What is the ruling on celebrating the night of the twenty-seventh of Rajab as the night of the Isra and Mi'raj?
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The questioner : The first question says: Questions on Aqeedah. It says: May the Shaykh...
The Shaykh : What, what?
The questioner : Questions on Aqeedah.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Some people celebrate in these days, on the twenty-seventh of Rajab, which is called Rajabiyah, and they claim that it is the night of the Isra and Mi'raj. What is their doubt, and how do we respond to them?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment. Our answer to this question is included in the saying of Allah the Exalted:[An-Nahl 16:89], and His saying: [Al-Ma'idah 5:3], [Al-Ma'idah 5:3]. It is also included in the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Muslim 1718b, and in another narration: Sahih Muslim 1718a. The matter to which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) referred is the Shari'ah, due to the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Ash-Shuraa 42:52], meaning: from our Shari'ah [Ash-Shuraa 42:52]. With these verses and the noble Prophetic hadith, we ask: Is there in the Book of Allah or in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that Muslims should celebrate in this month what is mentioned as the night of the Mi'raj? We ask, search in the Book of Allah, search in the Sunnah of the Messenger (may Allah's prayers and blessings be upon him). If you find that, then by the power of Allah, we are the first to submit to it, the first to call to it, and the first to encourage it. And if we do not find it in the Book of Allah or in the Sunnah of His Messenger (may Allah's prayers and blessings be upon him), then what is in the Book of our Lord and the Sunnah of our Prophet is sufficient for us. What do you say about this answer?
The student: ...
The Shaykh : What do you say about this answer? Is this answer a just answer or an unjust answer?
The student: Just.
The Shaykh : Just. The Shari'ah is received from only two primary sources: the Book and the Sunnah. The evidence for this is the saying of Allah the Exalted:[An-Nisa 4:59] to His Book to Him personally in his lifetime, and to his Sunnah after his death. We extend our hands, we listen with our ears, and we hope in our minds. If anyone finds in the Book of Allah or in the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) that celebrating the night of the Mi'raj in this month is prescribed, let him do us the favor of directing us to it, for we are, if Allah wills, submissive and following to him. But if he does not find it, then any person who innovates in the religion of Allah what is not part of it is in contradiction with the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Ma'idah 5:3] How does Allah complete the religion, and then you come with centuries and say this is from the religion? Where is the perfection? Where is the perfection in the religion when you invent something and say it is from the religion? If one invents any matter by which a person worships Allah, and it was not in the Book of Allah or in the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), its essence is a rejection of the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Ma'idah 5:3] Did Allah (Mighty and Majestic) forget to explain this Shari'ah to His servants? No, [Taha 20:52] Did the Messenger (may Allah's prayers and blessings be upon him) forget to convey this Shari'ah to his Ummah? No. Did he conceal it? No. Did he not know it and those after him knew it? No. None of that happened. So why, our Muslim brothers, do we weary ourselves with something that is not in the Book of Allah or in the Sunnah of His Messenger, nor in the practice of the Rightly Guided Caliphs? Bring us one of the Companions who celebrated the night of the Mi'raj in this month? You will not find that, because the Companions were more intelligent, more religious, and more obedient to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's prayers and blessings be upon him) than to invent in his religion what is not part of it.
Also, from the historical perspective, who says that the Mi'raj was on the night of the twenty-seventh? Who says this?
The student: ...
The Shaykh : It has been said, but there must be a chain of narration. This is a report. If we say that the night of the twenty-seventh of Rajab is the night of the Mi'raj, this is a report. A report must have a chain of narration. The chain of narration must be investigated in its men: were the conditions of integrity and precision fulfilled in them or not? Then, was the connection in this chain fulfilled or not? None of this was the case. Where are the men who narrated that the Prophet (may Allah's prayers and blessings be upon him) was raised to the heavens on the night of the twenty-seventh of Rajab? Where are the men who narrated the hadith? How much is between us and the Mi'raj of the Messenger (may Allah's prayers and blessings be upon him)?
The student: ...
The Shaykh : More, 1412 from the Hijrah, and the Mi'raj was three years before the Hijrah, 1415. Where is the chain of narration?
Therefore, from here, from this place, I advise my Muslim brothers not to innovate in the religion of Allah what is not part of it, and not to weary themselves with a matter from which they are in no need, rather, not to weary themselves with a matter that does not increase them in anything from Allah except distance.
