Misconceptions regarding Shab-e-barat (15th shaban) and their answers
Misconception # 1:
Allaah descends to the first heavens on this night to forgive us.
Answer:
Allah descends Every Night and forgive the person who seek forgiveness.
Narrated Abu Huraira:Allah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "Every night when it is the last third of the night, our Lord, the Superior, the Blessed, descends to the nearest heaven and says: Is there anyone to invoke Me that I may respond to his invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone asking My forgiveness so that I may forgive him?. " (See Hadith No. 246,Vol. 2)
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الأَغَرِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " يَتَنَزَّلُ رَبُّنَا تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا حِينَ يَبْقَى ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ الآخِرُ فَيَقُولُ مَنْ يَدْعُونِي فَأَسْتَجِيبَ لَهُ، مَنْ يَسْأَلُنِي فَأُعْطِيَهُ، مَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُنِي فَأَغْفِرَ لَهُ ".
(Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 7494;(English) reference: Vol. 9, Book 93, Hadith 586)
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said:"The gates of Paradise are opened on Monday and Thursday. In them, (will enter) whoever has not associated anything with Allah will be forgiven, except for the two who shun each other, (about whom) it is said: 'Return these two until they make amends." (Sahih)
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ سُهَيْلِ بْنِ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " تُفَتَّحُ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ يَوْمَ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَالْخَمِيسِ فَيُغْفَرُ فِيهِمَا لِمَنْ لاَ يُشْرِكُ بِاللَّهِ شَيْئًا إِلاَّ الْمُهْتَجِرَيْنِ يُقَالُ رُدُّوا هَذَيْنِ حَتَّى يَصْطَلِحَا " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَيُرْوَى فِي بَعْضِ الْحَدِيثِ " ذَرُوا هَذَيْنِ حَتَّى يَصْطَلِحَا " . قَالَ وَمَعْنَى قَوْلِهِ " الْمُهْتَجِرَيْنِ " . يَعْنِي الْمُتَصَارِمَيْنِ . - وَهَذَا مِثْلُ مَا رُوِيَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ " لاَ يَحِلُّ لِمُسْلِمٍ أَنْ يَهْجُرَ أَخَاهُ فَوْقَ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ " .
(Jami` at-Tirmidhi English reference: Vol. 4, Book 1, Hadith 2023;Arabic reference: Book 27, Hadith 2155)
Misconception # 2:
This is the night when our fate, lifespan, and provisions are decreed.
Answer: Allah has destined for us everything before our birth.
Narrated `Abdullah:Allah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam), the truthful and truly-inspired, said, "Each one of you collected in the womb of his mother for forty days, and then turns into a clot for an equal period (of forty days) and turns into a piece of flesh for a similar period (of forty days) and then Allah sends an angel and orders him to write four things, i.e., his provision*, his age*, and whether he will be of the wretched* or the blessed (in the Hereafter)*. Then the soul is breathed into him. And by Allah, a person among you (or a man) may do deeds of the people of the Fire till there is only a cubit or an arm-breadth distance between him and the Fire, but then that writing (which Allah has ordered the angel to write) precedes, and he does the deeds of the people of Paradise and enters it; and a man may do the deeds of the people of Paradise till there is only a cubit or two between him and Paradise, and then that writing precedes and he does the deeds of the people of the Fire and enters it."
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ، هِشَامُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، أَنْبَأَنِي سُلَيْمَانُ الأَعْمَشُ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ زَيْدَ بْنَ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهْوَ الصَّادِقُ الْمَصْدُوقُ قَالَ " إِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ يُجْمَعُ فِي بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْمًا، ثُمَّ عَلَقَةً مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ يَكُونُ مُضْغَةً مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُ اللَّهُ مَلَكًا فَيُؤْمَرُ بِأَرْبَعٍ بِرِزْقِهِ، وَأَجَلِهِ، وَشَقِيٌّ، أَوْ سَعِيدٌ، فَوَاللَّهِ إِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ ـ أَوِ الرَّجُلَ ـ يَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ النَّارِ، حَتَّى مَا يَكُونُ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَهَا غَيْرُ بَاعٍ أَوْ ذِرَاعٍ، فَيَسْبِقُ عَلَيْهِ الْكِتَابُ، فَيَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ، فَيَدْخُلُهَا، وَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ، حَتَّى مَا يَكُونُ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَهَا غَيْرُ ذِرَاعٍ أَوْ ذِرَاعَيْنِ، فَيَسْبِقُ عَلَيْهِ الْكِتَابُ، فَيَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ النَّارِ، فَيَدْخُلُهَا ". قَالَ آدَمُ إِلاَّ ذِرَاعٌ.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6594;(English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 77, Hadith 593
Misconception # 3:
Deeds are shown (to Allaah) on 15th shaban
Answer:
Deeds are shown on every Monday and Thursday.
Usamah bin Zaid said:"I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, sometimes you fast, and you hardly ever break your hardly ever fast, except two days which, if you are fasting, you include them in your fast, and if you are not fasting, then you fast them on your own.' He said: 'Which two days?' I said: 'Monday and Thursday.' He said: 'Those are two days in which deeds are shown to the Lord of the worlds, and I like my deeds to be shown (to Him) when I am fasting."'(Hasan)
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ثَابِتُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ أَبُو الْغُصْنِ، - شَيْخٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ - قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أُسَامَةُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّكَ تَصُومُ حَتَّى لاَ تَكَادَ تُفْطِرُ وَتُفْطِرُ حَتَّى لاَ تَكَادَ أَنْ تَصُومَ إِلاَّ يَوْمَيْنِ إِنْ دَخَلاَ فِي صِيَامِكَ وَإِلاَّ صُمْتَهُمَا . قَالَ " أَىُّ يَوْمَيْنِ " . قُلْتُ يَوْمَ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَيَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ . قَالَ " ذَانِكَ يَوْمَانِ تُعْرَضُ فِيهِمَا الأَعْمَالُ عَلَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يُعْرَضَ عَمَلِي وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ " .
(Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 2358;English translation: Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2360)
Misconception # 4:
The night of the 15th of Shabaan should be singled out for special kinds of worship, prayer, etc. and they have a great reward
Answer:
There is no saheeh hadeeth concerning the night of the fifteenth of Shabaan.So this night is ordinary like other nights and the reward for praying/worshiping in this night will be the same as other nights
Laylat al-Nusf min Sha’baan (the 15th of Sha’baan):
It was narrated that ‘Ali bin Abu Talib said:“The Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h) said: ‘When it is the night of the middle of Sha’ban, spend its night in prayer and observe a fast on that day. For Allah descends at sunset on that night to the lowest heaven and says: ‘Is there noone who will ask Me for forgiveness, that I may forgive him? Is there no one who will ask Me for provision, that I may provide for him? Is there no one who is afflicted by trouble, that I may relieve him?’ And so on, until dawn comes.’”
IBN MAJAH (Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1388)
RESPONSE :-
AL-ALBAANI SAID :-Mawdoo
(DAEEF AL-TARGHEEB 623,SILSILAH AL-DAEEFAH 2132,DAEEF IBN MAJAH 261)
IMAM MIZZI SAID :-Imam ahmed bin hambal said Muhammad bin abdullah bin abi basra is not trustworthy,yahya ibn maeen said muhammed bin abdullah bin abi basra is daeef,imam bukhari & ibne madni said abi basrais daeef.
(TAHDHEEB AL KAMAAL 21/79)
ALLAMA AINI AL-HANAFI SAID :-Daeef
(UMMADUL QARI 11/117)
IMAM SHAWKANI SAID :-Isnaad Daeef
(TAHFADUL ADKARI 241)
It was narrated that ‘Aishah said:“I missed theProphet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) one night, so I went out looking for him. I found him at Al-Baqi’, raising his head towards the sky.He said: ‘O ‘Aishah, were you afraid that Allah and His Messenger would wrong you?’” She said: “Isaid: ‘No, it is not that, but I thought that you had gone to one of your other wives.’ He said: ‘Allah descends on the night of the middle of Sha’ban to the lowest heaven, and He forgives more than the numbers of hairs on the sheep of Banu Kalb.’”
IBN MAJAH (Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1389)
RESPONSE.
AL-ALBAANI SAID :-Daeef
(DAEEF IBN MAJAH 262,TAKHREEJ MISHKATMASABEEH 1251,DAEEF AL-JAAMI 1761)
IMAM MUBARAKAFOORI SAID :-Munqati
(TAHFADUL AHDAWI 3/160)
ALLAMA AINI AL-HANAFI SAID :-Munqati
(UMMDADUL QAARI 11/116)
IMAM BUKHARI SAID :-Daeef
(SUNAN TIRMIDHI 739)
SAYINGS OF SCHOLAR. :-
IMAAM ABU BAKR IBN AL-ARABI SAID :-
“There is no reliable hadeethregarding virtues of 15th Sha’baan, and there is no reliable report saying that in this night the decisions of deaths are taken. Therefore,these ahadeeth should not be paid any attention”
(AHKAAM UL-QUR’AAN BY IBN AL-ARABI 2/214)
Haafidh Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (D. 751) said:
“No hadeeth regarding[the virtues ofIbaadaat] in it are authentic”
[Al-Manaaral-Maneefby Ibn al-Qayyim,P. 99]
Haafidh Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali(D. 795) said:
"The Takhseesof doing Ibaadah inthe 15th night of Sha'baan is rejected by numerousScholars of Hijaaz such as: Ibn Abi Mulaykah,Ataa bin Yasaar, and it is also narrated from the Fuqaha ofMadeenahby Abdur Rahmaan bin Zayd bin Aslam.And this is the opinion ofImaam Maalik's companionsand others. They said: Everythingof it is Bid'ah"
[Lataaif al-Ma'aarif (263)]
Haafidh Ibn Rajab further said:
"Nothing is provenfrom the Prophet (peace beupon him) nor from his Sahaabahon staying up in the night of 15th Sha'baan"
Misconception # 5:
Fasting on the day of 15th shaban has a special and great reward
Answer:
Fasting on 13th 14th 15th of every month is recommended not only on 15th shaban
It was narrated from Jarir bin 'Abdullah that the Prophet said:"Fasting three days of each month is fasting for a lifetime, and the shining days of Al-Bid, the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth." (Sahih)
أَخْبَرَنَا مَخْلَدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَبِي أُنَيْسَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ جَرِيرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " صِيَامُ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ صِيَامُ الدَّهْرِ وَأَيَّامُ الْبِيضِ صَبِيحَةَ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ وَأَرْبَعَ عَشْرَةَ وَخَمْسَ عَشْرَةَ " ►Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 2420;English translation: Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2422;
►Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 2426;English translation: Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2428
►Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 2422;English translation: Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2424
►Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 2423;English translation: Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2425
►Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 761;In-book reference: Book 8, Hadith 80
►Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 2420;English translation: Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2422
►Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 2424;English translation: Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2426
►Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 2449;English translation: Book 13, Hadith 2443
►Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 2425;English translation: Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2427
►Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 2428;English translation: Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2430
►Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 2427;English translation: Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2429
►Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 4311;English translation: Vol. 5, Book 42, Hadith 4316
Misconception # 6:
This is the night when the souls of departed ones return to their families.
