Hadith on 15th of Shaaban Very early Hadith books such as the Mussanaf of Abdul Razzaq Ibn Humam (May Allaah have mercy on him) (126-211 AH)( Ref: Musannaf Abdur Razzaq 4/317) and the Musnad of Ahmed bin Hanbal (May Allaah have mercy on him) (164-241 AH) ( Ref: Musnad Ahmad 2/176 & 6/238)contain Ahadith relating to the virtues of 15th Sha'ban. Even within the famous Six Books of Hadith (al-Kutub al-Sittah), Trimdhi ( Ref: Jami' Al-Trimidhi: Kitab Al-Sawm, Bab "Ma ja'a fi Laylatin Nisfi min Sha.ban" #739 (Vol.3 p107))and Ibn Majah (Sunan Ibn Majah: Kitab Al-Iqamah, Bab "Ma Ja'a Fi Laylatun Nifsi min Sha'ban" #1388 (Vol. 1 p444) have devoted a special chapter on "The Night of the Middle of Sha'ban" in their Hadith collections. In fact there are over a dozen Ahadith available which establish the significance of the night of the 15th of Sha'ban. There are many hadith on the merits of this Night and some of them are weak ( dai’f).However, it is to be noted that not all of the 'weak' Ahadith suffer from major weaknesses and in fact the minor weaknesses in some Ahadith are curable and strengthened by other narrations. ( Wahabi Scholar Albani : : Silsilah Al-Ahadith Al Sahihah 3/135) When all the numerous weak Ahadith are combined together, they reach a level of acceptability among Hadith scholars equivalent to being 'Hasan' (good). Here are a few Sahih (Authentic) Hadith on the merits on the Night of 15 th of Shaba’an. Hadith 1 Ibn Hibban narrated from Mu`adh ibn Jabal in his Sahih the following narration which the hadith scholar and editor of the Sahih Shu`ayb Arna'ut confirmed as sound: The Prophet said : yattali`u Allahu ila khalqihi fi laylati al-nisfi min sha`bana fa-yaghfiru li-jami`i khalqihi illa li mushrikin aw mushahin. Allah looks at His creation in the night of mid-Sha`ban and He forgives all His creation except for a mushrik (idolater) or a mushahin (one bent on hatred). ( Reference: Al-Tabarani: Al-Mu'jam Al-Kabir 20/108-9, Ibn Hibban: Sahih Ibn Hibban 7/470, Al-Bayhaqi: Shu'bal Iman 2/288, Abulhasan Al-Qazwini: Al-Amali 4/2, Ibn 'Asakir: Al-Tarikh 15/302 & Ibn Abi 'Asim:Al-Sunna1/224) Note : 1)Ibn Hibban (May Allaah have mercy on him) considered this Hadith to be Sahih. (Ibn Rajab: Lataif Al-Ma'arif 1/224) 2)And Ibn Hajr Al-Haytami (May Allaah have mercy on him) said: "This Hadith is related by Al-Tabarani (May Allaah have mercy on him) in Al-Mu'jam Al-Kabir and Al-Awsat and the narrators of both are trustworthy"(thiqat) ( Ibn Hajar Al-Haytami: Majma' Al-Zawaid 8/65) 3)The great hadith scholar of the present time , Shaykah Shuayb Al-Arna'uat ( Rh) and the self claimed Wahabi hadith scholar Nasiruddin Al-Albani, have also considered this Hadith as 'Sahih'. ( Ref: - Shuayb Al-Arna'ut: Al-Ihsan fi Taqrib Sahih Ibn Hibban 12/481 #5665 & Nasiruddin Al-Albani: Silsilah Al-Ahadith Al-Sahihah 3/135 #1144 ) Hadith 2 There is another identical Hadith related from the Companion Abdullah b.'Amr (May Allaah be pleased with him) which says that the Prophet(Sallalahu Alaihi Wassalam) said: "Allah looks at His creation during the night of the 15th of Sha'ban and He forgives His servants except two- one intent on hatred (mushanin) and a murderer (qatilu nafs). ( Ref : Musnad Ahmad 2/176 #6642. Al-Bazzar also related this Hadith and he classified it as 'hasan'. ) Note : In his edition of Musnad Ahmed, Shaykh Ahmed Shakir has classified this Hadith as'Sahih' and Nasiruddin Al-Albany classified it is 'Hasan' ( Al-Albani: Silsilah Al-Ahadith Al-Sahihah 3/136). Hadith 3 A similar narration as above , but narrated by Abu Bakr Siddiq Rd . It has been classified as sound by Haafiz al-Munzhiri (RA) in his al-Targheeb (vol.3 pg.459). This narration is of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (Radhiallaahu Anhu) and is recorded by Imaam Bazzaar (RA) in his Musnad. In fact, Hafiz ibn Hajar (RA) has also classified one of its chains as Hasan (sound). (al-Amaalil mutlaqah pgs.119-120) An important Note: All the weak hadith which talks about the merits of 15th of Shaba’an, have got only minor weakness in them. Going by the principle of hadith, these weak hadiths also strengthen each other. Besides the above, there are many other Sahaaba (Radhiallaahu Anhum) that narrated Ahaadith regarding the merit of this night, such as: Abu Hurayra (Musnad al-Bazzaar), Abu Tha’labah (Shu’ubul Imaan), Awf ibn Maalik (Musnad al-Bazzaar), Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-Aas (Musnad Ahmad Hadith6642), Abu Moosa al-Ash’ari (ibn Majah Hadith1390; Shu’ubul Imaan Hadith3833) and others. The collective strength of these narrations cannot be refuted. What the Scholars have said about this Night: 1) The general virtue of this night has been accepted by many great Ulama of the past. From among many great scholars which have agreed to the virtue of this night are: Umar ibn Abdul-Aziz, Imaam al-Shaafi’ee, Imaam al-Awzaa’ie, Attaa ibn Yassaar, Imaam al-Majd ibn Taymiyah, ibn Rajab al-Hambaliy and Hafiz Zaynu-ddeen al-Iraaqiy (Rahmatullaahi alayhim) . Refer Lataiful Ma’aarif of Hafiz ibn Rajab pgs.263-264 and Faydhul Qadeer vol.2 pg.317. 2) Even Ibn Taymiyya -- the putative authority of "Salafis" -- considered the night of mid-Sha`ban "a night of superior merit" in his Iqtida' al-sirat al-mustaqim: [Some] said: There is no difference between this night (mid-Sha`ban) and other nights of the year. However, the opinion of many of the people of learning, and that of the majority of our companions (i.e. the Hanbali school) and other than them is that it is a night of superior merit, and this is what is indicated by the words of Ahmad (ibn Hanbal), in view of the many ahadith which are transmitted concerning it, and in view of what confirms this from the words and deeds transmitted from the early generations (al-athar al-salafiyya). Some of its merits have been narrated in the books of hadith of the musnad and sunan types. This holds true even if other things have been forged concerning it. ( Ref:Ibn Taymiyya, Iqtida' al-sirat al-mustaqim (1369/1950 ed.) p. 302.) Ibn Taymiayh also said “ As for the middle night of Sha’baan, there are various narrations that have been narrated regarding its significance and it has been reported from a group of the Salaf (predecessors) that they performed Salaat in it individually, hence, such a deed cannot be disputed.’ (Majmoo’ al-Fataawa ibn Taymiyah vol.23 pg.132) 3) Imam Suyuti (Rh)says in his Haqiqat al-sunna wa al-bid`a: “As for the night of mid-Sha`ban, it has great merit and it is desirable (mustahabb) to spend part of it in supererogatory worship.” ( Ref: Suyuti, Haqiqat al-sunna wa al-bid`a aw al-amr bi al-ittiba` wa al-nahi `an al-ibtida` (1405/1985 ed.) p. 58. He adds: "However, this must be done alone, not in congregation.") 4. Imam Haskafi ( Rh) said in his Durr al-Mukhtar, one of the primary references in the Hanafi school: "Among the recommended [prayers] are on. . . . the nights of the two Eids, the middle of Sha`ban, the last ten of Ramadan, and the first [ten] of Dhul-Hijjah”. 5. Imam Nawawi ( Rh) mentioned in his Majmu`, where he also quoted Imam al-Shafi`i from the latter’s al-Umm that it has reached him that there are 5 nights when dua is answered, one of them being the night of the 15th of Sha`ban. End Note Only Sahih hadiths have been quoted above. The weak hadith on this topic suffer only from minor weakness . There is general consensus that weak hadiths may be acted upon for virtuous acts, such as voluntary fasting and prayer, as long as the hadith is not excessively weak, returns to a general basis in the Shariah, and one is not convinced that the Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) specifically prescribed it. There are many other narrations from the Companions and early Muslims confirming the merits of this night as mentioned by Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali in his Lata’if al-Ma`arif, and others.

