Miraj Night is a religious observance held annually to commemorate the blessed night when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) ascended from the Masjid al-Haram to the Masjid al-Aqsa and from there to the seven heavens to meet with Allah the Almighty. During this journey, which is considered one of the greatest miracles in Islamic history, prayer was made obligatory for the Ummah of Muhammad, and the good news of intercession was given. This guide discusses the significance of the Night of Miraj, its religious evidence, the acts of worship to be performed, and the prayers to be recited.
What Is Miraç Kandili?
"Mi'raj" means "to ascend" and "staircase" in Arabic. In religious literature, however, this word refers to the entire event known as the Isra’ and Mi’raj: the Isra’ describes the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) journey from the Masjid al-Haram to the Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem, while the Mi’raj describes his subsequent ascent to the heavenly realms from there. This divine journey, which took place on the night of the 26th to the 27th of Rajab—approximately one year before the Hijrah—is a unique miracle experienced by the Prophet (peace be upon him) both in spirit and in body, transcending the boundaries of time and space.
According to the vast majority of Islamic scholars, the Mi'raj took place while the Prophet was awake, not asleep. This view is based both on the phrase “He took His servant” in the Qur’an and on numerous authentic hadiths.
Evidence for the Mi'raj in the Quran and Hadith
The most fundamental Qur’anic basis for the Mi’raj event is the first verse of Surah Al-Isra’:
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَى بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلًا مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَقْصَا الَّذِي بَارَكْنَا حَوْلَهُ لِنُرِيَهُ مِنْ آيَاتِنَا إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُRecitation: “Glory be to Him who took His servant by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque—whose surroundings We have blessed—so that We might show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.”
Translation: “Glory be to Allah, who took His servant by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque—whose surroundings We have blessed—so that We might show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.” (Al-Isra’, 17:1)
The event of the Mi'raj is recounted in detail in many reliable hadith collections, most notably *Sahih al-Bukhari* and *Sahih Muslim*. After evaluating these narrations, Islamic scholars have concluded that the Mi'raj took place while the Prophet was awake and in his physical body. Detailed hadith accounts can be found in the section on prayer in *Sahih al-Bukhari*.
How Did the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) Undertake the Mi'raj Journey?
The Mi'raj consists of a series of successive stages. Islamic sources describe the course of this journey as follows:
Preparation: Washing the Chest with Zamzam Water
Before the journey, Gabriel (peace be upon him) opened the chest of our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), washed his heart with Zamzam water, and then filled it with wisdom, knowledge, and faith. This event symbolizes that prophets undergo a spiritual purification before every major divine mission.
Al-Isra: The Journey to Jerusalem on Buraq
Our Prophet (peace be upon him), setting out on a radiant and swift mount named Burak, reached the Al-Aqsa Mosque. There, he led the prayer as the imam for all the prophets who had lived before him. This is a symbolic expression of the fact that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the last and most honorable of all prophets.
The Heavens: Encounters with the Prophets
Our Prophet (peace be upon him), who ascended to the seven heavens via a mi’raj that began at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, met a prophet on each level. On the first heaven, he met Prophet Adam (peace be upon him); on the second, Prophet John (peace be upon him) and Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him); on the third, Prophet Joseph (peace be upon him); on the fourth, Prophet Idris (peace be upon him); on the fifth, Prophet Aaron (peace be upon him), on the sixth level Prophet Moses (peace be upon him), and on the seventh level Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him). Each prophet welcomed our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and affirmed his prophethood.
Sidrat al-Muntaha and the Divine Presence
Our Prophet (peace be upon him), having reached Sidrat al-Muntaha—the ultimate limit of all creation’s knowledge—was then raised from there to the Throne aboard a green, luminous vehicle called the Refref. During this encounter with Allah the Almighty, which took place without any intermediary, our Prophet (peace be upon him) addressed his Lord with the following words:
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُPronunciation: “Et-tahiyyâtü lillâhi ve’s-salavâtü ve’t-tayyibât.”
Translation: “All prayers, acts of worship, and righteous deeds belong to Allah.”
The Greatest Gift of Miraç Kandil: The Five Daily Prayers
The greatest gift bestowed upon the Ummah of Muhammad on the Night of Mi’raj is the five daily prayers. Originally made obligatory as fifty prayers in the Divine Presence, they were reduced to five following several requests by our Prophet (peace be upon him) upon the advice of Prophet Moses (peace be upon him). Allah the Almighty announced this reduction as follows:
“I have lightened the burden I have made obligatory for My servants; I will reward their acts of worship and good deeds tenfold.”
For this reason, the five daily prayers carry the reward of fifty prayers. Islamic scholars have described prayer as “the believer’s Mi’raj,” for it is the moment when a servant is closest to Allah. The Night of Mi’raj is a unique opportunity to reflect anew on the value of prayer in light of this understanding.
What Are the Acts of Worship to Be Performed on the Night of Miraj?
