Source: Shumara al-Sunnah, Jhelum
"Some storytellers have claimed that the Mi‘raj occurred in the month of Rajab. According to the scholars of authentication and criticism, this is a clear lie."
[Al-Ba‘ith ‘ala Inkar al-Bida‘ wa al-Hawadith, p. 116]
"There is no known authentic evidence for the specific month, ten-day period, or date of the Mi‘raj. All narrations on this are disconnected and weak. Therefore, it is not legislated for Muslims to designate the night believed to be Laylat al-Isra with any specific form of worship like Qiyam (night prayer) or otherwise."
[Zad al-Ma‘ad: 1/58]
He further writes:
"No companion or righteous successor is known to have granted Laylat al-Isra any special virtue, let alone considered it superior to Laylat al-Qadr. No one among them used to single it out with worship or even mention it. This is why its date is unknown. Even though Isra and Mi‘raj are among the greatest of the Prophet’s ﷺ virtues, it is not legislated to specify that time or place with any religious act."
[Zad al-Ma‘ad: 1/58-59]
[Lata’if al-Ma‘arif, p. 233]
"Festivals are part of the Shariah. Thus, they must be based on revelation, not innovation. The Prophet ﷺ had many important events—like Badr, Hunayn, Khandaq, Hijrah, Fath Makkah, etc.—but none of these days were turned into religious festivals. Doing so is the practice of Christians and Jews, not Muslims. Celebrating Mi‘raj night has no basis in the Sunnah and is an innovation (bid‘ah)."
[Iqtida’ al-Sirat al-Mustaqim, p. 294]
❖ The Reality of Mi‘raj:
The Mi‘raj (Night Journey and Ascension) of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is a true event and a part of Islamic belief. However, the exact date of this miraculous event is not established with certainty in any authentic narration.❖ Is Mi‘raj Linked to the Month of Rajab?
🗣 Imam Abu Shamah al-Maqdisi (665 AH) stated:"Some storytellers have claimed that the Mi‘raj occurred in the month of Rajab. According to the scholars of authentication and criticism, this is a clear lie."
[Al-Ba‘ith ‘ala Inkar al-Bida‘ wa al-Hawadith, p. 116]
❖ Scholarly Verdicts on the Date and Celebration:
🗣 Imam Ibn al-Qayyim, quoting Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, said:"There is no known authentic evidence for the specific month, ten-day period, or date of the Mi‘raj. All narrations on this are disconnected and weak. Therefore, it is not legislated for Muslims to designate the night believed to be Laylat al-Isra with any specific form of worship like Qiyam (night prayer) or otherwise."
[Zad al-Ma‘ad: 1/58]
He further writes:
"No companion or righteous successor is known to have granted Laylat al-Isra any special virtue, let alone considered it superior to Laylat al-Qadr. No one among them used to single it out with worship or even mention it. This is why its date is unknown. Even though Isra and Mi‘raj are among the greatest of the Prophet’s ﷺ virtues, it is not legislated to specify that time or place with any religious act."
[Zad al-Ma‘ad: 1/58-59]
❖ Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (795 AH) said:
"Many events are claimed to have occurred in the month of Rajab, including the Mi‘raj. However, none of these are authentically established. Some narrations say the Prophet ﷺ was born on the first night of Rajab or received revelation on the 27th or 25th, and that Mi‘raj occurred on the 27th. All of these are weak and rejected by scholars like Ibrahim al-Harbi."[Lata’if al-Ma‘arif, p. 233]
❖ Ruling on Celebrating Laylat al-Mi‘raj
🗣 Ibn Taymiyyah emphasized:"Festivals are part of the Shariah. Thus, they must be based on revelation, not innovation. The Prophet ﷺ had many important events—like Badr, Hunayn, Khandaq, Hijrah, Fath Makkah, etc.—but none of these days were turned into religious festivals. Doing so is the practice of Christians and Jews, not Muslims. Celebrating Mi‘raj night has no basis in the Sunnah and is an innovation (bid‘ah)."
[Iqtida’ al-Sirat al-Mustaqim, p. 294]
Summary:
- Mi‘raj is a true event but its date is unknown.
- No authentic evidence exists that it occurred in Rajab or on the 27th.
- Specifying this night with any act of worship or celebration has no basis in the Qur’an or Sunnah.
- Such practices fall under bid‘ah (innovation) and resemble the customs of non-Muslim religious traditions.
