27 Rajjab, the seventh month of Islamic calander ,is an important Muslim holiday called Isra wal Mi’raj, or Noctornal Journey and Ascension into Heaven. It is the night when the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W)was spiritually and physically transported from Mecca to Jerusalem and then to heaven where he reached a high stage of nearness to God Almighty.
The purpose of the Ascent was to confirm the high status of the Prophet of Islam. On the way, the Holy Prophet met Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets. It is said that the archangel Gabriel accompanied the Holy Prophet.
The Isra (Night Journey) begins with the Muhammad ( S.A.W) praying in the Kaaba in Mecca. The archangel Gabriel brings him the mythological steed Buraj, the traditional heavenly steed of the prophets. Buraq carries Muhammad ( S.A.W) to the Masjid Al Aqsa, the “farthest mosque,” which Muslims believe is the the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.
In the Mi’raj (Ascension into Heaven), the second part of the journey, Buraq takes him to the heavens, where he speaks with other prophets. He is them taken by the archangel to meet God. According to Islamic tradition, God instructs Muhammad (S.A.W). that Muslims must pray 50 times per day, but this has been reduced to five times per day.
Isra and Mi’raj is celebrated as taking place before the Hijra and after Muhammad’s visit to the people of Ta’lf. It is considered by some to have happened just over a year before the Hijra, on the 27th of Rajab, the seventh month in the Islamic calendar.
This date would correspond to the Julian date of February 26, 621, or, if from the previous year, March 8, 620. In Iran, for instance, Rajab 27 is the day of Muhammad’s first calling or Mab’as.
Isra and Mi’raj customs vary among several Islamic communities. Many Muslims celebrate Isra wal Mi’raj by offering prayers during the night, and in some Muslim communities, by illuminating their homes with electric lights and candles.
The celebrations on this day focus on children and the youth. Children are gathered into a mosque and are told the story of the Isra and Mi’raj. The story tells of how Muhammad’s ( S.A.W) heart was purified by an archangel who filled him with knowledge and faith in preparation to enter the seven levels of heaven.
After prayer or Salah, where children can pray with the adults, food and sweets are served. Mi’raj is seen as a symbol of the soul’s journey and the potential of humans to rise above the comforts of material life through prayer, piety, and discipline.
We greet our Muslim brothers and sisters in their celebration of Isra wal Mi’raj, a time for prayers, sharing and deep reflection.
—-Source: Islamicity