The main acts of worship that can be performed on this blessed night are as follows:
- Sending Blessings and Peace: The blessings sent to our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) serve as a means of obtaining forgiveness for sins and his intercession. Our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said the following on this subject: “Send many blessings and peace upon me; the blessings you send will serve as a means of your forgiveness.”
- Performing the Tahajjud Prayer: It is reported that those who persist in performing the night prayer are granted nine great blessings—five in this world and four in the Hereafter: protection from calamities, a radiant face, the love of the believers, an easier reckoning, and a swift passage across the Sirat are among the foremost of these.
- Reading the Holy Quran: Reciting Surah al-Ikhlas three times before going to bed, in particular, carries great merit; it is reported that this act earns the same reward as having completed the entire Quran.
- Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness: Tonight is considered a great opportunity for sincere “Nasuh repentance.”
- Praying the Make-Up Prayers: Making up prayers that were missed in the past is an act of worship that aligns with the spiritual atmosphere of this night.
- Reciting the Ezan Prayer: The prayer recited after every call to prayer, in which one seeks the status of “Wasiila” for our Prophet (peace be upon him), has been described in the hadith as an act that makes intercession obligatory.
Prayers and Remembrances to Recite on the Night of Miraj
Among the prayers and remembrances recommended for recitation on this blessed night, the salawat stand out. According to traditions transmitted by Islamic scholars, the following salawat in particular can be recited frequently on this night:
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَأَنْزِلْهُ الْمَنْزِلَ الْمُقَرَّبَ عِنْدَكَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِPronunciation: “Allâhümme salli alâ Muhammedin ve enzilhü’l-menzile’l-mukarrebe indeke yevme’l-kıyâmeh.”
Translation: “O Allah! Send blessings and peace upon the Prophet Muhammad, and on the Day of Resurrection, grant him the rank of the Mukarreb in Your presence.”
It is also reported that it is Sunnah to recite the following invocation upon waking from sleep:
“There is no god but Allah alone; He has no partner. To Him belongs all sovereignty, and to Him belongs all praise, and He is capable of all things. Glory be to Allah, and praise be to Allah, and there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest…”
The Virtues of the Night of Mi'raj
Islamic scholars have described the Night of Mi'raj as a blessed night with many virtues:
- The Good News of Intercession: Our Prophet (peace be upon him) has been granted the authority to intercede for the salvation of his ummah this night. It is reported that every believer who has even a speck of faith in their heart will be granted his intercession.
- The Abundance of Divine Mercy: Islamic scholars state that prayers and acts of repentance offered on this night are accepted, and that divine mercy is bestowed abundantly upon believers.
- A Glimpse of Paradise and Hell: During this journey, our Prophet (peace be upon him) personally witnessed the blessings of Paradise and the conditions of Hell. This account serves as a profound lesson for believers.
- The Title “al-Siddiq” of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him): Upon hearing the news of the Mi’raj, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said without the slightest hesitation, “If he says so, it must be true,” and through this affirmation, he was deemed worthy of the title “al-Siddiq.”
Furthermore, fasting during the month of Rajab carries great merit. According to tradition, fasting for one day during this month yields the same reward as fasting for an entire year; for those who fast for seven days, the gates of Hell are closed, and for those who fast for eight days, the gates of Paradise are opened.
Did the Mi'raj Take Place While Sleeping or While Awake?
The vast majority of Islamic scholars hold the view that the Mi’raj took place while the Prophet was awake, both in spirit and in body. This conclusion is based on the phrase “He took His servant” in the Surah al-Isra’ and on authentic hadith narrations. Although the narrations of Companions such as Aisha and Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) offer different perspectives on this matter, the general consensus is that the physical ascent did indeed take place.
Frequently Asked Questions
On what date is Miraç Kandili celebrated?
Miraj Night is observed on the night of the 26th of Rajab—the seventh month of the Islamic calendar—as it transitions into the 27th. Its corresponding date in the Gregorian calendar varies each year and is calculated according to the Islamic calendar.
Is a special prayer performed on the Night of Miraj?
There is no basis in the Sunnah for a special prayer with a specific number of rak’ahs known as the “Mi’raj Prayer.” The best way to make the most of this night is to perform tahajjud and nafl prayers, make up missed prayers, read the Qur’an, and engage in salawat and dhikr.
Did the Mi'raj take place in the body or in the spirit?
The vast majority of Islamic scholars hold the view that the Mi'raj took place while the Prophet was awake, both in body and spirit. This conclusion is based on the phrase “He took His servant” in the Surah al-Isra’ and on authentic hadith narrations.
Sources
- Dürretü’n-Nasihin (Osmanzâde Hüseyin Vassâf) — Section on Ethics, Stories, and the Hereafter, Sermon 31 (Mi'raj)
- Dürretü’n-Nasihin — The Chapter on Ramadan, Religious Festivals, and Fundamental Acts of Worship
- The Holy Quran, Surah Al-Isra (17:1); Surah An-Najm (53:1–18)
- Sahih al-Bukhari, Chapters on Prayer and Faith
