The Sindh government has announced a public holiday on January 17 for schools to observe Shab-e-Meraj. According to a notification from the Sindh Education and Literacy Department, all public and private educational institutions across the province, including Karachi, will remain closed on this day.
Shab-e-Meraj, observed on the 27th night of Rajab, commemorates the Prophet Muhammad’s sacred night journey and ascension. Islamic tradition holds that the Prophet was transported from the Holy Kaaba in Makkah to Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem, where he led prayers, before ascending to the heavens on the celestial mount Al-Buraq and receiving divine commandments.
The term “Meraj” comes from the Arabic word Urooj, meaning ascension, and the event symbolizes spiritual elevation and closeness to Allah. Muslims observe the night through special prayers, Quran recitation, and voluntary fasting, marking it as a significant occasion in Islamic history.
