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:

Are muslims allowed to celebrate the night of al-Israa` wal Mi`raaj, or fast the next day? What should we do on that night? Do we celebrate that night as a `special night` for worshipping Allah? 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Commemorate night of isra wal mairaaj

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 17 Surah Israa verse 1:

1 Glory to (Allah) Who did take His Servant for Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose precincts We did Bless in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the one Who Hears and Sees (all things).

‘Israa’ literally means a journey and ‘Mairaaj’ means ascension, thus ‘Al-Israa wal-Mairaaj’ refers to the specific incident of the Night Journey of the Prophet (saws) from Makkah to Jerusalem, and the subsequent Ascension to the Heavens of the Noble Prophet Mohamed (saws) one year before his migration from Makkah to Medinah.

There is absolutely no evidence in the authentic Sunnah whereby the Messenger of Allah (saws) or his noble companions or his noble family ever celebrated or commemorated the night of the ‘Israa wal-Mairaaj’, nor did he (saws) ever offer any special prayers on this night, nor did he (saws) ever command the believers to do anything special on this night!

It is the absolute unanimous opinion of all the good jurists and scholars in Islam that there is to be no special commemoration or celebration of the ‘Israa wal-Mairaaj’; and if anyone offers or ordains any special prayers, or fasts, or any act of worship for the commemoration of this night when Allah and His Messenger (saws) have not endorsed any such commemoration, it would obviously be against the guidance and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

It is indeed unfortunate that many amongst the Ummah have started celebrating and commemorating this night with special gatherings and prayers, something which was neither performed by the Messenger of Allah (saws) nor endorsed by him; and any act of worship which was not endorsed by the Noble Prophet (saws) can be nothing but an innovation (bidah), and every innovation in the deen of Islam is a grave error.

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

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

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, and every innovation is an error.”

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