Are getting together in the month of Rajab and talking about Isra and Mi`raj, and celebrating (ihtifaal) it considered worldly things like science and engineering?

I have often seen Sheikh Suhaib quote from Imam Shatibi’s works on this blog. I would like to ask him what his opinion is with regards to Imam Shatibi’s definition of bid`ah in his book al-I`tisam.

Jazakum Allahu khairan.

Sh. ‘Aa’idh al-Qarni mentioned this story in a lecture with a few more details.. whenever Ibn al-Mubaarak would buy meat he would give some of it to this Jewish neighbor, and when he would buy fruit and clothes he would give them to the man’s children.

After Ibn al-Mubaarak gave the man the 1,000 dinars, he raised his hands with tears in his eyes asking Allah to guide the man to Islam. Then his neighbor, the Jewish man, came on spot and declared the shahaadah, telling Ibn al-Mubaarak, “By Allah, surely a deen which made you come out of your house (to give me that money) is a religion of the truth.”

May Allah help us all to follow such a blessed example.

Jazak Allahu khairan for the lecture. You mentioned towards the beginning that getting together in the month of Rajab and talking about Isra and Mi`raj, and celebrating (ihtifaal) it is, strictly speaking, a “bid`ah,” but not haram.

Can you please expound on this? How can we call something “bid`ah,” and yet say it is not haram, while the Prophet (peace be upon him) taught us that “every bid`ah is a misguidance”?

Jazak Allahu khairan.

Wa Salam Wa Aklum
Azzah