Many Muslims remember the Night Journey and Ascension (al-Isra wal-Mi’raj) on the 27th of Rajab. In 2027 this is expected around 5–6 January 2027, subject to moon sighting.
The journey
In one night, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was taken from Masjid al-Haram in Makkah to Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem, and from there raised through the heavens. Allah begins Surah al-Isra with this event (Qur’an 17:1).
The gift of prayer
On this journey the five daily prayers were given to the Prophet ﷺ and his ummah. Each prayer is a daily return to Allah, and a reminder of the journey’s meaning.
A time for reflection and giving
It came at a time of great hardship for the Prophet ﷺ, after the loss of his wife Khadijah and his uncle Abu Talib. It reminds us that ease follows difficulty. Many families we support are living through their own hardship. A gift today, however small, can be part of their ease.
Scholars differ on the exact date of al-Isra wal-Mi’raj; the 27th of Rajab is the date many communities observe. No special acts of worship are prescribed for this night in the Sunnah; it is a time to remember the journey and its lessons.