In the unique event known as the Night Journey, which is commemorated as Laylatul Isra wal-Mi’raj on the 27th night of the blessed month of Rajab, the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was carried upon the back of a winged spiritual steed possessing a human face known as Buraq in a profound mystical journey first to Jerusalem and then into the heavens and the Divine Presence of God.
There is a deep divine wisdom in the fact that Buraq possessed a human face, and points to the ultimate goal of al-Islam, which is the awakening of true human potential as honored and noble servants of God through selflessness, surrender and humility.
Why Did the Buraq Have a Human Face?
The great goal of al-Islam is to elevate a human being from lower level consciousness and into the awakening of human potential as a transcendent soul connected to the Divine Presence of God.
It is by transcending the lower level consciousness states of the mind and body, and thereby awakening the consciousness of the heart, that a human being truly begins to realize his or her potential as a deputy of the Divine.
This is attained through the spiritual path of the prophets and messengers of God, in particular by following the path of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in progressively cultivating the capacity for presence and peace through selflessness, surrender and humility.
It is this transcendent state of actual consciousness (Level 3 State Consciousness) that truly makes us human and separates the children of Adam (as) from other creatures, animals that are primarily dominated by the drives of the gut (Level 1 State Consciousness) and the mind (Level 2 State Consciousness).
While lower level consciousness creatures primarily look towards the earth, dunya, for sustenance, survival and the satiation of desires, the the human being is singularly capable of looking upwards towards the heavens in contemplation and awe of the Creator.
The Buraq represents the perfected human being, the self surrendered and awake in the Divine Presence of God, and so rather than possessing the face of an animal, it possessed the honored and noble face of a human being.
Through following in the footsteps of the blessed and noble Messenger ﷺ, the believer is able through sincerity and humility to overcome the drives of the mind and the body, and become subsistent upon the Light of the Divine Presence.
The Buraq had a human face because it represented the perfected self of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as a fully realized spiritual being subsistent upon the Eternal Light of God rather than the temporary and vain pleasures of the world.
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The capacity for stillness and surrender is developed with practice, and its rewards include health of the body, mind and spirit, and greater success in life, family and marriage.
Assalamulaikum, I have gone through several books and YouTube videos of great spiritual masters, such as Eckhart Tolle and Peter Russell. Especially the book “A New Earth” of Eckhart Tolle has had a profound impact in my belief system. Then I came to watch brother Ihsan on YouTube. I thought it was that wonderful moment I have been waiting for for many years. If Allah wishes, the combination of Islam and spirituality will cure the hearts of billions of people in this hectic time.
I am on the 2nd week now, and I feel that it has been too much of a divine gift for the small money I paid to subscribe to the program. I pray the best for all who have made this effort a reality, and all those who are benefitted. I sincerely pray and hope that this type of spiritual practice will become a common phenomenon in coming days. Ameen.
— Osman (Norway)
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The Buraq is never explicitly stated in the Holy Qur’an. However, the creature is stated several times in narratives of the hadiths.
According to an account in Sahih Muslim, narrated by Anas ibn Malik, the Buraq is described to be white in colour, bigger than a donkey and smaller than a mule. It is also described as having a stride that was as long as the eye could reach.
However, a portrayal of the Buraq in Indian and Persian Islamic art is depicted to have a beautiful, female, humanoid face with the body of a white horse, colourful wings attached to its shoulders and a tail of a peacock.
This is most probably due to the fact that the physical description of the creature might originate from a misinterpretation of translation from Arabic to Persian texts. The phrase that was used was: “beautiful-faced creature”. It is no surprise that this phrase had spun the imaginations of artists. Thus, resulting in what you see in 16th century paintings of a human-faced, horse-bodied Buraq.
Nevertheless, in the end, the Buraq is never chronicled to be either winged or having a humanoid face in the hadiths.
Muslims generally make a big mistake when they turn Prophet’s (PBUH) journey into a physical one. Even the learned Muslim Sheikhs/Imams have not cottoned onto the idea that this was a deep spiritual journey. Haz. Aisha’s Hadith states his body never left his bed. In any case if you turn into a physical journey then it breaks all the laws of existence and the Glorious Quran categorically states, Allah swt does not break His laws. The lesson for Muslims is we too can get close to Allah swt through Zikar/Meditation, deep contemplation etc. as the Prophet himself has left these clues. Allah swt is omnipresent but it is the inner journey that connects our heart to Him. Allah is not a physical deity sitting up there in the skies, most of the universe (99.99999%) is empty space anyway. However, space is not empty it is filled with infinite intelligence that is alive and registers every thought/intention and adjusts according to ourselves. This is why Allah swt says change will not happen unless we change ourselves. Buraq is only a metaphor, not mentioned in the Quran. Perhaps Arabs of the time did not understand spirituality like they did in the east, hence a metaphor to explain the journey. There are many other metaphors/similes in the Quran for explanation, e.g. “whichever way you look, there is Allah’s face…” etc. This denotes omnipresent. We really need to understand the essence of the Quran and apply it in our lives to take advantage of its wisdom. Not only the world lost its sciences but it has lost spirituality too by not understanding the rituals – sort of an accounting mechanism in place without connecting with REALITY. Research and findings in the quantum physics, particularly in the past 30 or so years is awakening even the scientists on the reality of existence that emanates from “nothingness”.
Assalaamu Alaikum,
I was pretty certain i had never read anything about Buraq having had a human head or face in Hadith, and your account confirms my recall. I appreciate your indepth comment very much. Jazak Allahu khair.
In Qur’an (17:1) the word ‘abid is used. It roughly translates to most obedient servant of Allah (swt). It is the most prestigious title one can have. And, according to some scholars, one can only be ‘abid (obedient) in body and spirit. Furthermore, it is understood that Allah’s (swt) use of the title ‘abid in this particular verse proves that Rasulullah’s (saw) night journey was made in both body and spirit.
First we have to learn that out of what material human was created ? man’s body was created out of dust/ash meaning (NOTHING) … so when we say Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) traveled with his body … it means he was out of worldly form … in other words it was purely spiritual journey … The Buraq is not an animal … it is a state when man is in his most perfect form i.e. in between to extremes.
somehow i have gone through with such experience in early age. I visited a city (Karachi) with micro details … i am not sure how though I never visited there … I shared it with my aunt who was visiting us from Karachi … she said; what you are talking is so true … you are talking about our own home in Karachi but you have never visited there nor i have ever shared it with you. Then i said no, i visited there … I am dead sure …. Walla Aalam