the journey up to Baitul Maqdis).

In the ayah, the word ‘Abd’ (slave) refers to the Prophet (Sallal Lahu Alaihi Wa Sallam), and Allah’s saying that He carried His slave is the manifestation of that special favour which was bestowed on this slave.

By Masjid-i-Haram is meant that holy mosque in whose ground the House of Ka’ba is situated, and whose founder was Prophet Ibrahim, circa 2000 B.C. By distant mosque is meant Aqsa Mosque which is situated in Baitul Maqdis. Aqsa means one that is distant. By this Quran hints at the point that the mosque in Baitul Maqdis is far away from Makkah, but Allah made His Prophet cover this long distance in a part of one night. Because of this reference in Quran, this mosque of Baitul Maqdis came to be known as Masjid-i- Aqsa, though at the time of the revelation of Quran this mosque was not known by this name. This mosque of Baitul Maqdis was built by Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon) circa 1000 B.C. (Probably 959 B.C.), which served as a religious center for the Islamic dawah and religious activities of the Bani Israil, besides being their Qiblah.

Blessing its surroundings means that this whole region was replete with worldly and religious auspiciousness and blessings. So far as the religious blessings are concerned, this land is the place of migration of Prophet Ibrahim and the abode of Prophet Ishaq. Moreover, many prophets of Bani Israil appeared in this land and they have left such footprints in this land which guided the people of the world after them. Here Prophet Sulaiman was granted a matchless kingdom and Bani Israil were granted those favours which were not granted to any other nation in the world. In other words, every part of this land, being the memorial of the prophets of Allah was abounding in religious treasures. As regards the worldly blessings, this region is very fertile and green. And in the Bible this region is praised and is mentioned to be having the rivers of milk and honey flowing.

The distance between Baitul Maqdis and Makkah is about 1000 miles. In those days this journey took about 40 days to cover this distance, but Allah arranged for the Prophet to cover it within a night. In the hadith it is mentioned that the Prophet rode a ‘Buraq’, and Archangel Jibril was with him, that is this journey was covered on a carrier of lightning-speed: Such a thing appeared very strange in those days, but in these days it does not seem a bit unusual when man has invented extremely fast speeding rockets and aeroplane, because when man can cover a distance of months’ journeys in a few hours, then is not the Lord of the universe capable and powerful enough to arrange for His Prophet to journey from Makkah to Baitul Maqdis in a few minutes?

That is why this surah starts with the words that the Being of Allah is Immaculate, i.e. it is not beyond the power of Allah to arrange for such a miraculous journey. Those who consider such a thing impossible are under a wrong impression about Allah’s might.

It also clears the point that the journey of the Prophet was physical and it was undertaken in a state of wakefulness. If it were to be a spiritual journey or a dream-state journey, then it would not have been stated that we carried our slave in one night, nor this would have been a means of testing people.

Whoever would study the ayah with a clear mind, he would not help feeling that through these words information of an extra-ordinary event is being imparted. It is further supported by a hadith in Bukhari, in which the Prophet states: “When the Quraish belied me, I stood in Hijr (the external part of the House of Ka’ba). At that time Allah made Baitul Maqdis appear before me, I was pointing out to them the various signs from it by seeing it. (Bukhari-Hadithul Isra)

If despite this people indulge in argumentation, then they are warned that Allah is listening to everything they talk and He observes everything they do.

As for the objective of this journey, it is stated in the ayah that Allah wanted to show some of His signs to His Prophet. By the signs are meant those signs which are found in the Aqsa Mosque, and which reflect on monotheism, worship of only one God, the common dawah of the prophets, and their struggle for the religion of truth, the history of the rise and fall of Bani Israil, and Allah’s law of reward and punishment. Since the Prophet was to be made the ‘Nabiul Qiblatain’ (the Prophet of two Qiblas), this observation of the Aqsa Mosque holds considerable significance. Besides these signs, the wonders of the Nature were also to be shown.

