390.Narrated Anas bin Malik from Malik bin Sa'sa'a (Allah be pleased with him)
that Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him) described to them his Night Journey
saying, "While I was lying in Al-Hatim or Al-Hijr, suddenly someone came to me
and cut my body open from here to here." I asked Al-Jarud who was by my side,
"It means from his throat to his pubic area," or said, "from the top of the
chest." The Prophet (peace be upon him) further said, "He then took out my
heart. Then a gold tray full of Belief was brought to me and my heart was washed
and was filled (with Belief) and then returned to its original place. Then a
white animal which was smaller than a mule and bigger than a donkey, was brought
to me." (on this Al-Jarud asked, "Was it the Buraq, O Abu Hamza?" I (i.e. Anas)
replied in the affirmative). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "The animal's
step (was so wide that it) reached the farthest point within the reach of the
animal's sight. I was carried on it, and Gabriel set out with me till we reached
the nearest heaven. When he asked for the gate to be opened it was asked, 'Who
is it?' Gabriel answered, 'Gabriel' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?'
Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has Muhammad been called?' Gabriel
replied in affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed. What an excellent
visit his is!' The gate was opened, and when I went over the first heaven, I saw
Adam there.
Gabriel said (to me), 'This is your father, Adam; pay him your greetings.' So I
greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, 'You are welcomed, o
pious son and pious Prophet.' Then Gabriel ascended with me till we reached the
second heaven. Gabriel asked for the gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is
it?' Gabriel answered, 'Gabriel' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?'
Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel
answered in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed. What an
excellent visit his is!' The gate was opened, and when I went over the second
heaven, there I saw Yaya (i.e. John) and Isa (i.e. Jesus), who were cousins of
each other. Gabriel said (to me), 'These are John and Jesus; pay them your
greetings.' So I greeted them and both of them returned my greetings to me and
said, 'You are welcomed, o pious brother and pious Prophet.' Then Gabriel
ascended with me to the third heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was
asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel answered, 'Gabriel' It was asked, 'Who is
accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been
called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed.
What an excellent visit his is!' The gate was opened, and when I went over the
third heaven, there I saw Joseph. Gabriel said (to me), 'This is Joseph; pay him
