The Night of Ascension (Laylat al-Miʿrāğ)

The Night of Ascension (Laylat al-Miʿrāğ), also known as the Night of the Ascension, is the night commemorating the journey of the Prophet Muhammad to Jerusalem and his subsequent ascension. In the Quran, it says: "Glory be to Him who took His servant by night from Al-Masjid Al-Haram to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He alone is the Hearing, the Seeing." * [Quran: al-Isra—The Night Journey 17:1] According to some traditions, the archangel Gabriel is said to have accompanied the Prophet Muhammad during the Night Journey. During this journey, they encountered several prophets, including Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. In the seventh heaven, the Prophet was then allowed to speak directly to God. In this conversation, God established the prayer obligation for the believers, which initially included 50 prayers per day. However, the Prophet Muhammad, at the suggestion of the Prophet Moses, asked God to ease the obligation, resulting in the prayer obligation being reduced to 5 prayers per day. The scholars of Islam are divided on whether the Night Journey was physical or spiritual. Most often, the 27th of Rajab (the 7th month of the Islamic calendar) is considered the day of the prophetic ascension, although the exact date is not fixed. The Night of Ascension is a night of prayers and remembrance of God (ḏikr), which is also gladly performed together by the faithful in the mosques.

* Quran translation by Hans Zirker.