Today is the Islamic holiday of al-Isra’ wal Mi’raj (Arabic: الإسراء والمعراج). The Israʾ and the Miʿraj are the two parts of a Night Journey that, according to Islam, the prophet Muhammad (AD 570–632) took during a single night around the year AD 621. Within Islam, it signifies both a physical and spiritual journey. A brief sketch of the story is in the 17th chapter of the Quran, called al-Isra', while greater detail is found in the Hadith (later collections of the reports, teachings, deeds, and sayings of Muhammad). 

In the Israʾ part of the journey, Muhammad is said to have traveled with the angel Gabriel on the back of Buraq (a horse-like lightning creature) from the Ka’aba in Mecca to the Al-Aqsa Mosque (i.e. the Temple Mount) in Jerusalem, where he led other prophets in prayer. In the next part of the journey, the Miʿraj, he is said to have ascended into the 7th heaven, where he individually greeted the prophets Adam, Jesus and his cousin John the Baptist, Joseph, Enoch, Aaron, Moses and Abraham one by one until he reached the throne of God. There God communicated with him, giving him words and instructions, most important of which was the commandment to Muslims to offer prayers, initially fifty times a day. At the urging of Moses, Muhammad returned to God several times before eventually reducing the number to five. 

Let’s pray for Omanis who are commemorating Isra’ wal Mi’raj today:

• Pray for dreams and visions of Jesus to be given, that many would truly encounter the presence of God.
• Pray for those who long to go to heaven, that they would come to know Jesus as the only way to the Father.
• Pray for Omanis as they pray 5 times today, that it would not just be an empty ritual, but a true longing to connect with God.

Worship with us!: Hymn of Heaven by Phil Wickham. May many people in Oman find eternal life, enter heaven and encounter God face to face!

Matthew 18:14 Focus—‘Your Father in heaven does not want one of these little ones to be lost.’ 

Please bring these towns and villages before the Father:

Al-Qashu, Nizwa district, Ad-Dakhliyah region. Population: 123

Tawi Al-Lathlah, Nizwa district, Ad-Dakhliyah region. Population: 123

Al-Khamri, Nizwa district, Ad-Dakhliyah region. Population: 112

Aqbat Al-Biyut, Nizwa district, Ad-Dakhliyah region. Population: 105

Tawi Sadah, Nizwa district, Ad-Dakhliyah region. Population: 103

Tawi Al-Maqabah, Nizwa district, Ad-Dakhliyah region. Population: 101