Encyclopedia of Islam

Further reading: Janet A. Nagata, The Reflowering of 

Asian Islam: Modern Religious Radicals and Their Roots

(Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, 

1984); William Roff, The Origins of Malay Nationalism

(New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1967).

Buraq, al-

Al-Buraq (an Arabic name possibly meaning “light-

ning”) is the fabled animal ridden by the prophets 

that is most famous for having carried m

Uhammad

from  m

ecca

 to J

erUsalem

 and then up through 

the seven heavens during his n

ight

 J

oUrney

 

and

a

scent

. According to Islamic tradition, it was 

brought to him by g

abriel

 already saddled and 

bridled. In appearance, it was a winged white steed, 

smaller than a mule, with long ears. It reportedly 

flew through the air like the wind. Starting in the 

14th century, al-Buraq was depicted in manuscript 

illustrations with a woman’s head and a crown. This 

is the way it continues to be depicted, sometimes 

even with the tail of a peacock, in Egyptian pilgrim-

age murals, Islamic religious posters, and colorful 

painted trucks that ply the roads of a

Fghanistan

, 

p

akistan

, and i

ndia

. Al-Buraq is also the popular 

name Palestinians have given the Western Wall in 

J

erUsalem

, where it is believed Muhammad tethered 

the animal when he prayed at the a

qsa

  m

osqUe

.

There is even said to have been a small 

mosqUe

dedicated to al-Buraq in that spot. More recently, the 

name has been adopted by modern cargo airlines 

and internet companies because of the animal’s 

association with speedy movement through the air.

See also 

animals

; 

Folklore

; 

horse

.