shukran jazakiaAllah for da information may the Almighty grant u all the knowledge to continue helping others

We must follows what is in Quran and Sunna. Sometimes,I wonder who are
we to follow the majority's opinion. Who is majority? It is enough
information in Quran and Sunnah to follow it. JZK

Whether we fast or not in the Middle of Shaaban we try to finish our usual habit of fasting by the Middle of Shaaban to enable us welcome Ramadan.May Allah give Barkah to the Ummah in the Month of Shaaban as Rasulullah used to make dua in addition to enable us witness the Blessed Month of Ramadan which is expected around 9th or the 10th of July.How many brothers and sisters were here in the last Ramadan they will not be here with us. So therefore we should pray to Allah to enable us to see the Ramadan and take advantage of its blessings as the Month of Quran, Laltul qadr Sunnah becomes like Fard and Fard multiplied 70 times what a bonus.We should turn to Allah to get His Rahmah,Maghfirah and be saved from the fire of Hell during the coming Month.

Assalaamu 'Alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakaatuh,

Please could you provide references for the ahadith quoted in this
article for my own reference.

JazakAllahu Khayr

It seems like every year this article or one similar appears on this site. I'm sorry but just posting this article brings down the trustworthness of this site. Normally I check Islamicity almost daily but whenever I read an article asking us to do somethng which the Propht (PBUH) never did or asked others to do, I feel sad. Please Islamicity, look into the authenticity of fasting on the 15th of Shaban.

The Month of Shaaban and Misconceptions Related to its Virtues

10 comments

There are many practices related to the month of Shaaban common amongst Muslims that are not supported by any authentic hadith of the prophet (s). This post summarizes some of those mistakenly held beliefs. Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali said: "Concerning the virtue of the night of the fifteenth of Shaaban there are numerous ahaadeeth, concerning which the scholars differed, but most of them classed those ahadeeth of the prophet (s) as da'eef (weak), and Ibn Hibbaan classed some of them as saheeh. (Lataa'if al-Ma'aazif, 261.)

Similar to other matters, care should be taken to verify those ahadeeth, even though some of those ahadeeth mention a chain of narrators. As Muslims, we have been cautioned to not attribute anything to the prophet (s) that he (s) did not say. It makes no difference whether such an attribution is intended for good or for evil intentions. We see that in the stern warning contained in the words of the prophet (s.a.w.) in which he said: "Whoever tells a lie about me deliberately, let him take his place in Hell." (Narrated by Al-Bukhaari, 10; Muslim, 4.) (Source: islamqa.info).




One of the very common but mistaken beliefs has to do with attributing special virtues to the 15th of the month of Shaaban. The reality, however, is that the hadith literature lacks the evidence of any authentic ahadith related to this topic. Shaykh Ibn Jibreen states the following:

There is no saheeh marfoo' report (A Hadith that traces a statement directly to the Noble Prophet (saw) without any break in the chain of reporters) that speaks of the virtue of the middle of Sha'baan that may be followed, not even in the chapters on al-Fadaa'il (chapters on virtues in books of hadeeth etc.). Som

Scholars of the highest calibre the likes of Imam Shafii, Imam Nawawi, Imam Ghazzali,Tabarani and Imam Suyuti have declared praying on the night of mid shaban as acceptable and virtuos.Only the Wahabi/Salafi EXTREMISTS ....object to everything that has been accepted by over 90% of the Muslim world.May Allah guide these misquided followers.

The rule of Allah does not depend on opinions of majority.
It depends on proof from alquran and sunnah, the authentic ones.
Even a single person who brings the authentic sunnah, we can ignore the opinions of the majority.

wassalam.

Who wrote this article? Please check the authenticity of the hadiths before you write this
article. Please give references to the hadiths. For Islamicity, please review the article
before you publish it. You are accountable before Allah to do that. Ignorance is not
acceptable. You are sending this article to thousand, if not million, of people.

could the author please provide references to the ahadith

A question...

Do we have to fast on 14th shaban or 15th shaban?

I browse Islam on line site and read that 15th of Shabaan has no significant value according to hadith. Our Prophet did not mention to worship whole night nor he did it. I went to Islamicity site and here it tells me to worship whole night and tells supplication to read, now tell me what is the truth. Do not tell me it is my choice if I pray I will get reward and if not there is no harm.

In fact, there are many hadeeths that support this act of worship and this is part of Islam and has been since the early centuries. I don't understand why many muslims pick such things to make a difference in the religion when it is relatively clear. And afterall, one is getting closer to Allah in this night, is there a bida in that too? How many muslims even pray 5 times a day? why don't people clean their sick hearts and realize that there are bigger issues challenging us today.

ASAK,
There goes these wahabis beating their chest on bida. While a majority of Ummah has been enjoining themselves and others in prayers and remembrance of Allah throughout the centuries, these puritan has nothing but to shout Bida/Shirk.
May Allah guide us all.

Dear IslamiCity,

Please make sure that in every article when you quote a Hadith, indicate whether it is Sahih Bukhari or Muslim, etc.

In this paragraph in the article, "My God, by the Great Manifestation of the Night of the middle of the Noble Month of Sha'ban
"in which every affair of wisdom is made distinct and authorized,"(44:4)" is clearly in grave error because 44:4 refers to Lailatul Qadr. Wassalam.

