Istanbul witnessed a wonderful spiritual atmosphere on Sunday evening, marking the blessed occasion of the Night of Isra and Mi'raj.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan congratulated Muslims on this great night in a tweet on "X," saying: "I extend my heartfelt congratulations to our dear people and the Islamic world on the blessed Night of Isra and Mi'raj."
He added: "I hope that this night, filled with infinite wisdom in which our dear Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) reached the highest station, will be a good means for establishing peace and prosperity for all of humanity… A blessed night."
Muslims across Türkiye also commemorated the Night of Isra and Mi'raj, which was marked by a special spiritual atmosphere. Mosques in various cities were filled with religious activities, including the recitation of the Qur'an and prayers.
The Bahçelievler Municipality in Istanbul organized a special program that included a recitation of the Qur'an by the famous Qur'an reciter Yunus Balcıoğlu, along with a religious lecture by the well-known Turkish scholar Nihat Hatipoğlu.
Turkish television channels also dedicated special programs to commemorate this occasion. Kanal D aired a program titled "Miraç Gecesi Özel" followed by the film "Life of Pi."
TRT 1 broadcasted a program titled "Miraç Kandili Özel," followed by the popular Turkish series "Teşkilat."
The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in Istanbul also held a celebratory program after the evening prayer, during which verses from the Qur'an were recited, prayers were offered, and religious hymns were sung by religious singers.
After the commemoration ceremonies, famous Turkish "lokum" (Turkish delight) was distributed to attendees, who exchanged congratulations, praying that this night would serve as a means for the unity of the Islamic Ummah.
Congratulations and prayers spread across social media, where people in Türkiye expressed their wishes for goodness and blessings on this blessed night.
It is noteworthy that the Night of Isra and Mi'raj in Türkiye is one of the five sacred nights, each of which is called "Kandil" – which translates to "candle" in Turkish – when the minarets of mosques are illuminated, and special prayers are held.
The tradition of celebrating this night in Türkiye dates back to the reign of Ottoman Sultan Selim II in the 16th century when he instructed mosque authorities across the Ottoman Empire to light candles and decorate them to announce the arrival of this blessed night.
The event of Isra and Mi'raj is one of the most significant events in Islam, as it marks the night the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was miraculously taken from Mecca to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, where he led the prophets in prayer. He then ascended to the heavens and subsequently reached the Sidrat al-Muntaha.
