In our country, there are some customs where they make cookies and biscuits during the Festival of Breaking the Fast, and also on the twenty-seventh of Rajab, they prepare meats and fruits.

The questioner : In our country, there are some customs we have found in certain occasions. For example, during the Festival of Breaking the Fast, they make cookies and biscuits. Also, on the twenty-seventh of Rajab, they prepare meats, fruits, and bread. Likewise, in the middle of Sha'ban, and on the birthday of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), they prepare sweets, dolls, and other things. On what they call Sham al-Nasim, they prepare eggs, oranges, and dates. Likewise, on Ashura, they prepare meat, bread, vegetables, and other things. What is the ruling of the Shari'ah regarding this practice, in your opinion?

The Shaykh : As for showing joy and happiness on the days of the festival, whether the Festival of Breaking the Fast or the Festival of Sacrifice, there is nothing wrong with it, provided it is within the limits of the Shari'ah. This includes people bringing food and drink and the like. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: He meant by this the three days following the Festival of Sacrifice.
Likewise, on the festival, people sacrifice and eat from their sacrifices, and they enjoy the blessings of Allah upon them. Similarly, on the Festival of Breaking the Fast, there is nothing wrong with showing joy and happiness, as long as one does not exceed the limits of the Shari'ah.
As for showing joy on the night of the twenty-seventh of Rajab, or on the night of the middle of Sha'ban, or on the day of Ashura, there is no basis for it, and it is prohibited. One should not attend if invited to it, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): .
As for the night of the twenty-seventh of Rajab, people claim that it is the night of the Ascension, when the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was raised to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). This has not been established historically. Everything that is not established is invalid, and building upon the invalid is invalid, or that which is built upon the invalid is invalid. Furthermore, even if it were established that that night is the twenty-seventh, it is not permissible for us to introduce anything in it from the rituals of festivals or anything from acts of worship, because that has not been established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). If it was not established from the one who was raised, nor from his Companions, who are the most deserving of people regarding him, and the most eager to follow his Sunnah and adhere to his Shari'ah, how is it permissible for us to introduce what was not on the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions?
As for the night of the middle of Sha'ban, nothing has been established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding its exaltation or its keeping awake. It was only kept awake after the generation of the Tabi'un through prayer and dhikr, not through eating, joy, and displaying the rituals of festivals.
As for the day of Ashura, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about fasting it, and he said: . Meaning the day before it. There is nothing in this day from the rituals of festivals. Just as there is nothing in it from the rituals of festivals, there is nothing in it from the rituals of mourning either. Displaying mourning and displaying joy on this day, both are contrary to the Sunnah. Nothing has come from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding this day except fasting it, although he (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered us to fast a day before it or a day after it, so that we differ from the Jews who used to fast it alone.