Rajab is the seventh month in the Islamic lunar calendar. This month was regarded as one of the sacred months [Al-Ashhur-al-hurum] in which battles were prohibited in the days of the Holy Prophet Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam. It is also a prelude to the month of Ramadân, because Ramadân follows it after the intervening month of Sha'bân. Therefore, when the Holy Prophet Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam sighted the moon of Rajab, he used to pray to Allâh in the following words:

اللّهمّ بارك لنا في رجب و شعبان و بلّغنا رمضان

"O Allâh, make the months of Rajab and Sha'ban blessed for us, and let us reach the month of Ramadan (i.e. prolong our life up to Ramadan, so that we may benefit from its merits and blessings)."

Yet no specific way of worship has been prescribed by the Shari‘ah in this month. However, some people have invented some special rituals or practices in this month, which are not supported by reliable resources of the Shari‘ah or are based on some unauthentic traditions. We would like to explain here the correct position about one of them: Celebration of Lailatul Mi'raj

It is generally believed that the great event of Mi'raj [ascension of the Holy Prophet Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam to the heavens] took place in the night of 27th of Rajab. Therefore, some people celebrate the night as ‘Lailatul- Mi'raj’ [the night of ascension to heavens].

Indeed, the event of Mi'raj was one of the most remarkable episodes in the life of our beloved Holy Prophet Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam.

But, Islâm has its own principles with regard to the historic and religious events. Its approach about observing festivals and celebrating days and nights is totally different from the approach of other religions. The Holy Qur'ân and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam did not prescribe any festival or any celebration to commemorate an event from the past, however remarkable it might have been. Instead, Islam has prescribed two annual celebrations only. One is Eid-ul-Fitr and the other is Eid-ul-Adha. Both of these festivals have been fixed at a date on which the Muslims accomplish a great 'ibadah [worship] every year. Eid-ul-Fitr has been prescribed after the fasts of Ramadan, while Eid-ul-Adha has been fixed when the Muslims perform the Hajj annually. None of these two eids is designed to commemorate a particular event of the past which has happened in these dates.

The following points should be remembered with regard to the "Lailatul-Mi'raj":

· We cannot say with absolute certainty in which night the great event of Mi'raj took place. Although some traditions relate this event to 27th night of the month of Rajab, yet there are other traditions that suggest other dates. Al-Zurqani, the famous biographer of the Holy Prophet Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam has referred to five different views in this respect: Rabi-ul-Awwal, Rabi-u-Thani, Rajab, Ramadân and Shawwal. Later, while discussing different traditions, he has added a sixth opinion, that the Mi'raj took place in the month of Dhu al Hijjah.

It is also not known in which year the event of Mi'raj took place. The books of history suggest a wide range between the fifth-year and the twelfth year after the Holy Prophet Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam was entrusted with prophethood.

· The Holy Prophet Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam never celebrated the event of Mi'raj, nor did he give any instruction about it. No one can prove that the Holy Prophet Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam ever performed some specific modes of worship in a night calling it the ‘Lailatul-Mi'raj’ or advised his followers to commemorate the event in a particular manner.

· After the demise of the Holy Prophet Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam also, no one of his companions is reported to celebrate this night as a night of special acts of worship. They were the true devotees of the Holy Prophet Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam and had devoted their lives to preserve every minute detail of the sunnah of the Holy Prophet Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam and other Islamic teachings. Still, they did not celebrate the event of mi'raj in a particular night in a particular way.

All these points go a long way to prove that the celebration of the 27th night of Rajab, being the Lailatul-Mi'raj has no basis in the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam or in the practice of his noble companions. Had it been a commendable practice to celebrate this night, the exact date of this event would have been preserved accurately by the Ummah and the Holy Prophet Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam and his blessed companions would have given specific directions for it.

Therefore, it is not a Sunnah to celebrate the ‘Lailatul-Mi'raj.’ We cannot declare any practice as a Sunnah unless it is established through authentic sources that the Holy Prophet Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam or is noble Companions have recognised it as such, otherwise it may become a bid'ah [religious innovation] about which the Holy Prophet Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam has observed in the following words: “Whoever invents something in our religion which is not a part of it, it is to be rejected.”

Being mindful of this serious warning, we should appreciate that the 27th night of the month of Rajab is neither like 'Lailatul-Qadr' [Night of Power]or 'Lailatul-Bara'ah' [Night of Emancipation] for which special merits have been mentioned expressly either by the Holy Qur'ân or by the Holy Prophet Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam.

However, all the recognized modes of 'ibadah (worship) like Salat, recitation of the Holy Qur'ân, dhikr, etc. are commendable any time, especially in the late hours of night, and obviously the 27th night of Rajab is not an exception. Therefore, if someone performs any recognised 'ibadah in this night from this point of view nothing can stop him from doing so, and he will be entitled to the thawab [reward allocated for that recognised 'ibadah, insha-Allâh]. However, it is not permissible to believe that performing 'ibadah in this night is more meritorious or carries more thawab like ‘Lailatul-Qadr’ or ‘Lailatul-Bara'ah’, because this belief is not based on any authentic verse or on a Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam. Similarly, it is not a correct practice to celebrate this night collectively and to invite people to special ritual congregations.

Some people suggest some special modes of worship to be performed in this night. Since no special mode of worship is prescribed by the Shari'ah in this night, these suggestions are devoid of any authority and should not be acted upon.

It is believed by some that the Muslims should keep fast on 27th of Rajab. Although there are some traditions attributing special merits to the fast of this day yet the scholars of hadith have held these traditions as very weak and unauthentic reports which cannot be sufficient to establish a rule of Shari'ah. On the contrary, there is an authentic report that Sayyidna 'Umar, Radi-Allâhu anhu, used to forbid people from fasting on this day, rather to compel them to eat if they had started fasting.

It should be borne in mind here that a ‘nafl’ fast can be observed any day (except the six prohibited days of the year); therefore, fasting on 27th of Rajab is not prohibited in itself. What is prohibited is the belief that fasting on this day is special and more meritorious than fasting in other day of the year. One should not fast in this day with this belief. But if someone fasts therein, believing it to be a normal nafl fast, there is no bar against it.