I say that not from myself, but from the words that the Messenger (may Allah's prayers and blessings be upon him) declares in every Friday. He used to say in his sermon:Sahih Muslim 867a Misguidance is the opposite of truth. Misguidance is the opposite of truth. And the evidence that misguidance is the opposite of truth is the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Yunus 10:32] Does the believer accept for himself to do a deed in which he is misguided?
The student: No, by Allah.
The Shaykh : No, by Allah. Is it befitting for a believer to do a deed where it can be said to him that you have contradicted the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Ma'idah 5:3] No, by Allah. Is it possible for a believer from the end of this Ummah to do a deed by which he worships Allah, which the Companions and those who followed them with excellence did not worship with? No. So I ask you, my brothers, and by Allah, I am not telling you anything but advice. I ask you not to worship Allah except with something that Allah has prescribed, either in the Book or in the Sunnah or by the consensus of the Companions. Religion is not by desire, religion is by guidance, not by desire [Al-Mu'minun 23:71] Here is the verse, complete it! [Al-Mu'minun 23:71] Where did we mention it? The Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger.
And I say from this place, any person who finds evidence for this bid'ah, the bid'ah of celebrating the night of the twenty-seventh, the Mawlid, is not free from me except that he conveys it to me. And if he conveys it to me in a way that establishes the argument, it is incumbent upon me to announce it publicly so that I do not conceal what Allah has prescribed. I say this, and take it as a testimony against me. And no Muslim is free if he finds evidence from the Book of Allah or the Sunnah of His Messenger or the sayings of the Companions for celebrating this night, except that he conveys it to me. And if the argument is established against me, I must convey it. Otherwise, let him avoid this thing. Let him avoid it if there is no evidence. We are slaves of Allah, and the slave obeys the command of whom? The command of his master. We are slaves of Allah, and Allah is our Lord. So it is not permissible for us to worship Him with something He has not prescribed. If we deviate from a paved road, a tangible road that goes from here from Madinah to Makkah, and we deviate from this road and say we want to reach Makkah, but we go with another road, will it lead us to Makkah? No, it will not lead us. And if it leads us, it will be with stumbling. And Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says:[Al-An'am 6:153].
A second or third time, I repeat my hope from my Muslim brothers that they do not weary themselves in celebrating or worshipping Allah with something for which no authority has been sent down, because that does not increase them in anything from Allah except distance and contradiction of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
And as I told you, it has not been established from the historical perspective that the Mi'raj was on the night of the twenty-seventh of Rajab, because this is a report, and a report must have a chain of narration, and the chain of narration must have men who are trustworthy, known for integrity and precision, and it must be connected, is that not so?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : All those who read the terminology of hadith know that a hadith cannot be established except by two things that are necessary: the integrity of the narrator and his precision, and this is a description of the narrator. And the second is the connection of the chain of narration. And there must be another condition: that it is not defective and not anomalous, and this is known. Yes.
The Shaykh : What, what?
The questioner : Questions on Aqeedah.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Some people celebrate in these days, on the twenty-seventh of Rajab, which is called Rajabiyah, and they claim that it is the night of the Isra and Mi'raj. What is their doubt, and how do we respond to them?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment. Our answer to this question is included in the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And We have sent down to you the Book as clarification for all things
ونزّلنا عليك الكتاب تبيانا لكلّ شيءThis day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.
اليوم أكملت لكم دينكم وأتممت عليكم نعمتي ورضيت لكم الإسلام ديناI have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion
أكملت لكم دينكم وأتممت عليكم نعمتي ورضيت لكم الإسلام ديناHe who did any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, that is to be rejected.
من عمل عملا ليس عليه أمرنا فهو ردّ'A'isha reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who innovates things in our affairs for which there is no valid (reason) (commits sin) and these are to be rejected.
من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو ردّAnd thus We have revealed to you an inspiration of Our command.
وكذلك أوحينا إليك روحا من أمرناYou did not know what is the Book or [what is] faith, but We have made it a light by which We guide whom We will of Our servants. And indeed, [O Muhammad], you guide to a straight path -
ما كنت تدري ما الكتاب ولا الإيمان ولكن جعلناه نورا نهدي به من نشاء من عبادنا وإنك لتهدي إلى صراط مستقيمThe student: ...
The Shaykh : What do you say about this answer? Is this answer a just answer or an unjust answer?
The student: Just.
The Shaykh : Just. The Shari'ah is received from only two primary sources: the Book and the Sunnah. The evidence for this is the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger
فإن تنازعتم في شيء فردوه إلى الله والرّسولto Allah
إلى اللهand the Messenger.
