What is the ruling on what is called the "Consecration of the Ascension" in Rajab?
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Question:
Some people slaughter in the month of Rajab and call it the "Consecration of the Ascension"?
Answer:
This has no basis; this is a religious innovation. Celebrating the night of the Ascension, the twenty-seventh night, is a religious innovation with no basis. The time of the Ascension is not preserved. The Ascension is established, and the Night Journey is established, but its night and day are not known. Even if the day or night were known, it is not prescribed for us to celebrate it or him. If the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not celebrate it, and the Companions did not celebrate it, we do not celebrate it. We only follow and do not innovate. It is not our duty to innovate. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, said, rebuking a people who innovated: [Surat al-Shura: 21]. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 1718a. And he used to say in the Friday sermon, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him: Sahih Muslim 867a, which Muslim recorded in "al-Sahih."
Therefore, it is not permissible to celebrate the night of the Night Journey and the Ascension, nor the Mawlid, the Mawlid of so-and-so, nor the Mawlid of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), nor the Mawlid of al-Badawi, nor the Mawlid of Abdul Qadir, nor the Mawlid of al-Siddiq, nor Ali, nor Fatima. Why? Because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not do it, the Companions did not do it, and the Prophet did not order it. So it is not for us to introduce something that our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the best of generations did not do. We are not like those about whom Allah said:[Ash-Shuraa 42:21]. Nor do we fall into the hadith: Sahih Muslim 1718b, meaning: so it is rejected.
What Allah has prescribed is sufficient for us. We strive in what Allah has prescribed: prayer, charity, fasting, Hajj, sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), urging the following of his Sunnah, and honoring his command. As for celebrations, we have no need for them. What Allah has prescribed is sufficient for us. Introducing new things is a mistake, a diminishment of the Shari'ah, and an accusation against the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he did not convey the clear message.
Q: Some people on the day of the festival direct the sacrificial animal toward the qiblah and say that it is performing Hajj?
The Shaykh: This has no basis. It is better that the sacrificial animal be directed toward the qiblah, whether it is an udhiyah or otherwise. It is better that it be directed toward the qiblah at the time of slaughter. But saying "that it is performing Hajj"—animals do not have Hajj. This is one of the superstitions of the common people.
Some people slaughter in the month of Rajab and call it the "Consecration of the Ascension"?
Answer:
This has no basis; this is a religious innovation. Celebrating the night of the Ascension, the twenty-seventh night, is a religious innovation with no basis. The time of the Ascension is not preserved. The Ascension is established, and the Night Journey is established, but its night and day are not known. Even if the day or night were known, it is not prescribed for us to celebrate it or him. If the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not celebrate it, and the Companions did not celebrate it, we do not celebrate it. We only follow and do not innovate. It is not our duty to innovate. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, said, rebuking a people who innovated:
Or have they other deities who have ordained for them a religion to which Allah has not consented?
أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ شَرَعُوا لَهُمْ مِنَ الدِّينِ مَا لَمْ يَأْذَنْ بِهِ اللَّهُ'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.
مَن أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو ردٌّThe 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: فإنَّ خير الحديث كتابُ الله، وخير الهدي هدي محمدٍ ﷺ، وشرّ الأمور مُحدثاتها، وكل بدعةٍ ضلالةTherefore, it is not permissible to celebrate the night of the Night Journey and the Ascension, nor the Mawlid, the Mawlid of so-and-so, nor the Mawlid of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), nor the Mawlid of al-Badawi, nor the Mawlid of Abdul Qadir, nor the Mawlid of al-Siddiq, nor Ali, nor Fatima. Why? Because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not do it, the Companions did not do it, and the Prophet did not order it. So it is not for us to introduce something that our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the best of generations did not do. We are not like those about whom Allah said:
Or have they other deities who have ordained for them a religion to which Allah has not consented?
أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ شَرَعُوا لَهُمْ مِنَ الدِّينِ مَا لَمْ يَأْذَنْ بِهِ اللَّهُHe who did any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, that is to be rejected.
مَن عمل عملًا ليس عليه أمرنا فهو ردٌّWhat Allah has prescribed is sufficient for us. We strive in what Allah has prescribed: prayer, charity, fasting, Hajj, sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), urging the following of his Sunnah, and honoring his command. As for celebrations, we have no need for them. What Allah has prescribed is sufficient for us. Introducing new things is a mistake, a diminishment of the Shari'ah, and an accusation against the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he did not convey the clear message.
Q: Some people on the day of the festival direct the sacrificial animal toward the qiblah and say that it is performing Hajj?
The Shaykh: This has no basis. It is better that the sacrificial animal be directed toward the qiblah, whether it is an udhiyah or otherwise. It is better that it be directed toward the qiblah at the time of slaughter. But saying "that it is performing Hajj"—animals do not have Hajj. This is one of the superstitions of the common people.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.