Assalamu Alaiku, i really and truely enjoy the content in this website very interesting. Before, i wasn't aware of how important it is to recite surat yasin from the Glorious Qur'an on the night of 15th Shaban. This is a welcome development to me. May ALLAH Almiqhty continue bless this website, Islam and Muslims to a greater zenith. I wish you forward ever and backward never.

Salaam Alaikum My Dear Brothers and Sisters

Please don't waste time ,several scholars having different views in regards to please Allah [swt]
May Allah[swt] accept all thier deeds and the deeds who follow them, as long as they stay away from Haram , shirk , Ribah , Zinah , supporting Mushrikeen against our own brothers for just few dollars ,pay zakat , offer Salah , do fasting , help un fortunate etc.

Once Prophet [saw] said , the ink of the scholars pen is more scared than the blood of the maytr.

So ,,,just think the degree of the devotion and degree to submit before the will of Allah [swt]

May Allah protects the Ummah from all evils , give strength to those who r suffering with the hands of Mushrikeen.. And make their path easy .Ameen

wasallam/wasim

Why are you so insistent on celebrating a night for which there are no saheeh reports of the Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) or the Sahaba doing it?

All the ahadeeth they quote you about praying a certain number of Rakaat or forgiveness for 80 years, going to the graveyard, etc. are either fabricated or weak!

Do you know what it means when a hadeeth is fabricated?
It means it is a LIE against the Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam). It means he (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) didn't say it; he didn't do it and he didn't approve of it.
The Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) said:
"Whoever tells lies about me deliberately, let him take his place in Hell." (Bukhaari)

And do you know what it means when a hadeeth is classified as weak?

It also means that it is highly doubtful that the Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) did it or said it.

Why do you insist on following something that is doubtful when the Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) told you clearly to stay away from it?!!

"What is permitted is clear and what is prohibited is clear, and between them are doubtful things which many people do not know about. Whoever avoids doubtful things will be on the safe side with regard to his religion and his honor, but whoever falls into doubtful things will fall into haraam things."'(Muslim).

What is the benefit of following something that is doubtful?
Who is it that you want to listen to...the Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) whose truthfulness

"... whoever calls people to misguidance will have a burden of sin like that of those who follow him, without it detracting from their burden in the slightest." (Muslim)

They say the Quraan was sent down this night....And you be

This is a very interesting article...something that I never hear about
in the lectures and khutbas. Praying and fasting in this month can
definately help us reevaluate our Iman, especially when we know
we arent promised tomorrow...and how they say pray every prayer
as if its your last, we should fast as if its our last fast. May Allah
forgive all of our sins. Ameen.

Kindly tell me how to tell my fellow country men that there is no such shab-i-barat in our Islamic sunnah! It is totally confused situation and based on my knowledge it is the practice of cultural environment rather than sunnah. Please tell me what should I understand about Shab-i-barat?
Thank you
Adil

Jazakallah&shukran for the beautiful prayer of shaban&reminder for shaban fasting our youth need these articles to increase their eman peace&blessings of ALLAH on our beloved prophet Muhammad SAW

Assalamu Alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatul? I just want to tell all muslim to be aware with the people who always creat them selves new things to our religion of coaurse what they want to us is to have modern Islamic which is not write. Everythings has been proved in the qur-an and this is the last no any new will come so we have to be in deep with this and Sunnah and not this modern sunnah coming from the people who are used for thei benefit. SO all of us has to be aware with and I am sure we will be becasue we know what has been proved and what has not.

Brother Abu Hamza's quote about the establishment of a new sunnah as the need to classify a certain act as Bidaa.
I am a bit surprised about this. Is Allah(may Allah forgive me)not capable of deciding what may lead to bidaa and what may not? Does religon of Allah need some corrections as Allah(may Allah forgive me)he does not know the nature of humans to innovate?
I am sure that you are not suggesting the above. Allah is all capable of knowing what his creation is required to do. That they make bidaa or fall short of their obligations is all known to Allah.It is the will of Allah by which he leaves to us our will to do right or wrong. Please do not add conditions to the religion and practice of our religion.
People practice their deen to the best of their knowledge and if their intentions are clear then Allah is most forgiving of their mistakes. After all Allah neither gains or looses any thing by our worship or lack of worship.

Dear Brother Roger I can agree that muslims are defective in their practice of religion. However please refrain from making accusations against the Hadiths of the prophet. Allah is the all powerful. He can make any day or night special for his creatures. There is no doubt about it.
Please dont have your own logic of what religion should be. Islam is what Allah has decided for us even if we do not understand some of the implications.
These are established Hadiths. If you have any proof for what you claim then bring those to the table. If not then please do not become like the those who make Halal into Haram and Haram in to Halal on their whims and fancies.

please and please, take this article of confusion and misleading out of Islamicity.com. People supposedly come to this site to find out about true Islam, not the fabricated and misled information on Islam. I am suprise to find out that Islamicity do not Islamically authenticate the articale befor publishing. agan Please remove, otherwise people will not be coming to this site when they find misleading information. thanks

In response to Roger Smith.
There are authentic hadiths relating to both to 15th Shaban and Lailat-ul-Qadr - The night of Power.
For your info people say that the night of power can be on 27th of Ramadhan but also say it can be on any of the odd numbered nights in the last 10 days of Ramadhan. ( The so called Indian / Pakistani / Bangledeshi people or Muslims I would prefer to call them always mention this)

Finally, I am aware people do get inolved in committing bidah committed but this is equally committed by both Arabs and South Asian people. I have seen this with my own eyes. So to blame only one goup of Muslims is discriminatory and I feel you may have to look at yourself and clear any prejudices you hold against the South Asian people.

As Salaam Alaikum... I think that between now and the 14th of Shaban, if one sincerely is seeking the pleasure, mercy and guidance of Allah(SWT), one should pray for Allah to direct them regarding this issue. I trust Allah (SWT) to direct me, and my thinking. Actually, one can pick any night to pray to Allah for mercy.. Always, Allah (SWT) is most interested in our sincerity than anything. Furthermore, I think it is un-Islamic to jump to conclusions, and accuse someone of practicing bida, just because someone seeks any and everyway, that they believe are open to them to worship Allah (SWT). I personally, am very discerning when it comes to Hadith... I find it much safer to follow Quran, and very well known and accepted Hadith. But that doesn't mean that there are not some Hadith that are not as widely accepted, that are also worthy and correct. Surely Allah (SWT) will judge us by our intention, and by the way we treat each other.

Salaam Alaikum, this is wrong, this is confusing, this is an act of satanic influence in our religion of the prophet. I am surprised and outrage that Islamicity allows promotion of the Bida innovation introduced by Pakistani-Indian-Banlgadeshi culture of grave worshipping people (so called "Pir" or muslim saint?). Why contaminate our faith and why Islamicity is promoting such an act of Satan to destroy the little faith we dear.

It is insanity to believe Allah allocates our food and mercy for the year on this day of 15th night. Allah does not think or work like we do year to year basis, since his calender is infinite, "nothing like him". Time is frozen in his domain, he existed before we are born and he will be after we are gone.

