Isra and Mi'raj 2026

When Is Isra and Mi'raj in 2026?

In 2026, Isra and Mi'raj falls on January 17. The observance lasts 1 day (begins at sundown the prior evening). Because Isra and Mi'raj follows a 27 Rajab, Hijri lunar calendar, the exact Gregorian date shifts each year. The Hijri date 27 Rajab shifts ~11 days earlier each Gregorian year, so the observance sometimes falls in the previous calendar year (as in 2028, 2029, 2030 above). Because it begins at sundown, the observance spans two Gregorian days. Saudi Umm al-Qura and local moon sightings may differ by a day. Since Isra and Mi'raj's date changes from year to year, here are the dates for the next five years so you can plan ahead: Year Date 2026 January 17 2027 January 6 2028 December 26, 2027 2029 December 14, 2028 2030 December 4, 2029

What Time Does Isra and Mi'raj Start in Your Time Zone?

Isra and Mi'raj falls on the 27th night of the Islamic month of Rajab. In 2026, Isra and Mi'raj falls on the night of January 16-17 (Saudi Umm al-Qura calendar). Communities that follow local moon sightings may observe it a day later. As with all Islamic days, the night begins at sunset, so the observance begins on the evening of January 16 and continues through the night. Because the Islamic calendar drifts backward through the Gregorian calendar by about 11 days each year, Isra and Mi'raj falls in different seasons in different years. In 2026, it falls in mid-January (winter in the Northern Hemisphere). Communities in different time zones observe the festival on the same Gregorian date (or the day after, for moon-sighting communities). The table below shows the observance date for Isra and Mi'raj in major time zones around the world: Location Observance Date Time Zone New York, USA January 17 EST/EDT (UTC-5/-4) London, UK January 17 GMT/BST (UTC+0/+1) New Delhi, India January 17 IST (UTC+5:30) Sydney, Australia January 17 AEST/AEDT (UTC+10/+11) Dubai, UAE January 17 GST (UTC+4)

The Story Behind Isra and Mi'raj

Isra and Mi'raj — also called Lailat al-Mi'raj or simply Mi'raj — is the Islamic observance of the Prophet Muhammad's miraculous night journey (Isra) from Mecca to Jerusalem and his ascension (Mi'raj) through the seven heavens. According to Islamic tradition, the journey occurred on the 27th night of the Islamic month of Rajab, roughly a year before the Hijra (the migration from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE). The event is described in the Qur'an (Surah 17, Al-Isra) and elaborated in the hadith (the sayings and traditions of the Prophet). According to tradition, the Prophet was sleeping near the Kaaba in Mecca when the angel Gabriel (Jibril) came to him with a winged steed called Buraq ("lightning"). The Prophet mounted Buraq, who carried him to Jerusalem — to the site known as the "farthest mosque" (al-masjid al-aqsa), identified with the Temple Mount. There, the Prophet led the earlier prophets (Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and others) in prayer, signifying his role as the final prophet. From Jerusalem, the Prophet ascended through the seven heavens, meeting earlier prophets at each level: Adam in the first heaven, John the Baptist and Jesus in the second, Joseph in the third, Enoch in the fourth, Aaron in the fifth, Moses in the sixth, and Abraham in the seventh. Beyond the seventh heaven, the Prophet entered the presence of God, who initially commanded that Muslims should pray 50 times a day. On Moses's advice, the Prophet returned to God several times to ask for a reduction, until the number was reduced to five daily prayers — the salah that remains one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The event is thus theologically significant as the moment when the daily prayer was instituted.

How Isra and Mi'raj Is Celebrated

Isra and Mi'raj is observed with prayers, recitation of the Qur'an, and devotional gatherings. Mosques hold special services on the night of the 27th of Rajab, with recitations of the story of the night journey and ascension. Some Muslims fast during the day, following the tradition that fasting on this day brings special blessings. The night is considered particularly auspicious for prayer, and many Muslims spend the night in worship. In some Muslim-majority countries, Isra and Mi'raj is a public holiday. The day is marked by lectures at mosques and Islamic centers on the significance of the night journey, the importance of the five daily prayers, and the lessons to be learned from the Prophet's encounters with the earlier prophets. Some communities organize processions or reenactments of the night journey, with children participating in dramatic presentations. The Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, the destination of the Prophet's night journey, is the focal point of the festival — though the site's location in Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem means that access for Palestinian and international pilgrims is often restricted. Cultural traditions vary. In Turkey, the festival is called Miraç Kandili (the lamp of Miraj) and is one of the five kandil (lamp) nights observed by Turkish Muslims. Mosques are illuminated, and special prayers are held. In Egypt and other Arab countries, the night is marked by the recitation of devotional poetry in praise of the Prophet. In South Asia, the festival is called Shab-e-Meraj and is observed with prayers at mosques, lectures on the Prophet's life, and the distribution of sweet rice (zarda) as prasad. In Indonesia and Malaysia, where the festival is a public holiday, mosques hold all-night prayers and community meals. Why Does Isra and Mi'raj Move Every Year? Isra and Mi'raj is fixed on the 27th night of Rajab in the Islamic lunar calendar. The Islamic calendar is strictly lunar, with months of 29 or 30 days based on the sighting of the new moon. Because the lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year, Isra and Mi'raj drifts backward through the Gregorian calendar by about 11 days each year. The festival is celebrated on the same night across the Muslim world, though some communities prefer the 27th while others observe on nearby nights (the 26th or 28th).

Calendar Calculation

27 Rajab, Hijri lunar calendar

Did You Know? Isra and Mi'raj Facts & Trivia

Isra and Mi'raj commemorates the Prophet Muhammad's miraculous night journey (Isra) from Mecca to Jerusalem and his ascension (Mi'raj) through the seven heavens. According to tradition, the journey occurred on the 27th night of the Islamic month of Rajab, roughly a year before the Hijra. According to tradition, the Prophet was sleeping near the Kaaba in Mecca when the angel Gabriel (Jibril) came to him with a winged steed called Buraq ("lightning"). The Prophet mounted Buraq, who carried him to Jerusalem — to the site known as the "farthest mosque" (al-masjid al-aqsa), identified with the Temple Mount. From Jerusalem, the Prophet ascended through the seven heavens, meeting earlier prophets at each level: Adam in the first, John the Baptist and Jesus in the second, Joseph in the third, Enoch in the fourth, Aaron in the fifth, Moses in the sixth, and Abraham in the seventh. Beyond the seventh heaven, the Prophet entered the presence of God. Theologically, Isra and Mi'raj is significant as the moment when the five daily prayers (salah) were instituted. According to tradition, God initially commanded 50 daily prayers, but on Moses's advice, the Prophet returned to ask for a reduction, until the number was reduced to five — the salah that remains one of the Five Pillars of Islam.