Shab E Meraj Sunnah
Geneva Andreotti
From the rajab post. I hope this clears things up a little. The Salafi aren't always wrong.
Islam has its own principles with regard to the historic and religious events. Its approach about observing festivals and celebrating days and nights is totally different from the approach of other religions. The Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet did not prescribe any festival or any celebration to commemorate an event from the past, however remarkable it might have been. Instead, Islam has prescribed two annual celebrations only. One is Eid-ul-Fitr and the other is Eid ul-Adha. Both of these festivals have been fixed at a date on which the Muslims accomplish a great 'ibadah (worship) every year. Eid-ul-Fitr has been prescribed after the fasts of Ramadan, while Eid-ul-Adha has been fixed when the Muslims perform the Hajj annually. None of these two eids is designed to commemorate a particular event of the past which has happened in these dates. This approach is indicative of the fact that the real occasion for a happy celebration is the day in which the celebrators themselves have accomplished remarkable work through their own active effort. As for the accomplishments of our ancestors, their commemoration should not be restricted to a particular day or night. Instead, their accomplishments must be remembered every day in the practical life by observing their teachings and following the great examples they have set for us.
Keeping this principle in view, the following points should be remembered with regard to the "Lailatul-mi'raj":
(1) We cannot say with absolute certainty in which night the great event of mi'raj took place. Although some traditions relate this event to 27th night of the month of Rajab, yet there are other traditions that suggest other dates. Al-Zurqani, the famous biographer of the Holy Prophet has referred to five different views in this respect: Rabi-ul-Awwal, Rabi-u-Thani, Rajab, Ramadan and Shawwal. Later, while discussing different traditions, he has added a sixth opinion, that the mi'raj took place in the month of Zulhijjah.
Allama Abdulhaq Muhaddith Dehlawi, the well-known scholar of the Indian subcontinent, has written a detailed book on the merits of Islamic months. While discussing the 'Lailatul-mi'raj' has mentioned that most of the scholars are of the view that the event of mi'raj took place in the month of Ramadan or in Rabi-ul-awwal.
(2) It is also not known in which year the event of Mi'raj took place. The books of history suggest a wide range between the fifth-year and the twelfth year after the Holy Prophet was entrusted with prophethood.
Now, if it is assumed that the event of Mi'raj took place in the fifth year of his prophethood, it will mean that the Holy Prophet remained in this world for eighteen years after this event. Even if it is presumed that the mi'raj took place in the twelfth year of his prophethood, his remaining life-time after this event would be eleven years. Throughout this long period, which may range between eleven years and eighteen years, the Holy Prophet never celebrated the event of mi'raj, nor did he give any instruction about it. No one can prove that the Holy Prophet ever performed some specific modes of worship in a night calling it the 'Lailatul-mi'raj' or advised his followers to commemorate the event in a particular manner.
(3) After the demise of the Holy Prophet also, no one of his companions is reported to celebrate this night as a night of special acts of worship. They were the true devotees of the Holy Prophet and had devoted their lives to preserve every minute detail of the sunnah of the Holy Prophet and other Islamic teachings. Still, they did not celebrate the event of mi'raj in a particular night in a particular way.
All these points go a long way to prove that the celebration of the 27th night of Rajab, being the lailatul-mi'raj has no basis in the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet or in the practice of his noble companions. Had it been a commendable practice to celebrate this night, the exact date of this event would have been preserved accurately by the Ummah and the Holy Prophet and his blessed companions would have given specific directions for it.
Therefore, it is not a Sunnah to celebrate the Lailatul-mi'raj'. We cannot declare any practice as a sunnah unless it is established through authentic sources that the Holy Prophet or is noble Companions have recognized it as such, otherwise it may become a bid'ah about which the Holy Prophet has observed in the following words: "Whoever invents something in our religion which is not a part of it, it is to be rejected."
Are both not Sunnah! Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) corrected and changed his opinion and wrote that after his death his original Fatwa (of permissability) should NOT be published and his 2nd changed stance should be publicised OR where the orginal Fatwa is published a footnote should be added explaining the 2nd opinion!
