The First Namaaz

(Reproduced from Hajee Mahboob Kassim's "Destruction or Peace", Ch. XVIII : E-9, PP. 421 - 424)

(The following events happened on Meraj-un-Nabi, the complete account of which is given here : http://isris.blogspot.com/2005/09/meraj-un-nabi.html )

...

When Muhammad arrived in the presence of Allah he stood with bowed head and his hands placed respectfully one upon the other in front of him, and recited amongst other praises the following :

"Soobhaa Nakallaahoomma wa bihamdika wa tabaarakasmooka wa ta'aala jadduka wa laa ilaaha Ghairuka.
A-oozu Billahi minash Shaitaanir rajeem.
Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem".

Translation :-

"Glory be to Thee O Allah, and Thine is the praise and blessed is Thy name, and exalted is Thy Majesty ; there is no deity besides Thee.
"I seek Allah's protection against the accursed Satan.
"In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful".

"Alhamdu Lillahi Rabbil Aalameen.
"Arrahmanir Raheem.
"Maaliki yaumid deen.
"Iyyaka naabudu wa iyyaka nastaaeen.
"Ihdinas siraatal moostaqeem,
"Siraatal lazeena anaamta alaihim,
"Ghairil maghdhoobi alaihim, waladh dhaalleen (Ameen)"

Translation :-

"Praise be to Allah Who is Lord Sustainer of the entire universe.
"The Beneficent, the Merciful.
"(Sole) Owner of the Day of Judgment.
"Thee (Allah) we worship ; Thee we ask for help.
"Show us (to those on) the Right path,
"(i.e. by taking us to one who is on) the path of those whom Thou hast favoured with thy Grace.
"Not those, who (like Iblis, the Satan) earn Thine anger (in spite of their continuous prayers - See Ch. XX for how Satan continuously prays and honours Allah), nor those who are astray (by worshipping idols or committing polytheism)" (Quran 1 : 1-7).

After reciting some more words in praise Muhammad said "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is Greatest) and bowed before his Lord.

Then he recited a number of times "Subhana Rabbial Azeem" (Glory be to The Sustainer Lord, the Great).

Allah acknowledged by saying : "Sami Allahu Liman Hamidah" (Allah listens to him who praises Him).

Muhammad straightened himself from his bowing position reciting "Rabbana wa lakal hamd" (Oh our Lord, Thine is all praise). Saying "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is Greatest) he prostrated himself before Allah and recited a number of times "Subhana Rabbiyal Aalaa" (Glory be to The Sustainer Lord, the Highest).

After he had adored his Lord to his satisfaction, he got up saying "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is Greatest) and sat at the foot of the throne of Allah and chanted : "Attahiyyaatu Lillahi was salawaatu wattaayibaatu". (All services rendered by me by words and bodily actions and sacrifice of wealth are in honour of You, O Allah !).

Allah replied : "Assalaamu alaika ya ayyuhan Nabiyyu wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuh". (My peace be on thee Oh Prophet ! together with My Mercy and My Blessings - indeed what a great honour !)

When Muhammad found that he was alone being blessed by Allah, whilst he was "Rahmat Ul Lil Aalaameen" (A Comforter and Blessing for the whole Universe) he pleaded immediately with Allah : "Assalaamu Alaina wa alaa ibaadil-Laahis saaleheen" (Let the Peace of Allah be on the worshippers and the righteous servants of the Lord - thus covering all righteous worshippers of Allah from Adam the first man till the last true worshipper at the time of destruction of the universe - indeed a Rahmat Ul Lil Aalaameen - a Comforter and Saviour for the entire creation !)

When Muhammad made such a big request that the Universe be blessed through him, Allah naturally asked what gift have you got to offer in exchange? Muhammad's forthright reply was :-

"Ash-hadu an la ilaaha illal Laahu".

Translation :-

"I give evidence that none is worthy of divine worship except Allah".

So exceptionally was Allah overjoyed that He announced :-

"Wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abduhoo wa rasooluh".

Translation :-

"And I (also) give evidence that Muhammad is His (Allah's) slave and His Messenger".

Thus Muhammad was given the unique honour of being declared the slave of Allah, in addition to being His Messenger.

So pleased was Allah at the prayer of Muhammad for the blessing of all righteous servants of the Lord from Adam till the last believer on earth when it will be destroyed and the gift of Muhammad - the evidence of the declaration of the Oneness of Allah that He issued the following Quranic Order not only upon the crowd of Angels and spiritual dwellers of the Universe, who were gathered and watching from a distance, but it was also an order for all time to come on all believers in Allah as well as on all mankind for all time to come :-

"Lo ! Allah and His angels send 'Salaat' (i.e. prayers of glorification) on the Prophet. O Ye who believe ! Send 'Salaat' (i.e. prayers of glorification) on him (i.e. the Holy Prophet Muhammad) and offer 'Salimu' (i.e. Peace of Allah and salutations) to him in a worthy (respectful) salutation.

"Lo ! those who malign Allah and His Messenger, Allah hath cursed them in the world and in the Hereafter, and hath prepared for them the doom of the disdained (see Ch. XIII : B where Jesus has given the same warning in "The Gospel of Barnabas").

"And those who malign believing men and women undeservedly, they bear the guilt of slander and manifest sin" (Quran XXXIII : 56-58).

The Angels responded to the above order and chanted the following blessings upon the honoured guest of Allah as under :-

"Allahoomma salli alaa Muhammadin wa alaa aali Muhammadin kama sallayta alaa Ibrahima wa alaa aali Ibrahima innaka Hameedum Majeed.
"Allahoomma baarik alaa Muhammadin wa alaa aali Muhammadin kama baarakta alaa Ibrahima wa alaa aali Ibrahima innaka Hameedum Majeed."

Translation :-

"Oh Allah ! Exalt Muhammad and the children of Muhammad as Thou didst exalt Abraham and the children of Abraham ; Surely Thou art the Praised, the Magnified.
"Oh Allah ! Bless Muhammad and the children of Muhammad as Thou didst bless Abraham and the children of Abraham ; Surely Thou art the Praised, the Magnified."

When the Angels finished then Muhammad recited the following momentous prayer whilst still in the sitting posture before the Almighty :-

"Rabbanaa aatena fidduniya hasanatan wa fil akerateh hasanatan wa kina azabin nar.
"Allahummag firli wale waalediya wale ustadhziya wale mantawwalada wal jammial momineena wal mominaate wal muslimeena wal muslemaate ala-ah-yaa min hum wal amwat be rahmateka ya arhamar rahemeen".

Translation :-

"Oh our Sustainer Lord grant us in this Earth what is good for us and in the life hereafter what is good for us and save us from the tortures of the Fire (of Hell).
"Oh Allah forgive us our sins, also our parents, also our teachers, also our families and the whole gathering of those men who do good deeds and those women who do good deeds and those men who have surrendered themselves to Your Will (i.e. the Muslims) and those women who have surrendered themselves to Your Will (i.e. the Muslims, all those of them) who are alive and (all those of them) who have passed away (and bless them all) with Your Blessings, Oh Most Merciful !"

These acts and praises of Muhammad pleased Allah so very much that He disclosed Himself in all his Glory and Majesty to the naked human eyes of His Mahboob (i.e. beloved) Muhammad. This visit of Muhammad to Allah in heaven is called "Meraj-un-Nabi".