Subcontinent people from India-Pakistan-Banlgadesh like convinient system of "one night faith" so they like to have 27th of Ramadan for thousand months prayer and 15th Shaban for mercy for last year or food for next year, if you need some thing in between go to a grave of a dead man or Pir he will provide it. No need to other prayer then go to Jihad to blow up innocents in Masjids praying because they are Shia or Sunni. This bad practice is worst than Jahiliah or the age of ignorance in Arabia before prophet in Mecca.

Quran has given to guide us, not to interpret whatever convinience. Indian-Pakistani-Bangladeshi custom of Islam should not be promoted as universal "pure Islam" practiced by the Prophet (SA).

Islamicity should be condemend for such act of collaboration and Allah will ask them for promoting of vice and division among faithful on the day of judgement. Please stop this and do not celebrate any specific day that was not given by the Qurak or the Prophet SA. Salam.

Verily all praise is for Allah, may His blessings be upon Muhammad SAWS. To proceed:

Without doubt the month of Sha'ban is meritous and exalted from other months. The Prophet SAWS would fast almost all of this month, along with Ramadhaan and the first 6 days of the next month. The 'Ulama said that the one who fasts the entire Ramadhaan and the first 6 days of the next will be as is he fasted the whole month.

But, and it is a very big but, the 15th is not proven to be a virtous night by any authentic hadith. Rather the ahadith of this are very weak, as from the principles of fiqh is that weak hadith cannot be used by themselves for rulings of issues of worship. Therefore, one should not regard the 15th as special.

The article made explicit reference to the "Traditional" acts done. We know too well of innovations widespread in this Ummah to believe that a tradition among Muslims is a proof for it being a sunnah. It is not, as we find with the "traditional" celebration of the Birth of the Prophet SAWS, or the Night of Mi'raaj, etc. All of these are Bid'ah, with no proof from the companions of Muhammad SAWS.

Therefore, one should not regard the 15th as special and as for "Qur'an Khani's", then this are a well- known Bid'ah among the scholars. The fact that some may have mentioned a lighter attitude to some of these does not make it ok, a scholar can be right or wrong and one should follow the evidences from the Book and Sunnah, not speech and culture.

Finally, the Hadith mentioned is similar to the Hadith of when Allah ta'aala descends to the lowest heaven and calls out to the people. It was the habit of the Prophet SAWS to be engaged in Tahajjud (Night prayer) in the last 3rd of the night and he encouraged this. So one should remeber Allah ta'aala in the last 3rd of every night and not specially in this one.

And Allah knows best, may His peace and blessings be upon his messenger, his family and his companions and those who follow them to

Praise be to Allaah.

Please refer to these comments on nisf of shaban by www.islamqa.com


There is no saheeh marfoo' report that speaks of the virtue of the middle of Sha'baan that may be followed, not even in the chapters on al-Fadaa'il (chapters on virtues in books of hadeeth etc.). Some maqtoo' reports (reports whose isnaads do not go back further than the Taabi'een) have been narrated from some of the Taabi'een, and there are some ahaadeeth, the best of which are mawdoo' (fabricated) or da'eef jiddan (very weak). These reports became very well known in some countries which were overwhelmed by ignorance; these reports suggest that people's lifespans are written on that day or that it is decided on that day who is to die in the coming year. On this basis, it is not prescribed to spend this night in prayer or to fast on this day, or to single it out for certain acts of worship. One should not be deceived by the large numbers of ignorant people who do these things. And Allaah knows best.

Shaykh Ibn Jibreen.

If a person wants to pray qiyaam on this night as he does on other nights - without doing anything extra or singling this night out for anything - then that is OK. The same applies if he fasts the day of the fifteenth of Sha'baan because it happens to be one of the ayyaam al-beed, along with the fourteenth and thirteenth of the month, or because it happens to be a Monday or Thursday. If the fifteenth (of Sha'baan) coincides with a Monday or Thursday, there is nothing wrong with that (fasting on that day), so long as he is not seeking extra reward that has not been proven (in the saheeh texts). And Allaah knows best.

this is certainly a meritous act.

the problem is, is that when certain scholors have no lineage of knowledge and absolutly no scholorly authorisation in any field of anyone what soever, they tend to decry all good things as bida - especcially the set of scholors who wasnt even here 220 years ago!

please log onto yanabi.com we have many debates about issues like this, and every single time in debate on yanabi.com the ppl who belive allah has a body depart from the forums after conceeding.

How nice that u have a stong faith, i m a catholic!

Jazakullah Khayran for your comments which are very important for everyone to read and think about.

Again, by disregarding a hadith because it is weak does not mean that you can declare its practice as a bid'a. Imam Nawawi stands in opposition to the position of a person who says otherwise, as is shown. the variety of the narrations and the number of narrations of the night of Bar'ah clearly explains why 'Ulema have upheld the practice of spending this night in special worship to Allah Subhanahu wa ta 'ala, and also on the basis that minor defects in the hadith are what caused it to be labeled as weak, but this does nto mean that the hadith is completely wrong and should be completely rejected, otherwise it would have been classified as forged or fabricated, but it was not, It is as simple as that.

Literal views of hadiths being black and white are not what ilm al-Hadith is about.


The messenger of Allah (Sal' Allahu 'alaiyhi wa sallam) has said:

"Woe to those who practice rigidity, woe to those who practice rigidity, woe to those who practice rigidity."

PART 6

The above argument is driven from the fact that Repetition is the essence of Bidaa. What is bad about following such ritual is that it became part of Deen. Imam Malik has never fasted the 10 days of Shawaal following Ramadan, although it is proven in a Sahih hadith and he has reported it in his own Hadith book Al-Muwatie , as he said: I am afraid that people will join it with Ramadan to make it 40 days and it will be part of the Deen. Abdulah Ibn Masoad ; The companion has went to a Masjid in Kufah (Iraq), where he saw a person is saying to the people around: Allah will have a mercy on those who say with me: Subhan Allah ten times, then people say it after him ten times, he says: Allah will have mercy on those who say Alhamdu l-lah ten time, so they repeat it after hin ten times. Ibn Masoad then said: did you people have found a guidance that the prophet has not found or known. I sware on the name of Allah that you are leading to an astray way that soon will me major (Al-Itesam, Al-shatebi Vol 1 P132). This act might seem form the outside that it is Sunnah and is good, but the companion saw what is wrong about it, is that it establishes a new Sunnah that will be part of Deen in a little while as what happened with the Mid of Shabaan. And also the Prophet PBUH has never done the Tasbeeh like that in a group.

For people of bidaa desire (hawa) to build and construct a new religion is too intense that they will go to any extend to make new religion.

PART 5

This analysis proofs that there is no hadith Sahih that can build a confidence in a ritual (Ibadat) to be followed as the sofis made of this Bidaa.

