The Night Journey

“The Night Journey” is a poem by the Jamaican-British dub poet Ahmad Ikhlas. In its distinctive dub/reggae style, the poem recalls the miraculous journey of the Prophet ﷺ from Mecca to Jerusalem and his ascension through the heavens into the Divine presence. Several key points of the event are recounted, such as the Prophet ﷺ leading all of the other prophets in prayer, the washing of his heart, his receiving the gift of the daily prayers – decreased, thanks to Prophet Moses, from fifty to five – and his learning the medicinal practice of hijama (cupping).

Lyrics

Chorus:
Di Night Journey, Di Night Journey,
Di Ni-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-ight Journey!
Di Night Journey, Di Night Journey,
Di Ni-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-ight Journey!

1.
Di Night Journey dun by Muhammad, sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam,
Ascension to di Heavens,
’Pan top a’ di Buraq, di steed wid speed, di heavenly creature,
Wid di general a’ di angel dem Jibreel him teacher,
’Pan di Night Journey, …

2.
Di Night Journey, first stop Jerusalem Bayt al-Maqdis
Fi praise up Allah and offer Salah, di Muslim practice.
An’ ’pan dat night di Prophet lead di prayer
All a’ dem one hundred and twenty-four thousand anbiya
’Pan di Night Journey, …

3.
Di Night Journey, holy cardiosurgery,
Wid Jibreel an’ Mikail dem ’pan di medical team.
Dem take a Zamzam water,
Wash him blessed heart-a,
Blessing from di Lord-a,
Lord a’ di Aalameen.
’Pan di Night Journey, …

4.
Di Night Journey, what a big mercy
Wid di original daily prayer fifty, forty, thirty
Den down to twenty,
But Musa said it was plenty,
So down to ten and finally five.
Pray dat day and night
Because a’ di Night Journey, …

5.
Di Night Journey, all di angels said to Mahmood:
“We have ta inform ya ’bout di hijama,
It’s a ting dat should
Be done by your nation fi come.
It’s a heavenly remedy from di Almighty One.”

Di Night Journey and di Heavenly Ascension
Me have fi mention, woi!
Me have fi mention…

Audio Samples

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