Moslems celebrate 'Isra' Mi'raj'

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)