The Divine Presence - Sh Yahya Rhodus

“Glory be to the One Who took His servant by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We may show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He alone is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” [Quran 17:1] Of the most significant events that occurred in the life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was the Isra’ wa’l Mi‘raj (the Night Journey and Heavenly Ascension). On this night, the Prophet’s heart ﷺ was washed and he traveled to Jerusalem where he led all the Prophets and Messengers in prayer. He then ascended the seven heavens, arrived at the Furthest Lote Tree, and was entered into the Divine Presence where Allah the Exalted honored him and granted his Umma the five daily prayers. The Main Program consists of Quranic recitation, several brief lessons detailing the major events of the Isra’ & Mi‘raj, and singing of chapter 7 from the Burda of Imam al-Busiri. The following is an outline of the lessons covered in this year’s commemoration: (1) Opening verses of Sura al-Isra’ (17:1-20) - Sidi Mouaz Nass (7 mins) (2) “I seek refuge in the Light of Your Countenance” - Sh. Qasim Hatem (10 mins) (3) Washing the Prophet’s Heart ﷺ - Ust. Omar Popal (15 mins) (4) Traveling to Jerusalem - Sh. Amin Buxton (10 mins) (5) Witnessing Unseen Realities - Ust. Yusuf Weltch (10 mins) (6) The Imam of the Messengers - Ust. Hasan Petrus (7) Chapter 7 of the Burda - On the Prophet's Night Journey and Ascension ﷺ - Sidi Mouaz Nass (10 mins) (8) Ascending the Seven Heavens - Sh. Abdul Karim Yahya (15 mins) (9) The Furthest Lote Tree - Imam Amin Muhammad (10 mins) (10) The Divine Presence - Sh. Yahya Rhodus (20 mins) (11) The Return - Ust. Amjad Tarsin (10 mins)