Celebrating the Night of the Isra and Mi'raj and the Mawlid

Question:
We have heard in some Arab radio stations a few days ago about the celebration of the Isra and Mi'raj. We ask for clarification on this.

Answer:
Some people celebrate the birthdays (mawlid) of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), the birth of al-Hasan and al-Husayn, al-Badawi, so-and-so, and so-and-so. This is a bid'ah (religious innovation), an innovation introduced into Islam, and it is not permissible. Likewise, celebrating the night of the Isra' and Mi'raj, which is the twenty-seventh night of Rajab, is not permissible. They say the Messenger was taken by night to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, then raised to the heavens on the twenty-seventh night of Rajab. This is one of the good matters, but it has not been established that it occurred on the night mentioned. Yes, he was taken by night and shown the heavens; this is true. But that it was on the seventh night of Rajab is not established. Even if it were established, it would not be permissible to celebrate it, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not celebrate it, nor did his Companions, and the good lies in following them. If it had been good, they would have preceded us to it. Since they did not celebrate the night of the Isra' and Mi'raj in Rajab or otherwise, it is known to be a bid'ah. This is because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: meaning it is rejected. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: So the night of the Isra' and Mi'raj is not known, neither in Rajab nor otherwise; it is not known. Even if it were known, it would not be permissible to celebrate it, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not celebrate it, nor did his Companions. Likewise, the birthdays were not established by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or anyone else. It is not permissible to celebrate them, nor to gather on the twelfth of Rabi' al-Awwal under the name of the mawlid, or to hold feasts and the like. All of this is a bid'ah, something the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions did not do. If it had been good, they would have preceded us to it. When the day of Monday is fasted, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: It is also fasted on Monday and Thursday because they are two great, excellent days on which deeds are presented to Allah. Monday is also the day when some of the deeds upon Allah were revealed to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the day he was born, so it is an excellent day to be fasted only. As for celebrating, no, there is no celebration, not for the Prophet's birthday, not for the birth of the Prophet, not for the birth of anyone else, and not for the night of the Isra' and Mi'raj, because this is among the innovations. Nor for the Day of Badr, nor for the Day of the Conquest, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not do that. We said: we follow and do not innovate. The Salaf (may Allah be pleased with them) said: "Follow and do not innovate, for you have been sufficed." And Allah the Exalted says: He did not say "innovate." The Muslim says: If the religion were by innovations and new things, the world would be filled with innovations. If the religion were by the choices and opinions of people, the world would be filled with innovations, new things, and false acts of worship. No, the religion is what Allah said and what His Messenger said. What Allah and His Messenger legislated is this religion. As for what people have innovated in the form of celebrations or acts of worship, it is batil (invalid) and not permissible to do, due to the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him): He used to say in his sermon (peace and blessings be upon him), in his sermon he would say: "The best of your speech is... ...misguidance." Thus he (peace and blessings be upon him) warned the Ummah against innovating in their religion what Allah has not permitted. And Allah the Exalted said, criticizing them: It is religion by air. Therefore, He criticized them and said: "Or do they have partners who have legislated for them from the religion what Allah has not permitted?" If it were by air, everyone would say "fast thus, pray thus, do thus," until this Islam would be filled with innovations and brotherhoods, and there is no power nor strength except with Allah. Yes.