The Ruling on Celebrating Certain Occasions Such as the Two 'Eids, the Night of Isra', and the Middle of Sha'ban

Question :

We have some customs that we adhere to and that we have inherited. For example, we always prepare cake and biscuits for 'Eid Al-Fitr, we prepare meat and fruit on the 27th night of Rajab and the middle night of Sha'ban; and we prepare special sweets on the day of 'Ashura. What is the ruling regarding this?

Answer:

As for expressing joy and happiness on the days of "Eid Al-Fitr and 'Eid Al-Adh-ha, there is nothing wrong with that if it is within the limits of the Shari'ah. This may include having people over to eat and drink, etc. It is confimred that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"The days of Tashriq are days of eating, drinking, and remembering Allah Almighty."

The days of Tashriq are the three days that follow Eid Al-Adha, when people slaughter animals to eat and to enjoy Allah's favours upon them. Similarly, it is recommended to celebrate 'Eid Al-Fitr, as long as the limits set by the Shari'ah are not transgressed.

As for expressing joy on the twenty-seventh night of Rajab, the middle night of Sha'ban, or the day of 'Ashurah, not only that there is any basis for celebrating these occasions, but doing so is also forbidden. One should not accept an invitation to a party in which these three days are celebrated, for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Beware of newly invented matter, for every newly invented matter is an innovation, and every innovation is misgui dance."

Some claim that on the twenty-seventh night of Rajab the Messenger of Allâh ascended to the heavens, but this claim is unsubstantiated. This claim, because it is unproven, remains false, making it false to celebrate this night. But even if we were to suppose that it was on this date that the Messenger of Allah ascended to the heavens, it is still forbidden to celebrate this occasion as a religious holiday or to perform special acts of worship on this day, especially considering that neither the Messenger of Allah nor his Companions have been authentically narrated to have done so themselves. And the Companions were the most diligent people in following the way of the Messenger of Allah, so how does it become sanctioned for us to do that which people did not do during the time of the Messenger of Allah or the time of his Companions.

Even the middle night of Sha'ban is not a proven holiday; the Messenger of Allah did not accord to it a special status, nor did he perform any specific deeds during it, at least not according to any acceptable narration. It was only the second generation of Muslims, the Companions of the Prophet's Companions, who deemed that night to be special, and even' they celebrated it not by eating or being festive, but by praying and remembering Allâh Almighty.

As for the day of Ashura, we should fast on it. When the Messenger of Allah was asked about the fast of 'Ashura, he said that it expiates for sins of the previous year. We are not, however, allowed to specially celebrate or mourn on this day, because doing so is against the Sunnah. The Messenger of Allah only fasted on this day and ordered us to fast the day before or the day after it as well, so that we may be different from the Jews, who fasted only on the day of 'Ashura itself.