The Ascension of the Prophet and the Stations of His Journey
The miracle of the miʿrāj—the prophet Muḥammad’s journey from al-Masjid al-Ḥarām in Mecca to al-Masjid al-Aqṣā in Jerusalem, and from there his ascension to the heavens—is one of the most important events in Islamic history. Every year, its anniversary is commemorated on the 27th night of the Islamic month of Rajab by believers across the world.
The articles and images in this volume reflect the close connection between the miʿrāj and the holy cities of Islam, a connection that has manifested itself in various ways in the art and culture of Muslim societies. Works of art are products of the religious, philosophical, social, political, and cultural lives of their societies, and the literary, musical, and visual arts of every culture have sought inspiration from religion and religious themes.
These three cities were naturally a favorite subject of Muslim writers and artists.