Isra and Mi'raj in United States
Quick Facts
Isra and Mi'raj (Isra Me'raj, Israa and Mi'raaj, Laylat Al-Isra wa Al-Miraj, Lailat al Miraj, Night Journey and Ascension to Heaven) marks the night that the Prophet Mohammad travelled from Mecca to Jerusalem, ascended to heaven and returned. In 2008 Isra and Mi'raj falls on July 30.Name
Isra and Mi'rajIsra and Mi'raj 2008
Thursday, July 31, 2008Isra and Mi'raj 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009Note: Regional customs or moon sightings may cause a variation of the date for Islamic holidays, which begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday. The Islamic calendar is lunar and the days begin at sunset, so there may be one-day error depending on when the New Moon is first seen.
See list of observations below
The Prophet Mohammad travelled from Mecca to Jerusalem, pictured above. ©iStockphoto.com/Irena Kofman
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. In some communities people make a special effort to include children in the celebrations and to explain the story of Mohammad's journey.
Public life
Isra and Mi'raj is not a public holiday in countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States so public life is not affected. There may be some local congestion in the evening on roads around major mosques.
Background
Mohammad lived in and around the area that is now Saudi Arabia in the years 570 to 632 in the Gregorian calendar. Muslims believe that sometime around the year 620 he was taken on a two-part journey by God. The first part known as Isra was from Mecca to the "furthest" mosque. There has been considerable debate about where the "furthest" mosque was. 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.
In the second part of the journey, known as Mi'raj, Mohammad was shown heaven and hell. In heaven, he communicated with a number of prophets including Jesus and Moses. He also received instructions on how Muslims should pray. Before the end of the night Mohammad returned to Mecca. 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.
Isra and Mi'raj Observances
Note: Regional customs or moon sightings may cause a variation of the date for Islamic holidays, which begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday. The Islamic calendar is lunar and the days begin at sunset, so there may be one-day error depending on when the New Moon is first seen.| Weekday | Date | Year | Name | Holiday type | Where it is observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed | Jun 11 | 1980 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Sun | May 31 | 1981 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Fri | May 21 | 1982 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Tue | May 10 | 1983 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Sat | Apr 28 | 1984 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Thu | Apr 18 | 1985 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Mon | Apr 7 | 1986 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Sat | Mar 28 | 1987 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Wed | Mar 16 | 1988 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Sun | Mar 5 | 1989 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Fri | Feb 23 | 1990 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Tue | Feb 12 | 1991 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Sat | Feb 1 | 1992 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Thu | Jan 21 | 1993 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Mon | Jan 10 | 1994 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Fri | Dec 30 | 1994 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Wed | Dec 20 | 1995 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Sun | Dec 8 | 1996 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Fri | Nov 28 | 1997 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Tue | Nov 17 | 1998 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Sat | Nov 6 | 1999 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Thu | Oct 26 | 2000 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Mon | Oct 15 | 2001 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Fri | Oct 4 | 2002 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Wed | Sep 24 | 2003 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Sun | Sep 12 | 2004 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Thu | Sep 1 | 2005 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Tue | Aug 22 | 2006 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Sat | Aug 11 | 2007 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Thu | Jul 31 | 2008 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Mon | Jul 20 | 2009 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Fri | Jul 9 | 2010 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Wed | Jun 29 | 2011 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Sun | Jun 17 | 2012 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Thu | Jun 6 | 2013 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Tue | May 27 | 2014 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim | |
| Sat | May 16 | 2015 | Isra and Mi'raj | Muslim |
Other holidays in July 2008 in United States
- Independence Day (Friday, July 4, 2008)
- International Day of Cooperatives (Saturday, July 5, 2008)
- World Population Day (Friday, July 11, 2008)
- Pioneer Day (Thursday, July 24, 2008)
- Parents' Day (Sunday, July 27, 2008)
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