The months preceding the 26th of Feb 621 AD were especially difficult for the Prophet of Islam, Mohammad-e-Mustafa (Peace be upon him). His tribe and family, the Quraish, had ridiculed and rejected him. His beloved wife Khatija and his uncle Abu Talib had died the same year. The people of Taif, where he had gone to spread Islam, had been especially brutal. The children of Taif had pelted him with stones and he had left injured and heartbroken.

It is said that as he slept in his home tormented by these events, he was awakened by the creaking of the roof that parted. Archangel Gabriel was present and a ritual was performed that involved the giving of divine wisdom and total purification of his soul. Burraq, a white winged stallion was then presented before him which the Prophet mounted. The stallion went to various places where the Prophet said prayers until he reached Jerusalam. From there, the Burraq flew through the skies making various stops until he finally reached the Sidrath ul Muntaha, the “lot tree of the farthest boundary”. It is here that he dismounted the steed and was welcomed into the “Arsh e Molla”, the exalted spot of the Divine Throne. The prophet is said to have prayed for the salvation of his people and had also received commandments for namaz (prayer), allowing people to converse directly with Allah. And when he returned from this celestial journey, the chain that bolted his door was still moving.

Whether physical or folklore, mythical or allegorical, this story is the journey of Mi’raj— the Prophet’s ascension to the heavens and his absorption into mystical knowledge. This is also known as the second great miracle of Islam after the revelation of the Koran. It symbolizes the ultimate heightened state of being, the true essence of the unshackled soul getting absorbed in its source. That droplet becomes one with the ocean to become boundless.

Today is the morning of that Mi’raj and I wanted to share these words of a salam in honour of this great man who has left us a shining legacy of love, justice, empathy, and tolerance. May his essence guide us all and, especially the 1.2 billion people who follow him.

Asalam e shehenshah e Hashmi

Asalam e badshah -e- al Quraish

Asalam e Mustafa bin Amina

Aslam e sahib e fehm o zaka

Asalam e malik e shireen dahan

Aslam e naghma e aali sukhan

Aslam e rustum e burrakh ra

Aslam e qaisar e meraj ra

Asalam e nisbath e parvar digaar

Aslam e kamil e ilmo baqa

Asalam e saqi e roz e jaza

Aslam e khush laqab e Ambia

Aslam e rehbar e jinno bashar

Asalam e nazneen sad afreen

Aslam e bul bul e jannath fishaan

Aslam e baani e kaun o makaan

Aslam e Rehmath alil Alameen

Aslam e hazrath e mehboob e deen

Asalam e zahir e ilm e khafi

Asalam e haasil e ilm e jali

Asalam e badshah e Anbia

Asalam e peshva e aulia

Asalam noor nazar e kibriya

Aslam e jadda e Hasn o Hussain

Aslam e lakhth jigar e Amina

Asalam e Ahmed Mukhtar raa

Aslam e quwwath e karrar raa

Aslam e Hazrat e Ummee Laqab

Aslam e naazil e quran e paak

Asalam e fakhr e Jibreel e amee

Aslam e vaali e ilm o yaqeen

Asalam e ya Mohammad Asalam

Aslam e ya Mohammad Asalam