Iran / Persia: The ascent of the Prophet Muhammad to heaven on the celestial mount Burak, 16th century

The Isra and Mi'raj (Arabic: الإسراء والمعراج‎, transl. al-ʾIsrāʾ wa l-Miʿrāğ), are the two parts of a Night Journey that, according to Islamic tradition, the Prophet Muhammad took during a single night around the year 621. It is considered as both a physical and spiritual journey.

A brief outline of the story is related in surah 17 'Al-Isra' of the Qur'an, and other details come from the Hadith, supplemental accounts of the life of the Prophet Muhammad recorded by his companions. In the journey, the Prophet Muhammad travels on the celestial mount Al-Buraq to 'the farthest temple' (Holy Temple of Al-Quds or Jerusalem) where he leads other prophets in prayer. He then ascends through the seven heavens where he speaks to God, who gives Muhammad instructions to take back to the faithful on Earth about the number of times to offer prayers each day.

According to traditions, the Journey is associated with the Lailat al Miraj, as one of the most significant events in the Islamic calendar.

Representations of the Prophet Muhammad are controversial, and generally forbidden in Sunni Islam (especially Hanafiyya, Wahabi, Salafiyya). Shia Islam and some other branches of Sunni Islam (Hanbali, Maliki, Shafi'i) are generally more tolerant of such representational images, but even so the Prophet's features are generally veiled or concealed by flames as a mark of deep respect.

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