What am i supposed to do to 'celebrate' lailat/shaab al isra/miraj?

Question

i have noticed that a considerable amount of desi muslims (such as pakistanis) celebrate it in certain ways

but the arab world hardly recognizes it when it comes

what do you do? what are we supposed to do?

Answer 1

All praise is for Allaah; and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon the Messenger of Allaah, his family and his companions.

There is no doubt that the incident of al-Israa. and al-Mi'raaj is (from) among the great signs of Allaah, indicating the truthfulness of His Messenger, Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam), and the greatness of his position with Allaah. It is also among the evidences showing the ability of Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) and it is proof that Allaah is above all His creation. Allaah has said:

{Glorified be He Who took His slave for a journey by night from al-Masjid al-Haraam to the Farthest Masjid (in Jerusalem), the neighbourhood whereof We have blessed, in order that We might show him of Our Aayaat (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, etc.). Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer}, [Soorah al-Israa., Aayah 1].

It has been narrated from the Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) that Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) ascended him to the heavens, and it's doors were opened for him through to the seventh heaven. Therein His Lord spoke to him what He intended and prescribed upon him the five (daily) prayers.

Initially, Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) obligated fifty prayers, however our Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) did not cease to demand and ask ease (for his ummah) from Him, until Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) made it five (in number). Hence there are five prayers prescribed, but fifty in (number) reward; for every good action is equivalent to ten of its like. For Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) is all praise and thanks for all His blessings.

This date on which al-Israa. and al-Mi'raaj occurred has not been established in the authentic ahaadeeth, neither during the month of Rajab nor in any other month. All that has been mentioned concerning the date of occurence of al-Israa. and al-Mi'raaj is deemed among the scholars of hadeeth to be unauthentic. Indeed, Allaah has great Wisdom in causing the people to forget the date of its occurrence. However, even if its date was confirmed, it would nonetheless be impermissible for the Muslims to distinguish that night from other nights by doing anything from among the acts of worship. Neither it would be permissible for them to celebrate it, as the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and his companions neither celebrated it nor did they distinguish it with any special acts of worship.

Should such a celebration of that night be lawful, the Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) would have clarified it to the people either by word or deed. And had such a thing occurred, it would have become known and common, and the companions would have transmitted it to us. The companions passed on from their Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) everything which Muslims are in need of. Never were they negligent with regard to the religion. Indeed, they were the first to lead the way to every good. If the celebration of this night had been lawful, they would have been first to do it. The Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) also is the most sincere in guiding people. He most truly fulfilled his mission, and performed his noble duty. If the glorification and celebration of that night had something to do with Islaam, the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) would never have neglected it nor concealed it. Since nothing about this was narrated from the Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and his companions, therefore glorification and celebration of that night has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with Islaam, as Allaah has perfected for this nation its religion, completed His favor upon it and rebuked and refuted the innovators who introduce into the religion that which Allaah has not allowed.

And Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala), said:

{This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islaam as your religion}, [Soorah al-Maa.idah, Aayah 3].

And Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala), has also said:

{Or have they partners with Allaah who have made laws for them in religion that which Allaah allowed not? And had it not been for a decisive word, the matter would have been judged between them. And verily for wrongdoers is a painful torment}, [Soorah ash-Shooraa, Aayah 21].

The Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said:

((He who innovates something in this matter of ours that is not of it will have it rejected)), [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree 2697 and Saheeh Muslim 1718].

In another wording reported in Saheeh Muslim:

((He who does an act which our matter is not (in agreement) with will have it rejected)), [Saheeh Muslim 18].

And in the narration of Saheeh Muslim on the authority of Jaabir (radhi-yallaahu 'anhu), who said: The Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) used to say in the Jumu'ah khutbah:

((To proceed: Indeed the best of speech is the Speech of Allaah, and the best of guidance is the Guidance of Muhammad (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam), and the most evil of affairs are the newly invented ones, and every innovation is misguidance)), [Saheeh Muslim 867].

An-Nasaa.ee added, with a good sanad:

((…and every misguidance leads to the (h**l-) Fire)), [an-Nasaa.ee, Volume 3, Page 188; Saheeh Sunan an-Nasaa.ee 1487].

