"The night journey (isra') and ascension to heaven (mi'raj) is a singularly auspicious event in the biography of the Prophet Muhammad, and is one of the most popular religious narratives in Islam. Amongst other things, it is seen to confirm the Prophet as the final prophet, to explain how the five daily prayers were introduced to the Muslim community as a religious duty, and to give an early explanation of the concepts of heaven and hell. Here, R.P. Buckley explores the evolution and nature of the reception of the narrative of the isra' and mi'raj within a number of central themes, including the authentication of the journey, the manner in which it was performed, Shi'i tradition pertaining to the journey and the development of Western attitudes and approaches. It thus provides vital analysis for those involved in the research of early Islam and the history of religion in the Middle East."--Publisher's website.
Shaykh Muhammad 'Alawi al-Maliki delivers an absorbing account of the Isra' wal-Mi'raj that brings the reader almost into the story. Indeed it is a detailed narrative spiced with a simple commentary that attempts to reconcile various accounts or reports of the event that transpired. This provides a comprehensive reading that takes the reader on an experiential ride to feel the magic of Rasulullah's journey. In short, it is very inspiring; exhilarating to the spiritual core. Praise be to Allah Who chose His praiseworth servant Muhammad (saw) for the Message, distinguished him with the night journey on the lightening-mount Buraq, and caused him to ascend the ladders of perfection to the high heavens to show him of the greatest signs of his Lord. He raised him until he reached the Lote-tree of the Farthest Boundary where ends the science of every Messenger-Prophet and every Angel Brought Near, where lies the Garden of Retreat, to the point that he heard the sound of the pens that write what has befallen and what is to befall.
One of South America's most celebrated contemporary poets takes us on a fantastic voyage to mysterious lands and seas, into the psyche, and to the heart of the poem itself. Night Journey is the English-language debut of the work that won María Negroni an Argentine National Book Award. It is a book of dreams--dreams she renders with surreal beauty that recalls the work of her compatriot Alejandra Pizarnik, with the penetrating subtlety of Borges and Calvino. In sixty-two tightly woven prose poems, Negroni deftly infuses haunting imagery with an ironic, personal spirituality. Effortlessly she navigates the nameless subject to the slopes of the Himalayas, to a bar in Buenos Aires, through war, from icy Scandinavian landscapes to the tropics, across seas, toward a cemetery in the wake of Napoleon's hearse, by train, by taxis headed in unrequested directions, past mirrors and birds, between life and death. Night Journey reflects a mastery of a traditional form while brilliantly expressing a modern condition: the multicultural, multifaceted individual, ever in motion. Displacement abounds: a "medieval tabard" where a pelvis should be, a "lipless grin," a "beach severed from the ocean." In one poem "nomadic cities" whisk past. In another, smiling cockroaches loom in a visiting mother's eyes. Anne Twitty, whose elegant translations are accompanied by the Spanish originals, remarks in her preface that the book's "indomitable literary intelligence" subdues an unspoken terror--helplessness. Yet, as observed by the angel Gabriel, the consoling voice of wisdom, only by accepting the journey for what it is can one discover its "hidden splendor," the "invisible center of the poem." As readers of this magnificent work will discover, this is a journey that, because its every fleeting image conjures a thousand words of fertile silence, can be savored again and again.
The Prophet (peace upon him) is awoken from his sleep and led by the Chieftain of angels to a riding mount like never seen before! They travel at lightning speed and embark on an unimaginable journey that, as it unfolds, becomes ever more miraculous. The first destination is the sacred city of Jerusalem for an unimaginable meeting and prayer with angels and thousands of prophets. In a state of wonderment and anticipation, the Prophet (pbuh) discovers that his journey is just beginning, as he begins to ascend into the heavens. As he travels to each heavenly dimension he is personally greeted and welcomed by the former prophets. The Prophet (pbuh) is then shown the frequented house with its ceaseless angel pilgrims and the Lote Tree in all its glory. The journey culminates at the pinnacle, which the Prophet (pbuh) learns to be the ultimate reason for the journey; he is brought into Divine presence to be gifted a special command. When he is returned to Mecca where he recounts the miraculous happenings, he is met with ridicule by the disbelievers, and sincere belief by those who believe. This book describes the Prophet's experiences along the way, the miraculous nature of this journey, and emphasizes the lessons learnt from it.
A beautifully illustrated guidebook to unleash the enchanted explorer in you and help you embark on a voyage through the night to find the wonder and wisdom of nature and creativity. Become the wonder-seeker you truly are as you explore the night. In this magical book, Amy T. Won, artist and guide, takes you on a personal creative night journey, exploring nocturnal wildlife and plants, twilight fairy tales and celestial myths, constellations and the cycles of the moon, and personal recollections of the night, such as camping or evening festivities. Amy's dreamy watercolour paintings of the enchanting night are interspersed with practical activities for the reader and fill-in pages to encourage you to record your experience. Through this exploration, connecting to your senses and examining your memories, you can learn your fears and hopes and develop your creativity to find inspiration. Capture the feeling of wonderment and creative flow, explore to your heart's delight and experience the magic-making. Allow the world around you to whisper in your ears what you wish most to create.
In 1978 the Lord called a priest, Clark Butterfield, out of the Roman Catholic system. God gave him a mission to write this autobiography before he went home to be with his Saviour. Butterfield graciously reveals to both Roman Catholics and Christians the teachings of the Vatican and how they differ from God's holy word. NIGHT JOURNEY FROM ROME is tactful, compassionate, and candid. Any honest reader will be touched and enlightened by its contents. This is a beautifully written book for your library, and one you could put into the hands of Roman Catholics or Christians. The contrast between scripture and the teachings of Rome is very clearly explained. - Jack T. Chick
This book is aimed at witches who want to deepen their engagement with their Craft. It explores modes and types of ritual; how rituals work; the uses of sound and silence in ritual; the witch's journey through life; the stages and pitfalls of the inner work. It shows how Queer Witchcraft is an inherent aspect of the archetype of the witch; how witchcraft relates to the land; witchcraft as resistance to oppression; working with ancestors; the witch's pact with spiritual powers; the relationship between madness, shamanism, and witchcraft; and the concept of the night journey, another very old image from the history of witchcraft; how to use insights gained from the practice of witchcraft in everyday life; group dynamics; being a coven leader; teaching and learning in a coven; egregore, lineage, upline, and downline; power and authority; the process of challenging oppression; how to evaluate your Craft; the meaning and purpose of 'spirituality', religion, and magic; the archetype of the witch and what it means.