Gathering for Worship on Blessed Nights

Question

In the mosque of our neighbourhood, on the occasion of the celebration of the night of the Mi‘raj (the night of 27 Rajab), we keep night vigil — that is, we occupy ourselves with recitation of the Qur’an, voluntary prayer, awrad and regular litanies — and pass the night thus, and on Friday we fast. Zayd says that keeping vigil on the 27th of Rajab and observing [that night] as a celebration is not established from the Qur’an and Hadith, and that it amounts to bid‘a.

Answer

Zayd’s statement is correct. Gathering in this way on that night in the mosque and elsewhere and engaging collectively in voluntary prayers and recitation [of the Qur’an] is not established; rather, it is makruh and bid‘a (innovation in religion)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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