Celebrating the Isra and Mi'raj and the Mawlid

Question:
We heard a few days ago on some Arab radio stations about the celebration of Isra and Mi'raj. We are responding by clarifying that.

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 that is not permissible. Likewise, the celebration of the night of the Isra' and Mi'raj, which is the twenty-seventh night of Rajab. They say the Messenger was taken by night to al-Masjid al-Aqsa and then ascended with him to the heavens on the twenty-seventh night of Rajab. This is something that has occurred among some people, but it has not been preserved that it was on the night mentioned. Yes, he was taken by night and shown the heavens, this is true, but on the seventh night of Rajab, this has not been 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 in any other month, it is known to be a bid'ah (religious innovation), 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 in any other month, 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; the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was not born, nor was anyone else, and it is not obligatory to celebrate it, nor to gather on the twelfth of Rabi' al-Awwal, the first Rabi', in the name of the mawlid, or to hold feasts and the like. All of this is a bid'ah (religious innovation); the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not do it, nor did his Companions. If it had been good, they would have preceded us to it. And when the day of Monday is fasted, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said that: Monday and Thursday are fasted because they are two great, excellent days on which deeds are presented to Allah. And Monday, along with some deeds, was a day in which Allah revealed to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and he was born on it, and it is an excellent day that is only fasted. As for celebration, no, there is no celebration, neither for the Prophet's birthday, nor for the birth of the Prophet, nor for the birth of anyone else, nor 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 Glorious and Exalted says: He did not say: Innovate. And the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) says: If religion were by innovations and good deeds, the world would have been filled with innovations. If religion were by the choices and opinions of people, they would have filled the world with innovations, new occurrences, and false acts of worship. No, religion is what Allah said and what His Messenger said. What Allah and His Messenger legislated is this religion. As for what people have introduced 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 says: The best of speech is... ...misguidance. This is what he says in the sermon (peace and blessings be upon him), warning the Ummah (Muslim community) from innovating in their religion what Allah has not permitted. And Allah the Exalted says regarding a sin for these people: It is religion by air. Therefore, their sin is such that He said: Or do they have partners who have legislated for them from 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 brotherhood. And there is no power nor strength except with Allah. Yes.