They say: It is accepted to use a weak hadith if it is in Fadael (good deeds). However:

1. It is not accepted to do so by the majority of the Muhadetheen (people of hadith). Only it is reported by Ahmad that when it comes to doing good deeds, we are easier on Isnad. Ibn Taymiyah said: "This has to be understood in its right context. If we say about an act that Allah swt loves this act and therefore its recommended, we are then making shariat without a proof from Allah or His messenger. It only means that if a hadith that has a weak chain and it is about performing a good deed that is already in corrected Sunnah such as making Du'aa or reading Quran, it can only be beneficial if it is true and it cannot heart if it is not, except if we know that it is not true "it willmake you read more Quran or do more Tasbeeh". However, if that hadith added an extra of defining a specific prayer or fasting in specific date or doing a ritual with a specific form, then this is not acceptable, as this day or description of form is not proven with a sahih hadith or shariat proof. The Collection Of Fatwah, Ibn Taymiyah Vol 8 P65. The point is that it is only Allah swt that has the right to define the blessed days as He did in Ramadan, and the blessed Places, as He did with Mecca, and the blessed people as He did with His messengers which He has chosen, or the format of rituals as He did with the way we pray or fast. Adding to that is preying on his Lordship.

Imam Nawawi stated when summarizing the standard rule on using weak Hadiths in the Majmu' al-Fatawa:

"A weak Hadith cannot be used as primary evidence [Ihtijaj] in matters of what is 'lawful and unlawful' [Ahkam] and faith [meaning that it cannot, on its own, lead to an injunctive legal ruling [Hukm Shar'i Taklifi] that may involve a sin in matters of what is lawful [Halal] and unlawful [Haram] and what is obligatory [Wajib]; or indicate a stipulatory legal ruling [Hukm Shar'i Wad'i] determining the soundness of a particular act, such as its valid condition [Shart] and its prevention [Mani']]. However [as long as it is not a fabricated Hadith], it can be narrated, and it can be used in matters other than what is 'lawful and unlawful' [i.e., in the legal rulings that are not related to sin or what makes an act sound, involving either the Ihtiyat [the more precautionary ruling] or what is recommended [Mandub/Sunna] and what is disliked [Makruh]], such as in Qisas [telling moral stories] and in Fada'il al-A'mal and in Targhib wa al-Tarhib [arousing one's desire to do good and inspiring one's fear from doing evil]."
[al-Nawawi, Majmu', 1:93].

Imam al-Bayhaqi, one of the foremost Muhaddiths of hadith of all time, for example, devoted a whole chapter just on the virtues of the night of Nisf Sha'ban (15th of Sha'ban) in his Fada'il al-Awqat), which means that as Muslims, one should try one's best to benefit from this special night. We also know that there is no objection whatsoever (especially not by Imam al-Nawawi, for example) if someone wanted to pray all night long on that specific night.

By taking the viewpoint that if a hadith is weak, that somehow you can make a legal ruling saying permissible or not, halal or haram, and call it bid'a? There are too many hadiths on 15th Sha'ban, that is why Muhaddiths never called it bid'a, period.

Do you even know hadith classification? You can only disregard hadiths classified as fabricated or forged.

(Continued)
3. In yet another Tradition, she (Aisha r.a.) has reported Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa
sallam, to have said, "This is the middle Night of Sha'ban. Allah frees in it a large
number of the people from Fire, more than the number of the hair growing on the sheep of
the tribe, Kalb. But He does not even look at a person who associates partners with Allah,
or at a person who nourishes malice in his heart (against someone), or at a person who
cuts off the ties of kinship, or at a man who leaves his clothes extending beyond his
ankles (as a sign of pride), or at a person who disobeys his parents, or at a person who
has a habit of drinking wine."


4. Sayyidna Mu'adh ibn Jabal, Radi-Allahu anhu, reports that Prophet Muhammad,
Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, has said: "Allah Almighty looks upon all those created
by Him in the middle Night of Sha'ban and forgives all those created by Him, except the
one who associates partners with Him or the one who has malice in his heart (against a
Muslim)".

Although the chain of narrators of some of these traditions suffers with some minor technical defects, yet when all these traditions are combined together, it becomes clear that this night has some well founded merits, and observing this night as a sacred night is not a baseless concoction as envisaged by some modern scholars (ie. al-Albani) who, on the basis of these minor defects, have totally rejected to give any special importance to this night.

In fact, some of these traditions have been held by some scholars of hadith as authentic and the defects in the chain of some others have been treated by them as minor technical defects which, according to the science of hadith (ilm al-hadith) by classical Sunni 'Ulema, are curable by the variety of their ways of narration. That is why the elders of the ummah have constantly been observing this night as a night of special merits and have been spending it in worship and prayers.

1. Ummul-Mu'mineen 'Aishah, Radi-Allahu anha, is reported to have said,
"Once Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, performed the Salah of the
night (Tahajjud) and made a very long Sajdah until I feared that he had passed away. When
I saw this, I rose (from my bed) and moved his thumb (to ascertain whether he is alive).
The thumb moved, and I returned (to my place). Then I heard him saying in Sajdah: 'I seek
refuge of Your forgiveness from Your punishment, and I seek refuge of Your pleasure from
Your annoyance, and I seek Your refuge from Yourself. I cannot praise You as fully as You
deserve. You are exactly as You have defined Yourself.' Thereafter, when he raised his
head from Sajdah and finished his salah, he said to me: 'Aishah, did you
think that the Prophet has betrayed you?' I said, 'No, O Prophet of Allah, but I was
afraid that your soul has been taken away because your Sajdah was very long.' He
asked me, 'Do you know which night is this?' I said, 'Allah and His Messenger know best.'
He said, 'This is the night of the half of Sha'ban. Allah Almighty looks upon His slaves
in this night and forgives those who seek forgiveness and bestows His mercy upon those who
pray for mercy but keeps those who have malice (against a Muslim) as they were before,
(and does not forgive them unless they relieve themselves from malice).'"


2. In another Tradition Sayyidah' Aishah, Radi-Allahu anha, has reported that Prophet
Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, has said, "Allah Almighty descends (in a
manner He best knows it) in the night occurring in the middle of Sha'ban and forgives a
large number of people more than the number of the fibers on the sheep of the tribe,
Kalb."


Kalb was a big tribe the members of which had a very large number of sheep. Therefore,
the last sentence of the hadith indicates the big number of the people who are
forgiven in this night by Allah Almighty.

(Continued)

I have been looking for all information regarding this night, and now have two polar positions.One is as in this article and the other is a reply i got from The Islamchannel and is to long to post here please find it at this link, ttp://drkhalid.co.uk/ShabiBaraat.php I would be grateful if anyone has any thoughts or information on this matter as i do not wish to neglect something and aslo do not wish to get involved with inovations.

In Sha Allah I will find an answer.

HADITHS OF 15TH SHABAAN - PART 3

3. Ibn Majah 1380:

Hadathana Rashed Ibn Saed Al-Ramly, Hadathana Al-waleed, An Ibn Luhaieh, An Al-Dahak Ibn Ayman, An Al-Dahak Ibn Abdulrahman, An Abi Musa Al-Ashairie An the Prophet PBUH said: Allah comes out in the night of Mid Shabaan and forgive to all his creatures except the unbelievers and the problematic person".

In this chain:

Al-Dahak Ibn Ayman: Al-Thahabi said: unknown, no one knows who is he! (AL-Mizan V2 #3928), see also: Al-Taqreeb #2976 and Al-Kamal #1915) they all said: Unknown.

So the hadith is Matrouk (ignored) at best.



