Reflections on Al-Isra wal-Mi‘raj | Ubudiyyah, Love of the Prophet ﷺ & Salah

On the blessed occasion of Al-Isra wal-Mi‘raj, Shaykh Riad Saloojee guides us through the spiritual heart of the Night Journey and Ascension of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, an event filled with lessons for every believer. We reflect on Allah’s words “Subhanalladhi asra bi ‘abdihi” and what it teaches us about the Prophet ﷺ as the perfect ‘abd, the ultimate example of ‘ubudiyyah (loving submission). We revisit the trials that preceded the Mi‘raj—loss, sorrow, and hardship—and how Allah honors His servants after the night of difficulty. Finally, we return to the greatest gift of that night: Salah. The scholars say, “As-salatu mi‘rajul mu’min”—prayer is the ascension of the believer. This reminder calls us to renew our relationship with salah, so that our daily prayer becomes a true meeting with Allah. Chapters: 0:00 Opening (Bismillah & Salawat) 0:08 Remembering Al-Isra wal-Mi‘raj 0:49 Why This Night Matters for the Ummah 1:50 “Subhanalladhi asra bi ‘abdihi” 2:38 The Prophet ﷺ as the Perfect ‘Abd 4:43 The Year of Sadness Before the Mi‘raj 6:34 The Du‘a of Ta’if 7:15 Darkness as a Pathway to Dawn 8:38 “His ‘Abd” — The Ultimate Honor 9:25 What Al-Mi‘raj Teaches Us About Rasulullah ﷺ 12:07 Meeting the Prophets 12:46 Beyond Sidratul Muntaha 14:44 Our Own Isra and Mi‘raj 15:51 The Sandal of Rasulullah ﷺ 19:19 Salah Is the Believer’s Mi‘raj 20:42 Salah as Transcendence 22:59 One Rak‘ah Can Change Everything 24:03 Closing Du‘a