Shab-e-Meraj observed with reverence

LAHORE : Shab-e-Meraj, the night when the Holy Prophet (SAW) was ascended to the highest levels of heavens, was observed on Wednesday night across the country with traditional religious devotion and fervor.

A large number of believers offered special prayers all the night in specially decorated mosques and inside their homes for seeking the blessings of Allah Almighty. They prayed for the welfare of the entire nation and the Ummah.

They also prayed for solution to all sorts of problems and tribulations. In Lahore, special prayers were offered for ridding the country and other parts of the Muslim world of the growing terrorism and bloodshed. The believers also prayed for the security of Harmain Sharifain and the holy lands from the enemy threats.

Different Islamic and socio-cultural organisations arranged special prayers and mahafil-e-naat in mosques and other places to collectively seek blessings of The Almighty.

Lailat-ul-Meraj also known as Shab-e-Meraj, is a glorious night, marking the Isra and Meraj of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) when he was taken from Makkah to Al-Haram-Al-Sharif, inside Al-Aqsa Mosque (also known as Baitul Muqaddas) and was then ascended to highest stages of the heavens.

The word Meraj (ascent) of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is derived from Arabic word Urooj, which means height or ascension.

Shab-e-Meraj is celebrated on the 27th day of the month of Rajab in the Islamic calendar. According to Hadith, it was during this holy journey (Meraj) that The Almighty gave His Prophet (PBUH) the command for five daily prayers (salat).

During the mahafil, various Islamic scholars threw light on the importance of the day and its blessings. Special prayers were also held for restoration of peace and tranquility in the country, particularly for bringing an end to the ongoing wave of terrorism in which holy shrines were being hit by terrorists.

In different mosques, special nawafil were offered and mahafil-e-Shabina held by the people to seek blessings of Allah and forgiveness for their sins. Newspapers and periodicals brought out special editions highlighting the significance of the occasion while electronic media also aired special programmes to mark the occasion.

It is also believed that Shab-e-Meraj is also a Lalat ul Qadr where Allah Almighty answers the prayers of the faithful who spend the night in worship. There is one particular but undefined moment in this night when every prayer is answered.

Special sweet dishes like halwa and zarda etc were prepared by the people and distributed among the relatives and neighbours apart from the poor and destitute. In addition to that, food in large quantities was also distributed among the orphans and the destitute at special langars in mosques by the philanthropists.