On the night of 27th Rajab, year 621, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) took a journey across the heavens that would come to be known as Isra and Miraj ('The Night Journey'). This was a physical journey (not a metaphorical), with important spiritual elements. Travelling on the back of white beast, horse-like, called Burak (which can mean 'lightning' or 'bright'), the Prophet (pbuh) visited first "the further mosque". "Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al- Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing." Quran, 17:1 Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) himself described this extraordinary experience in the following words: "Then Jibreel (Gabriel) brought a horse (Burak) to me, which resembled lightning in swiftness and lustre, was of clear white colour, medium in size, smaller than a mule and taller than a (donkey), quick in movement that it put its fee
