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Fatwa CenterThe wisdom behind Al-Israa’ (the Prophetic night-journey to Jerusalem)
Question
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in his night journey of Al-Israa’ from Makkah to Al-Quds (Jerusalem) did not pass by Al-Madeenah; why?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
We do not know the wisdom behind this; however, there is no harm in not knowing it, because knowing the answer would bring about no benefit.
Nevertheless, we can say that Madeenah is not a place where messages were revealed to prophets, nor did it contain any trace of revelation at that time. It is reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, passed by Madeenah and prayed there but this report is unauthentic.
Scholars have mentioned many aspects of the wisdom behind making Al-Quds the destination of the journey of Al-Israa’.
Some of these include:
1- Affirming the prophethood of Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, since he gave a detailed description of Al-Aqsa Mosque, informed people about a caravan of the Quraysh and pointed out many other things that he saw on his journey. Ibn Al-Qayyim 
stated that on the following morning, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, told his tribe about the greatest signs Allaah The Almighty had showed him. However, they accused him of lying and caused him greater injury and harm. Even though he gave them a description of the mosque and of their caravan that he saw en route, they insisted on their disbelief.
2– Illustrating the great and honorable status of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, who led all the prophets in prayer on that night.
3- Indicating the unity of all the prophets in terms of their goals and messages, although their legislations may differed on some subsidiary small matters. All of them – from Aadam 
to Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam – called to others to the Oneness and worship of Allaah The Almighty and invited people to the right path and to good morals.
4- Distinguishing true believers, who received the news and accepted this incident with belief and submission, from the disbelievers.
5- Relieving the sorrow and grief of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, caused by the death of his uncle and his wife who supported him and also by the harm the disbelievers inflicted upon him by disbelievers.
6- Demonstrating the glory and might of Allaah the Almighty Who, when He intends a thing decrees a matter, says to it: "Be," and it is. These and other hidden wisdoms underlie the journey of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to Al-Quds before he was lifted from there through the heavens.
In summary, a Muslim must believe that Allaah The Almighty has perfect wisdom in everything He does, even though our minds sometimes fail to understand it.
Allaah Knows best.
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