09-11-2004, 10:45 AM
as salam alykom
I found those two more fatwas on the topic:
FATAWAA on RAJAB, Isra and Miraj
A Fatwa, is a legal statement in Islam issued by a religious law specialist on a specific issue. Usually a fatwa is issued at the request of an individual or a judge to settle a question where Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) is made up of the rulings of Islamic scholars to direct the lives of the Muslim faithful. A scholar capable of issuing fataawa (plural) is known as a Mufti (is a Muslim leader who is an interpreter or expounder of Islamic law (Sharia), capable of issuing fataawa.
The month of Rajab
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 PBUH. It is also a prelude to the month of Ramadan, because Ramadan follows it after the intervening month of Sha'ban.
Although the month of Rajab has these merits, yet no specific way of worship has been prescribed by the Shariah in this month. There are no special days of fasting or Ibadah in this month or any night of this month.
It was in this context that the Prophet Mohammed (peace and blessings be upon him) was taken up to the heavens in a miraculous and profound journey Muslims know as Isra and Miraj. This took place on the 27th day of the month of Rajab.
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 them.
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Fasting on the 27th of Rajab?
Question:
Dear Sheikh! Is there any specific reward or merit pertaining to 27 Rajab? What about fasting on that day? Is it true that Al-Israa’ and Al-Mi`raj (Night Journey and Ascension of the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him) happened on that night?
Mufti Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi
Answer:
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Dear questioner! Thank you for this question, which reflects a true desire to gain more knowledge about Islam and its guidance.
It should be noted, first of all, that the exact date of Al-Israa’ and Al-Mi`raj is not known. There is no evidence to support the saying that it happened on 27 Rajab. Even if 27 Rajab is the day of Al-Israa’ and Al-Mi`raj, there is no way to say that we have to fast that day, since we cannot innovate fasting on our own without having evidence from the sources of Shari`ah supporting it. However, if a person customarily fasts on Mondays and Thursdays and 27 Rajab falls on one of those two days, then there is nothing wrong in fasting on that day. Elaborating on this issue, the eminent Muslim scholar Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi states: "Among the prohibited types of fasting is any kind of fasting people initiate on their own without any Shari`ah text or evidence. An example of this is the fasting on 27 Rajab thinking that it is the day that followed the night of Al-Israa’ and Al-Mi`raj. Some people would fast on that day as a token of gratitude and thankfulness to Allah for the blessing of Al-Israa’ and Al-Mi`raj. It is really important for a Muslim to prove thankful in the remembrance of every event that brought blessings to the Muslim Ummah. These events are many indeed. However, this thankfulness does not mean that a Muslim has to fast. Almighty Allah reminds Muslims of so many blessings He has given to them. Allah says: “O ye who believe! Remember Allah's favor unto you when there came against you hosts, and We sent against them a great wind and hosts ye could not see." (Al-Ahzab: 9) However, Almighty Allah did not ask them to fast and they never did.
In his brilliant book Zaad Al-Ma`aad, Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim wrote that Ibn Taymiyah. said, “It is not recorded that any Muslim attributed any merit or privilege to the night of Al-Israa’ and Al-Mi`raj. None of the Companions ever did so. That is why we cannot tell when exactly Al-Israa’ and Al-Mi`raj happened.” Ibn Al-Qayyim wrote, "There is no clear evidence of the exact month when it happened, or the exact date of it. There are, in fact, so many reports in this regard and none of then is decisive. There is no specific ritual pertaining to it."
It is thus clear that there is no clear evidence that the night of Al-Israa’ and Al-Mi`raj is 27 Rajab, despite of the common belief that it happened that day."
Allah Almighty knows best.
Source:www.al-islamforall.org