Shab-e-Miraj 2027: Date and What the Night Commemorates

Shab-e-Miraj, the night of 27 Rajab, comes twice in 2027. In Pakistan it is expected on the evening of Tuesday, January 5, 2027 (27 Rajab 1448) and again on the evening of Saturday, December 25, 2027 (27 Rajab 1449). Both dates depend on the sighting of the Rajab moon by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee and may move by one day.

The next one is 91 days away; follow it on the Shab-e-Miraj countdown.

Why it happens twice in one year

The Islamic year has about 354 days, 11 fewer than the Gregorian year. So every Islamic date moves about 11 days earlier each year. When an Islamic date falls in the first 11 days or so of January, it comes round again in the last days of December of the same year.

That is what happens in 2027. Rajab 1448 falls in December 2026 and January 2027, and Rajab 1449 falls in December 2027. You can see the same effect for every Islamic date in our guide on why Islamic dates move each year.

As with all Islamic nights, the night begins at Maghrib on the date shown and lasts until Fajr the next morning. So the “27th” night is the evening of the 26th of Rajab.

What the night commemorates

Shab-e-Miraj remembers two parts of one journey that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) made in a single night:

• Al-Isra, the night journey from the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah to Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem. It is mentioned at the start of Surah al-Isra (Bani Israil), the 17th surah.
• Al-Miraj, the ascension from Jerusalem through the heavens. According to well-known hadith, it was on this journey that the five daily prayers were made obligatory.

The journey is usually placed about a year or so before the Hijrah. Scholars differ on the exact date: 27 Rajab is the most widely accepted and is the date marked in Pakistan and much of the Muslim world, while some historians give other months.

How it is observed in Pakistan

• Mosques are lit up and hold gatherings where scholars talk about the Isra and Miraj and the importance of salah.
• Many people spend part of the night in nafl prayers, recitation and dhikr, and some fast the following day.
• Some families prepare sweets and share them with neighbours.

Scholars hold different views on whether any particular worship is specially recommended on this night. Many say the best way to mark it is to renew one’s commitment to the five daily prayers, the gift that came with the Miraj. Ask a scholar you trust if you want guidance on specific practices.

Is Shab-e-Miraj a holiday?

Shab-e-Miraj is not a gazetted public holiday in Pakistan. Offices and schools stay open, though some institutions give an optional holiday. You can check the full list on Pakistan public holidays.

Rajab and what comes next

Rajab is one of the four sacred months. It is followed by Sha’ban, with Shab-e-Barat in its middle, and then Ramadan. Many people use the 27th of Rajab as a reminder that Ramadan is about two months away. Our Ramadan countdown shows exactly how long is left, and you can check today’s Islamic date on the Hijri date page.

Shab-e-Miraj in the coming years

After the double occurrence in 2027, the night keeps moving about 11 days earlier each year, through December and into November. Expected evenings in Pakistan:

These are calculated dates. Each one is confirmed by the Rajab moon sighting in its year.

Frequently asked questions