The aims of this great miracle can be seen in various angles, the most important of which are:
Allah The Exalted wanted to provide His Messenger, , with an opportunity to witness the greatest manifestations of His Omnipotence in order to fill his heart with certainty and reliance on Him, and to boost his strength in challenging the dominion of disbelief on earth. The same happened to Moosa (Moses), may Allah exalt his mention, as Allah The Almighty wanted to show him the wonders of His Omnipotence. Having filled his heart with the scenes of these great signs, Allah The Exalted Said to him (what means): {That We may show you [some] of Our greater signs.} [Quran 20: 23]
During the journey of Israa’ and Mi‘raaj (the night journey from Makkah to Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the ascent to the heavens), Allah The Almighty showed His Prophet, , these great signs in preparation for Hijrah (emigration) and for the greatest challenge in history against disbelief, falsehood and wickedness. The Messenger of Allah, , saw many signs: visiting Al-Aqsa Mosque, the ascent to the heavens, seeing the unseen which the prophets and messengers called to, the angels, the heavens, Paradise, and Hell as well as examples of their bliss and torture.
The Quran talked about the incident of Israa’ in the chapter entitled Al-Israa’, and about Mi‘raaj in the chapter entitled An-Najm. In the chapter of Al-Israa’, the rationale behind this journey is mentioned in the verse in which Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {That We may show you [some] of Our greater signs.} [Quran 17:1]
It is also mentioned in the chapter An-Najm in the verse in which Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.} [Quran 53: 18]
The incident of Israa’ and Mi‘raaj involved knowledge, secrets, details, lessons and deterrents.
Shaykh Abul-Hasan An-Nadwi said,
The Israa’ was not just a simple isolated incident during which the Messenger of Allah saw the greatest signs, and where the dominion of the heavens and the earth was manifested before him in order to see it with his own eyes. Rather, this prophetic journey to the unseen included many profound implications as well as wise and far-reaching indications. The incident of Israa’ as well as the two relevant noble Quranic chapters, Al-’Israa’ and An-Najm, included and declared that Muhammad was the Prophet of the two Qiblahs [prayer directions], leader of the two Easts [places of sunrise during early summer and early winter] as well as the two Wests [places of sunset during early summer and early winter], inheritor of the previous prophets and leader of the generations to come.
In his person and his journey, Makkah and Jerusalem, the Sacred Mosque and Al-Aqsa Mosque were firmly connected. Furthermore, the Prophet led other prophets in prayer which reflected the universality of his message, the eternal nature of his leadership and the humanity of his teachings, and its being suitable for different times and places. The noble chapter identified the personality of the Prophet described his imamate and leadership, determined the position of the Ummah to which he was sent and which believed in him, and clarified his message as well as the role that it will play in the world and among other peoples and nations.