What is Israk and Mikraj in Malaysia All About?
Israk and Mikraj is the event remembering the night that Allah took Mohammad from Mecca to Jerusalem before ascending to heaven. The celebration of Israk and Mikraj falls on the 27th day of the seventh month, Rajab, in the Islamic calendar.
Israk and Mikraj are considered a public holiday in several states in Malaysia, including Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, and Perlis. In the past three years, it was celebrated on March 22, 2020, April 3, 2019, and April 14, 2018. In 2021, it is set to be celebrated on March 11.
To be more specific, Israk and Mikraj refer to the two parts of Mohammad’s journey. Israk is about his physical journey from Mecca to the farthest mosque in Jerusalem, as the Qur’an describes in its text, pointing Masjid Al Aqsa. Mikraj, meanwhile, refers to Mohammad’s spiritual journey to heaven.
The prophet is said to have travelled through the night on a flying creature known as Buraq. According to some versions of the story, it has the head of a woman, the body of a horse, wings, and the tail of a peacock.
Mohammad went to heaven with angel Gabriel where he met different prophets. He met Adam, John the Baptist, Jesus, Joseph, Idris, Aaron, Moses, and Abraham.
Allah then told Mohammad to have Muslims recite a ritual prayer called Salah several times a day. Mohammad was initially instructed to have 50 prayers per day, which was reduced to five times. It is one of the pillars of religion today.
Things to Do During Israk and Mikraj in Malaysia
Israk and Mikraj are among the momentous days for Islam, given the events that transpired during Mohammad’s journey. It was transformational, one could argue. This is why it is important to reflect on the prophet’s story and highlight its lessons.
You can take this time to reflect on your life: how can this journey resonate with you personally? It can be refreshing to take a step back.
Looking at the story, you’ll realize that there are somewhat impossible things that could still happen if you just have the determination and faith. I mean, who would have thought that travelling to Jerusalem then to heaven in one night was possible? But it happened. This is a principle you can embody to remain optimistic.
How Israk and Mikraj in Malaysia is Celebrated
There are different ways to celebrate Israk and Mikraj in Malaysia, but all have one goal—to commemorate the prophet’s journey.
Some gather at a nearby mosque to pray. This can be considered as a good and noble way of celebrating Israk and Mikraj because it was during that journey that Muslims were taught to pray five times a day. Doing so commemorates the significant take away from Mohammad’s journey.
Others celebrate at home by narrating Mohammad’s amazing journey to the children and reciting prayers at night. Even young Muslims must know the early beginnings of their religion, helping them to stay connected and rooted in their core values.
After rounds of prayers, food is served. Sometimes, others are fasting instead. Fasting is allowed at any time except on six prohibited days of the year. With this, they are allowed to do so during Israk and Mikraj but not anymore during significant or beneficial than on a normal day.
Venues and Special Events for Celebrating Israk and Mikraj in Malaysia
In Malaysia, there are several mosques you can visit to commemorate Israk and Mikraj. Let us take a look at them.
National Mosque of Malaysia
It is a mosque clad with modern architecture that is situated in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It has a capacity of 15,000 people and is sitting on a 13-acre garden. It is an architectural beauty with a 73-meter high minaret and 15-pointed star concrete roof.
Masjid Putra
It is the principal mosque of Putrajaya, Malaysia. It took two years for the mosque to be completed, with its construction beginning in 1997. It is next to the Perdana Putra, which is the location of the Malaysian Prime Minister’s office.
Masjid Kampung Laut
Located in Jalan Kuala Krai, the oldest surviving mosque dates to around the early 18th century. However, there are some claims that it was originally constructed in the 1400s.
