al-Burāq First Appears in Hadith


Unlike the Night Journey itself, which is mentioned in the Qur'an, al-Burāq first appears in the hadith literature. The earliest surviving descriptions are found in the canonical collections of Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (810–870 CE) and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (c. 815–875 CE), both compiled more than two centuries after the Prophet Muhammad's death.

 

In one well-known narration recorded by Muslim, the Prophet describes al-Burāq as "a white beast," larger than a donkey but smaller than a mule. It was said to move with extraordinary speed, placing each step as far as the eye could see. Al-Bukhārī preserves a similar description, portraying al-Burāq simply as a white animal between the size of a donkey and a mule.

 

What is striking about these early hadith is not only what they say, but also what they leave out. They do not describe al-Burāq as a winged horse, nor do they mention a human face, a crown, or any of the elaborate features that became common in later paintings. The earliest descriptions are surprisingly restrained. Al-Burāq is presented primarily as a miraculous mount distinguished by its speed rather than by an extraordinary physical appearance.

 

As the tradition developed, additional details began to appear. Some narrations mention that al-Burāq was saddled and bridled, while others recount the well-known episode in which the animal hesitated until the angel Jibrīl reminded it that no one more honoured by God than Muhammad had ever ridden it. These reports gradually enriched the story, although they still stop well short of the elaborate imagery that later became popular in Islamic art.

 

Classical scholars, including al-Nawawī (1233–1277) and Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī (1372–1449), accepted these hadith as authentic accounts of the Night Journey and incorporated them into their commentaries. Even so, they understood that their discussions were based on the hadith tradition rather than on the Qur'an itself. This distinction is important. 


For Muslims who accept the authority of hadith, belief in al-Burāq forms part of the broader Islamic tradition. At the same time, it remains historically accurate to say that the Qur'an never mentions al-Burāq by name or describes the means by which the Prophet's Night Journey took place.

Location: Jerusalem, Israel

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