Misconceptions Vs Facts About Shabaan
Posted by: Admin on: August 4, 2008
By Javeria
FACT : The most involuntary fasts (nafil fasts) kept by Rasool Allah sallalahu alayhe wasallam were in the month of shabaan.
A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) did not observe fast in any month of the year more than in the month of Sha’ban, and used to say: Do as many deeds as you are capable of doing, for Allah will not become weary (of giving you reward), but you would be tired (of doing good deeds) ; and he also said: The deed liked most by Allah is one to which the doer adheres constantly even if it is small.( Muslim :: Book 6 : Hadith 2582 )
Common Knowledge About Shab e Baraat Vs FACTS
MISCONCEPTION: Fasting only on 15th of Shaban is a deed of great reward.
FACT: Fasting ONLY on 15th of Shabaan is an innovation and not according to the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Thus should be totally avoided. Fasting frequently in Shabaan was the Sunnah of Rasool Allah However; Rasool prohibited his ummah from fasting after 15th of Shabaan due to fear of becoming too weak to be able to fast in Ramadan.
Rasool Allah Sallaalahu alayhe Wasallam said : “When half of shaban has passed, do not fast” (Abu Dawood Bab 12: Hadith 2337- Classed Hasan Sahih by Albani)
Therefore the Muslims should fast frequently in the first half of Shabaan and avoid fasting in the second half of Shabaan.
MISCONCEPTION: Shab e Baraat i.e. the 15th of Shabaan is a Special Night for prayers in Islam.
FACT: There is no such thing as Shab e Baraat. Word Shab e Baraat never appears in the Quran or Hadith. Shab e Baraat is infact NOT an Arabic Word.
MISCONCEPTION: On this blessed night Allah Tala descends down to forgive people
FACT: Allah Tala descends down EVERY night to forgive the people who repent.
Allah’s Apostle said, “When it is the last third of the night, our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, descends every night to the heaven of the world and says, ‘Is there anyone who invokes Me (demand anything from Me), that I may respond to his invocation; Is there anyone who asks Me for something that I may give (it to) him; Is there anyone who asks My forgiveness that I may forgive him?’ “Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 75, Number 333:
MISCONCEPTION: This is the blessed night on which the taqdeer is decided. Who will live…who will die. Who will get how much rizq…
The following verses of the Quran are presented as evidence for this as this verse is talking about a blessed night on which everything is decreed..
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
إِنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَـٰهُ فِى لَيۡلَةٍ۬ مُّبَـٰرَكَةٍۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِينَ (٣) فِيہَا يُفۡرَقُ كُلُّ أَمۡرٍ حَكِيمٍ (٤) أَمۡرً۬ا مِّنۡ عِندِنَآۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُرۡسِلِينَ (٥) رَحۡمَةً۬ مِّن رَّبِّكَۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ (٦)
Verit ly We Sent it down on a blessed night Verily,We are ever warning (3) There in is decreed every matter of ordainments(4) As a Command from Us. Verily, We are ever sending , (5)(As) a Mercy from your Lord. Verily! He is theAll-Hearer, the All-Knower. (6)
Surah Dukhaan Chapter 44 Verse 4
FACT: The verse is being misquoted.
This Verse is about a Night in Ramadan NOT Shab e Baraat. The verse is talking about revelation of Quran on a blessed Night. Read the first 2 ayats of Surah Dukhaan
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
حم
وَالْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ
إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُبَارَكَةٍ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنْذِرِينَ
فِيهَا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ
Hâ-Mîm (1) By the clear Book,(2) Indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night. Indeed, We were to warn [mankind].(3) On that night is made distinct every precise matter -(4)(Quran Surah Dukhaan 44: 1-4)
Allah has informed us in Surah Baqarah that the Quran was revealed in the month of Ramadan.
شَہۡرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانُ
The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an.( Surah Al Baqarah. Chapter 2:185)
So which night is Surah Dukhaan talking about? The night of revelation of Quran in Ramadan is none other than Lailtul Qadr. On this night angels descend and taqdeer is decided.Read Surah Qadr
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
إِنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَـٰهُ فِى لَيۡلَةِ ٱلۡقَدۡرِ (١)
وَمَآ أَدۡرَٮٰكَ مَا لَيۡلَةُ ٱلۡقَدۡرِ (٢)
لَيۡلَةُ ٱلۡقَدۡرِ خَيۡرٌ۬ مِّنۡ أَلۡفِ شَہۡرٍ۬ (٣)
تَنَزَّلُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ فِيہَا بِإِذۡنِ رَبِّہِم مِّن كُلِّ
أَمۡرٍ۬ (٤)
سَلَـٰمٌ هِىَ حَتَّىٰ مَطۡلَعِ ٱلۡفَجۡرِ (٥
Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree. (1) And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree?(2) The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months(3) The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter.(4) Peace it is until the emergence of dawn(5)(Quran 97: Surah Qadr)
And we all know that Laitul Qadr isa night which falls in the odd nights of last 10 days of Ramadan.So the Night of Decree is NOT 15th Shabaan but laitul Qadr.
