Bid`ahs during the seventeenth night of Ramadan

Q: Some People recite the birth story of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and Surah Yasin and Surah Al-Fatihah, dedicating them to those who were martyred in the Battle of Badr on the 17th day of Ramadan. They gather in the Hanafi Masjid and supplicate to Allah for their sake. They also recite the birth story of the Prophet (peace be upon him), Surah Yasin and Surah Al-Fatihah then make supplication. Is doing so sanctioned by Shari‘ah (Islamic law) or not? Please, show us the truth about this matter with citing evidence! May Allah reward you!

A: Texts of Shari‘ah denote the sublimity of the status of our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his lofty position. He is the Khalil (close friend) of Allah and His most beloved one. He is the last of Allah’s Messengers and the best of all His creatures. They also indicate that none will truly believe until his love for Muhammad (peace be upon him) is superior to his love for himself, parents, children and all mankind. There is no other Shar‘ (law) except that with which he was sent and he conveyed to his Ummah (nation). Allah did not take his soul except after religion was completed and the grace of Allah upon His servants was perfected.Texts of Shari‘ah also point out the virtue of the martyrs of the Battle of Badr and others. The Prophet (peace be upon him) lived many years after the Battle of Badr, yet it was never reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) related his birth story on the 17th day of Ramadan whether in congregation or alone. Moreover, he (peace be upon him) never recited Surah Yasin and Surah Al-Fatihah for the martyrs of the Battle of Badr or others, either on the 17th day of Ramadan or other days. He did not do that alone or in congregation. (Part No. 3; Page No. 13) It was not authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) or any of his Companions did that. If it was legislated by the Prophet (peace be upon him), it would have been reported to us and it would have been acted upon during the lifetime of the Companions, for the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not leave anything whatsoever good except that he guided us to it. Moreover, the basis in all acts of worship is their being Tawqifiy (bound by a religious text and not amenable to personal opinion) authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him). The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to visit the graves - including the graves of martyrs - and supplicate to Allah for them. It was not authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) recited his birth story or Surah Yasin or any other Ayahs of the Qur’an upon visiting the graves.As it was not reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) or any of his Companions did so, then this denotes that reciting the birth story of the Prophet (peace be upon him) or Surah Yasin or Surah Al-Fatihah for the martyrs of the Battle of Badr on the 17th day of Ramadan is itself a Bid‘ah. Specifying a certain day for doing so is another Bid‘ah. Gathering to practice a Bid‘ah is piling wrong upon wrong, for it also counts as a Bid‘ah. Therefore, the whole case is a whole heap of wrong invented practices. Also, gathering to do so and then making supplication after it, is also a Bid‘ah. Therefore, a Muslim should search for what was authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) and work accordingly as there is no legislation except that which he (peace be upon him) laid down. All acts of worship invented by people and introduced into the religion, which were not ordained by Allah or His Messenger, are Bid‘ahs. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours (Islam) that is not part of it, will have it rejected.” .May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.