Isra and Mi'raj for Kids: The Night Journey Story

The Night Journey is one of the most wonderful stories you can tell a child: a night ride to Jerusalem, a prayer with all the Prophets, a rise through the heavens and a gift that Muslims still open five times every day. This guide tells it in simple steps from the Qur’an and the authentic hadith, the same way ilmbee’s The Night Journey (Book 91) does.

What does Isra and Mi’raj mean?

Isra means travelling by night. It is the journey from al-Masjid al-Haram in Makkah to Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem. Mi’raj means a way up. It is the rising from Jerusalem up through the seven heavens. Both happened in one night, as a miracle from Allah.

Allah tells us about it at the start of Surah al-Isra: glory be to the One who took His servant by night from the Sacred Masjid to the Farthest Masjid, whose surroundings He has blessed, to show him some of His signs (Qur’an 17:1).

What happened on the Night Journey?

A ride on the Buraq

One night, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was at the Sacred Masjid in Makkah. The angel Jibreel alayhis salaam came to him with a special animal called the Buraq. The Prophet ﷺ described it: white, bigger than a donkey and smaller than a mule, and so fast that each step landed as far away as its eye could see (Sahih Muslim). In a short time they reached Masjid al-Aqsa.

A prayer with all the Prophets

At Masjid al-Aqsa, the Prophet ﷺ prayed, and the earlier Prophets were gathered there. When the time for prayer came, he led them all (Sahih Muslim). Jibreel then offered him two cups. He chose the cup of milk, and Jibreel told him he had chosen the fitrah, the pure way Allah made people for (Sahih Muslim).

Up through the seven heavens

Then Jibreel took him up. At each heaven the gate was opened, and a Prophet welcomed him (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim):

In the first heaven, Adam alayhis salaam, the father of all people.
In the second, Yahya and Isa alayhimus salaam.
In the third, Yusuf alayhis salaam.
In the fourth, Idris alayhis salaam.
In the fifth, Harun alayhis salaam.
In the sixth, Musa alayhis salaam.
In the seventh, Ibrahim alayhis salaam, beside al-Bayt al-Ma’mur, a house of worship that seventy thousand angels enter every day (Sahih al-Bukhari).

He went on to the Sidrat al-Muntaha, a great tree at the furthest point, where he saw some of the greatest signs of his Lord (Qur’an 53:13-18).

The gift of salah

There Allah gave the Muslims fifty prayers every day. On the way back, Musa alayhis salaam advised the Prophet ﷺ to ask Allah to make it lighter, because people would find fifty hard. He went back and asked, again and again, until there were five. Allah said they are five, and they are fifty (Sahih al-Bukhari): five prayers to pray, with the reward of fifty. Then the Prophet ﷺ returned to Makkah, all in the same night.

What happened when he told the people of Makkah?

Many of the Quraysh did not believe that anyone could travel so far in one night, and some tested him with questions about Jerusalem. Allah showed him Bayt al-Maqdis so clearly that he could describe it to them, detail by detail (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim). For children, this is a good moment to say: Allah can do anything, and the believers trust what Allah and His Messenger ﷺ tell them.

What does the Night Journey teach children?

Salah is a gift. The five prayers were given to the Prophet ﷺ high in the heavens, on this special night. When a child prays, they are opening that gift.
All the Prophets brought one message. They prayed together behind Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, because they all called people to worship Allah alone.
Masjid al-Aqsa is precious. Allah calls its land blessed (Qur’an 17:1). See Talking to children about Palestine and Let Us Visit Palestine (Book 18).
Good advice helps. Musa alayhis salaam cared about us, and his advice made our prayers five.
Allah comforts His servants. The journey came after a very hard time in Makkah.

Questions to ask your child

Where did the Prophet ﷺ travel to first, and what did he ride?
Who did he lead in prayer at Masjid al-Aqsa?
Which Prophet did he meet in the first heaven? And in the seventh?
How many prayers did Allah give at first, and how many do we pray now?
Which prayer will you pray next, now that you know it is a gift?

What age is this for?

Ages 4 to 6: keep to four pictures: the Buraq, the prayer at al-Aqsa, the heavens, and the gift of five prayers. Ages 7 to 11: add the Prophets in each heaven, the conversation with Musa alayhis salaam and the reaction of the Quraysh. A child who is starting salah will love knowing where the prayers came from; Let Us Perform Salah (Book 13) shows them how to pray, and Teaching children salah helps you begin.

The Night Journey (Book 91) tells this story in twenty narrated pages for ages 4 to 11. To try ilmbee’s narrated books first, read 3 books free.

The books in this guide

From ilmbee Series 01, 100 illustrated books read in order. The first 3 are free to read.

Frequently asked questions

What is Isra and Mi’raj in simple words?

It is the night Allah took Prophet Muhammad ﷺ from Makkah to Jerusalem, and then up through the seven heavens, and brought him back before morning. Allah gave him the five daily prayers on that journey.

What is the Buraq?

The Buraq is the animal the Prophet ﷺ rode on the Night Journey. He described it as a white animal, bigger than a donkey and smaller than a mule, which placed each step as far as its eye could see (Sahih Muslim).

Which Prophets did Prophet Muhammad ﷺ meet in the heavens?

He met Adam in the first heaven, Yahya and Isa in the second, Yusuf in the third, Idris in the fourth, Harun in the fifth, Musa in the sixth and Ibrahim in the seventh, alayhimus salaam (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim).

Why do Muslims pray five times a day?

Because Allah gave the five daily prayers on the Night Journey. They began as fifty, were made five, and Allah gives the reward of fifty for praying them (Sahih al-Bukhari).

When is Isra and Mi’raj?

It happened in Makkah, before the Hijrah to Madinah. Many Muslims remember it in the month of Rajab, though scholars differ on the exact date, so ask your local scholar how your community marks it.

Sources

Qur'an references are given as surah:ayah, with the meaning in plain English. Hadith are from the collections named.

Qur'an 17:1 (Al-Isra): Glory be to the One who took His servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs.
Qur'an 53:13-18 (An-Najm): he saw him at the Sidrat al-Muntaha, near which is the Garden of Refuge; he saw some of the greatest signs of his Lord.
Sahih Muslim 162: the Buraq, a white animal bigger than a donkey and smaller than a mule, placing its hoof at the farthest limit of its sight; two rak'ahs in Bayt al-Maqdis; he chose the milk, and Jibreel said he had chosen the fitrah; the Prophets in each heaven; al-Bayt al-Ma'mur.
Sahih Muslim 172: he led the Prophets in prayer.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3887: the ascent through the heavens, the Prophets who welcomed him, Sidrat al-Muntaha, fifty prayers reduced to five on Musa's advice.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3207: seventy thousand angels enter al-Bayt al-Ma'mur every day.
Sahih al-Bukhari 349: “They are five, and they are fifty.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 3886; Sahih Muslim 170: when the Quraysh disbelieved him, Allah showed him Bayt al-Maqdis and he described it to them.