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 )
MISCONCEPTION: Fasting 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.
Shab e Barat is actually Persian for lailatul qadr:
The night on which the Quran was revealed is termed “Lailatul Qadr” in Surah al Qadr in the Quran. When Lailtul Qadr is translated in Persian Language : Lailatul became Shabb and Qadr became “Baraat”. Thus Shab e Baraat is the Persian translation of Lailatul Qadr.
This is the night on which Quran was revealed, it is a night of great blessing and it falls in the last 10 days of Ramadan.Thus there is no reality in celebrating the night of 15th of sha’baan, because Shab e Baraat actually falls in Ramadan.
(Reference:Translation of Tafsir Surah Dukhaan, Taiseer ul Quran , Vol 4, pg. 176 by Molana Abdul Rehman Kelani.)
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 stating that this verse is talking about a blessed night on which everything is decreed and that night is 15th of Shaban.
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)
Veriy 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 again!
Indeed we sent IT (i.e. The Quran) on a blessed Night (Lailtul Qadr in Ramadan)
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? It is indeed Lailatul Qadr of Ramadan
The night of revelation of Quran in Ramadan is none other than Lailtul Qadr.
On Lialatul Qadr… angels descend and taqdeer is decided.. not on 15th Shabaan. Proof is in 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)
Lailtul Qadr is the night on which decree is decided.
Please re-read verse four: “On that night is made distinct every precise matter.”
This is the verse which is talking about deciding of fate. and in Surah Qadr, the name itself is self explanatory, ” Qadr” – Taqdeer” The night of decree – \decree means “to decide”
also Allah says in this surah Qadr:
The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for EVERY MATTER.
Please visit the following link and read the tafsir of Surah Qadr from Tafsir Ibn Kathir.
http://www.tafsir.com/default.asp?sid=97&tid=58835
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 Lailatul 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
gLiMpSes 
Poor and incorrect research.
First of all thanks for your effort putting up all the sources together. I have been into these arguments 100 of times with people and i always had few references and never had time to get more. I would like to seek your permission, that can i copy this information and put it in my facebook note ? so that i can share with friends of mine …
JazakAllah Khair
..ali
Alhamdulilah ..yes you may use my article
Here is a link to a similiar article to mine, but better written with more references and comes from a reliable Islamic Magazine
http://hibamagazine.com/shaban-misconceptions-and-facts/
Thanks. posted on my facebook and the never ending debate has been started :p
Well written article mashaAllah. However, I just want to ask to what degree have you studied? I mean are you an alima who has conducted thorough research? Some things, appear to be incorrect..
Subhanallah thanks for clearly mentioned about shabebarath from quraan and Hadees
Regarding the alleged “MISCONCEPTION,” here is the hadeeth from Sahih Muslim
عن عمران بن حصين رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال له أو لآخر أصمت من سرر شعبان قال لا قال فإذا أفطرت فصم يومين
Translation: Imran bin Husain (ra) reported Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) having said to him or to someone else: Did you fast in the “Middle of Sha’ban?” He said: No. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: If you did not observe fast, then you should observe fast for two days. [Muslim Book 006, Number 2607]
I really appreciate the quotes.
As Salaam ‘alaykum wrwb. JazakAllah for this very informative article. May Allah (swt) reward the writer and guide us all on the straight path and keep us in Emaan. Amin.
Though it is sad to read some of the comments where people insist on the merits of 15th of Shaban…… Unfortunately people from these continents have confused and mixed culture with Islam and have come to believe it to be a part of Islam.
If this day was “special” then why is it not being celebrated in the Islamic countries or to keep it simpler .. in Mecca or Madina?
So, let us all help in spreading the true Islam based on the Quran and Sunnah, and if anyone has any doubt, then one can always refer to these sources to clear them. May Allah (swt) help us to gain knowledge and to spread it. Amin.
MASHALLAH,very well written.in fact the question is that why dont we use our own faculties ? why we just rely on whatever we saw our elders etc doing?each person whould be judged according to the faculties he was bestowed with,so we must use our brains,our heart,our eayes ear all in diffrentiationg between haq and batil.
You saved me from biddah.. Jazakallah !
Excellent article and excellent daleels to support the questions. We need to spread this out to all muslims. There are so many misconceptions about 15 shaban and we need such writeups to clear them out. These things are specially prevelant in Subcontinent and Iran.
I would like some learned people here to also clearify why people burn crackers and patakhas(giving it a touch of Diwali) and making halwa and puris.
Another thing, people here say that WHATS WRONG WITH DOING IBADAH on this night even if you dont agree with the concept 100%. My friend, do Ibadah ike this every night, why you want to do it on Shahbe Barat only.Plus this creates Bid’ah (innovation in islam) and we should not forget (Ina mul aamal bineeyat, Al Quran) Neeyat that you think that all your sins are forgiven and you are getting rizq (because you are praying on this night only ).
The only holy night in Islam is SHAHBE QADR(As promised in Quran) where you get ajar for 1000 nights.
JZK
MashaAllah….excellent information and beautiful explanation which literlly shakes ones conscience….Jazakallah…May Allah reward you for your efforts…ameen..
Thanks a lot for writing this article.
But I could not understand why in major countries of the world our Ulmas are teaching about 15 shaaban.
Very Nice Article… People Who dont want to leave the Misconceptions will keep on following the SHAB E BARAT even the fact abt SHAB E QADAR is clearly written in Quran.. I dont GEt it, Why people dont believe in QURAN? why they beleive to some ULMAH from SOUTH AFRICA? Please.. ITs Lail-a-tul-Qadar only… May Allah direct us to the right path..
assalamoalaikum i utterly agree by ur wrds dere r no authentic reference of sha b be barat in sihaye sitta JAZAKALLAH F SHWING ME RITE WAY
ah! i only like to share a link relatet to it and its pretty authentic
http://muslimways.com/weak-fabricated-hadith/regarding-celebrating-shab-e-barat.html
if you want detail about it plz read this book but its in urdu language… sorry no translation
http://www.mediafire.com/?60o2op2jd7e31em
and thanks for what you have posted
JazakAllah khair ! i needed this so bad!
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.
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.
Ahmed If you can’t utter something that is useful, please stay quiet !
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 .
I also want to know more abt the authenticity of shabaan . pls let me know.
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
exactly! ten lies do not make a truth!
Sheer number of lies about 15th shabaan do not make it a truth
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.
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.
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!!!
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.
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
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
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’.
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
Well written Javeria, as usual. The way you put this article was easy to understand the difference between facts and Myths.
Jazakallah
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
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.
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??