"Daywalk3r" wrote:AsalaamsWW Wrt 'shab-e-miraj' hardly anyone i know here in our neck of the woods has done any night specific ibaadat or 'celebrations' for years if not a decade or 2.... Wrt 15th shabaan heres we're i believe things are not so clear. Mufti Taqi Usmani (db) has written about the fasting and night specific individual/private ebaadat (at home?) on Albalagh and later he also gave a another follow up response replying to someone who posted a few questions in response to his Albalagh article (cant remember where on the net that is). Theres also this on the askimam site (though its from IDAUK) www.islam.tc/cgi-bin/askimam/ask.pl?q=12902&act=view and im sure theres also a similar pro-15th Shabaan view on The Majlis website also from South Africa However Mufti Farooq (db) from this site (Imam at Madina Masjid and Mudarris at Kent Darul uLoom) is firmly against it. Mufti Farooq is also a massive tower of ilm and taqwa and his very higly respected amonsgt Ulama circles in the UK due to his ilm. Allah knows best....
Most Ulama don't even mention this so probably don't know. Ever since I read the opinion of Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) and complete pages upon pages by Shaykh (Mufti) Rasheed Ludhyanwi (RA), I am NOT DOING IT!
However, there are many versions to this tafseer, one is being the night of decree, so there.
Any how, I still tend to go with the stricter Scholars and just treat it like every other month, except the fact that the Prophet SAW fasted more in this month.
One of the reasons he fasted more was because, as Ramadhan approaches Allah asks his angels what are his servents doing, so the Prophet wanted his worship to be noted as fasting as this was one of the greatest things to do.
AllahuAllum. When something is not crystal clear and there is a difference of opinion, I go towards the safer side. i.e. if there is doubt yet there is no harm in leaving it out then I keep away.
Intention is vital.
Mufti Rasheed Ahmed Ludhyanvi (Whom I never saw) is one of my mentors, along with Ameer-e-Jaish and Mullah Umar
I blieave every thing in islam is black and white for all those who believe in listening more to others saying and expressing values of islam more then existing one. Hope I am not being offensive to any brother or sister. Islam is not that complicated . faith and truth can make you fallow the right path.
Any plus or minus in sunnah is not permissible; anyone breaking this rule and indulging in innovation is not following the true spirit of the religion. It is the obligation of every Muslim to guide such persons.
Shab-e-Miraj is a night of great significance where there was direct contact between the Creator and the creature (all curtain raised) there was no intermediary (i.e. Gabriel AS) between Allah and His Messenger SAW
I believe in my heart and mind that we should not attribute any Ibadah to this night as we dont have any reports of such Sunnah and i said in first line, any plus and minus in Sunnah is not allowed. I myself have never seen my father or my grand father to make any special arrangement for Shab-e-Miraj nor I myself do the same.
Nawafils (optional prayers) are not same as Faraz prayers (obligatory prayers), no one offers faraz prayers except those prescribed in the Shariat . So I do not understand the reason why you have given the example of increasing the number of faraz prayer rakats. This is not the issue.
My comments do not show disrespect to anyone what to speak of insulting anyone. Rest assured I am humblest of creatures and have no good deed(s) in my account to claim mercy of Allah I just seek His mercy and forgiveness for myself and for all of us. After all we are here talking about the ways and means to earn His pleasure. I know this forum has certain constraints so i cannot go beyond what i have already said. May Allah show me the path that leads to His pleasure and I have same heart felt prayers for all of you brothers and sisters. W.Salam
Now those who think that there is no need of celebration / extra nawafils as it is bidah I ask them a question; ok we dont want to do any ibadaah because you say it may be innovation; and it is a special night that highlighted the greatness of our Holy Prophet so what do you suggest; how should we commemorate this special night? What should we do if we dont recite the Holy Quran or send darud or perform extra nawafil to keep night vigil, what should we do? Please tell us what alternative activity should we do. Please dont say dont do anything, We love our Holy Prohphet and it was the greatest night of his life when he was physically in presence of Allah, and we do want to remember it and we want our kids to know it. So what should we do?? I am not a scholar and i dont pretend to be one, all i am looking for is a straightforward answer.
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