Shab-e-Miraj 2028: Date, History & Significance

Where it is observed, the night is spent in nafl prayer, Qur'an and salawat on the Prophet, and mosques hold gatherings recounting the journey. The Mi'raj is above all the origin of the salah — Muslims hold that the obligation of the five daily prayers was set on that night, after which the Prophet returned before the night was over. As with Shab-e-Barat, the reformist schools treat any special communal observance cautiously.

By the account, the angel Jibril brought the Prophet the mount Buraq, and he travelled from the Sacred Mosque in Mecca to the 'Farthest Mosque' (al-Masjid al-Aqsa) in Jerusalem, where he led the earlier prophets in prayer. From there he ascended through the seven heavens, meeting Adam, Jesus, Joseph, Moses, Abraham and others, reached the Lote Tree of the Farthest Boundary, and was in the presence of God. The prayers, first fifty, were reduced to five at Moses's urging.

Source: The scriptures and calendar of the tradition; community religious practice in India

The Isra and Mi'raj are referred to in the Qur'an (Surah al-Isra) and detailed in hadith; the assignment to 27 Rajab is traditional rather than definitively established. It is not a public holiday in India.

• Wikipedia

1. The night of 27 Rajab recalls the Isra and Mi'raj, the Prophet's night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and his ascent through the heavens.
2. Mosques are lit and hold talks recounting the journey, including the command of the five daily prayers given that night.
3. Families spend part of the night in extra prayer and recitation.

• Across India, especially the North and Kashmir. Night prayer and the retelling of the Isra and Mi'raj; mosque gatherings and salawat on the Prophet.
• Kashmir (Hazratbal). One of the days on which the Moi-e-Muqaddas relic is displayed to the gathered faithful.

• Sweets — Sweets are distributed after the night's gatherings in many places.

Shab-e-Miraj falls on Thursday, 14 December 2028. The Prophet's night journey and ascension (27 Rajab).

at sunrise

The night of 27 Rajab (by common tradition). The Islamic (Hijri) calendar is purely lunar with no intercalation, so its dates move about eleven days earlier through the Gregorian year on a 33-year cycle.

The date is set by the Hindu lunisolar calendar and shifts against the Gregorian year.