Answer:
This thing has no basis in quran or ahadith…. The souls can never return to this world. This is a fabrication and lie invented by people
Allah Says,"When death comes to one of them, he says: "O My Lord! Send me back to life. In order that I may do good deeds in the things that I neglected. By no means! It is but a word he says. And before him is a Barzakh until the day they are raised up."
[Soorah al-Mu'minoon (23): 99-100]
''And spend [in the way of Allah ] from what We have provided you before death approaches one of you and he says, "My Lord, if only You would delay me for a brief term so I would give charity and be among the righteous.But never will Allah delay a soul when its time has come. And Allah is Acquainted with what you do.''(Al-Quran
Surat Al-Munāfiqūn 63:10-11)
Misconception # 7:
Look at all those people doing it. How can they all be wrong?
Answer:
Allah says, “And if you obey most of those in the earth, they will lead you astray from Allah's way; they follow but conjecture and they only lie.” [Al qur’an 6:116]
So this is a weak argument that majority of people do it and believe in it so it is true.
Here is a short document, refuting some of the wide-spread ahadeeth quoted in the favour of 15th Sha'baan :
http://islaahh.wordpress.com/2013/06/21/laylat-al-nusf-min-shabaan-the-middle-of-shabaan-should-not-be-singled-out-for-worship/
FATAWAAS OF SCHOLARS
Imaam Ibn Abi Mulaykah (who is one of the major Taabi'een and Fuqaha of Madeenah) (D. 117) was told that:
Ziyaad al-Numayree says, Certainly the reward of the mid night of Sha'baan is like the reward of the night of Qadr, so Imaam Ibn Abi Mulaykah replied:
"Had I listened to him say that and I had a stick in my hand, then I would have struck him"
[Musannaf Abdur Razzaaq (7928) & Maa Jaa Fee Bida' by Ibn Waddaah (120), Chain Saheeh]
Imaam Abu Ja'far al-Ukaylee (D. 322) said:“The ahadeeth regarding the Nuzool of Allaah on the 15th night of Sha’baan are all weak. The Nuzool of Allaah is proven in every night, which also includes the 15th night of Sha’baan, In-Sha-Allaah.” [ad-Du’afa al-Kabeer by Ukaylee: 3/29]
Imaam Abu al-Hasan ad-Daaraqutni (D. 385) said while talking about one of the hadeeth on Virtues of Sha'baan that:
"This Hadeeth is not proven" [Al-Ilal by ad-Daaraqutni (6/51)]
Abdur Rahmaan bin Zayd bin Aslam (D. 182) said:“We did not find our teachers and Fuqaha paying any attention to the 15th of Sha’baan. They would neither pay any attention to the narration of Makhool nor would they give this night any importance over other nights.” [Al-Bida’ wal Naha by Ibn Wadaah: Pg 46]
Abu al-Khattaab Ibn Dihya (D. 633) writes in his book "Maa Jaa Fee Shahr Sha'baan (i.e. On what is narrated about the month of Sha'baan)" that:
“The people of Jarh wat Ta’deel say that no report regarding 15th Sha’baan is Saheeh” [al-Baa’ith by Abi Shaaq: Pg 127]
Imaam Abu Bakr Ibn al-Arabi (D. 543) writes:“There is no reliable hadeeth regarding the virtues of 15th Sha’baan, and there is no reliable report saying that in this night the decisions of deaths are taken. Therefore, these ahadeeth should not be paid any attention to" [Ahkaam ul-Qur’aan by Ibn al-Arabi: 2/214]
One of the Maajor Taabi'een, Imaam Ataa bin Yasaar (D. 94) said:“I believe that every night has this virtue (i.e. this night is not any special)"
[Sharh Usool ul-I’tiqaad: 3/451]
Haafidh Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (D. 751) said:“No hadeeth regarding [the virtues of Ibaadaat] in it are authentic”
[Al-Manaar al-Maneef by Ibn al-Qayyim, P. 99]
Haafidh Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (D. 795) said:"The Takhsees of doing Ibaadah in the 15th night of Sha'baan is rejected by numerous Scholars of Hijaaz such as: Ibn Abi Mulaykah, Ataa bin Yasaar, and it is also narrated from the Fuqaha of Madeenah by Abdur Rahmaan bin Zayd bin Aslam. And this is the opinion of Imaam Maalik's companions and others. They said: Everything of it is Bid'ah"
[Lataaif al-Ma'aarif (263)]
Haafidh Ibn Rajab further said:"Nothing is proven from the Prophet (peace be upon him) nor from his Sahaabah on staying up in the night of 15th Sha'baan"
[Lataaif al-Ma'aarif (263)]
Allaamah ash-Shaatibee (D. 790) said while discussing the reasons of Bid'ah:And among them is the commitment of specific Ibadaat in specific times for which there is no specification proven from Sahree'ah, such as fasting the day of mid-Sha'baan, and staying up the night of mid-Sha'baan
[Al-I'tisaam (1/46)]
Ibn Nujaym al-Hanafi (D. 970) said:"It is disliked to gather and stay up in these nights in Masaajid"
[Al-Baher al-Raa'iq (2/56)]
Al-Hattaab al-Maaliki (D. 954) said:"There is no dispute in the Madhab on the dislikeness of gathering up in the night of 15th Sha'baan, and the Night of Aashoora. The A'immah must forbid from it" [Mawaahib al-Jaleel (2/74)]
The Student of Shaykh Albaani, Shaikh Abdul Qaadir bin Habeebullah al-Sindi said:“The chain of this hadeeth is Munkar & Mawdoo’ as said by Imaam Abu Haatim and as narrated by him from his son Abdur Rahmaan in al-Illal. This narration can neither be presented as a Mutaabi’ah nor as a Shaahid, so as to make it Hujjah” [Al-Tasawwuf fi Meezaan al-Baheth wal Tahqeeq by Sindi: 1/555]
Sheikh ibn Bāz writes on the 15th Shaban:"Among the innovations that have been invented by some people is the celebrating of the middle of Sha’bān, and singling out that day for fasting. There is no reliable evidence for that. Some weak aḥādīth have been narrated concerning its virtues, but we cannot regard them as reliable. The reports which have been narrated concerning the virtues of prayer on this occasion are all fabricated, as has been pointed out by many of the scholars.(Hukm Iḥtifāl bil-Laylat an-Nisf min Sha'bān', pg. 8)
Sheikh Fawzan responds to a question asking him about the significance of the 15th Shaban:"Nothing firm and reliable has been established on the authority of the Prophet (ṣallallāhu `alayhi wa-sallam) that he stood in prayer in the night and fasted during the day of the 15th of Sha'bān. So the night of the 15th of Sha'bān is like any other night, and if someone is a regular worshipper during other nights, then he may stand the night in prayer without assuming anything special. This is because specifying a time for any act of worship requires an authentic proof, and if there is no authentic proof then the act is regarded as an innovation and all innovations are misguidance...."
