by - Seeme Gull Hasan

Today marks possibly the most important holiday of the Islamic year, Shab-E-Meraj. It is a day when Muslims engage in great prayer and reflection, not war, as some pundits have suggested.

It was upon this night, many years ago, that our Prophet Muhammad PBUH ascended to Heaven from Jerusalem, upon the back of a divine horse.

In essence, Prophet Muhammad PBUH accomplished what we all seek – the ability to ascend to Heaven, from here upon planet Earth. In this internet age, there is nothing more difficult than helplessly watching the killing and oppression of so many innocent lives, particularly the children. It often makes one want to ascend, much like Prophet Muhammad PBUH, in an effort to leave this planet and never come back.

However, we must remember that Prophet Muhammad PBUH, despite spending time in Heaven with God and all the other Prophets, including Jesus, Noah, and Moses, made the decision to come back to Earth, for the purpose of confronting the planet’s greatest fears.

In turn, we encourage all, Muslim and Non-Muslim, to also remain here upon planet Earth. Let us not ascend and never come back – let us stay here and continue in this battle for world peace for all people!

Heaven may be far from us, within a distance that is unreachable; but this in no way means that we cannot bring Heaven right here to our beautiful Earth. Let the injustice and oppression around this great world be not a representation of hell, but rather, an opportunity for us to confront these tragedies and make them right.

An effort of this magnitude, surely, will be the best way to commemorate this Shab-E-Meraj.

May Allah Bless You All!

Seeme Gull Hasan