MISCONCEPTION : Souls of the dead visit the earth and therefore one should go to cemeteries.
FACT: Once a person dies, if the soul is good, it is sent to IleeYeen and if it is bad it is sent down to Sijeyeen. There is a barzakh / a barrier between the souls and this world and they can never ever return to this world or contact us.
Until, when death comes to one of them (those who join partners with Allâh), he says: “My Lord! Send me back, (99) “So that I may do good in that which I have left behind!” No! It is but a word that he speaks, and behind them is Barzakh (a barrier) until the Day when they will be resurrected.(Surah Mominoon -100)
Further Reading:
Ruling on Celebrating Middle of Shabaan – Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Bin Baz
Queries on Islam – Qs6: Celebrating Shab e Baraat – Dr. Zakir Naik
29 Responses to "Misconceptions Vs Facts About Shabaan"
2 | Weak and Fabricated Hadiths regarding Shab e Baraat « a i R e V A j
August 15, 2008 at 8:07 pm
[...] Misconceptions and Facts about Shabaan and Shab e Baraat [...]
August 16, 2008 at 11:51 pm
I have read your comments above. With all DUE respect to you, why would the bulk of the Ulama of South Africa lie to the South African muslim ummah about the validity of 15 Shabaan
If the Greatness of 15 Shabaan is a a fabrication, why would the bulk of the Ulama stand on the Mimbars and swear by the authenticty of 15 Shabaan. Would this action of theirs not be akin to PERVERTING our most GLORIOUS religion intentionally !!!!!
I am most concerned about establishing the TRUTH about 15 Shabaan for MOST DEFINITELY it cannot be the BLESSED NIGHT the Ulama talk and at the same time be a fabrication . Surely 100’s of Ulama in South Africa could not have made an active decision to FABRICATE one such a night.
I am not suggesting that your comments above are incorrect. I am simply ad in all humility attemtping to establish what is HAQ and what is BAATIL .
I await your response.
Your brother
Faried CHOTHIA
August 6, 2009 at 6:10 am
Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatu Allah Wa Barakatuh.
Jazak Allah Khair Brother Faried for your comments. It is definitely a question to be asked why would hundereds of Ulamaa (scholars) agree on something that is not valid in Islam.
The prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “My Ummah shall not agree (gather) on BATTIL”
It is a phenomena for a region or a country to follow some specific teaching of an ancient scholar of that region. As we all know, Allah made “E’asmah” (protection from fault in the religion issues) only to the Prophets (صلى الله عليهم وسلم) and sometimes, due to the longer period between scholars, newer generations tend to understand and conduct practices from the books and not directly from scholars. It is a common thing that happened through out the history of this Ummah. What we seek is the truth and truth is judged by the Quran and Sunnah and NOT by the scholars. The prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “Consult your heart even if the people give you FATWA again and again” so the most important is the DALEEL from the Quran and Sunnah. Allah guide us to ask for the proof “Say, bring forward your proof if you are saying the truth”.
It is my and yours and everyone who seek the truth to ask, learn, analyse, and then make a judgment.
May Allah guide us to the straight path. Ameen.
August 17, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Well written Javeria, as usual. The way you put this article was easy to understand the difference between facts and Myths.
Jazakallah
August 17, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Thank God for trying to clear misconceptions.
I suggest there should be a categorical explanation in which it should shown that there are so many or such hadith or NO hadith in Bukhari or Muslim or other sahi sources. This should clarify the matter further.
JazakAllah khair.
Wassalam
Eqbal
6 | ‘Shabe Baraat’ is actually Persian for ‘Lailatul Qadr’ « a i R e V A j
August 17, 2008 at 5:15 pm
[...] Facts Vs Misconceptions regarding Shabaan [...]
August 18, 2008 at 5:05 am
in reply to faried, most muslims in aouth africa have come from the sub-continent and therefore probably the same misconceptions are held by them too. In pakistan for sure, even the so called learned people havnt really researched islam (quran and hadith) rigourously to authenticate ‘tradition’.
[...] Read more [...]
[...] [...]
July 30, 2009 at 4:14 am
http://albalagh.net/general/shaban.shtml. read carefully, and get a copy of the book Islamic Months. Mufti Taqi does not condone innovations and it is very clear in his book. But he points out the importance for the month of Sha’ban. it is meritorious. Shabe Baraat is actually urdu for Laylatul Bara’a. Your opinion is simply and opinion. The majority of Ullama have agreed upon the fact that Nisfu Sha’ban is meritorious and important. If you miss out on this day…it’s clearly your own loss.