This analysis proofs that there is no hadith Sahih that can build a confidence in a ritual (Ibadat) to be followed as the Sufis made of this Bidaa.

3. It is in Sahih hadith reported in Al-Termizie and Ibn Dawoud on the Authority of A'aisha and Abi Hurayrah that the prophet PBUH said: If it reaches the Mid Shabaan do not fast". This Hadith tells us that if it is the Mid Shabaan we should stop fasting to be strong when Ramadan comes.

On top of that, where in that very weak or ignored hadiths that the prophet had such a celebration all over Medinah at that time. The weak hadith reports that Aisha went after him and found him Alone in the graves of Al-Baqie! With no Jamaa prayer or festivals or any thing..so, even if we take the opinion that we can use such weak hadith in good deeds, shouldn't we stay alone at that day, and make more Duaa to Allah!? If any thing!

HADITHS OF 15TH SHABAAN - PART 2

2. Ibn Majah 1379:

Hadathna Abdah Ibn Andel-lah and Mohamed Ibn AbdelMalik Abu Bakr, they said: Hadathana Yazied Ibn Haroun, Anba'ana Hajaj, An Yahia Ibn Abi Katheer, An Aurwah, An A'aisha she said: I missed the Prophet PBUH one night, so I went out after him, I found him in Al-Baqie looking up to the sky and he said: Oh A'aisha were you afraid that Allah and his messenger may not deal with you in complete just? She said: no I don't think that, but I thought you have went to some of your other wives, he said: Allah descends in the night of Mid Shabaan to the lower heavens and forgive a number of people that is even more than what the sheep of the tribe Kalb hold of fur on its back.".

OPINION OF SCHOLARS ABOUT THIS HADITH:
Hajaj Ibn Arta'a Ibn Thour . Imam Ibn Hajar in Tahtheb Al--tahtheeb Vol 2 P183 said: Ibn Hebban said: Ibn Hanbal , Ibn Maein , Yahia Al-Qatan , Abdul Rahma Ibn Mahdy and Ibn Al-Mubarak never took his Hadith (these are the top Imams in the science of men critique). Ismaiel Al-Qadi said: his hadith is shaky as he makes a lot of Tadlees. Mohamed Ibn Nasr said: his hadith is mostly Mursal and full of tadlees and changing of words. Al-Hakem and Al-Dar-Qutnie said: his hadith is not a proof (same ref.).

So, this hadith is weak at its best.

HADITHS OF 15TH SHABAAN - PART 1

The Hadith where the night of 15th of Shabaab was mentioned, is reported in only one of the major books of Hadith; Sunnan Ibn Majah (apart from Musnad Abdulrazak). It is reported in three different, but close texts, with three different chains of men, as follows:


1. Ibn Majah 1378:

HadathaIn this chain: na Al-Hasan Ibn Al-Khalal Hdathna Abdul Razak, A'anbana Ibn Abi Sabrah, An Ibrahim Ibn Mohamed, An Mu'awiyah Ibn Abdulah Ibn jafar, An his father, An Ali Ibn Abi Taleb said: the Prophet PBUH said: If the night of Mid Shaaban arrived, Pray thru the night and fast thru the day, as Allah descends in it at the time of Dusk to the lower heavens and HE says: Any one repenting so I forgive him, Any one is asking for Rizk so I give him, any one is asking for cure so I give him health, any one, any one, until the dawn arrives".

OPINION OF IMAMS ABOUT THIS REPORT:

In this chain: Abu Bakr Ibn Abdullah Ibn Mohamed Ibn Abi Sabrah. Yahya IbnMa'ein and ahmad Ibn Hanbal said: he fabricates Hadith (see elaborations on Ibn Majah for the extensions of hadith ). Al-Thahabi agreed with the judgment in Al-Mizan and reported on the authority of Ibn Maein that "his Hadith is nothing". Al-Nisaie said: he is Matrouk Left/ignored.

So this Hadith, with this chain is either Matrouk (ignored) or very weak

- continued

reply to: abu abduljalil

can you bring hadith of bukhari or muslims about this bidda of Baraat?

This article says that we must fast on the 15 of Sha'baan but from what I have read their is no mention that the day 15 is a special day, the month is a special month and not a special day. I have read some article from Islamweb.com and other sites disputing this day, please give us the facts and quotation and the hadith about this this day

Excellent post brother abu abduljalil, Jazak-Allah khairun!

This article has left me very confused , since your website provides a different opinion when i did a search on the very same question.There fasting on this night is quoted as being an innovation, contarary to the opinion expressed in this article. Please clarify the stance of your web-site as I've always valued this site as a source of accurate information.

I was told that any special ibadat on the night of the 15th was bidah and the hadith it was based on were weak.

Salaam,
I have read the text on Shaban. However, I would like you to tell me where you have cited these hadith? This is because our
I have the Bukhari and there is no mention of Shaban and how it is a special night when a lot gets told in the heavens???

Brother Or sister whoever wrote the article about Shaban didn't provide where he/she quoted hadiths. Please varify where shaban have prophet PBUH said or even scholar of islaam that "On the Night of 15th Shaban, after Maghrib or Isha prayer it is traditional practice to read Surah Yasin and make special supplications for good health, protection from calamities and increased Iman."

Thank You

P.S. I know that Muhammad PUBH have fasted shaban more than other months but that was you can say train those who are capable training before the blessing month Ramadan come

This is famous Sufi bidda. They create bidda in the name of doing something good. And sometimes show daeef hadith to support the claim. Neither the Messenger of Allah pbuh nor His companion did anything with 15 shaban.

It is in Sahih hadith reported in Al-Termizie and Ibn Dawoud on the Authority of A'aisha and Abi Hurayrah that the prophet PBUH said: If it reaches the Mid Shabaan do not fast". This Hadith tells us that if it is the Mid Shabaan we should stop fasting to be strong when Ramadan comes. How can we put Shahih Hadith together with the very weak or ignored hadith of fasting the Mid shabaan that sufis present? It is only the illusions and desires of the sufis that always want to create new Deen to their followers.

Among the hadiths stressing the status of laylat al-bara'a are the following:

Tirmidhi, Ahmad, and Ibn Majah relate:

A'isha (r.a.): I missed the Prophet (saw) one night so I went out to al-Baqi` (and found him). He said: "Were you afraid that Allah would wrong you and that His Prophet would wrong you?" I said: "O Messenger of Allah, I thought that you might have gone to visit one of your wives." He said: "Allah Glorious and Exalted descends to the nearest heaven on the night of mid-Sha'baan and He forgives to more people than the number of hairs on the hides of the sheep of the tribes of Kalb.

They again relate:
From `Ali ibn Abi Talib (R.A): The Prophet (saw) said: "The night of mid-Sha'baan let all of you spend in prayer (i.e. partly) and its day (i.e. preceding it) in fasting, for Allah descends to the nearest heaven during that night beginning with sunset and says: Is there no one asking forgiveness that I may forgive them? Is there no one asking sustenance that I may grant them sustenance? Is there no one under trial that I may relieve them? Is there not such-and-such, is there not such-and-such, and so forth until until dawn rises.