It should be noted that the month and the date on which this event took place is neither narrated by the Qur’an nor any tradition of the Prophet. As regards the narratives, they are various in this connection, and it is a proof of the fact that the objective was not to observe this night every year, else its clarification would have been given either in the Qur’an or the hadith. As for the custom of the Muslims to observe this night on the 27th of the month of Rajab, it seems to be the Muslims’ own invention. It has no reality in the religion. Neither is this night specified for special prayers, nor is there any command to observe this night as a special “night.

2. That is: The Torah.

3. Even today the lesson of monotheism can be found in the Torah. For example, in the Exodus it is stated: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20: 2,3)

4. That is: O Mankind, with the Bani Israil all of you are the descendants of those who were made to ride in the Ark of Nooh and were saved from certain destruction in the deluge. The entire mankind is under obligation to Allah for this favour, and every man should be grateful to Him. Man can be grateful to Allah when he recognises Him as his real Benefactor.

5. The Book, as is mentioned above, is the Book of Moosa, the Torah. According to the statement of the Qur’an, two prophecies were made in the Torah that Bani Israil would cause mischief and corruption in the land twice and they would indulge in frightening transgression, which would bring in their destruction twice. This topic has not survived in the present Torah in these words, but some hints at these happenings are however found in it:

“But if you will not hearken to me, and will not do all these commandments,——— but break my covenant, I will do this to you: and you shall be smitten before your enemies; those who hate you shall rule over you,———And if in spite of this you will not hearken to me, but walk contrary to me, then I will walk contrary to you in fury,———— And I will unslay your cities waste, and will make your sanctuaries desolate,——— and I will scatter you among the nations, and I will unsheathe the sword after you; and your land shall be desolation, and your cities shall be a waste.” (Lev 26: 14 to 33) “

If you are not careful to do all the words, of this law which are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awful name, the LORD your God, then the LORD will bring on you and your offspring extraordinary afflictions, ————and you shall be plucked off the land which you are entering to take possession of it. And the LORD will scatter you among all peoples, from one and of the earth to the other; (Deut 28:58to 64)

Then when Bani Israil had become morally corrupt and characterless, the people generally indulged in transgression morally, then Prophet Eremiah warned them in time and informed them of their destruction at the hands of the king of Babylon: “

Therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts:

Because you have not obeyed my words, behold, I will send for all the tribes of the north, says the LORD, and for Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants, and against all these nations round about; ———-——This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. (Jeremiah 25: 8 to 11)

6. Refers to the attack of the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, which he launched on the kingdom of the Jews in 586-588 B.C. He completely destroyed the Jewish center, Jerusalem, so much so that he demolished the holy mosque. He killed thousands of Jews, and carried away countless persons as male and female slaves. A commentator on Bible writes: “When the Babylonians finally broke into the city they levelled the walls and palaces and razed the temple to the ground. Zedekiah’s sons were slain in front of him, and he himself was blinded and carried to Babylon in chains. The greater part of the population of Jerusalem was taken into exile with him. Thus the kingdom of David came to a tragic end. (The Interpreter’s commentary on the Bible P. 1025)

This was the great punishment which was meted out to Bani Israil on their first social corruption. It is also elicited that when corruption becomes common in a nation and it becomes a transgression, then Allah causes its enemy nation to overpower it and causes the tyrants to rule over it. This is a very painful form of the Divine punishment.

7. During the slavery of Bani Israil in Babylon various movements of reformation were launched and gradually they turned towards God. Ultimately Divine mercy returned to them and they were relieved from their slavery of Babylon. It came about in this way that the king of Persia, Cyrus, conquered Babylon in 539 B.C. and thereafter he allowed the Jews to go back to Jerusalem and to construct God’s house there. Thus the Jews got the opportunity to return to their center and to construct Baitul Maqdis. Then Prophet Uzair explained and clarified the Torah before them in such a way that a new life surged in the Jews and they became prepared to give up anti- Shariah practices and to follow the Divine Shariah. (For details, see Surah At-Taubah, Note No.58). This was the new life for Bani Israil, and when the Divine mercy came back to them, then all circumstances became favourable to them, there was abundance of provisions and increased birth rate.

