Slaughtering at certain times as an act of the Sunnah

Question: What is the ruling on sacrificing an animal at a specific date and time every year? Many people believe that slaughtering on the 27th of Rajab, 6th of Safar, 15th of Shawwaal, and 10th of Muharram is an act of ‘Ibaadah (worship) and Qurbah (a good deed by which Allaah’s Pleasure is sought). Are these acts valid? Are they acts of Sunnah or Bid‘ah (innovation in religion) that contradict Islaam and anyone who does them will not be rewarded in return?

Answer: All acts of ‘Ibaadah and Qurbah that draw a Muslim close to Allaah are Tawqeefee (bound by a religious text and not amenable to personal opinion)… read more here.

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Kind treatment toward family on the Day of `Ashooraa’

Question: On the 10th of Muharram, some people prepare a lot of food for their families and Khutabaa’ (preachers) constantly clarify the religious and worldly virtues of this day. What is the ruling on this? Some people also say that from experience preparing a lot of food on this day leads to blessing in their money.

Answer: What is valid is to fast during the 10th of Muharram, together with the 9th or 11th. If a Khateeb (preacher) or a tutor encourages people to do this and clarifies the virtue of it (the day), this is definitely good… read more here.

Giving charity on the Mid-Sha`baan night

Question: My father, when he was alive, instructed me to give Sadaqah (voluntary charity) as much as I can on the eve of the 15th of Sha‘baan every year. I carried out his will up to now, but some people reproach me for this act. Is Sadaqah given on the eve of 15th of Sha‘baan permissible according to my father’s will or not? Please enlighten us, may Allaah reward you.

Answer: Specifying this Sadaqah for the day of mid-Sha‘baan every year is an impermissible act of Bid‘ah (innovation in religion), even if this is the will of your father… read more here.

The night “Therein is decreed every matter of ordainments” and the ruling on spending the Mid-Sha`baan night in offering optional night Salaah

Question: My question is about the 15th night of Sha`baan. Does the following Aayah (Qur’aanic verse) in Soorah Al-Dukhaan, saying: Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments. Refer to the 15th night of Sha`baan, or Laylat-ul-Qadr (the Night of Decree), the 27th night of Ramadaan? Is it Mustahab (desirable) during this night to offer worship, engage in Thikr (Remembrance of Allaah), Qiyaam-ul-Layl (optional Night Prayer), recite Qur’aan, and fast the 14th of Sha`baan?

Answer: Firstly, the authentic explanation reported about the night in the Aayah referred to is that it is Laylat-ul-Qadr, not the night of mid-Sha`baan… read more here.

The Imaam supplicating to Allaah after the obligatory Salaah while the people are gathered

Question: Is it permissible for the Imaam to perform Du`aa’ (supplication to Allaah) after performing the prescribed prayer while all the people are still present?

Answer: Acts of worship are Tawqeefee (bound by a religious text and not amenable to personal opinion). Therefore, it is not legally permitted to say that this act of worship is permissible with regard to its origin, number, manner or place without legal evidence for saying so… read more here.

Reciting Soorah Yaa-Seen and Mawlid poems on the eve of the seventeenth of Ramadaan

Question: They also gather in Masjids (mosques) on the eve of the 17th of Ramadaan to recite Soorah Yaa-Seen and the Mawlid (the Prophet’s birthday) poems. Is this permissible?

Answer: The answer to this question is the same as that to the first one. Based on the evidence mentioned above, these practices are prohibited… read more here.

Reciting Soorah Yaa-Seen and Mawlid poems on the Mid – Sha`baan night

Question: In some Masjids (mosques), people gather on the eve of the 15th of Sha‘baan to recite Soorah Yaa-Seen three times and the Mawlid (the Prophet’s birth) poems.

Answer: This is a Bid‘ah (innovation in religion). It was authentically reported that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) that is not part of it will have it rejected. He (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said in another Hadeeth… read more here.