[Salat al-Khair]
traditionally performed on the night of mid-Sha`ban. As for the ritual prayer traditional for the night of mid-Sha`ban, it consists of 100 cycles, including 1000 repetitions of Surah Ikhlas, meaning ten recitations in each rak`a. This prayer is called Salat al-Khair [the Prayer of Benefits], and its blessings are many and varied. Our righteous predecessors used to gather to perform it in congregation. It contains much merit and rich reward. The time is after Isyak & to be completed before subuh.

Imam Hasan al-Basri has said that 30 of the prophets companions related to him that Allah will look 70 times at one who does Salatul Khair this night and each glance Allah will fulfil 70 of that persons needs, the least of them being forgiveness.

the comment board is not the place to get real knowledge, nor are internet articles, for that matter. the whole question here rests on the hadith. for someone to declare that "major scholars past and present" declare it as weak, what does that mean? which major scholars? the question is whether you mean Bukhari and Muslim, or do you just mean Albani? If the hadeeth is in Sahih Bukhari or Muslim, I am accepting its authenticity. And I accept the worldwide centuries long tradition of our scholars over the teenage "salafi" who learns Islam from the internet and starts trying to "reform" others with vague "proofs" like simply claiming that "major scholars" have declared this or that hadeeth as weak, and who insult our asian brothers by calling them "grave worshipping south east asians with muslim names"...i know a lot of south east asians and no grave worshippers there. whoever talks like that should ask themselves who they are worshipping.

When the author of the article was describing that the prophet (SAW) used to fast frequently in the month of Sha'aban two beautiful ahadith were tendered to support the argument, but on giving us the importance of the night of the fifteenth, the author says "some scholars say.."

Ibadat in Islam are decreed only by Allah or the prophet (SAW), and nobody else.

For anybody to give us or introduce a new way of worship with some attendant rewards that have not been prescribed by those two sources (above) it will be rejected. The hadith attributed to Umar (RA) on calling some bidia good is a weak one. And how can something the prophet (SAW) rejected be good any way? Don't you know about that popular sahih hadith of the prophet (SAW), which can be found in the collections of the 40 ahadith by An-nawawi, the prophet (SAW) was reported to have said (pharaphrasing) that if anybody introduces into the religion of Islam anything that does not belong to it, it is rejected. Please lets take heed and say nothing, but that which is the truth about any form of worship in Islam.

Assalamu Alaikum,
I read this article regarding fasting in the month of Shaban, and Prophet Muhammed{PBUH) did fast several days in this particular month i do so agree, but where u get this tradition that we have to recite Surah Yasin on that night between magrib & Isha! I heard this is totally an innovation in the name of Islam. So I kindly request u to present any aunthentic hadith regading this matter. If I was wrong, Inshallah I can be rectifide for my mistake. Pls do the needful.
Zazkalahuhaira.

Author Says :"On the Night of 15th Shaban, after Maghrib or Isha prayer it is traditional practice to read Surah Yasin and make special supplications for good health, protection from calamities and increased Iman. " But WHERE IS THE PROOF ? Author can not say simply some fasting and reading Yaseen is good on perticular day .Then that will become Bidath and he will will be responsible for that.So take care about writing on religious matters.

Thanks for this article. Insead of watching a late night sunday movie I will pray. I think this bidiah will do me good. thanks

I am from Bangladesh. I used to observe "Lailatul Barat" (sic) with sincereity until I came to the USA. I tried my best to find a strong Hadiths of the Prophet(saw) on this issue. I can find none.

This article is well written. However, may I suggest the author that he/she be careful as not to mention hadiths without mentioning the sources. There are many fabricated/weak hadiths; one must be very careful as not to accept them as part of Islam. Now, even if these hadiths are found to be strong, I would respectfully point out that Indian subcontinental muslims are led believe more than what these hadiths suggest. People believe that on this night Allah Subhana wa'Taala approaves a budget for us for one year. This understanding is not supported by the quoted hadiths, sahih or fabricated. We see people pray only on this night with expectations of reaping benefits of the worldly goods. However, many neglect the 5 daily salah. This, in my opinion, is the most serious issue here. People neglect one of the pillars of Islam and undermines the concept of predistination which is one of the articles of Iman.

I would suggest to my brothers and sisters in Islam to study such issues very seriously. I am more than convinced that this is an innovation from the Indian Subcontinent. None of the muslims of other countries and other sunni schools of jurisprudence have adopted this practice. Does it not suggest that at some point in time we adopted something that is not correct. Also remember other "social practices" practiced these nights. We exchange "halva/haluwa" with neighbors/relatives and light candles (doesn't it ring like diwali of the hindus?). It does to me.

It is better not to accept innovations as part of Islam. This is not a "salafi versus majhabi" issue. I am barely reminding myself and other as to necessacity of verifying controversial issues like this. This a sincere naseeha from a brother only. Of course, Allah knows best.

Selamu Aleykum brothers and sisters

I actually want to comment on the comments made in relation to this article. It is clear that some moslem's still have an 'attitude' problem towards other moslem's and can still be rude and harsh towards them. Why? Why are some moslem's acting like an 'armchair critic' for? Just because you have some small portion of knowledge, why are you using it like a whip towards other moslem's for? Those who say that celebrating this night is bida'h, innovations and is not backed up by hadeeths or at least saheeh hadeeths are right, however, their way of explaining it is too rough and harsh towards other moslem's. Especially one brother who calls all South Indian's tomb worshippers!! Subhanallah!! How can any smart moslem make such a generalisation like this and label an entire region as tomb worshippers? Have you not or any of you read this hadeeth found in Saheeh Muslim?

It is reported on the authority of Ibn `Umar that the Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) said: Any person who calls his brother: O Unbeliever! (then the truth of this label) would return to one of them. If it is true, (then it is) as he asserted, (but if it is not true), then it returns to him (and thus the person who made the accusation is an Unbeliever

Therefore, calling other moslem's unbelievers or mushriks when they are not will result in the caller becoming one, its as simple as that and the easiest way to become a unbeliever. Now, lets say, moslem's went to the mosque, listened to surah Yasin, then listened to some hadeeths, made dua and fasted on this day thinking tonight is special (but not expecting anything from the night but only from Allah) are we supposed to quickly label them as innovaters? as those on the wrong path? as mushriks?

Rasool s.a.w. says "save yourself from the hellfire even if it it's half a date that you give as charity and if you cant give this, at least speak politely".

Logically, if we allow Bidah in religion (other than what Prophet and his companion practiced) then what are the limits ? There could be thousands of so called "good bidah" can be introduced, and one day the whole religion will be changed to something else, like Christianity, Nauzbillah, do we like to see the Prophet's birth day as Idd day like the Christians did ?

Brothers, specially the South Asians, its our duty and farida, to educate the Muslims around you the danger of Bidah.

Sadly, we have so called Tableghi's, going as far as North America, with their own ideologies (Tablighi Nisab, Fadail E Amal), spreading more bidah than stopping it.