It is reported in the Sunan of Abu Daawood and at-Tirmidhee that al-'Irbaadh Ibn Saariyah said: The Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) gave us a sermon by which our hearts were filled with fear and tears came to our eyes. We said, "O Messenger of Allaah, it is as though this is a farewell sermon, so counsel us." He (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said:

((I counsel you to fear Allaah and to give absolute obedience even if a slave becomes your leader. Verily, he among you who lives (long) will see great controversy, so you must keep to my Sunnah and that of the rightly guided (in beliefs and actions) Khulafaa after me; cling to them stubbornly. Beware of newly invented matters, for every invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is going astray and every going astray is in the h**l-Fire)), [Musnad Imaam Ahmad, Volume 4, Page 126; Abu Daawood 4607; at-Tirmidhee 2676; Ibn Maajah 42; Saheeh al-Jaami' 2546].

The narrations of such meaning are numerous. And indeed it has been confirmed that the companions of the Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) as well as the early generations of pious scholars who followed, cautioned and warned against heresies and innovations. These warnings were not mentioned by them except for the fact that innnovations are unnecessary additions to the religion. Innovations are something new to Islaam which Allaah has not given permission for.

Also in performing these affairs, a resemblance of the enemies of Allaah (from the Jews and Christians) occurs; in that, they added and innovated in their religions something that they had no permission from Allaah. In addition, any innovation in the religion is implied by the person performing it that Islaam is incomplete and has faults because by innovating and adding to Islaam one accuses Islaam of not being complete. This, of course, is well known to contain a great deal of gross corruption, vile actions, and a contradiction to the saying of Allaah:

{This day, I have perfected your religion for you...}, [Soorah al-Maa.idah, Aayah 3],

...as it is also an obvious contrast to the traditions of the Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) that caution and warn against innovations.

I hope that what was mentioned from the evidences is sufficient and convincing enough for the seeker of the truth in rejecting this innovation (bid`ah) of celebrating the night of al-Israa. and al-Mi'raaj and warning against it because it has nothing to do in anyway with the religion of Islaam.

Since Allaah has obligated to give Muslims sincere advice, to elucidate the Divine laws for them, and has forbidden concealing knowledge, I felt it necessary to call to attention my Muslim brothers against this innovation (bid`ah) which has spread throughout many cities so much so that the people thought it to be part of Islaam.

Allaah is responsible to correct the affairs of all the Muslims and grant them success in comprehending the religion and to give us, along with them, success in holding firm to the truth, ascertaining it, and leaving what opposes it; for Allaah is Capable over all.

May Allaah bless and be merciful upon His Slave and Worshipper and Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam), his family, and his companions.

Shaykh Ibn Baaz

Majmoo' Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi'ah - Volume 1, Page 188;

al-Bid'u wal-Muhdathaat wa maa laa asla lahu - Page 588

Answer 2

As an Arab Muslim, I don't do anything.

I don't think it's necessary to celebrate it, you should read Quran and make dua'a instead,

Answer 3

As long as what you do is not intrinsically haram, such as mixing gender, listening to music, dancing, consumming haram, etc, you can celebrate by almost anything. Obviously, the best way to celebrate an Islamic event is with `ibadat: nafl salat, Qur'an recitation, dhikr, gathering with other Muslims for `ibadat and sharing of food, etc.

The nonsense about bid`ah and haram comes from a misunderstanding of Islamic methodology. A thing is not haram unless it has been specified as haram. Also, there does indeed exist such a thing as a good bid`ah, as testified in sahih hadith; and one who begins a good new thing gets its reward.

Answer 4

pray, make dua, be with family, do a good deed or give zakat

Answer 5

just pass around some sweets or summat.

and spend the night praying

thats how its done

Answer 6

make sweets, light up candles, call up friends and families for a get together and most of all, firecrackers ;)

Answer 7

Wahhabi's, Christians and Jews don't celebrate it.

Desi means local, so Desi Muslims are Arabs.

Mind your language.

