2027 Calendar Features Two Isra Mikraj Holidays; Here Are the Dates
The year 2027 is set to be quite unique in Indonesia’s national holiday calendar. The public will encounter two national holidays to commemorate the Isra Mikraj of the Prophet Muhammad SAW within one year.
This is stipulated in the Joint Ministerial Decree (SKB) of three ministers regarding National Holidays and Collective Leave for 2027. These two Isra Mikraj commemorations fall at the beginning and the end of the year, respectively.
According to the Joint Decree of the Minister of Religious Affairs, the Minister of Manpower, and the Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform, the schedule for Isra Mikraj holidays throughout 2027 is as follows:
Tuesday, 5 January 2027: Isra Mikraj of Prophet Muhammad SAW 1448 H
Sunday, 26 December 2027: Isra Mikraj of Prophet Muhammad SAW 1449 H
Thus, the commemoration of Isra Mikraj in 2027 occurs twice because the 27th of Rajab from two different Hijri years, namely 1448 H and 1449 H, both fall within the 2027 Gregorian calendar range.
Why does Isra Mikraj occur twice in 2027?
Isra Mikraj of Prophet Muhammad SAW is commemorated every 27th of Rajab in the Hijri calendar. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, the Hijri calendar uses the lunar cycle or the lunar system as its basis for dating.
As noted in the book ‘Seri Penemuan: Kalender’ by S. Armelia F., one Hijri year lasts approximately 354 to 355 days, while one year in the Gregorian calendar lasts 365 days or 366 days during a leap year. This means the Hijri calendar is about 10 to 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar. Due to this difference, dates in the Hijri calendar continuously shift earlier when viewed through the Gregorian calendar.
This shift is what causes 27 Rajab to appear twice in the 2027 Gregorian calendar, specifically in January and December. Similar phenomena can occur with other Islamic holidays when the calendar shift allows the same date to appear at the beginning and again at the end of a single Gregorian year.
Understanding the Event of Isra Mikraj
Isra Mikraj is one of the significant events in Islamic history. The event relates to the nocturnal journey of Prophet Muhammad SAW, during which he received the command to perform the five daily prayers.
Referring to the book ‘99 Kisah Menakjubkan dalam Al-Qur’an’ by Ridwan Abqary, the journey began with Isra, which was the journey of Prophet Muhammad SAW accompanied by the Angel Jibril from Masjidil Haram in Makkah to Masjidil Aqsa in Jerusalem. This was followed by Mikraj, the journey of Prophet Muhammad SAW towards Sidratul Muntaha, passing through seven layers of heaven. During this journey, Prophet Muhammad SAW is said to have met several previous prophets. Ultimately, Prophet Muhammad SAW received the command for prayer, which subsequently became an obligation for Muslims.