والرّسولThis day I have perfected for you your religion
اليوم أكملت لكم دينكمThis day I have perfected for you your religion
اليوم أكملت لكم دينكمMy Lord neither errs nor forgets."
لا يضل ربي ولا ينسىAlso, from the historical perspective, who says that the Mi'raj was on the night of the twenty-seventh? Who says this?
The student: ...
The Shaykh : It has been said, but there must be a chain of narration. This is a report. If we say that the night of the twenty-seventh of Rajab is the night of the Mi'raj, this is a report. A report must have a chain of narration. The chain of narration must be investigated in its men: were the conditions of integrity and precision fulfilled in them or not? Then, was the connection in this chain fulfilled or not? None of this was the case. Where are the men who narrated that the Prophet (may Allah's prayers and blessings be upon him) was raised to the heavens on the night of the twenty-seventh of Rajab? Where are the men who narrated the hadith? How much is between us and the Mi'raj of the Messenger (may Allah's prayers and blessings be upon him)?
The student: ...
The Shaykh : More, 1412 from the Hijrah, and the Mi'raj was three years before the Hijrah, 1415. Where is the chain of narration?
Therefore, from here, from this place, I advise my Muslim brothers not to innovate in the religion of Allah what is not part of it, and not to weary themselves with a matter from which they are in no need, rather, not to weary themselves with a matter that does not increase them in anything from Allah except distance.
I say that not from myself, but from the words that the Messenger (may Allah's prayers and blessings be upon him) declares in every Friday. He used to say in his sermon:
The best of the speech is embodied in the Book of Allah, and the best of the guidance is the guidance given by Muhammad. And the most evil affairs are their innovations; and every innovation is error.
أما بعد: فإنّ خير الحديث كتاب الله، وخير الهدي هدي محمّد، وشرّ الأمور محدثاتها، وكلّ بدعة ضلالةEvery innovation is misguidance.
كل بدعة ضلالةAnd what can be beyond truth except error?
فماذا بعد الحق إلا الضلالThe student: No, by Allah.
The Shaykh : No, by Allah. Is it befitting for a believer to do a deed where it can be said to him that you have contradicted the saying of Allah the Exalted:
This day I have perfected for you your religion
اليوم أكملت لكم دينكمif the Truth had followed their inclinations
لو اتّبع الحقّ أهواءهمthe heavens and the earth and whoever is in them would have been ruined. Rather, We have brought them their message
لفسدت السماوات والأرض ومن فيهن بل أتيناهم بذكرهمAnd I say from this place, any person who finds evidence for this bid'ah, the bid'ah of celebrating the night of the twenty-seventh, the Mawlid, is not free from me except that he conveys it to me. And if he conveys it to me in a way that establishes the argument, it is incumbent upon me to announce it publicly so that I do not conceal what Allah has prescribed. I say this, and take it as a testimony against me. And no Muslim is free if he finds evidence from the Book of Allah or the Sunnah of His Messenger or the sayings of the Companions for celebrating this night, except that he conveys it to me. And if the argument is established against me, I must convey it. Otherwise, let him avoid this thing. Let him avoid it if there is no evidence. We are slaves of Allah, and the slave obeys the command of whom? The command of his master. We are slaves of Allah, and Allah is our Lord. So it is not permissible for us to worship Him with something He has not prescribed. If we deviate from a paved road, a tangible road that goes from here from Madinah to Makkah, and we deviate from this road and say we want to reach Makkah, but we go with another road, will it lead us to Makkah? No, it will not lead us. And if it leads us, it will be with stumbling. And Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says:
And, [moreover], this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow [other] ways, for you will be separated from His way. This has He instructed you that you may become righteous.
وأن هذا صراطي مستقيما فاتّبعوه ولا تتبعوا السبل فتفرّق بكم عن سبيله ذلكم وصّاكم به لعلكم تعقلونA second or third time, I repeat my hope from my Muslim brothers that they do not weary themselves in celebrating or worshipping Allah with something for which no authority has been sent down, because that does not increase them in anything from Allah except distance and contradiction of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
And as I told you, it has not been established from the historical perspective that the Mi'raj was on the night of the twenty-seventh of Rajab, because this is a report, and a report must have a chain of narration, and the chain of narration must have men who are trustworthy, known for integrity and precision, and it must be connected, is that not so?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : All those who read the terminology of hadith know that a hadith cannot be established except by two things that are necessary: the integrity of the narrator and his precision, and this is a description of the narrator. And the second is the connection of the chain of narration. And there must be another condition: that it is not defective and not anomalous, and this is known. Yes.