What is Sidrathul Munthaha?

 

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاتة

 بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِٱلرَّحِيمِ

Answer:

Sidrat al-Muntaha (سِدْرَةُ الْمُنْتَهَىٰ) literally means, "Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary" or the "Lote Tree beyond which none may pass". The miraculous celestial night journey (Isra and Mi'raj), of Prophet Mohammad (SAW) with Jibril (AS) ended at this Lote Tree.

Abdallah Ibn Mas'ud [RA] said: When God's messenger (SAW) was taken up to heaven, he was brought to the lote-tree of the boundary which is in the sixth heaven, to which what is taken up from the earth reaches and of which something is grasped, and to which what is sent down from above reaches and of which something is grasped. He said that "Behold, there overshadows the lote-tree what overshadows'' means a covering of gold. He said God's messenger (SAW) was then given three things: He was given the five times of prayer, he was given the last verses of Surah-al-Baqara, and forgiveness of serious sins was granted to those of his people who did not associate anything with Allah" [Mishkat al-Masabih 5865]. Imam Ahmad recorded that this.

This Lote tree is a sacred tree - majestic, magnificent tree beautiful, ever changing symbolic tree whose roots are in sixth heaven and with its highest point in seventh heaven. with magnificent fruits and leaves as big as elephants ear. It is adorned with divine light and spectacular, indescribable colors.

Asma' (RA) daughter of Abu Bakr (RA) told that she heard God's messenger say when the lote-tree of the boundary was mentioned to him, "A rider can travel in the shade of a branch of it for a hundred years," or "a hundred riders can take shelter in its shade (the transmitter being in doubt); in it there are golden butterflies and its fruit looks like earthenware jars." [Mishkat al-Masabih 5640]

Anas b. Malik reported that the Prophet of Allah (ﷺ) said: He saw four rivers which flowed from (the root of the lote-tree): two manifest rivers and two hidden rivers. I asked: Jibril (AS),"What are these rivers? He replied: The two hidden rivers are the rivers of Paradise, and as regards the two manifest ones, they are the Nile and the Euphrates. [Sahih Muslim 164 a].

In this place Prophet Muhammad (SAW) saw  Jibril  (AS) in his true form and said, "I saw Jibril (AS) while he had six hundred wings and a colorful array of pearls and rubies falling from the feathers of his wings."

Allahuthala referred this place and situations shown to the Prophet (SAW) as: "He certainly saw some of the greatest signs of his Lord. [53:18].

A lesson learnt from this lote tree:

In earth lote tree is a small thorny tree growing in a harsh environment with small leaves and fruits. The same tree in heaven become huge, magnificent, attractive with uncomparable beauty standing as a great sign of Allah. This is true with human beings also.

The simple, humble beleivers - because of their faith, thawakul, worship, repentance, asking forgiveness and  increasing their good deeds -  were  raised to heaven as great persons. Allah is capable of doing everything.

الحمدلله