On the 27th day of Rejab, the seventh month in the Islamic calendar, people celebrate Israk and Mikraj. It honors the night that preceded Mohammad’s ascent into paradise when Allah transported him from Mecca to Jerusalem. In Malaysia, the states of Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, and Perlis observe Israk and Mikraj as public holidays.
Israk and Mikraj in 2024, 2025, and 2026:
| Year | Date | Day | Holiday | States |
| 2024 | 8 Feb | Thursday | Israk and Mikraj | Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Perlis & Terengganu |
| 2025 | 27 Jan | Monday | Israk and Mikraj | Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Perlis & Terengganu |
| 2026 | 16 Jan | Friday | Israk and Mikraj | Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Perlis & Terengganu |
| 17 Jan | Saturday | Israk and Mikraj Holiday | Kedah |
These dates are estimated. We will update this page once the official announcement is out.
Mikraj and Israk stand for the two halves of the prophet’s trip. After Gabriel appeared to Mohammed riding Buraq, the prophets’ horse, he embarked on the portion of the pilgrimage known as Israk from Mecca to Jerusalem. Mohammed mounted Buraq and rode to the furthest mosque in Jerusalem, where he prayed and fasted the horse to the Temple Mount. Gabriel brought milk, wine, and water to this location and asked Mohammed to select one as a test. Gabriel informed him that Mohammed had chosen to follow his instincts when it came to choosing milk.
In the second part of his voyage, known as Mikraj, Mohammed rode Buraq through the seven heavenly stages and had conversations with John the Baptist, Jesus, Abraham, and Moses. Muhammad was led to the sacred tree in the seventh heaven, which Gabriel was unable to cross.
Here, Allah commanded Mohammed to offer the prayer to the people fifty times a day; however, Moses proposed that he clarify the difficulties this would provide for the populace. Then Allah cut it down to five times a day. The Quran mentions the Night Journey in passing, but hadith, or supplementary texts concerning the life of the prophet Mohammed, include more specifics about the tale.