['Nūrun `alā ad-Darb', (1/87)]
Sheikh Ibn al-'Uthaymīn commented on the 15th Shaban:
"That which is correct, is that, fasting the 15th of Sha'bān or specifying it with reciting (the Qur'ān) or making (particular) supplications has no basis.The day of the 15th of Sha'bān is like any other 15th day of other months."
(Fatāwā Ibn al-'Uthaymīn' 393)
Imam al-Fatni:Among the innovations that have been introduced on “Laylat an-Nusf” (mid-Sha‘baan) is al-Salaat al-Alfiyyah, which is one hundred rak‘ahs in which Soorat al-Ikhlaas is recited ten times in each rak‘ah, offered in congregation; they pay more attention to this than to Jumu‘ah and Eid prayers, although there is no report concerning it, except da‘eef (weak) and mawdoo‘ (fabricated) reports, and we should not be deceived by the fact that these reports were quoted by the authors of al-Qoot and al-Ihya’ and others, nor should we be deceived by what was mentioned in Tafseer al-Tha‘labi, that it is Laylat al-Qadr.
(Tadhkirat al-Mawdoo‘aat)
Ibn al-Jawzi:The hadeeth, “When the night of ‘nisf Sha‘baan’ (mid-Sha‘baan) comes, spend the night in prayer and fast on that day” was narrated by Ibn Maajah from ‘Ali. Muhashiyyah said: (It was also narrated) in al-Zawaa’id. Its isnaad is da‘eef (weak) because of the weakness of Ibn Abi Basrah, of whom Ahmad and Ibn Ma‘een said: He fabricates hadeeth.
(al-Mawdoo‘aat)
Praying six rak‘ahs on Laylat al-Nisf with the intention of warding off calamity, having a long life and being independent of people, and reciting Ya-Seen and offering du‘aa’ in between that -- there is no doubt that this is something that has been introduced into the religion and is contrary to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). The commentator on al-Ihya’ said: This prayer is well known in the books of later Sufi masters, but I have not seen any saheeh report in the Sunnah to support it and the connected du‘aa’. Rather this is the action of some shaykhs. Our companions said: It is makrooh to gather on any of the nights mentioned in the mosques or elsewhere. Al-Najm al-Ghayti said, describing spending the night of al-Nisf min Sh‘baan (mid-Sha‘baan) praying in congregation: That was denounced by most of the scholars of the Hijaz, including ‘Ata’ and Ibn Abi Mulaykah, the fuqaha’ of Madinah and the companions of Maalik. They said: All of that is an innovation (bid‘ah) and there is no report to suggest that the Prophet spent that night in praying in congregation or that his Companions did that either.
Al-Nawawi :The prayers of Rajab and Sha‘baan are two reprehensible innovations.
(al-Sunan wa’l-Mubtada‘aat, p. 144 )
Al-Fatni (may Allah have mercy on him) said, after the comments quoted above:
The common folk are so infatuated with this prayer that they stored up a lot of fuel for it and many evils resulted from it, and many transgressions are committed which we do no need to describe. (It is so bad that) the close friends of Allah feared His punishment and fled into the wilderness. The first time this prayer occurred was in Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem) in 448 AH. Zayd ibn Aslam said: We never saw any of our shaykhs or fuqaha’ saying that Laylat al-Baraa’ah (15 Sha‘baan) had any superiority over other nights. Ibn Dihyah said: The hadeeths about the prayer on Laylat al-Baraa’ah are fabricated and one has an interruption in the isnaad. Anyone who acts upon a report which is known to be false is a servant of the Shaytaan.
(Tadhkirat al-Mawdoo‘aat by al-Fatni, p. 45 )
For a believer , his Hujjah (argument) shouldn't be the people around him or the volume of people following this bid'at , rather the below should be his hujjah :
And whoever obeys Allâh and His Messenger, Allâh shall admit him in the Gardens underneath which rivers flow. (Quran 4:13)
"But no, by the Lord, they can have no (real) Faith, until they make you (Mohammed) judge in all disputes between them, and find in their souls no resistance against your decisions, but accept them with the fullest conviction." [Qur'an 4:65]
Narrated Irbad ibn Sariyah that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said : Those of you who live after me will see great disagreement (contradictions and new practices in Islam etc). You must then follow my sunnah and that of the rightly-guided caliphs (Abu bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali) .Hold to it and stick fast to it. Avoid novelties, for every novelty is an innovation (In Islam) and every innovation is an error. (Narrated by Abu Dawud and a similar narration is found in Ahmad (4/126), Ibn Maajah (no. 43), al-Haakim (1/96)
All good is from Allah and all mistakes are mine. May Allah have mercy on the one who corrects me.
