Worship is desirable in the 27th night of Rajab
The 27th night of Rajab is the night in which the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saw Almighty Allah and was granted many other excellences as well. To recognize the excellence of this night and spend it in worship and remembrance of Almighty Allah has been the custom of the pious elders of the Ummah. This is the night which is called the night of greatness and the night of worship. Thus, Hadhrat Ghouse Azam (May Allah shower His mercy on him) writes:
Translation: Some scholars have gathered all the nights in which worshipping is Commendable (Mustahab) and they have said that they are 14 in the whole year. Among them are …………he 1st night, the 15th night and the 27th night of Rajab. (Al Ghunya Li Talibee Tareeqil Haqq, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 177)
Imam Ghazali (May Allah shower His mercy on him) writes about being heedless in those nights in which staying awake (in worship) is Commendable:
Translation: Keep this in mind that for the seeker it is highly inappropriate for a seeker to be heedless about those nights in which the desirability of staying awake in worship is clearly established, as these nights are the season of (divine) charity and good and a golden opportunity for spiritual dealings. When the trader is heedless of the trade season, he cannot be successful. Among these nights are the 1st night, 15th and 27th nights of Rajab which is the night of the Ascension (Meraj) and offering Salaat in this night is mentioned in the Hadith. (Ihya Ul Uloom, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 373)
The Hadith and the clarifications given by the scholars and the saints obviate the fact that the 27th night of Rajab is the night of worship. Offering Salaat in this night, busying oneself in worship is not at all forbidden but is commendable and desirable and leads to divine reward.
In light of the importance of night worship and its excellence, it was the responsibility of the leaders and the intellectuals of the Ummah to exhort the Ummah to do so. Instead, from some quarters some objections are being raised on the worship performed in sacred nights. Those who engage in worship are taunted and mocked and time and again doubts are being cast in the minds of the populace. Here, some of these objections and their answers are being penned.
Question: Staying awake in worship on the 27th night of Rajab and gathering the mosques is a (reprehensible) innovation as the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) didn’t perform any worship in this night.
Answer: Asserting that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) didn’t perform any worship in this night is totally baseless. There is no Hadith or even a Tradition of any Companion which says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) didn’t perform any worship on that night.
On the other hand, we have already mentioned a Hadith on the authority of Shua’bul Iman and Fadhaail Al Auqaat of Imam Baihaqui and other books of Hadith that this is such a night that those who worship in this night will be given the reward of 100 years’ worth of worship.
When the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) gave such glad tidings for this night, then undoubtedly He Himself would have spent the night in worship. Also, on hearing these glad tidings, the Companions must also have spared no effort in spending the night in worship and prayer, as they always made haste in good deeds.
This shows that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) spent this night in prayer and worship.
2nd Answer: It is established by rigorously authenticated Hadith that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) offered Salaat before the Ascension (Meraj) and during the Ascension. Before mounting the Burraq, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) offered Salaat in the house of Hadhrat Umme Haani (May Allah be well pleased with her) and led all the Prophets in Salaat in Masjid Al Aqsa.
This shows that worshipping and praying in this night is a Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and all the other Prophets also did so. The Salaat of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) before and during the divine journey wasn’t Salaat Ul ‘Isha as at that time Salaat Ul ‘Isha had not yet been obligated. It is mentioned in the Hadith that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) offered Salaat at a few places. In Madina, at Madyan, on Mount Sinai and at Bethlehem, the birth place of Hadhrat ‘Isa (May peace be upon him).
As is mentioned in Subul Ul Huda War Rashad.
That spending the night in worship is Commendable (Mustahab) is established by the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) offering Salaat in this great night. There is no prohibition on repeating any good act which has been performed once. Instead, it is a means of excellence.
Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center 