Excellence of the night of mid – Sha‘baan

Question: Some scholars say that many Ahaadeeth were narrated about the merit of spending the eve of mid – Sha‘baan in Salaah (Prayer) and its day in Sawm (Fast). Are these Saheeh (authentic) Ahaadeeth or not? If there are Saheeh Ahaadeeth, please explain them to us in detail. If not, please advise. May Allaah reward you with good.

Answer: Many Saheeh Ahaadeeth were narrated about the merit of Sawm in Sha‘baan, but without specifying a certain day. For example, there is a Hadeeth in the Two Sahih Books of Hadeeth (i.e. Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim) which states that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said… read more here.

Preparing food on the eve of the Mi`raaj Night and the night of Al-Qadr and sending it to the Imaam to supplicate to Allaah on it

Question: Is it permissible to prepare food and meat during Laylat-ul-Qadr (the Night of Decree) and the Night of Mi`raaj (Ascension to Heaven) to be sent to the Masjid (mosque) so that the Imaam could make Du`aa’ (supplication) upon it hoping that the reward may reach the dead as is the custom?

Answer: It is not permissible to specify a certain event such as Laylat-ul-Qadr and the Night of Mi`raaj for preparing the food to be sent to the Masjid so that the Imaam could make Du`aa’ upon it hoping that the reward may reach the dead. This is an act of Bid`ah (innovation in religion) that should be abandoned… read more here.

Celebrating on the twenty-seventh (27th) night of Ramadaan

Question: What is the ruling on celebrating the twenty-seventh night of Ramadaan in particular?

Answer: Celebrating the twenty-seventh night of Ramadaan in particular is a Bid`ah. It is authentically reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: Anyone who introduces anything into this matter of ours (Islaam) that is not part of it will have it rejected. (Related by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)… read more here.

Ruling on celebrating on the twenty-seventh (27th) night of Ramadaan

Question: Is it permissible to distribute the food offered in fulfillment of a vow made for Awliya’ (pious people) and righteous people? And is it permissible to make this a celebration, and is it permissible to raise flags during such celebrations?

Answer: The best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and the worst practice is the introduction of new practices in Islaam. The practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) during Ramadaan was to offer many acts of worship like Salaah (Prayer), recitation of the Qur’aan, Sadaqah (voluntary charity), and to perform other good deeds… read more here.

Is seeing a light coming from the sky by the righteous considered as one of the signs of Laylatul-Qadr?

Question: Is seeing a light coming from the sky by the righteous considered as one of the signs of Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Decree)? It is attributed to some righteous people that they saw this light and this sign is widely common among people. I know some righteous people (although none can verify this but Allaah) who saw this sign. What is the veracity of this sign? Does it have a basis in Allaah’s Purified Shar` (Law)?

Answer: We do not know a basis in Allaah’s Purified Shar` that indicates that this is one of the signs of Laylatul-Qadr… read more here.

Can Laylatul-Qadr be seen in a dream or while one is awake?

Question: Can Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Decree) be seen in a dream or while one is awake? Is it special or general? What are its signs? I heard that following Laylatul-Qadr, the sun on the next day becomes red and the sky becomes cloudy. If this occurs, this means that its blessings embraced both worshippers and Kaafirs (disbelievers).

Answer: It is stated in the Saheeh (authentic) Hadeeths of the Prophet (peace be upon him) that the sun on the next morning of Laylatul-Qadr will have no rays. It is also stated that Laylatul-Qadr was shown to the Prophet (peace be upon him) in a vision and then was caused to forget (by Allaah)… read more here.

How to spend Laylat-ul-Qadr (the Night of Decree) in worship?

Question: How to spend Laylat-ul-Qadr (the Night of Decree) in worship. Is it by offering Salaah (Prayer), reciting the Qur’aan, reading the Seerah (the Prophet’s biography), listening to lectures and lessons, or celebrating it in the Masjid (mosque)?

Answer: Firstly, the Messenger of Allaah (peace be upon him) used to be exceptionally diligent in his worship during the last ten days of Ramadaan, more than at any other time, praying, reciting the Qur’aan, and supplicating. It was reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim on the authority of `Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased upon her) that… read more here.