Moslems celebrate 'Isra' Mi'raj'

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto (second from left), jovially chats to Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher (left) during the celebration of Isra' Mi'raj (Prophet Muhammad's Ascension Day), at Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta. Listening to the conversation are Vice President Try Sutrisno (second from right) and Jakarta Governor Soerjadi Sudirdja (far right). The celebration, on Thursday evening, was also attended by thousands of Moslems and members of diplomatic corps.

The Prophet's ascension (not his birthday as mistakenly mentioned in the holiday notice printed on this page on Thursday) is his night journey (isra') in which he was borne through the sky by buraq (a creature of celestial origin) -- with Gabriel alongside -- from Mecca to Jerusalem, where he ascended to the Divine Presence through the seven heavens (mi'raj).

It was during Isra' Mi'raj that Muhammad received the order from God that his followers must pray five times a day in gratitude for His bounty. (tis)