The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi Wassallam) said, “There
is nothing that brings you closer to Jannah except that I have informed
you about it and there is nothing that brings you closer to the fire of
Hell except that I have warned you against it.”
(at-Tabaraani--Saheeh)
Then
why do we not have ANY Saheeh reports of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu
Alaihi Wassallam) or the Sahaabah worshipping Allaah especially on this
night and fasting the next day?
ANSWER: BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT THE PRACTICE OF RASUL ALLAAH (Sal Allaahu Alaihi Wassallam) OR HIS SAHAABAH!
If
celebrating it was something that is prescribed in Islam, the Messenger
(Sal Allaahu Alaihi Wassallam) would certainly have told his ummah
about it, either in word or in deed. If any such thing had happened, it
would have been well known, and his companions would have transmitted
the information to us.
And if it wasnt the practice of our Beloved Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi Wassallam) or his Sahaabah, then, why, O Muslim, do YOU insist on doing it ???
Isnt the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi Wassallam) the best example to be followed ?
“In the Messenger of Allah you have a fine example for he who hopes for Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah abundantly.”
(Surah al-Ahzaab:
21)
But everyone does so !!
Sure,
I know, you have seen your fathers and grandfathers doing so. But, let
me remind you, O Muslim, that it is NOT our forefathers that we are
supposed to follow. Rather, our worship should be based on proofs from
the Quran and authentic Sunnah, and NOT culture or tradition.
“When it is said to them: Follow what Allah has sent down,
they
reply: We will follow that which we found our fathers upon, even though
their fathers did not understand anything nor were they guided.” (Surah al-Baqarah: 170)
Is good intention enough??
I
know beyond doubt, that in celebrating this night, your intention is
good. But dear brother/sister, in order for our worship to be accepted,
it also has to be prescribed in the Quran and Sunnah.
If it is not so, it will be rejected.
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi Wassallam) said: “Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours that is not part of it will have it rejected.” (Bukhaari, Muslim)
Exact date unknown ???
Also,
do you know that even though the incidence of al-Israa wal Miraaj is an
undeniable fact in history, yet the exact date or even the exact month
in which this took place is not certain ?
Shaykh Abd al-Azeez ibn Baaz said:
“With
regard to this night on which the Isra and Mi’raaj took place, there is
nothing in the saheeh ahaadeeth to indicate that it is in Rajab or in
any other month. Everything that has been narrated concerning a specific
date for these events cannot be proven to have come from the Prophet
(Sal Allaahu Alaihi Wassallam) according to the scholars of hadeeth….”
(Islam-qa)
But, what’s the harm in it ???
Now, some of you will say, “What’s the harm in it ? I am just worshipping Allah!”
But, the answer to that, O noble reader, is…..
"And
whosoever opposes the Messenger (Muhammad Sal Allaahu Alaihi Wassallam)
after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other
than the believers' way, We shall keep him in the path he has chosen,
and burn him in Hell - what an evil destination!" [Surah an-Nisaa:115]
Shaykh
Ibn Uthaymeen says: “Fasting on the twenty-seventh of Rajab and
spending that night in prayer is a bidah (innovation), and every bidah
is a going astray.” (Majmoo’ Fataawa , 20/440)
So, remember, my dear brothers and sisters in Islaam,
DO NOT single out the 27th for your worship because it was NOT the practice of the Prophet OR his Sahaabah.
If however, you pray every single night and it is part of your routine to stay up for worship, then there is no harm.
Similarly,
if you are in the habit of fasting Mondays and Thursdays, or during
Ayyaam Beed (the 13th, 14th, and 15th of every Islaamic month), and the
27th of Rajab falls on one of those days, then it is OK to do so.
The
problem arises when one thinks that this night is special and singles
out this night or day for worship, thinking they are getting extra
reward for their worship. But this is contrary to the Sunnah.