Shab e Miraj 2023

When is Shab e Miraj 2023​

Shab e Meraj begins on the evening of 18-Feb-2023. Shab e Miraj is known as The Night Journey in the Islamic faith and among Muslims worldwide. Shab e Meraj observes every year in the month of Rajab and the Islamic date of Rajab 27. Shab e Meraj is also called Lailat al Miraj in the Arabic world.

Shab e Meraj 2023 date begins on the evening of 17 February 2023 in the Arab world and in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and some other parts of the world from the evening of 18-Feb-2023 and the day of 19 February 2023.

Isra and Mi’raj​

Within Islam, Isra and Mi’raj, celebrated on the 27th day of the 7th month of the Muslim calendar, refers to a miraculous nighttime journey undertaken by the Prophet Muhammad, in two legs. First from Mecca to Jerusalem, and then from Jerusalem to the heavens.

The Israʾ and Miʿraj (Arabic: الإسراء والمعراج‎, al-’Isrā’ wal-Miʿrāj) are the two parts of a Night Journey that, according to Islam, the Islamic prophet Muhammad (570–632) took during a single night around the year 621. Within Islam it signifies both a physical and spiritual journey.[1] A brief sketch of the story is in the Quran surah al-Isra, while greater detail is found in the hadith, later collections of the reports, teachings, deeds and sayings of Muhammad. In the Israʾ part of the journey, Muhammad is said to have travelled on the back of the winged steed Buraq to “[Al-Aqsa Mosque]” where he leads other prophets in prayer. In the next part of the journey, the Mi’raj, he ascends into heaven where he speaks to God, who gives Muhammad instructions to take back to the faithful regarding the details of prayer. The journey and ascent are marked as one of the most celebrated dates in the Islamic calendar.

The events of Isra and Miʿraj are mentioned briefly in the Quran and then further expanded and interpreted within the supplements to the Quran, the literary corpus known as hadith, which contain the reported sayings of Muhammad. Two of the best hadith sources are by Anas ibn Malik and Ibn ʿAbbas.[citation needed] Both were young boys at the time of Muhammad’s journey of Mi’raj.

What Do People Do?​

Customs around Isra and Mi’raj vary between different Islamic communities. Some people spend the evening or night listening to or studying the story of Isra and Mi’raj in a mosque or at home. They may also decorate their homes or communities with candles or small electric lights and share food, particularly sweets, with each other or prepare a communal meal. People in some communities make a special effort to include children in the celebrations and explain the story of Mohammad’s journey.

Public Life​

Isra and Mi’raj is not a public holiday in countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. However, there may be some local congestion in the evening on roads around major mosques.

Background​

The Prophet Mohammad (also written as Muhammad) lived in and around the area that is now Saudi Arabia in the years 570 CE to 632 CE in the Gregorian calendar. According to Islamic belief, God (Allah) took him on a two-part journey sometime around the year 620 CE. The first part of the journey, known as Isra, was from Mecca to the “furthest” mosque. There is some debate about the “furthest” mosque’s location. Some Muslims believe that it signifies a mosque that was far away from Mecca, while others believe that is was the Dome of the Rock (Masjid Qubbat As-Sakhrah) on the Temple Mount (Haram al-Sharif) in Jerusalem.

It is believed that Mohammad was shown heaven and hell in the second part of the journey, known as Mi’raj. He talked with many prophets, including Jesus and Moses, in heaven. He also received instructions on Islamic prayer. Mohammad returned to Mecca before the end of the night. Some Islamic scholars regard Mohammed’s journey as a spiritual experience while others see it as a physical journey. His journey is remembered and commemorated on Isra and Mi’raj.