Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • Life
  • Health
  • Environment
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion
  • Science
  • Religion
  • History
  • Feature
  • Expat Corner

Laylat al-Raghaib: Muslims around the world gear up for Islam's Night of Wishes

by Daily Sabah with Wires

ISTANBUL Feb 26, 2020 - 3:00 pm GMT+3
Since the Islamic calendar is calculated with the revolution of the moon around the Earth, the dates of kandils change every year. (IHA Photo)
Since the Islamic calendar is calculated with the revolution of the moon around the Earth, the dates of kandils change every year. (IHA Photo)
by Daily Sabah with Wires Feb 26, 2020 3:00 pm
RECOMMENDED
People rest inside the Grand Mosque of Rome, in Rome, Italy, April 20, 2023. (AA Photo)

Rome's Grand Mosque awaits Italian Muslims for Eid al-Fitr prayers

Islam

Muslims around the world will Thursday night celebrate Laylat al-Raghaib, Islam's blessed Night of Wishes, which marks the first day of the Islamic month of Rajab.

The night marks the beginning of three holy months – Rajab, Shaban and Ramadan – in the Islamic Lunar Hijri calendar, beginning the countdown for Ramadan.

Muslims traditionally recite a special set of prayers and read from the Quran on this night, which falls on the first Thursday of the month of Rajab, and it is believed that every wish, request and hope will be fulfilled if asked for on that night.

Raghaib comes from the root "regabe" in Arabic, which means to desire, seek or tend toward.

According to Quranic verses and the hadiths (sayings) of the Prophet Muhammad, for Muslims there are five holy nights called "kandil" in Turkish; the first of which, according to the Gregorian calendar we use today, is Laylat al-Regaib, followed by Laylat al-Miraj, Laylat al-Berat, Laylat al-Qadr and Mawlid an-Nabi, the most blessed of all.

These holy nights aren't marked by public holidays in Turkey, but the minarets of mosques across the country are illuminated and special prayers are recited to mark them. The tradition of lighting up mosques dates back to the reign of Ottoman Sultan Selim II in the 16th century. The nights were named "kandil geceleri" because Muslims used to light oil lamps called "kandils" in mosques on these days. Most pastry shops and bakeries sell "Kandil simidi," small bagels with black cumin or sesame seeds.

According to the Hijri calendar, these holy nights unfold as follows:

On the 12th day of Rabi' al-Awwal, the third month of the Islamic calendar, Muslims celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad on Mawlid an-Nabi. People usually worship and sing the Mevlit (mawlid), an epic poem written to commemorate Prophet Muhammad's birth in Mecca, Saudi Arabia in the year 570 A.D.

Then comes Laylat al-Raghaib. Soon after follows Laylat al-Miraj, also called the "Night of Ascension," on the 27th day of Rajab, the seventh month on the Islamic calendar. The night marks Prophet Muhammad's nighttime journey from Mecca to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, from which he ascended into heaven.

The night of Laylat al-Bara’at (or Mid-Shaban) is when Muslims ask for forgiveness of their own or their ancestors' sins, and it is generally observed on the night between 14 and 15 Shaban. Muslims believe their fortunes are determined for the next year on this night.

Laylat al-Qadr culminates the end of these holy nights and signals the last 10 days of Ramadan. This period is considered especially divine in Islam. Also called the Night of Decree, Power or Destiny, the night is when the verses of the Quran were first revealed to Prophet Muhammad. Muslims believe God sent the Angel Gabriel, referred to as "the Spirit," to the Prophet Muhammad on this night.

RECOMMENDED
People rest inside the Grand Mosque of Rome, in Rome, Italy, April 20, 2023. (AA Photo)

Rome's Grand Mosque awaits Italian Muslims for Eid al-Fitr prayers

Islam
  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Feb 26, 2020 5:41 pm
    RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    religion islam muslims laylat al-raghaib qandil
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    Mayan pyramid and ruins in the famous Tikal National Park, Guatemala. (Getty Images Photo)

    Scientists discover 417 Mayan cities in Guatemala's forested area

    mayan-city
    Voters cast ballots at a polling station set up by the Rotterdam Consulate-General in the Hague, May 20, 2023. (AA Photo)

    Far-right Wilders tells Turks to 'pack bags' for voting for Erdoğan

    geert-wilders

    Erdoğan, el-Sissi agree to reappoint Turkish, Egyptian envoys

    TÜRKIYE-EGYPT-RELATIONS

    Erdoğan meets with former economy chief Mehmet Şimşek: Sources

    Turkish-economy
    No Image
    Big night for fashion: 2022's star-studded Met Gala
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021