Names
This surah is called Surat Al-Isra?. [141] See: Tafsir Ibn ?Ashur, 15/5.
It is also called Surat Bani Isra?il. [142] See: Al-Fayruzabadi: Basa?ir Dhawi At-Tamyiz, 1/288; Tafsir Ibn ?Ashur, 15/5.

The evidence for that includes the following:
It was narrated that ?A?ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did not go to sleep on his bed until he recited Bani Isra?il and Az-Zumar every night. [143] Narrated by At-Tirmidhi, 2920; Ahmad, 24388.
It was narrated from ?Abdullah ibn Mas?ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: Bani Isra?il, Al-Kahf, Maryam, Ta-Ha and Al-Anbiya? are among the earliest surahs [144] What is meant is the surahs that were first revealed in Makkah, and they were among the first passages of the Qur?an that he learned. See: Ibn Al-Athir: An-Nihayah, 3/179; Ibn Hajar: Fat-h Al-Bari, 8/388. and are among the first surahs that I learned [145] What is meant is that they are among the first that he memorized. See: Ibn Al-Athir: An-Nihayah, 1/194; Ibn Hajar: Fat-h Al-Bari, 8/388. . [146] Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 4739.
Virtues and characteristics
The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to recite it every night.
The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) would not go to sleep on his bed until he recited Bani Isra?il and Az-Zumar every night, as narrated in the hadith of ?A?ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) quoted above.
It is one of the earliest surahs and was one of the first to be memorized by the Companions, as mentioned in the report of ?Abdullah ibn Mas?ud (may Allah be pleased with him) quoted above.
It is one of the first surahs in the order of the Mus-haf that begins with mention of glorifying Allah (tasbih), and is the only one that begins with the word Subhana (Glory be to Him).
Makki or Madani?
Surat Al-Isra? is Makki, and it was narrated that there was consensus regarding that. [147] Those who narrated that there was consensus regarding that include Bashir ibn Hamid Az-Zaynabi Abu?l-Nu?man, author of Al-Ghunyan ? Abu Hayyan attributed it to him ?, Majd Ad-Din Al-Fayruzabadi and Al-Biqa?i. See: Tafsir Abi Hayyan, 7/7; Al-Fayruzabadi: Basa?ir Dhawi At-Tamyiz, 1/288; Al-Biqa?i: Masa?id An-Nazr, 2/228.
Objectives
The most important objectives of this surah include:
Reinforcing the fundamentals of Islamic creed and eliminating anything that may distort them. [148] See: Al-Biqa?i: Nazm Ad-Durar, 11/286; At-Tantawi: At-Tafsir Al-Wasit, 8/279.
Speaking of the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and the attitude of the polytheists towards him. [149] See: At-Tantawi: At-Tafsir Al-Wasit, 8/274.
Highlighting some Islamic obligations that include guidelines on individual and communal behaviour. [150] Op. cit., 8/279.
Topics?????
The most significant topics addressed in Surat Al-Isra? include:
The Isra? (Prophet?s Night Journey) and the wisdom behind it, and mention of the Mi?raj (Ascent to heaven).
The Book that Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, gave to Musa (peace be upon him) to be a guide for his people, and the foretelling that the Children of Israel would spread mischief in the land twice.
Highlighting the virtue of the Qur?an and that it guides to that which is best, and gives the believers glad tidings of great reward.
Affirming proof that Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, alone is divine and deserving of worship, and citing night and day and what they contain of blessings as evidence for Allah?s oneness; each person has with him his record in which his good deeds and bad deeds are recorded.
Affirming the principle that each person is individually responsible for choosing guidance or misguidance; and that people are communally responsible for watching and checking behaviour and conduct.
Highlighting the way in which Allah dealt with earlier nations who were destroyed, and that the consequence of living a decadently affluent life and doing evil is destruction.
Happiness in the hereafter is connected to wanting it, striving for it and being a believer.
The command to worship Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, alone; the basic requirements for a community to survive include honouring parents and relatives, and moderation in spending; the prohibition on killing children, killing oneself and committing zina; the prohibition on touching the orphan?s property, before he comes of age, except to improve it; the command to fulfil promises and to give full measure; the prohibition on pursuing that of which you have no knowledge.
The prohibition on associating other gods with Allah; evidence for the falseness of their claim that there are other gods besides Allah; condemning the Jahili custom of hating to have daughters.
Highlighting the fact that Allah has explained the truth in this Qur?an in various ways, so that they may pay heed, but for the disbelievers it will only increase them in aversion.
Everything in existence glorifies Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted,.
One of the views of the polytheists having to do with the resurrection, and refutation thereof; the command to the believers to say that which is best.
The story of creation; honouring Adam by commanding the angels to prostrate to him; the attitude of Iblis regarding that and his announcing his stance towards the offspring of Adam; statement that the Shaytan has no control over the believing slaves of Allah.
Types of blessings that Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, bestows on land and sea; He relieves those who beseech Him of harm and distress, and when He relieves them of harm, they turn away!
Allah?s honouring the children of Adam, and some of the events of the Day of Resurrection
Allah?s reassuring His Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and commanding him to persist in prayer and reciting Qur?an; to ask Allah to grant him a goodly entrance and a goodly exit; and to proclaim that the truth has come and falsehood has perished.
Praise for the Qur?an and highlighting its miraculous nature; mention of the stubborn demands that the polytheists made of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), and his responding by saying that that was beyond the role of the Messenger and the nature of the message.
Telling part of the story of Musa (peace be upon him) with Pharaoh.
The Qur?an was sent down with the truth and with the truth it descended; and Allah made it clear and perfect so that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) could recite it to the people slowly and with deliberation; Allah sent it down piecemeal; the People of the Book and the scholars who have prior knowledge of Revelation and prophethood, when the Qur?an is recited to them, fall down in prostration in fear of Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted,.
The surah ends with the command to praise Allah, Who has never begotten a son and has no partner in His dominion, nor is anyone needed to protect Him due to any weakness; and with the command to magnify Him (takbir).