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U.S. Muslims Mark Isra', Mi' raj With
Prayers, Chants
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The Imam
preaches to Muslims in Chicago
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Dina Rashed, IOL
Correspondent
CHICAGO, September 24 (IslamOnline.net) - Now
that up to more than 14 centuries have elapsed since Prophet
Muhammad's (PBUH) ascension to the heavens, known in Arabic as
Al-Isra' and Al-Mi'raj, the miraculous journey is still alive in the
hearts and minds of Muslims in the United States, particularly in
this American city in northern Illinois.
Listening to Arabic chants from Sufi poetry sung
by Muslims in praise of Allah and Prophet Muhammad, one would think
forthrightly this was taking place at a mosque in a Muslim
country.
But the diverse features of the worshipers who came to
celebrate the 27th of Rajab marking the anniversary of Al-Isra' and
Al-Mi'raj, only confirm that it was the Muslim community of
Chicago.
The Islamic Cultural Center of Greater Chicago
celebrated the night, which fell this year on Fall’s first day,
with worshippers sitting on the dark green wall-to-wall carpet,
following the Imam’s soft chant of Allah’s name in a mixture of
Zikr and supplication and followed by Salatu Tasbih.
It is not confirmed historically which night of
the month of Rajab the journey to the heavens had taken place; yet,
it has been a Muslim tradition to celebrate it on the 27th of the
month.
As the Islamic months follow the lunar calendar,
this year’s celebration fell on a weeknight barring a bigger number
of worshipers from attending.
Still many Arabs, Bosnians, South Asians and
African Americans came to listen to Imam Senad Agic’s praise of the
Prophet’s wisdom and compassion to humanity.
Under the big crystal chandelier that hang from
the ceiling lighting up the spacious prayer hall, several followers
of the Naqshabandi Tareeqa (Naqshabandi was a well-know
Muslim religious chanter) wore the distinct head cover of this
Sufi tradition with its dark green and white scarves tied against
each other.
Talking about Prophet Muhammad and his noble
virtues, the Imam touched on the significance of Prophet Muhammad's
leading of all other prophets in prayer before he ascended to the
divine presence.
"Each prophet that preceded Prophet Muhammad
knew of his coming and knew that his message will be the final to
all other messages, that’s why they accepted his leadership in
worship by praying behind him," Imam Agic told the
congregation.
In addition to reciting several parts from the
Qur' an, including the first part of Surat Al-Isra', the Imam led
the congregation in singing the famous Muslim song of Talaa’
Al-Badr, a historical piece of poetry that the Ansar (the helpers)
greeted Prophet Muhammad with when he migrated to Madinah.
Nationwide Celebrations
Many communities around the States have been
celebrating the occasion in their local mosques.
One community even took the celebration to a
higher level by organizing a two-day conference over the last
weekend.
The Islamic Study and Research Association
(ISRA) held its fifth annual conference in Rockville, west-central
Maryland, which was attended by several Imams and Muslim
scholars.
Titled "Journey to Allah," the conference
discussed many issues including Taqwa Al-Nafs (the piety of the
self), humility to Allah, psychological growth and its association
to Zakat. | 
