Is Celebrating Al-Isra’ Wal-Mi'raj Allowed in Islam?

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, and companions.

The Significance of Al-Isra’ Wal-Mi`raj in Islam

There is no doubt that Al-Isra’ Wal Mi`raj are among the great signs of Allah that demonstrate the truthfulness of His Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his esteemed status with Allah, the Most High.

These events also signify Allah’s immense power and His exaltedness above all His creation. Allah, the Most High, Says, {Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.} [Al-Isra’ 17:1]

It has been authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) that he ascended to the heavens, where its gates were opened for him until he passed beyond the seventh heaven.

Allah Spoke to him directly and Imposed upon him the five daily prayers. Initially, Allah had Made fifty prayers obligatory, but our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) continued to ask for their reduction until they were reduced to five.

However, they remain equivalent to fifty in reward because each good deed is rewarded tenfold. So to Allah belongs all praise and gratitude for all His blessings.

Why the Night of Al-Isra’ Wal-Mi`raj Is Not Celebrated in Islam?

As for the specific date on which Al-Isra’ Wal Mi’raj occurred, there is no authentic narration confirming its exact timing, neither in the month of Rajab nor any other month. All reports attempting to specify the date are not authentic according to the scholars of Hadith. Allah, in His infinite wisdom, has Concealed its exact timing.

Even if the exact date had been established, it would not be permissible for Muslims to designate Al-Isra’ Wal Mi`raj with specific acts of worship or to celebrate it. This is because the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his companions did not celebrate this night nor did they allocate any particular worship for it. Had it been a legislated practice, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would have clarified it to the Ummah either through his words or actions. Had this occurred, it would have become known and widespread, as the companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) transmitted everything the Ummah needed without neglecting any aspect of the religion.

If celebrating Al-Isra’ Wal Mi`raj was a legitimate act of worship, the companions would have been the first to do so. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was the most sincere in advising people and conveyed the message of Allah completely and thoroughly. If honoring and celebrating Al-Isra’ Wal Mi`raj had been part of Allah’s religion, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would not have neglected it or concealed it. Since nothing of this sort occurred, it is clear that celebrating and venerating Al-Isra’ Wal Mi`raj is not part of Islam.

The Prohibition of Innovations and Warnings Against them

Allah has perfected this religion for the Ummah and completed His favor upon it. He has denounced those who introduce into the religion matters that Allah did not permit. Allah Says in His clear Book: {This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.} [Al-Ma’idah 5:3]

And He says, {Or have they other deities who have ordained for them a religion to which Allah has not consented? But if not for the decisive word, it would have been concluded between them. And indeed, the wrongdoers will have a painful punishment.} [Ash-Shura 42:21]

Authentic Hadiths from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) warn against innovations and explicitly state that they are misguidance. These warnings were meant to alert the Ummah to the grave danger of innovations and to deter them from committing them.

Among these narrations is what has been reported in Sahih Al-Bukhari and Muslim from `Ai’sha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “He who innovates something in this matter of ours (i.e., Islam) that is not of it will have it rejected (by Allah).”

In another narration from Muslim: “He who does an act which we have not commanded, will have it rejected (by Allah).”

In Sahih Muslim, Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to say in his Friday sermon: “The best discourse is God’s Book, the best guidance is that given by Muhammad, and the worst things are those which are novelties. Every innovation is error.” An addition in Al-Nasa’i with a sound chain of narration states: “Every misguidance is (a cause to enter) the Fire.”

Al-`Irbad Ibn Sariyah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) gave us a sermon by which our hearts were filled with fear and tears came to our eyes. So we said, “O Messenger of Allah! It is as though this is a farewell sermon, so counsel us.” He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “I counsel you to have taqwa (fear) of Allah, and to listen and obey [your leader], even if a slave were to become your ameer. Verily he among you who lives long will see great controversy, so you must keep to my Sunnah and to the Sunnah of the Khulafa ar-Rashideen (the rightly guided caliphs), those who guide to the right way. Cling to it stubbornly [literally: with your molar teeth]. Beware of newly invented matters [in the religion], for verily every bidah (innovation) is misguidance.”

And the Hadiths regarding this are many.

The Position of the Companions and the Salaf on Innovation

It has also been authentically reported from the companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the righteous Salaf after them that they warned against innovations and cautioned people from engaging in them.

This is because innovations constitute additions to the religion and a legislation that Allah hasn’t Authorized. They resemble the practices of Allah's enemies, such as the Jews and Christians, who introduced into their religions matters that Allah did not Permit.

Furthermore, innovations imply a deficiency in the completeness of Islam and an accusation that it is lacking, which is a severe corruption and a blatant contradiction to Allah’s statement: {This day I have perfected for you your religion.} [Al-Ma’idah 5:3] It also contradicts the explicit Hadiths of the Prophet (peace be upon him) that warn against and discourage innovations.

I hope that the evidence mentioned here is sufficient and convincing for the seeker of truth in denouncing this innovation—the innovation of celebrating the night of Al-Isra’ Wal Mi`raj—and warning against it. It is not part of Islam in any way.

Out of the obligation to advise Muslims, clarify what Allah has Prescribed for them, and forbid the concealment of knowledge, I saw it necessary to alert my Muslim brothers to this innovation, which has become widespread in many regions to the extent that some people think it is part of the religion.

I ask Allah to rectify the affairs of all Muslims, grant them understanding in the religion, and guide us and them to adhere firmly to the truth, abandon anything contrary to it, and remain steadfast upon it. Indeed, He is the One capable of doing so. May Allah’s peace, blessings, and mercy be upon His servant and Messenger, our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and companions.

For Further Reading:

• The Anniversary of Al-Isra and Al-Miraj... and the Seized Al-Aqsa
• Orientalist View of Al Isra Wal Miraj
• The Strong Connection Between Masjid Al-Haram and Al-Aqsa Mosque

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Taken from Shaykh Abd al-Aziz Ibn Baz Official Website.