17: The Night Journey
This chapter consists of twelve
sections of 111 Meccan verses, except for vv. 2 6,
32-33, 37 and 73-80 (these are in sections, III, IV, VIII-IX) which date
from the
Madinese period! It was revealed after Stories 28 and before the last verse
in
The Cow 2, and shortly before the Prophet's Transfer or Hijra to Madina.
The
title AI-Mi'raj in Arabic is the singular of Al-Ma'arij or Staircases Upward
which is the title for Chapter 70 (it is also given as Al-Lsra'). The celestial
journey
or ascension to Heaven is celebrated on the twenty-seventh night of the
month of
Rajab five weeks before the fast of Ramadan begins. An alternative title
to the
chapter is The Children of Israel and still another is Glory! taken from
the
first word (Snbhan) in the chapter (and at Section X).
The style at the beginning is closely interwoven. The chapter opens with
a
solemn announcement of the Prophet's ascension as a lilting symphony which
the
Italian poet Dante was to use later on in a more elaborate form for his
Divine
Corned p. An easily obtainable description of this tradition in English
is found
in Jefferv's Islam pp. 35-42. Its translation and interpretation are extremely
difficult, Ibn-Kathir's is probably the best.
Next there follows moral legislation including one version of the Islamic
Do
Not's which stresses personal responsibility and the seriousness
of associating
others in our pure worship of God Alone (II). The treatment of parents
and
charity are other themes of morality ( III-IV). Disbelievers are aptly
described in
section v. The chapter ends with a long section on how to read the Qur'an
and
how to pray (IX-XII): see also i and v. In short. this is one of the most
important
and sustained chapters in the Qur'an and its beauty is inimitable.