Isra and Meraj- Ascension of Muhammad teaches us to rise up to causes!

Holy is He Who carried His servant by night from the Holy Mosque (in Makka) to the farther Mosque (in Jerusalem) - whose surroundings We have blessed - that We might show him some of Our signs 1. Indeed He alone is All-Hearing, All-Seeing. (Quran 17:1)

The ascension is what inspires me to rise to the call of duty every day. Why is that so? The fact that the Prophet Muhammad, on whom be peace, was beginning to feel the weight of the mission in Mecca and needed some respite or inspiration around the ninth year after Prophethood is the raison d'etre of Isra and Meraj. What did Allah provide for him to continue fueling his drive? It was this miraculous journey into the heavens visiting his comrades like Prophet Musa and Ibrahim who had very similar challenges from a disbelieving people. He was so inspired that he returned within the night rejuvenated and ready to continue spreading the word of God among the Quresh despite their brutal racism against him and His Companions.

I think today when we are called to serve humanity and share the love of Islam through our humanitarian deed as called Zakat and Fitra and Qurbani and Sadqa we have to rise to the occasion and this will be our Meraj and Isra. Ascension to the heavens can be done just here without the miraculous Buraq and travel to Jerusalem in the night by sacrificing a bit of our worldly possessions so that we let a human live, let a child breathe, let a mother eat and let humanity survive in dignity once more. Malala, our shero, just thought us that and we are lucky to have her in Canada on Meraj and Isra fighting for girls education worldwide!