How did the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, know the prayer when he led the prophets in prayer during the Isra (Night Journey)?

The Prophet’s prayer (peace and blessings be upon him) as an Imam for the Prophets on the night of Al-Isra’ (the Night Journey) is confirmed by authentic hadiths. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saw himself among a group of Prophets and led them in prayer. The correct view is that the gathering with them was in the heavens, then they all descended to Jerusalem (Bayt al-Maqdis) and he prayed with them there. There is no problem with how the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) knew about prayer; it was an obligation on Muslims from the beginning of Islam, and prayer was legislated from the beginning of prophethood, but the five daily prayers were not enjoined until after Al-Isra’. Many hadiths indicate that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed in Mecca before Al-Isra’, as did his Companions, and that Jibreel (peace be upon him) taught him ablution and prayer at the very beginning of his revelation. The disagreement is regarding the nature of this prayer: whether it was the linguistic meaning of prayer (supplication) or the well-known ritual prayer. The more correct view is that it was the well-known ritual prayer, because the term is understood according to its legal reality. Prayer was obligatory before Al-Isra’, and what was obligatory was performing some prayer during the night.