Misconception # 1:
Allaah descends to the first heavens on this night to forgive us.
Answer:
Allah descends Every Night and forgive the person who seek forgiveness.
Narrated Abu Huraira:Allah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "Every night when it is the last third of the night, our Lord, the Superior, the Blessed, descends to the nearest heaven and says: Is there anyone to invoke Me that I may respond to his invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone asking My forgiveness so that I may forgive him?. " (See Hadith No. 246,Vol. 2)
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الأَغَرِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " يَتَنَزَّلُ رَبُّنَا تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا حِينَ يَبْقَى ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ الآخِرُ فَيَقُولُ مَنْ يَدْعُونِي فَأَسْتَجِيبَ لَهُ، مَنْ يَسْأَلُنِي فَأُعْطِيَهُ، مَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُنِي فَأَغْفِرَ لَهُ ".
(Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 7494;(English) reference: Vol. 9, Book 93, Hadith 586)
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said:"The gates of Paradise are opened on Monday and Thursday. In them, (will enter) whoever has not associated anything with Allah will be forgiven, except for the two who shun each other, (about whom) it is said: 'Return these two until they make amends." (Sahih)
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ سُهَيْلِ بْنِ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " تُفَتَّحُ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ يَوْمَ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَالْخَمِيسِ فَيُغْفَرُ فِيهِمَا لِمَنْ لاَ يُشْرِكُ بِاللَّهِ شَيْئًا إِلاَّ الْمُهْتَجِرَيْنِ يُقَالُ رُدُّوا هَذَيْنِ حَتَّى يَصْطَلِحَا " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَيُرْوَى فِي بَعْضِ الْحَدِيثِ " ذَرُوا هَذَيْنِ حَتَّى يَصْطَلِحَا " . قَالَ وَمَعْنَى قَوْلِهِ " الْمُهْتَجِرَيْنِ " . يَعْنِي الْمُتَصَارِمَيْنِ . - وَهَذَا مِثْلُ مَا رُوِيَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ " لاَ يَحِلُّ لِمُسْلِمٍ أَنْ يَهْجُرَ أَخَاهُ فَوْقَ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ " .
(Jami` at-Tirmidhi English reference: Vol. 4, Book 1, Hadith 2023;Arabic reference: Book 27, Hadith 2155)
Misconception # 2:
This is the night when our fate, lifespan, and provisions are decreed.
Answer: Allah has destined for us everything before our birth.
Narrated `Abdullah:Allah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam), the truthful and truly-inspired, said, "Each one of you collected in the womb of his mother for forty days, and then turns into a clot for an equal period (of forty days) and turns into a piece of flesh for a similar period (of forty days) and then Allah sends an angel and orders him to write four things, i.e., his provision*, his age*, and whether he will be of the wretched* or the blessed (in the Hereafter)*. Then the soul is breathed into him. And by Allah, a person among you (or a man) may do deeds of the people of the Fire till there is only a cubit or an arm-breadth distance between him and the Fire, but then that writing (which Allah has ordered the angel to write) precedes, and he does the deeds of the people of Paradise and enters it; and a man may do the deeds of the people of Paradise till there is only a cubit or two between him and Paradise, and then that writing precedes and he does the deeds of the people of the Fire and enters it."
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ، هِشَامُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، أَنْبَأَنِي سُلَيْمَانُ الأَعْمَشُ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ زَيْدَ بْنَ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهْوَ الصَّادِقُ الْمَصْدُوقُ قَالَ " إِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ يُجْمَعُ فِي بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْمًا، ثُمَّ عَلَقَةً مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ يَكُونُ مُضْغَةً مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُ اللَّهُ مَلَكًا فَيُؤْمَرُ بِأَرْبَعٍ بِرِزْقِهِ، وَأَجَلِهِ، وَشَقِيٌّ، أَوْ سَعِيدٌ، فَوَاللَّهِ إِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ ـ أَوِ الرَّجُلَ ـ يَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ النَّارِ، حَتَّى مَا يَكُونُ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَهَا غَيْرُ بَاعٍ أَوْ ذِرَاعٍ، فَيَسْبِقُ عَلَيْهِ الْكِتَابُ، فَيَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ، فَيَدْخُلُهَا، وَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ، حَتَّى مَا يَكُونُ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَهَا غَيْرُ ذِرَاعٍ أَوْ ذِرَاعَيْنِ، فَيَسْبِقُ عَلَيْهِ الْكِتَابُ، فَيَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ النَّارِ، فَيَدْخُلُهَا ". قَالَ آدَمُ إِلاَّ ذِرَاعٌ.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6594;(English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 77, Hadith 593
Misconception # 3:
Deeds are shown (to Allaah) on 15th shaban
Answer:
Deeds are shown on every Monday and Thursday.
Usamah bin Zaid said:"I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, sometimes you fast, and you hardly ever break your hardly ever fast, except two days which, if you are fasting, you include them in your fast, and if you are not fasting, then you fast them on your own.' He said: 'Which two days?' I said: 'Monday and Thursday.' He said: 'Those are two days in which deeds are shown to the Lord of the worlds, and I like my deeds to be shown (to Him) when I am fasting."'(Hasan)
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ثَابِتُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ أَبُو الْغُصْنِ، - شَيْخٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ - قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أُسَامَةُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّكَ تَصُومُ حَتَّى لاَ تَكَادَ تُفْطِرُ وَتُفْطِرُ حَتَّى لاَ تَكَادَ أَنْ تَصُومَ إِلاَّ يَوْمَيْنِ إِنْ دَخَلاَ فِي صِيَامِكَ وَإِلاَّ صُمْتَهُمَا . قَالَ " أَىُّ يَوْمَيْنِ " . قُلْتُ يَوْمَ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَيَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ . قَالَ " ذَانِكَ يَوْمَانِ تُعْرَضُ فِيهِمَا الأَعْمَالُ عَلَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يُعْرَضَ عَمَلِي وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ " .
(Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 2358;English translation: Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2360)
Misconception # 4:
The night of the 15th of Shabaan should be singled out for special kinds of worship, prayer, etc. and they have a great reward
Answer:
There is no saheeh hadeeth concerning the night of the fifteenth of Shabaan.So this night is ordinary like other nights and the reward for praying/worshiping in this night will be the same as other nights
Laylat al-Nusf min Sha’baan (the 15th of Sha’baan):
It was narrated that ‘Ali bin Abu Talib said:“The Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h) said: ‘When it is the night of the middle of Sha’ban, spend its night in prayer and observe a fast on that day. For Allah descends at sunset on that night to the lowest heaven and says: ‘Is there noone who will ask Me for forgiveness, that I may forgive him? Is there no one who will ask Me for provision, that I may provide for him? Is there no one who is afflicted by trouble, that I may relieve him?’ And so on, until dawn comes.’”
IBN MAJAH (Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1388)
RESPONSE :-
AL-ALBAANI SAID :-Mawdoo
(DAEEF AL-TARGHEEB 623,SILSILAH AL-DAEEFAH 2132,DAEEF IBN MAJAH 261)
IMAM MIZZI SAID :-Imam ahmed bin hambal said Muhammad bin abdullah bin abi basra is not trustworthy,yahya ibn maeen said muhammed bin abdullah bin abi basra is daeef,imam bukhari & ibne madni said abi basrais daeef.
(TAHDHEEB AL KAMAAL 21/79)
ALLAMA AINI AL-HANAFI SAID :-Daeef
(UMMADUL QARI 11/117)
IMAM SHAWKANI SAID :-Isnaad Daeef
(TAHFADUL ADKARI 241)
It was narrated that ‘Aishah said:“I missed theProphet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) one night, so I went out looking for him. I found him at Al-Baqi’, raising his head towards the sky.He said: ‘O ‘Aishah, were you afraid that Allah and His Messenger would wrong you?’” She said: “Isaid: ‘No, it is not that, but I thought that you had gone to one of your other wives.’ He said: ‘Allah descends on the night of the middle of Sha’ban to the lowest heaven, and He forgives more than the numbers of hairs on the sheep of Banu Kalb.’”
IBN MAJAH (Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1389)
RESPONSE.
AL-ALBAANI SAID :-Daeef
(DAEEF IBN MAJAH 262,TAKHREEJ MISHKATMASABEEH 1251,DAEEF AL-JAAMI 1761)
IMAM MUBARAKAFOORI SAID :-Munqati
(TAHFADUL AHDAWI 3/160)
ALLAMA AINI AL-HANAFI SAID :-Munqati
(UMMDADUL QAARI 11/116)
IMAM BUKHARI SAID :-Daeef
(SUNAN TIRMIDHI 739)
SAYINGS OF SCHOLAR. :-
IMAAM ABU BAKR IBN AL-ARABI SAID :-
“There is no reliable hadeethregarding virtues of 15th Sha’baan, and there is no reliable report saying that in this night the decisions of deaths are taken. Therefore,these ahadeeth should not be paid any attention”
(AHKAAM UL-QUR’AAN BY IBN AL-ARABI 2/214)
Haafidh Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (D. 751) said:
“No hadeeth regarding[the virtues ofIbaadaat] in it are authentic”
[Al-Manaaral-Maneefby Ibn al-Qayyim,P. 99]
Haafidh Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali(D. 795) said:
"The Takhseesof doing Ibaadah inthe 15th night of Sha'baan is rejected by numerousScholars of Hijaaz such as: Ibn Abi Mulaykah,Ataa bin Yasaar, and it is also narrated from the Fuqaha ofMadeenahby Abdur Rahmaan bin Zayd bin Aslam.And this is the opinion ofImaam Maalik's companionsand others. They said: Everythingof it is Bid'ah"
[Lataaif al-Ma'aarif (263)]
Haafidh Ibn Rajab further said:
"Nothing is provenfrom the Prophet (peace beupon him) nor from his Sahaabahon staying up in the night of 15th Sha'baan"
Misconception # 5:
Fasting on the day of 15th shaban has a special and great reward
Answer:
Fasting on 13th 14th 15th of every month is recommended not only on 15th shaban
It was narrated from Jarir bin 'Abdullah that the Prophet said:"Fasting three days of each month is fasting for a lifetime, and the shining days of Al-Bid, the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth." (Sahih)
أَخْبَرَنَا مَخْلَدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَبِي أُنَيْسَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ جَرِيرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " صِيَامُ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ صِيَامُ الدَّهْرِ وَأَيَّامُ الْبِيضِ صَبِيحَةَ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ وَأَرْبَعَ عَشْرَةَ وَخَمْسَ عَشْرَةَ " ►Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 2420;English translation: Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2422;
►Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 2426;English translation: Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2428
►Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 2422;English translation: Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2424
►Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 2423;English translation: Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2425
►Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 761;In-book reference: Book 8, Hadith 80
►Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 2420;English translation: Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2422
►Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 2424;English translation: Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2426
►Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 2449;English translation: Book 13, Hadith 2443
►Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 2425;English translation: Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2427
►Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 2428;English translation: Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2430
►Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 2427;English translation: Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2429
►Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 4311;English translation: Vol. 5, Book 42, Hadith 4316
Misconception # 6:
This is the night when the souls of departed ones return to their families.
