Holidays in Oman
Lailat al Miraj
Alia
She is a seventeen-year-old girl living in Muscat, Oman who practices the religion of Islam. She has long dark hair and dark eyes. She usually wears a vibrantly colored dress with gold jewelry, and a hijab covering her head. She is a very polite girl, who was kind enough to invite me to Oman to celebrate Lailat al Miraj with her and her family.
The City of Muscat
Muscat is considered to be the heart of Oman, containing beautiful beaches, towering mountains, and golden sand dunes. It combines ancient cultural heritage and modern architecture, preserving its historic character and showing its contemporary spirit at the same time. Overall, Muscat is a city full of gorgeous sites.
Alia and her family live in a typical Omani house. It's a simple home, the inside being very open, easily flowing from one room to the next in order to maximize the limited amount of space. The house was built to utilize natural air currents as a cooling system throughout the home to beat the scorching temperatures of the summer months, which is when I will be visiting to celebrate Lailat al Miraj.
Lailat al Miraj
Dome of the Rock
A mosque in Jerusalem where Muslim worshippers go during the celebrations of Lailat al Miraj
Masjid al-Aqsa
"The farthest mosque" is considered the third holiest place in Islam and is located in Jerusalem along with the Dome of the Rock
The story of Lailat al Miraj
Begins with the Prophet Muhammad at the Kabaa in Mecca
History and Traditions
Lailat al Miraj is a Muslim holiday in honor of the Prophet Muhammad's nighttime journey from Mecca to Jerusalem where he ascended to heaven, was purified, and given the instruction for Muslims to pray five times a day.
Today, Lailat al Miraj is considered by Muslims as one of the most important events in the history of Islam. They may attend prayer services at a mosque, or observe the holiday privately at home by telling the story to children or reciting nighttime prayers.
Time of Celebration
On the Islamic calendar, Lailat al Miraj is generally observed on the twenty-seventh day of the month of Rajab. It begins at sundown of one day and continues until the end of the next day.
Comparison to American Holiday
The Islamic holiday Lailat al Miraj is somewhat similar to the Christian holiday of Easter. The Prophet Muhammad's ascension to heaven and purification is similar to Jesus Christ's crucifixion, when he went to heaven and was then resurrected from the dead by God himself, having paid the penalty for sin. They both went to heaven and spoke to God, only to return to life.