Answer 8

Fasting in the month of Rajab

Is there any special virtue in fasting during the month of Rajab?.

Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly:

The month of Rajab is one of the sacred months of which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"Verily, the number of months with Allaah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allaah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred (i.e. the 1st, the 7th, the 11th and the 12th months of the Islamic calendar). That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein"

[al-Tawbah 9:36]

The sacred months are: Rajab, Dhu'l-Qa'dah, Dhu'l-Hijjah and

Muharram.

Al-Bukhaari (4662) and Muslim (1679) narrated from Abu Bakrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "The year is twelve months, of which four are sacred: three consecutive months, Dhu'l-Qa'dah, Dhu'l-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab uMdar which comes between Jumaada and Sha'baan.

These months are called sacred for two reasons:

1- Because fighting therein is forbidden unless initiated by the

enemy

2- Because transgression of the sacred limits therein is worse than at other times.

Hence Allaah has forbidden us to commit sins during these months, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

"wrong not yourselves therein"[al-Tawbah 9:36]

Although committing sins is haraam and forbidden during these months and at other times, in these months it is more forbidden.

Al-Sa'di (may Allaah have mercy on him) said (p. 373):

In the phrase "wrong not yourselves therein", the pronoun may be understood as referring to twelve months. Allaah states that He has made them a measure of time for His slaves, which they may use for worshipping Him, and thank Allaah for His blessings, and they serve the interests of His slaves, so beware of wronging yourselves therein.

The pronoun may also be understood as referring to the four sacred months, and this forbids them to wrong themselves in those months in particular, as well as it being forbidden to do wrong at all times, because it is more forbidden at this time, but it is worse at this time than at others. End quote.

Secondly:

With regard to fasting the month of Rajab, there is no saheeh

hadeeth to indicate that there is any special virtue in fasting all or part of this month.

What some people do, singling out some days of Rajab for fasting, believing that they are better than others, has no basis in sharee'ah.

But there is a report from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) which indicates that it is mustahabb to fast during the sacred months (and Rajab is one of the sacred months). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Fast some days of the sacred months and not others." Narrated by Abu Dawood, 2428; classed as da'eef by al-Albaani in Da'eef Abi Dawood.

Even if this hadeeth were saheeh, it indicates that it is mustahabb to fast during the sacred months. So if a person fasts during Rajab because of this, and he also fasts in the other sacred months, there is nothing wrong with that. But singling out Rajab for fasting is not right.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Majmoo' al-Fataawa (25/290):

As for fasting in Rajab in particular, the ahaadeeth concerning that are all da'eef (weak), and in fact mawdoo' (fabricated). The scholars do not rely on any of them. They are not among the da'eef ahaadeeth which have been narrated concerning virtues, rather most of them are fabricated and false. In al-Musnad and elsewhere there

is a hadeeth which says that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) enjoined fasting the sacred months, namely Rajab, Dhu'l-Qa'dah, Dhu'l-Hijjah and Muharram, but this has to do with fasting during all of them, not just Rajab. End quote.

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

Every hadeeth which mentions fasting in Rajab and praying during some of its nights is false and fabricated." End quote from al- Manaar al-Muneef, p. 96

Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar said in Tabyeen al-`Ajab (p. 11)

There is no saheeh hadeeth that would count as evidence which speaks of the virtue of the month of Rajab, or that speaks of fasing this month or part of it, or of spending any particular night of it in prayer.

Shaykh Sayyid Saabiq (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Fiqh al- Sunnah (1/282):

Fasting in Rajab is no better than fasting in any other month,

except that it is one of the sacred months. There is no report in the saheeh Sunnah to suggest that there is anything special about fasting in this month. Whatever has been narrated concerning that is not fit to be quoted as evidence. End quote.

Shaykh Ibn `Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about fasting on the twenty-seventh of Rajab and spending that night in prayer. He replied:

Fasting on the twenty-seventh of Rajab and spending that night in prayer is a bid'ah (innovation), and every bid'ah is a going astray. End quote.

Majmoo' Fataawa Ibn `Uthaymeen, 20/440.