Answer:
This thing has no basis in quran or ahadith…. The souls can never return to this world. This is a fabrication and lie invented by people
Allah Says,"When death comes to one of them, he says: "O My Lord! Send me back to life. In order that I may do good deeds in the things that I neglected. By no means! It is but a word he says. And before him is a Barzakh until the day they are raised up."
[Soorah al-Mu'minoon (23): 99-100]
''And spend [in the way of Allah ] from what We have provided you before death approaches one of you and he says, "My Lord, if only You would delay me for a brief term so I would give charity and be among the righteous.But never will Allah delay a soul when its time has come. And Allah is Acquainted with what you do.''(Al-Quran
Surat Al-Munāfiqūn 63:10-11)
Misconception # 7:
Look at all those people doing it. How can they all be wrong?
Answer:
Allah says, “And if you obey most of those in the earth, they will lead you astray from Allah's way; they follow but conjecture and they only lie.” [Al qur’an 6:116]
So this is a weak argument that majority of people do it and believe in it so it is true.
Here is a short document, refuting some of the wide-spread ahadeeth quoted in the favour of 15th Sha'baan :
http://islaahh.wordpress.com/2013/06/21/laylat-al-nusf-min-shabaan-the-middle-of-shabaan-should-not-be-singled-out-for-worship/
FATAWAAS OF SCHOLARS
Imaam Ibn Abi Mulaykah (who is one of the major Taabi'een and Fuqaha of Madeenah) (D. 117) was told that:
Ziyaad al-Numayree says, Certainly the reward of the mid night of Sha'baan is like the reward of the night of Qadr, so Imaam Ibn Abi Mulaykah replied:
"Had I listened to him say that and I had a stick in my hand, then I would have struck him"
[Musannaf Abdur Razzaaq (7928) & Maa Jaa Fee Bida' by Ibn Waddaah (120), Chain Saheeh]
Imaam Abu Ja'far al-Ukaylee (D. 322) said:“The ahadeeth regarding the Nuzool of Allaah on the 15th night of Sha’baan are all weak. The Nuzool of Allaah is proven in every night, which also includes the 15th night of Sha’baan, In-Sha-Allaah.” [ad-Du’afa al-Kabeer by Ukaylee: 3/29]
Imaam Abu al-Hasan ad-Daaraqutni (D. 385) said while talking about one of the hadeeth on Virtues of Sha'baan that:
"This Hadeeth is not proven" [Al-Ilal by ad-Daaraqutni (6/51)]
Abdur Rahmaan bin Zayd bin Aslam (D. 182) said:“We did not find our teachers and Fuqaha paying any attention to the 15th of Sha’baan. They would neither pay any attention to the narration of Makhool nor would they give this night any importance over other nights.” [Al-Bida’ wal Naha by Ibn Wadaah: Pg 46]
Abu al-Khattaab Ibn Dihya (D. 633) writes in his book "Maa Jaa Fee Shahr Sha'baan (i.e. On what is narrated about the month of Sha'baan)" that:
“The people of Jarh wat Ta’deel say that no report regarding 15th Sha’baan is Saheeh” [al-Baa’ith by Abi Shaaq: Pg 127]
Imaam Abu Bakr Ibn al-Arabi (D. 543) writes:“There is no reliable hadeeth regarding the virtues of 15th Sha’baan, and there is no reliable report saying that in this night the decisions of deaths are taken. Therefore, these ahadeeth should not be paid any attention to" [Ahkaam ul-Qur’aan by Ibn al-Arabi: 2/214]
One of the Maajor Taabi'een, Imaam Ataa bin Yasaar (D. 94) said:“I believe that every night has this virtue (i.e. this night is not any special)"
[Sharh Usool ul-I’tiqaad: 3/451]
Haafidh Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (D. 751) said:“No hadeeth regarding [the virtues of Ibaadaat] in it are authentic”
[Al-Manaar al-Maneef by Ibn al-Qayyim, P. 99]
Haafidh Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (D. 795) said:"The Takhsees of doing Ibaadah in the 15th night of Sha'baan is rejected by numerous Scholars of Hijaaz such as: Ibn Abi Mulaykah, Ataa bin Yasaar, and it is also narrated from the Fuqaha of Madeenah by Abdur Rahmaan bin Zayd bin Aslam. And this is the opinion of Imaam Maalik's companions and others. They said: Everything of it is Bid'ah"
[Lataaif al-Ma'aarif (263)]
Haafidh Ibn Rajab further said:"Nothing is proven from the Prophet (peace be upon him) nor from his Sahaabah on staying up in the night of 15th Sha'baan"
[Lataaif al-Ma'aarif (263)]
Allaamah ash-Shaatibee (D. 790) said while discussing the reasons of Bid'ah:And among them is the commitment of specific Ibadaat in specific times for which there is no specification proven from Sahree'ah, such as fasting the day of mid-Sha'baan, and staying up the night of mid-Sha'baan
[Al-I'tisaam (1/46)]
Ibn Nujaym al-Hanafi (D. 970) said:"It is disliked to gather and stay up in these nights in Masaajid"
[Al-Baher al-Raa'iq (2/56)]
Al-Hattaab al-Maaliki (D. 954) said:"There is no dispute in the Madhab on the dislikeness of gathering up in the night of 15th Sha'baan, and the Night of Aashoora. The A'immah must forbid from it" [Mawaahib al-Jaleel (2/74)]
The Student of Shaykh Albaani, Shaikh Abdul Qaadir bin Habeebullah al-Sindi said:“The chain of this hadeeth is Munkar & Mawdoo’ as said by Imaam Abu Haatim and as narrated by him from his son Abdur Rahmaan in al-Illal. This narration can neither be presented as a Mutaabi’ah nor as a Shaahid, so as to make it Hujjah” [Al-Tasawwuf fi Meezaan al-Baheth wal Tahqeeq by Sindi: 1/555]
Sheikh ibn Bāz writes on the 15th Shaban:"Among the innovations that have been invented by some people is the celebrating of the middle of Sha’bān, and singling out that day for fasting. There is no reliable evidence for that. Some weak aḥādīth have been narrated concerning its virtues, but we cannot regard them as reliable. The reports which have been narrated concerning the virtues of prayer on this occasion are all fabricated, as has been pointed out by many of the scholars.(Hukm Iḥtifāl bil-Laylat an-Nisf min Sha'bān', pg. 8)
Sheikh Fawzan responds to a question asking him about the significance of the 15th Shaban:"Nothing firm and reliable has been established on the authority of the Prophet (ṣallallāhu `alayhi wa-sallam) that he stood in prayer in the night and fasted during the day of the 15th of Sha'bān. So the night of the 15th of Sha'bān is like any other night, and if someone is a regular worshipper during other nights, then he may stand the night in prayer without assuming anything special. This is because specifying a time for any act of worship requires an authentic proof, and if there is no authentic proof then the act is regarded as an innovation and all innovations are misguidance...."
