Journey to Heavens and Holy Prophet’s Conversation with God in Surah An-Najm

TEHRAN (IQNA) – One of the beliefs of Muslims is about the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) journey to heavens. In this nightly trip, known as Mi’raj (ascend), Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) traveled to heavens and talked with some angels, other prophets and God.

An-Najm is the name of the Holy Quran’s 53^rd chapter, which has 62 verses and is in the 27^th Juz. It is Makki and the 23^rd Surah revealed to the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Some believe it is the first Surah that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) recited in public at the holy Ka’aba after he made his invitation to Islam public.

The Surah is called An-Najm because in the first verse, God swears by Najm (star) and the time when it goes down. The word Najm in its singular and plural forms is mentioned 13 times in the Quran.

The overall purpose of Surah An-Najm is laying emphasis on three themes: divinity, prophethood and resurrection. It also talks about the truth of revelation, the direct communication of the Prophet (PBUH) with Angel Jibril (Gabriel), the story of the Holy Prophet’s Mi’raj.

It slams disbelievers’ worshipping idols and discusses the fact that doors to repentance are open and that everyone is responsible for his deeds, as well as the fate of previous nations who insisted on enmity with the truth. 

At the beginning of the Surah, God underlines that the Prophet (PBUH) directly receives the revelation from Angel Jibril and that he does not say except what has been revealed to him.

In another part, the chapter talks about the Prophet’s (PBUH) journey to heavens and depicts some parts of the trip.

It then criticizes the disbelievers’ superstitions about idols and other issues that are based on desires and temptations and reminds them that doors are open for repenting. It highlights God’s forgiveness and also the fact that everyone is responsible for his deeds.

Next, the Surah discusses the issue of resurrection and proves it with clear and logical reasons. It also refers to the painful fate of previous peoples who were hostile to the truth and insisted on their enmity.

The Mi’raj of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is among the major issues mentioned in the Surah. On the night of Mi’raj, the Prophet (PBUH) traveled from Mecca to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Palestine and from there to heavens. According to reports in Islamic sources, on that journey, he talked with some angels as well as the people of paradise and hell. The Prophet (PBUH) also talked with some messengers of God and there was also a conversation between him and God.