July 30, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Mufti Taqi Usmani has said
“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 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, 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.”
He has acknowledged that these hadiths have defects.. but he is wrong because the chain of these hadiths do not suffer from minor defects. Infact some of them are extremely daeef (weak) and most of them are fabricated – batil- made up hadiths. He is not a muhaddith. The great Muhaddiths of our time have classified these hadiths and it is not allowed to do any act of worship based on weak or fabricated hadiths. This is clearly an innovation a bidah which was not a part of Islam in the time of our Holy Prophet nor his sahaba nor the tabaeen.
August 9, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Saying “Word Shab e Baraat never appears in the Quran or Hadith. Shab e Baraat is infact NOT an Arabic Word” doesn’t prove that it has no significane in Islam. There are many words yet they have significance in Islam. Moreover saying “but he is wrong..” , “He is not a muhaddith” doesn’t prove that All of them are “daeef” or “fabricated”. Give us proof. Quote any of “The great Muhaddiths of our time”….
I quote here Dr. Zakir “However, I would not be as firm in contradicting the status of the night as I would do in some other cases which I consider as bid’at”
Finally, I request you to please be carefull in declaring any Hadith “daeef” or “fabricated”. It a sensitive issue!!!
August 10, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Dear Zubair
Alhamdulillah the Admin is a hundred times more careful in terming than you are in practicing upon stuff. Next time, try to come up with some proofs if you are looking to refute someone.
The Admin is too kind MashaAllah to allow such sensible(lol) comments on the blog.
August 10, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Al-Qaadi Abu Bakr ibn al-‘Arabi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
There is no reliable hadeeth about Laylat al-Nusf min Sha’baan (the fifteenth of Sha’baan) or about its virtues, or that people’s deaths are decreed on this day, so no attention should be paid to that. End quote.
Ahkaam al-Qur’aan (4/117)
—————————————————————-
What is narrated concerning the virtue of praying, fasting and worshipping on the fifteenth of Sha’baan (al-nusf min Sha’baan) does not come under the heading of da’eef (weak), rather it comes under the heading of mawdoo’ (fabricated) and baatil (false). So it is not permissible to follow it or to act upon it, whether that is in doing righteous deeds or otherwise.
A number of scholars ruled that the reports concerning that were false, such as Ibn al-Jawzi in his book al-Mawdoo’aat, 2/440-445; Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah in al-Manaar al-Muneef, no. 174- 177; Abu Shaamah al-Shaafa’i in al-Baa’ith ‘ala Inkaar al-Bida’ wa’l-Hawaadith, 124-137; al-‘Iraaqi in Takhreej Ihyaa’ ‘Uloom il-Deen, no. 582. Shaykh al-Islam [Ibn Taymiyah] narrated that there was consensus on the fact that they are false, in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 28/138.
Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Hukm al-Ihtifaal bi Laylat al-Nusf min Sha’baan (Ruling on celebrating the fifteenth of Sha’baan):
Celebrating the night of the fifteenth of Sha’baan (Laylat al-Nusf min Sha’baan) by praying etc, or singling out this day for fasting, is a reprehensible bid’ah (innovation) according to the majority of scholars, and there is no basis for this in sharee’ah.
And he (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
There is no saheeh hadeeth concerning the night of the fifteenth of Sha’baan (Laylat al-Nusf min Sha’baan). All the ahaadeeth that have been narrated concerning that are mawdoo’ (fabricated) and da’eef (weak), and have no basis. There is nothing special about this night, and no recitation of Qur’aan or prayer, whether alone or in congregation, is specified for this night. What some of the scholars have said about it being special is a weak opinion. It is not permissible to single it out for any special actions. This is the correct view. And Allaah is the Source of strength.
Fataawa Islamiyyah, 4/511.
References:
http://islamqa.com/en/ref/113939
http://islamqa.com/en/ref/49675
July 30, 2009 at 1:05 pm
What is narrated concerning the virtue of praying, fasting and worshipping on the fifteenth of Sha’baan (al-nusf min Sha’baan) does not come under the heading of da’eef (weak), rather it comes under the heading of mawdoo’ (fabricated) and baatil (false). So it is not permissible to follow it or to act upon it, whether that is in doing righteous deeds or otherwise.
A number of scholars ruled that the reports concerning that were false, such as Ibn al-Jawzi in his book al-Mawdoo’aat, 2/440-445; Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah in al-Manaar al-Muneef, no. 174- 177; Abu Shaamah al-Shaafa’i in al-Baa’ith ‘ala Inkaar al-Bida’ wa’l-Hawaadith, 124-137; al-‘Iraaqi in Takhreej Ihyaa’ ‘Uloom il-Deen, no. 582. Shaykh al-Islam [Ibn Taymiyah] narrated that there was consensus on the fact that they are false, in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 28/138.
Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Hukm al-Ihtifaal bi Laylat al-Nusf min Sha’baan (Ruling on celebrating the fifteenth of Sha’baan):
Celebrating the night of the fifteenth of Sha’baan (Laylat al-Nusf min Sha’baan) by praying etc, or singling out this day for fasting, is a reprehensible bid’ah (innovation) according to the majority of scholars, and there is no basis for this in sharee’ah.
And he (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
There is no saheeh hadeeth concerning the night of the fifteenth of Sha’baan (Laylat al-Nusf min Sha’baan). All the ahaadeeth that have been narrated concerning that are mawdoo’ (fabricated) and da’eef (weak), and have no basis. There is nothing special about this night, and no recitation of Qur’aan or prayer, whether alone or in congregation, is specified for this night. What some of the scholars have said about it being special is a weak opinion. It is not permissible to single it out for any special actions. This is the correct view. And Allaah is the Source of strength.
Fataawa Islamiyyah, 4/511.
ISLAM QA
11 | What is Bidah(Innovation) in Islam? « a i R e V A j
July 31, 2009 at 3:19 pm
[...] Shab e Baraat and acts of worship associated to this day [...]
July 31, 2009 at 4:16 pm
People don’t have a clue what they are talking about when they make statements like “The majority of Ullama have agreed upon the fact that Nisfu Sha’ban is meritorious and important”
Can you provide me with quotes, with an authentic chain of narration (YES I MEAN NO WEAK OR FABRICATED HADITH) by the scholars amongst the Sahaba stating the importance of Nisfu Sha’ban ?
And the dalail presented by some molvis are amazing. They say that even though all the narrations about the importance of this night are weak, yet the quantity of these is so high that scholars give it some merit.
Its like saying that although all the witnesses to an event are liars, but the quantity of liars is so high that you have to consider it the truth. lol
July 31, 2009 at 5:31 pm
exactly! ten lies do not make a truth!
Sheer number of lies about 15th shabaan do not make it a truth
August 6, 2009 at 10:26 am
I also want to know more abt the authenticity of shabaan . pls let me know.
August 6, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Very nice work done with the blog but just want to point out here that you shouldnt have such anger towards people who do rate 15 shabaan as a night of power . If this is one night people do pray and remember Allah in their own ways then let it be. There is no harm even if it could be a part of some misconception , infact its only good . I was going to read a bit of Quran because of what i had heard about the night and your article came up on google while i searched for ‘15 shaban’ and to be honest you did put me off a bit .. but realizing this i wouldnt let you do that and neither should anyone else be put off . This is not a major misconception which is changing peoples views on islam or causing acts of shirk (God forbid) or so.
If people are just worshipping one night more than the other the so be it .
Lastly , i would like to point out .. my friend theres a chance you could be terribly wrong here too . . and you could be doing exactly the same as wat you ‘think’ the others are .
And Allah knows best
Jaza-kallah khairan .
August 6, 2009 at 11:46 pm
Shab-e-barat is an event practised only in the subcontinent, and as already mentioned, SA muslims come from the subcontinent. Most “scholars” in the subcontinent are fluent in hadiths but not at all in the Quran. Hence they fail to realize that once Allah has decided NOT to declare 15 Sha’ban a special day, not even the Prophet can make it any important.
[...] a i R e V A j [...]
August 7, 2009 at 9:39 am
Don’t forward the concept of Farhat Hashmi. Its not Farhat Hashmi who decides its our beloved Prophet who we need to follow. May Allah takes you to the right path.
August 7, 2009 at 8:23 pm
La Hawla Wa La Quwwata Illa Billah!
it’s NOT the Prophet who we need to follow, it’s ALLAH who we need to follow.
August 7, 2009 at 8:23 pm
La Hawla Wa La Quwwata Illa Billah!
it’s NOT the Prophet who we need to follow, it’s ALLAH who we need to follow.
August 8, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Ahmed If you can’t utter something that is useful, please stay quiet !
August 8, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Bilal if you have proofs of what you are saying, bring it on please. Otherwise, its good for your image in front of others that you stay quiet. Some people may actually think positively of you. May Allah guide all of us.
August 11, 2009 at 2:43 pm
how very nice of you to direct a personal attack at me rather than answering in a more admirable fashion . Unfortunately you don’t control my opinion or my computer to say the least . So please don’t use Allah’s name to sign off on such a rude comment . We are all here to gain knowledge and not to intimidate such acts of aggression towards each other .You have ashamed yourself rather than anyone else. To hold such a beautiful name but to practice the work of shaytan is the work of a munafiq my friend.Good job.
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August 10, 2008 at 11:09 am
Thank u very much because many of many misconceptions have been cleared out very well.i a have to question please do reply me
Q)In my area there is a SMS doing arounds that wishing the arrival of shabaan to others is a hadith.is it true??