Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

asalam o alikum warehmatullah a hewabarakatunhoo

Is celebrating the night of Miaraj/Israa a biddah? are there any particular form of worship to be done on that night?

Sallam

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Answer:

Celebrating Mairaaj Bidaa’

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: Is celebrating the night of Miaraj/Israa a biddah? are there any particular form of worship to be done on that night?

Beloved sister in Islam, for any act, or worship, or celebration, or rite or ritual to be considered a part of the deen of Islam, the absolutely first things one needs to ask or determine is whether this act or worship was:

1. Commanded by Allah Subhanah.
2. Performed by the Messenger of Allah (saws).
3. Endorsed by the Messenger of Allah (saws).

Dear and Beloved sister in Islam, it is the solemn belief of every true believer who sincerely fears Allah and the Last Day, that there was, is, or never will be anyone in the annuls of creation who loved, obeyed, and worshipped Allah Subhanah more or better than the Noble Last and Final Messenger of Allah, Mohamed ar-Rasool Allah (saws)!

If one finds or determines that the act, or worship, or celebration, or commemoration, or rite or ritual was commanded by Allah, or performed and endorsed by the Messenger of Allah (saws), then one should wholeheartedly strive to follow the example of the Prophet (saws), and indulge in the worship with the conviction that this act of worship is a part of Islam and acceptable to Allah Subhanah, the Lord of the Worlds.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzab verse 21:

There is indeed the best example for you to follow in the Messenger of Allah, for every such person looks forward to Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much.

To the best of our knowledge, there is absolutely not even an iota of evidence in the authentic and established Sunnah or tradition of the Noble Prophet (saws) that he (saws) would make a particular gathering, or a specific prayer, or a specific fast, or do or organize any sort of celebration or commemoration for the night of Mairaaj!

When the Messenger of Allah (saws) did not perform nor endorse any rite or ritual or commemoration for the night of Mairaaj, then it is absolutely evident that any specific rite or ritual or celebration or commemoration one were to do would be a manifest ‘bida’ (innovation), which neither forms part of the deen, nor is it acceptable as worship to Allah Subhanah.

If anyone ever comes up with any act of worship like a celebration, or a commemoration, or prescribes importance to any prayer, or fast, or night or day, or invents, innovates, or claims anything to be a part of the deen of Islam which is not endorsed by the Noble Prophet (saws), then it implies one of three things:

1. that the person who claims that worship is due on this specific night in this specific way loves and worships Allah more than the Noble Prophet (saws)!!!
2. or, that the person knows more than the Noble Prophet (saws)!!!
3. or, that the person has received revelations from Allah Subhanah after the death of the Prophet Mohamed (saws)!!!

Allah is our witness sister, if anyone in the annuls of creation ever claims to have any of the above three qualities is nothing more than a confirmed and manifest liar!; for Allah is our witness, no man in the annuls of creation loved or worshipped their Lord more than Prophet Mohamed (saws), no man in the annuls of creation had more knowledge of the Truth than the Noble Prophet Mohamed (saws), and Allah is our witness, the Last and Final Revelations of The Lord Most Majestic were revealed on Prophet Mohamed (saws), and there is none who will or can receive revelations after him (saws)!

If one brings, invents, adds or innovates any act or deed in religion which has not been specifically endorsed by Allah and His Messenger (saws), then it has to be a ‘bida’ (an innovation in the religion after the deen was completed on Prophet Mohamed (saws)), and Allah is our witness, every innovation in the deen of Islam is an error in the Sight of Allah Subhanah!

Sahih Muslim Hadith 1885 Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said in a sermon: “The best speech is that which is embodied in the Book of Allah, the Al Quran; and the best guidance is the guidance given by me, Mohamed (saws). The most evil affairs are the innovations (bida), and every innovation (bida) is an error.”

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4515 Narrated by Ali ibn AbuTalib

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said: “If anyone introduces an innovation (bida in religion), he will be responsible for it. If anyone introduces an innovation (bida) or gives shelter to a man who introduces an innovation (bida), he is cursed by Allah, by His Angels, and by all the people!”

The honor that our Lord Most Gracious bestowed on His Messenger (saws) on his Night Journey and Ascension is something which a true believer should cherish every living moment of his life. But to invent or commemorate or celebrate this occasion with any specific prayer, or rite or ritual when the Messenger of Allah (saws) himself did not perform nor endorse it would be a manifest ‘bida’, and thus not acceptable to Allah Subhanah, The Lord and Creator of the Universe.

The Prophet (saws) said: ‘The most evil affairs are the innovations (bida), and every innovation (bida) is an error’; thus every believer who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day must stay clear and abstain from ever practicing or indulging in any innovation in this pure and perfect deen of Al-Islam.

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan