Haven’t we all been guilty of checking our calendars for the new year, looking for all the probable holidays that can turn into a long weekend? Well, if you too have been guilty of doing this, then you will be pleased to know that there is a long weekend in January, especially, if you are a resident of Kuwait and Oman. Yes, here’s all you need to know about the upcoming holiday for Israa Wal Miraj.
Oman & Kuwait Declare Holiday For Isra Wal Miraj
Oman has declared Thursday, which is January 30, a paid holiday for both public and private sectors as revealed by Khaleej Times in a report for the holiday of Israa Wal Miraj. Kuwait has also declared the same across all ministries, government agencies, public authorities, and institutions for the day. People will be able to enjoy a three-day long holiday as both Oman and Kuwait observe weekends on Fridays and Saturdays.
So, from January 30 to February 1, it will be their holiday. However, it’s worth mentioning that the holiday of Israa Wal Mirage officially falls on Monday. To make sure that people can enjoy a long weekend, both countries moved the holiday to Thursday, instead.
No Holiday For The UAE?
At this point, it’s worth mentioning that UAE residents will not be having a holiday for Israa Wal Miraj. It was previously included in the list of holidays for UAE until 2018. However, later in 2019, the government decided to exclude it from the list. So, the next public holiday in the UAE is expected to fall either by the end of March or the beginning of April, depending on when the moon is sighted.
Significance Of The Day
For those who aren’t aware, Israa Wal Miraj is also known as the Prophet’s Ascension. Yes, it is the night, Prophet Mohammed journeyed from Masjid Al Haram in Makkah to the Masjid Al Aqsa in Jerusalem. Moreover, according to the Islamic calendar, it is celebrated on the 27th night of Rajab 1446, which falls on January 27 this year. For the unversed, Rajab is the seventh month in the Islamic calendar.
So, with a long weekend, nearly here, don’t forget to make some plans with your loved ones to truly make the most out of the holiday.
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva (Images are for representative purposes only)
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