The Miraj forms part of the Night Journey that the prophet of Islam; Muhammad took during a single night around the year 621 CE. In the journey; Muhammad travels on the steed Buraq to 'the farthest mosque' where he leads other prophets in prayer. He then ascends to heaven where he speaks to God; who gives Muhammad instructions to take back to the faithful regarding the details of prayer.

Representations of the Prophet Muhammad are controversial; and generally forbidden in Sunni Islam (especially Hanafiyya; Wahabi; Salafiyya). Shia Islam and some other branches of Sunni Islam (Hanbali; Maliki; Shafi'i) are generally more tolerant of such representational images; but even so the Prophet's features are generally veiled or concealed by flames as a mark of deep respect. Pictures From History