Shab-e-Meraj Countdown 2026
Expected Date of 27th Rajab: Loading…
★ Shab-e-Meraj has passed. SubhanAllah — Glory to the One who took His servant on this miraculous journey. ★
What is Shab-e-Meraj?
Shab-e-Meraj (“Night of Ascension”) commemorates the miraculous Isra wal-Miraj — the Night Journey and Ascension of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. In a single night, the Prophet was transported from Masjid al-Haram in Makkah to Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem (Isra), then ascended through the seven heavens to a station closest to Allah (Miraj). It was during this journey that the five daily prayers (Salah) were prescribed for the Muslim Ummah.
The Gift of Five Daily Prayers
The most significant outcome of the Isra wal-Miraj was the prescription of the five daily prayers. Initially Allah prescribed 50 prayers per day. Through the intercession of Prophet Musa, who advised the Prophet ﷺ to return and request a reduction, the number was reduced to five — yet carrying the spiritual reward of fifty. This is why Salah is considered the pillar of Islam and the direct link between a believer and Allah.
When is Shab-e-Meraj 2026?
Shab-e-Meraj is observed on the night of the 27th of Rajab, the seventh month of the Islamic Hijri calendar. Because the Islamic calendar is lunar, the Gregorian date shifts each year. The countdown above fetches the accurate date from the Aladhan API. In 2026, Shab-e-Meraj is expected to fall in late January or early February, approximately 11 days earlier than the previous year.
The Journey: Isra and Miraj
The Isra (Night Journey) began when Jibril (Angel Gabriel) appeared to the Prophet ﷺ at the Kaaba and presented him with the Buraq — a celestial creature of extraordinary speed. The Prophet rode the Buraq from Masjid al-Haram to Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem, where he led all the prophets in prayer. The Miraj (Ascension) then began: the Prophet ascended through the seven heavens, meeting the prophets Adam, Yahya, Isa, Yusuf, Idris, Harun, Musa, and finally Ibrahim (peace be upon them all) in the highest heaven before reaching the Sidratul Muntaha — the Lote Tree at the boundary of divine knowledge.
Rajab: The Month of Allah
Shab-e-Meraj occurs within the sacred month of Rajab, one of the four sacred months in Islam. The Prophet ﷺ reportedly made a special duʿa at the beginning of Rajab: “O Allah, bless us in Rajab and Shaʼban, and allow us to reach Ramadan.” (Ahmad, Bayhaqi). Rajab serves as a spiritual warm-up for the intensified worship of Shaʼban (which includes Shab-e-Barat) and the sacred month of Ramadan.
How to Observe Shab-e-Meraj
There are no specific prescribed rituals for Shab-e-Meraj in authentic hadith. However, Muslims are encouraged to spend this night in voluntary prayer and Tahajjud, recitation of the Quran, reflection on the Isra wal-Miraj narrative and its lessons, learning about the five daily prayers and re-committing to praying them on time, and making duʿa and seeking forgiveness. Fasting on the 27th of Rajab is a matter of scholarly difference; those who observe it do so out of general voluntary fasting in a sacred month.
Frequently Asked Questions