Encounters during the Mi’raj: The Heralds of Portents

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

During the night of the Mi’raj, the Prophet (s.a.w.), accompanied by Jibril (a.s.), travelled to a place where the Prophet (s.a.w.) heard someone calling him from his right, “O Muhammad, look at me; I want to ask you something!” 

But the Prophet (s.a.w.) did not respond.  Then he asked, “Who was that, O Jibril?” 

He replied, “That is the herald of the Jews.  If you had answered him, your ummah would have followed Judaism.” 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) continued travelling, and he heard someone calling him from his left, “O Muhammad, look at me; I want to ask you something!” 

But the Prophet (s.a.w.) did not respond.  Then he asked, “Who was that, O Jibril?”

He replied, “That is the herald of the Christians.  If you had answered him, your ummah would have followed Christianity.” 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) continued travelling and then passed by a woman with bare arms, decked with every female ornament Allah (s.w.t.) had Created.  She said, “O Muhammad, look at me; I need to ask you something.” 

But he did not look at her.  Then, he asked. “Who was that, O Jibril?” 

He replied, “That was the ad-dunya.  If you had answered her, your ummah would have preferred the world to the hereafter.” 

As the Prophet (s.a.w.) travelled on, he passed by an old man who was a distance away from his path, saying, “Come hither, O Muhammad!” 

But Jibril (a.s.) interjected, “Nay, go on, O Muhammad!” 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) went on and then asked, “Who was that, O Jibril?” 

He replied, “That was Allah’s enemy, Iblis.  He wanted you to incline towards him.” 

He went on and passed by an old woman on the roadside who said, “O Muhammad, look at me; I need to ask you something.” 

But he did not look at her.  Then he asked, “Who was that, O Jibril?” 

He replied, “The world has as much left to live as the remaining lifetime of this old woman.”