Brothers, Islam is still pure and intact, and has its real followers, its we who need changes else we will be the losers.

most of the article is correct alhamdulillah except for the last bit of Bid'a the author wants us to follow. There are NO authentic narrations that recommend doing anything of the sort about fasting especially on the 15th of Shaban, reading surah Yasin etc. You should fast throughout Shaban as much as possible and read Quran always. You are only supposed to make sure you are not a mushrik (assigning partners in any way with Allah) or have ANY hatred in your heart and then Allah, SWT will forgive you. this is authentic on the night of the 15th.

To To: Norlinda: From what I have read and been informed about treating the 15th of Sha' baan as special, well it is bid'aa. The hadith in support of this occasion have been declared as weak by major scholars past and present. Bid'aa has been defined as the ulama as those things which the Prophet or his companions were able to do, or had the impetus to do it, but did not. Therefore driving cars, using telephones, or other technologies/things which were not available at the time of the Nabi (saws) is not considered bid'aa. But celebrating the Prophet's birthday, singing adhkaar like Sufis, or traveling for da'wah for specific periods of time, etc., are bid'aa.
It is important to oppose bid'aa in religion because you are then saying that you know how to worship Allah BETTER than the rasuul (saws). He was the best and most knowledgable of humanity when it came to worshipping Allah, as he (saws) chastised those Companions who came to Aishah (ra)wanting to transcend his worship. Their intentions are pure, like Ahlil Bid'aa want to please Allah, but they try to supercede the Prophet and his companions in doing so. Some of the scholars have stated the Bid'aa is more beloved to Iblees than sin, because sinners usually repent. May Allah increase us on knowledge and adherence to Islam. Ameen.

not true special worship on 15th is a popular bidiah no hadith that specifies 15th. may allah have mercy on he who has written / posted this.

I apologize if I offended Sr. Norlinda or anyone else. We need to come up with a better approach to the concept of Bidaa. Umar bin Khatab (may Allah be pleased with him) started the concept of Taraweeh prayers in Jamaa and called it a good Bidaa. People fasting and worshipping the 15 Shaban are not doing anything wrong. In the USA every Islamic Center has special programs on Sunday.. is that a Bidaa? My dear brothers and sisters .. I humbly request all of us to find the spirit of Islam and apply it. If limit our selves only to the letter of the law, we will limit our selves to the full potential of what Islam has to offer humanity.

"Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek. Show us the straight way" Quran 1:5-6

As salaam alaikum,
This article is well written and very informative however a Muslim should always inquire about where the writer is getting his information. The writer is giving numerous hadiths however we do not know where the sources of these hadiths are coming from. I personally, will not begin doing anything "sunnah" unless i know where the source is coming from. All good speakers and writers should provide that for people who are less knowledgeable like myself.
Thank you.

Re: Standing the night of the 15th of Sha'baan in prayer and fasting during it's day

Question: Is standing the night of the 15th of Sha'baan in prayer and fasting during it's day legislated?

Response: Nothing firm and reliable has been established on the authority of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) that he stood in prayer in the night and fasted during the day of the 15th of Sha'baan. So the night of the 15th of Sha'baan is like any other night, and if someone is a regular worshipper during other nights, then he may stand the night in prayer on this night without assuming anything special (because of it being the night of the 15th of Sha'baan). This is because specifying a time for any act of worship requires a authentic proof, so if there is no authentic proof then the act is regarded as an innovation and all innovations are misguidance. Likewsie, regarding specifically fasting during the 15th day of Sha'baan, then no (authentic) proof has been established on the authority of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) to indicate the legislation of fasting on that particular day.

As for that which is mentioned from the ahaadeeth regarding this subject, then all of it is weak as the people of knowledge have indicated. However, whoever has the habit of fasting the 13th, 14th and 15th (of every month), then he can continue and fast during Sha'baan as he fasts during the other months, without assuming anything special about the 15th of Sha'baan. Also, the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) used to increase in fasting during this month (Sha'baan), however, he did not particularise the 15th day, rather proceeded as per norm.

Shaykh Ibn Fowzaan
al-Bid'u wal-Muhdathaat wa maa laa asla lahu - Page 614
Noorun alad-Darb Fataawa Shaykh Saalih Ibn Fowzaan - Volume 1, Page 87

Source: www.fatwa-online.com

The comments posted by To: Norlinda are against the policy of Islamicity; its a personal attack.
Other than that we MUST avoid bidaa. Who decides whats a bidaa?: People of Knowledge. Its upto everyone of us to dig for truth and be sure before doing anything that its according to Islam and not something new (bidaa) in Islam. Each one of us is responsible for him/herself. So make sure whatever you are following is good faith.

By definition BIDAA is a good deed fabricated in Islam and performed as if it was originally prescribed by Prophet Muhammad (PHUH).

Islamicity should also make the identity and qualification of the author public.

Salaam to you all readers.

It is common among South Asian muslims specially from Pakistan, India Bangladesh to celebrate this night with special food and prayer. It is clearly "Bidah" innovation by people. If you read our beloved prophets life (PBUH) he never did such acts. Please follow his way and do not follow those grave worshipping muslim-named south east asians (Indian Sub Continent) way of Islam, I am not insulting them but trying to tell them to follow pure Islam as prescribed in Quran, I have seen them to celebrate this night rather than praying regular times which is a must they often do not but pray in certain days to get his mercy. It is not that cheap and easy. Follow your obligations fully with Islam not whichever your like and forget the rest. May Allah give us the knowledge to follow his way they way he has prescribed. Salaam.

Assalamalaikum. I would like to know the source of the hadith mentioned in this article. It is always better to provide reference for everything quoted in an article so that the readers may know for themselves the authenticity of the hadith. It is very important in Islam so as to maintain to originality of our faith and to avoid innovations, which unfortunately are not uncommon.

In response to Norlinda .. So are you saying that if someone wants to follow the spirit of this article i.e. to make special supplication and prayers and devotion to Allah and fast for the sake of Allah in preparation for Ramadan he/she should not do that .. or in your language is probably Bidaa, Kufr & Haram. Thank you for your kind advice!!

i really liked this article and i apperciate articles like these on special relegious occasions that happen on particular islamic months and are not given attention as people do not know enough of their importance. also articles like these help one to build a stronger faith. thanks

Assalamu'alaikum.
I would like to recommend our readers to refer to Islamonline.net for articles relating to the night of 15th Sha'ban.You will find that there are a few things mentioned in this article that are not correct:- For example

1. The hadith " Rajab is the month of Allah....."
is considered as maudhu'(false)

2. The night is to be treated just like any other nights ie. there are no recommended special worshiping during the night eg special prayers, reading of Surah YaaSin etc.There are no authenticated evidences that these acts of worship were performed by our Prophet saw or by his Companions due to the speciality of the night.

3. If you are used to doing the optional fasting on the 13th, 14th and 15th of every month, then you may go ahead with fasting on the 15th. But you do not fast because you regard it to be a special day that is more special than the other "15th day" of the other months.

I seriously recommend our readers to go through the articles presented in Islamonline.net as they are really an "eye-opener" for us who are striving to follow the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet saw.

May Allah bestow on us taufiq and hidayah and guide us on His Right Path. Ameen.
Wassalam