['Nūrun `alā ad-Darb', (1/87)]
Sheikh Ibn al-'Uthaymīn commented on the 15th Shaban:
"That which is correct, is that, fasting the 15th of Sha'bān or specifying it with reciting (the Qur'ān) or making (particular) supplications has no basis.The day of the 15th of Sha'bān is like any other 15th day of other months."
(Fatāwā Ibn al-'Uthaymīn' 393)
Imam al-Fatni:Among the innovations that have been introduced on “Laylat an-Nusf” (mid-Sha‘baan) is al-Salaat al-Alfiyyah, which is one hundred rak‘ahs in which Soorat al-Ikhlaas is recited ten times in each rak‘ah, offered in congregation; they pay more attention to this than to Jumu‘ah and Eid prayers, although there is no report concerning it, except da‘eef (weak) and mawdoo‘ (fabricated) reports, and we should not be deceived by the fact that these reports were quoted by the authors of al-Qoot and al-Ihya’ and others, nor should we be deceived by what was mentioned in Tafseer al-Tha‘labi, that it is Laylat al-Qadr.
(Tadhkirat al-Mawdoo‘aat)
Ibn al-Jawzi:The hadeeth, “When the night of ‘nisf Sha‘baan’ (mid-Sha‘baan) comes, spend the night in prayer and fast on that day” was narrated by Ibn Maajah from ‘Ali. Muhashiyyah said: (It was also narrated) in al-Zawaa’id. Its isnaad is da‘eef (weak) because of the weakness of Ibn Abi Basrah, of whom Ahmad and Ibn Ma‘een said: He fabricates hadeeth.
(al-Mawdoo‘aat)
Praying six rak‘ahs on Laylat al-Nisf with the intention of warding off calamity, having a long life and being independent of people, and reciting Ya-Seen and offering du‘aa’ in between that -- there is no doubt that this is something that has been introduced into the religion and is contrary to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). The commentator on al-Ihya’ said: This prayer is well known in the books of later Sufi masters, but I have not seen any saheeh report in the Sunnah to support it and the connected du‘aa’. Rather this is the action of some shaykhs. Our companions said: It is makrooh to gather on any of the nights mentioned in the mosques or elsewhere. Al-Najm al-Ghayti said, describing spending the night of al-Nisf min Sh‘baan (mid-Sha‘baan) praying in congregation: That was denounced by most of the scholars of the Hijaz, including ‘Ata’ and Ibn Abi Mulaykah, the fuqaha’ of Madinah and the companions of Maalik. They said: All of that is an innovation (bid‘ah) and there is no report to suggest that the Prophet spent that night in praying in congregation or that his Companions did that either.
Al-Nawawi :The prayers of Rajab and Sha‘baan are two reprehensible innovations.
(al-Sunan wa’l-Mubtada‘aat, p. 144 )
Al-Fatni (may Allah have mercy on him) said, after the comments quoted above:
The common folk are so infatuated with this prayer that they stored up a lot of fuel for it and many evils resulted from it, and many transgressions are committed which we do no need to describe. (It is so bad that) the close friends of Allah feared His punishment and fled into the wilderness. The first time this prayer occurred was in Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem) in 448 AH. Zayd ibn Aslam said: We never saw any of our shaykhs or fuqaha’ saying that Laylat al-Baraa’ah (15 Sha‘baan) had any superiority over other nights. Ibn Dihyah said: The hadeeths about the prayer on Laylat al-Baraa’ah are fabricated and one has an interruption in the isnaad. Anyone who acts upon a report which is known to be false is a servant of the Shaytaan.
(Tadhkirat al-Mawdoo‘aat by al-Fatni, p. 45 )
For a believer , his Hujjah (argument) shouldn't be the people around him or the volume of people following this bid'at , rather the below should be his hujjah :
And whoever obeys Allâh and His Messenger, Allâh shall admit him in the Gardens underneath which rivers flow. (Quran 4:13)
"But no, by the Lord, they can have no (real) Faith, until they make you (Mohammed) judge in all disputes between them, and find in their souls no resistance against your decisions, but accept them with the fullest conviction." [Qur'an 4:65]
Narrated Irbad ibn Sariyah that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said : Those of you who live after me will see great disagreement (contradictions and new practices in Islam etc). You must then follow my sunnah and that of the rightly-guided caliphs (Abu bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali) .Hold to it and stick fast to it. Avoid novelties, for every novelty is an innovation (In Islam) and every innovation is an error. (Narrated by Abu Dawud and a similar narration is found in Ahmad (4/126), Ibn Maajah (no. 43), al-Haakim (1/96)
All good is from Allah and all mistakes are mine. May Allah have mercy on the one who corrects me.