It is also elicited incidentally that accelerated births and the increased numbers of individuals in a nation is Allah’s blessings and favour, and therefore, people of faith do appreciate it. As for the formula for family planning, they suit well those who are unable to appreciate God and His blessings.

8. This is really the declaration of that Divine tradition, according to which if the social character of a nation, which is also bearer of the Divine Scripture, is good and exemplary, then Allah blesses it with his favours and it gains honour and ascendancy in the world, and if its social character is corrupt, then Allah causes its enemy nation to rule over it, and makes it taste disgrace.

9. This is a reference to the second instance of great corruption of Bani Israil and the resultant destruction. This corruption was more severe than the first one, as religion was followed merely for appearance’s sake. To incline them towards religion and to instill spirit of religion in them Allah sent among them Prophets Yahya and Eesa. But the Jewish ruler of the time on a demand from a dancer caused the beheading of Prophet Yahya and presented his head to the dancer (Injeel, Mathew, Chapter 14). And the Jews spared no efforts in working against Prophet Eesa until they were set to kill him. This was their second frightening corruption, about whose adverse effect Prophet Eesa had informed them in these words: “

Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon onother, that will not be thrown down.”(Math: 24:2) “

Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children for behold, the days are coming when they will say, “Blessed are the barren, and the breasts that never gave suck.” Then they will begin to say to the mountains, “Fall on us;” and to the hills, “Cover us.” (Luke 23 : 28 to 30)

And the punishment for this great corruption was meted out to the Jews in this way that in the year 70 A. D. Titus of Rome attacked Baitul Maqdis and razed it to the ground. The holy mosque (Temple of Solomon) was destroyed and countless people were done to death. This tragic event scattered Bani Israil so badly that they took shelter in various foreign countries around the world.

It may be that your Lord will have mercy on you, and if you repeat (the evil act), We will repeat (the punishment). We have appointed Hell a prison-house for the disbelievers”.(Al-Quran) ”

10. After narrating this instructive and tragic events from the history of Bani Israil, the Jews are told that the coming of this Prophet has provided them with one more opportunity to make themselves deserving of the mercy of God; even now if they pay heed and follow the guidance which has been revealed to this Prophet, the gates of Divine mercy will open up for them. But if they oppose this Prophet and adopt an attitude of transgression, then they should note that Allah will surely crack down His whip of punishment on them.

In spite of this warning of Qur’an when the tribes of Jews living around Madina rose as opponents of the Qur’an and enemies of the Prophet (Sallal Lahu Alaihi Wa Sallam), and indulged in scheming and plotting against him, Allah caused them to taste His wrath. Accordingly in the presence of the Prophet of Islam they have to receive the punishment at the hands of the people of faith.

Bani Qainqa’ and Bani Nadhir were exiled and Bani Quraizah were put down by the sword. As for the Jews of Khaibar, they had to live under subjugation and in the time of Umar (R)’ caliphate they were also exiled.

After living scattered for a long time, the Jews are now gathering in Palestine, and their collecting in one place is becoming dangerous for the world peace. It appears that Allah wants to inflict a very heavy punishment on them. It would not be surprising if the lightning of His wrath strikes their nest and turns it into ashes. The signs hint at such an end. However, the Unseen is known to Allah only.

11. That is: Those who are in reality disbelievers, but in appearance pose as believers in the Divine Book, in the Hereafter their abode will be the prison-house of Hell.

12. This is an invitation to the nations of the world that they should follow the way towards which the Qur’an is giving them a call, and they should follow it because it is the straightest path, and the desired goal—success in the Hereafter— can be reached by following it only.

The path towards which Qur’an is calling is the straight path from every aspect. It appeals to the intelligence. Nature gives evidence of its rightness. The good taste shouts that it is the truth. This path had been the path followed by the prophets of Allah. The justice, on which the heaven and the earth are sustained, is found in this path. This reaches and guides to the Lord of the worlds. The common parlance name of this path is the Religion of Islam. As regards the other paths, whether religious or free from religion, are not straight from any aspect, nor do they reach God.