The holy month of Rajab al Asab draws to a close – by the Fatimi calendar this is the night of 27th Rajab, which is when the Prophet Mohammed SAW ascended for a tour of Heaven. For more details about the Night of Ascension, see this post from a few years back – including a fun little anecdote about when the Prophet Muhammad SAW met the Prophet Moses AS, and took some advice on the patience of the believers for daily prayer! Click to read it in full, but let me just say that all muslims have VERY VERY good reason to be grateful to Moses AS 😉

Here is a photo of the interior of the Dome of the Rock, in Jerusalem from where the Prophet alighted:

The day of 27th Rajab is also the Day of Elevation – 9 years prior to the me’raj, a humble businessman named Mohammed SAW was elevated to the status of Prophet of Islam by Allah and made Messenger to all humanity of the divine Revelation. It is on this day that the angel Jibreel (Gabriel) came to Mohammed SAW in a cave with the first verse of the Qur’an, a command: Read! In the name of your Lord (Al-Quran: 96)

This day, my entire family will observe a fast in the prayer that Allah also elevates our station in His path. The fast is also commonly known as “Motius Sawalaat“, which means “Answerer of prayers”, in supplication to Allah. (See my earlier post on the merits of fasting during the month of Rajab in general)