The month of Rajab is approaching. As at large, Muslims have fallen behind on the true practice of Deen, various unwanted affairs and evil-doings have become rife. All these are bid’at. 27th Rajab is wrongly observed as the night of Me’raj. No particular date is preserved by Sahaba (RA), Tabeyeen (R) or Tabe Tabeyeen (R) regarding Me’raj’s exact date.
Moreover, no Salat or other Ibadat are also prescribed by the Pious Predecessors at this night. Still some people think that their own conclusions are valuable than what the Pious Predecessors (Sahaba, Tabeyeen and Tabe-Tabeyeen) and Ulama say ‘today’. Those audacious ones often behave very boldly and claim such bogus things as if what the Ulama say today are worthless. Who are these Ulama speaking for Deen, how much they understand Quran and Hadith and what is their right provided by Allah Taala are no concern now. Remember, the Ulama are NOT the preservers of Deen, but surely Allah Taala preserves Deen through the Pious Ulama. And worthless and meaningless are their words, who don’t have complete idea of Deen.
In fact, general people have no understanding of Deen if they don’t attach to the Pious Ulama; if this sounds bitter to someone there is absolutely nothing to do. Among the general people who would listen to the Ulama and follow their advice would be safe; the stubborn people (in name they may be Muslims), who just don’t care how they follow Allah Taala’s commandments would only lose.
Honorable Mufti Taqi Usmani (DB) emphasized that just accomplishing Ibadat is not Deen. How, when and why are we performing Ibadat would answer whether we are abiding by Deen or not. A little bit of learning Deen can be very risky and dangerous. Shaytan knows well how to trick people with little and incomplete understanding. People of modern times have the access to internet, newspapers and they do have mobiles and other various means to ‘get information’ a lot. This does give opportunities to know and learn more, but a Muslim life shouldn’t blindly grasp all ideas, knowledge and philosophies. If they do, this might result in the distortion and even radical change in their belief. Unfortunately this is already happening. Like an animal that eats every here and there – pokes nose into all filth whatever it passes, how sad and unfortunate, today a person born in a Muslim family is doing the same. The primary reason for this is, s/he hasn’t attained the Deeni Concept and Knowledge, which was compulsory on him/her. If we blame the environment, it is made by us – ourselves; one cannot escape the punishment of Allah by such lame excuse.
Rajab is now approaching. No authentic narration is present regarding the celebration of Me’raj/or Me’raj night. There no Salat or Fast especially prescribed for this day or night. Still ignorant people dare to do something. According to Mufti Taqi Usmani, if they are blamed for those wrong acts and Ibadat they even say, “What wrong had we done by performing those acts – we hadn’t committed any sin! We had performed some (nafl) Ibadat only. How could this be even questioned?” Mufti Taqi Usmani (DB) has pointed out one very important aspect here. He said, “Deen is the name of following the commandments of Allah. Accomplishing Salat, Fasting is not Deen; when Deen says to do so – do it, when Deen says not to do say – don’t do so. It is mere obedience of Allah that Deen demands from us. If we still follow our vicious desires and stubbornly continue acting upon Shariah-opposing issues the negative outcomes would affect none but only ourselves. Starting from loss in this worldly life these evil rituals and self derived deeds (may it be Salat, Fast or any other Ibadat) will beget great misfortune in the afterlife. Now one may choose between the two – be obedient to Allah Taala and His Rasul Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam or act upon bid’at and accept great punishment. Many of the rituals today relate to downright Shirk which directly denounces Iman. With such deeds one cannot even expect to take the invaluable Iman during death.
Authentic narration informs that when the Rajab moon would appear in the sky Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam taught a Dua to recite. This is a matter where the Ummah should pay attention in Rajab. The Dua at the sighting of Rajab Moon:
Meaning: O Allah! Bestow Barakah on us in Rajab and Shaban and reach us till Ramadan.>
Otherwise, may the incident of Me’raj be how majestic, significant and noteworthy, we can do nothing more than what we had been ordered to. None of us deny that the event of Me’raj is a great event in Islam. It had lifted our Beloved Prophet Sallallahu Alaiyhiwa Sallam to high in the Heavens and he got the great Honor to be very close to His Rabb and it is in Me’raj, he brought the gift of Salat from Allah Taala for this Ummah. He also described to us, his Ummah, what he had seen in this Great Journey – all are so miraculous and amazing for us, but all could happen because Allah Taala willed. Discussing these are very useful no doubt, but do remember that the main objective of doing all these is to take the real teaching and apply those in personal, social, national and international life.
Let us not get caught in the craving of our nafs and engage in what we think is good for us – at least read the authentic Verses of Quran with commentary and Authentic Hadith with sincerity. Then will the fact open up in front of us. Only Allah Taala can provide Tawfeeq – we turn to Him.
