Dubai: Residents said the long three-day weekend is a chance to refresh spiritually keeping in mind Isra Wal Meraj, which falls on Monday.
A national holiday has been declared on Sunday to mark Isra Wal Meraj, loosely translated from Arabic as the ‘Night Journey and Ascension’.
This year, the day officially falls on Monday in the UAE, but the holiday was moved to Sunday as per a cabinet-issued law stipulating a holiday falling midweek can be moved to the week’s beginning or end.
It means government offices and private companies, with some exceptions, will be off Friday to Sunday.
Islamic dates, based on the lunar calendar, correspond to different dates in the solar Gregorian or Western calendar.
The Islamic months move back in the solar calendar by around 10 days each year.
In the UAE, the Night Journey is marked on day 27 of the seventh Islamic month of Rajab.
In Islam, Al Isra Wal Meraj refers to the miraculous journey — in one night — of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) from his home in Makkah to Jerusalem, followed by his ascent to heaven.
According to Muslim tradition, the five daily prayers were ordained in heaven during this night as a gift of worship.
“To me, it means more than a holiday. It’s a chance to refresh your faith,” Mohammad Mukhtar, 25, an Afghan expatriate in Dubai, said.
“All your five daily prayers only take about 30 minutes in total. But the rewards are big – you feel relaxed, especially in today’s stressful lifestyle.
“[The Night Journey] reminds me of the importance of having a connection with your Creator – that’s what prayer’s all about.”
Another resident, 38-year-old Briton Mohammad Omar, added that he takes the opportunity to “reflect on my spiritual deeds. The same way you take stock of your office work, it’s a good idea to consider what you are doing for the soul. We should take advantage of the occasion to renew our commitment to prayer.”
Meanwhile, Sharjah resident Ali Rashid, a 34-year-old Emirati, wishes there was “greater focus” on religious learning during the occasion.
“You can use the free time to learn more about the event. The more you know about something, like prayer, the more you feel like doing it,” Rashid added.
“The Night Journey is a very special event in Islamic history; the children will love to listen to its story.”
According to religious texts, the Prophet was transported to the Al Aqsa (Furthest) mosque in Jerusalem, from where he rose to the heavens. He saw the wonders of creation along the way and received instructions for the daily prayers, originally meant to be 50 in number.
The account is described in detail in the Hadith — narrations of the Prophet — as well as in the verses of the Quran.
In the UAE and elsewhere, religious lectures about the event are conducted in mosques and on TV. The weekly Friday sermon is often dedicated to the event.
