بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي ; وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي ; وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِنْ لِسَانِي ; يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي

The subject question is intriguing. And the answer to the subject question is not so simple either; rather, the facts associated with the correct answers are of serious nature.

‘Shaban’ is the eighth month of Hijri calendar. As per Hijri calendar, this month comes just before the month of Ramadan. So in some ways the month of Shaban is considered by many as a month in which people do preparations for the coming month of fasting (i.e. Ramadan). There is a lot to talk about significance of the month of Shaban and some Islamic rulings associated with it. However, the discussion here shall focus on one particular day of this month i.e. the fifteenth.

There are many popular beliefs associated with 15 Shaban. The night of 15 Shaban is often called by many as “Shab-e-Baraat” (in Urdu/Persian language) i.e. “the night of celebration/gathering”. Some others call it with slightly different (though with same rhyme) name which is “Shab-e-Bara’ah” i.e. “the night of freedom/salvation/forgiveness”.

Let us discuss all these widely held beliefs one-by-one in light of Qur’an and Sunnah, and arrive at the correct answer to the subject question.

A. Many believe that the matters of ordainments for mankind are Decreed (by Almighty Allah) on the night of 15 Shaban; Right or Wrong?

A vast population of Muslims believe that matters of ordainments are decreed on the night of 15 Shaban.This is absolutely wrong. For getting the correct view on this, I request all to pay attention to following verses of Holy Qur’an:

حم

“Ha Meem.”

وَالْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ

“By the manifest Book that makes everything clear,”

إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُبَارَكَةٍ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِينَ

“We sent it down on a blessed night. Verily, We are ever warning.”

(Aayah No’s 1 to 3, Surah Ad-Dukhan, Chapter No. 44, Holy Qur’an).

In above mentioned verses, Almighty Allah is informing us about the night in which He sent down His Book (i.e. Holy Qur’an), and that night has been termed as a ‘blessed night’.

From other verse of Holy Qur’an we know that Qur’an was revealed in the month of Ramadan:

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ

“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an…”

(Aayah No. 185, Surah Al-Baqarah, Chapter No. 2, Holy Qur’an).

We further know that the Holy Qur’an was revealed in the ‘Night of Al-Qadr’:

إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ

“Verily, We have sent it (the Qur’an) down in the night of Al-Qadr.”

(Aayah No. 1, Surah Al-Qadr, Chapter No. 97, Holy Qur’an).

So, we know that the Holy Qur’an was revealed in the month of Ramadan on the night of Al-Qadr.

Thus, the blessed night discussed in Verse No. 3 of Surah Ad-Dukhan (Chapter No. 44 of Holy Qur’an) is the night of Al-Qadr.

Having understood this, let us go back to Surah Ad-Dukhan and continue from where we had left:

فِيهَا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ

“Therein (in that blessed night) is decreed every matter of ordainments,”

أَمْراً مِنْ عِنْدِنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا مُرْسِلِينَ

“As a Command from Us. Verily, We are ever sending,”

(Aayah No’s 4 & 5, Surah Ad-Dukhan, Chapter No. 44, Holy Qur’an).

and,

لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ

“The ‘Night of Al-Qadr’ is better than a thousand months.”

تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ أَمْرٍ

“Therein descend the angels and the Ruh by their Lord’s permission with every matter (every/all Decrees).”

(Aayah No’s 3 & 4, Surah Ad-Dukhan, Chapter No. 44, Holy Qur’an).

Thus, angels descend in abundance during the night of Al-Qadr. In this night, the matters are decided by Almighty Allah, and the decrees are transferred from ‘Al-Lawh Al-Mahfooz’ to the angels who write down the decrees of coming year (in order to do the execution of the ordainments) including the life spans, provisions and all what that shall happen until the end of that year (till next night of Al-Qadr).

Based on all this information, it is clear that matters of ordainment for the mankind are decreed in the night of Al-Qadr which falls in the month of Ramadan. This should also be understood from the name of the night itself (‘Qadr’ is an Arabic word which means ‘decree / destiny’ etc.). The night of 15 Shaban has got nothing to do with it.

Therefore, the belief (of some) that 15 Shaban is ‘the night of ordainments being decreed’ is absolutely wrong.

B. Many believe that Almighty Allah descends down to the lowest of the heavens to make a special listening of people’s prayers and answer them on the night of 15 Shaban; Right or Wrong?

People who hold this view use following ahadith to support their view:

Aishah (RA) narrated: I could not find Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) one night. So I left & found him at Al-Baqi (the graveyard near Prophet’s masjid in Al-Madinah). He said, “Did you fear you had been wronged by Allah and His Messenger (PBUH)?” I said, “O Allah’s Messenger (PBUH)! I thought that you had gone to one of your wives.” So he said, “Indeed Allah, Mighty & Sublime is He, descends to the lowest Heavens during the night of middle of Shaban to grant forgiveness to more than the number of hair on the sheep of (Banu) Kalb.”

(Hadith No. 739, Chapters on Fasting, Jami’ At-Tirmidhi, Vol. 2; Hadith No. 1389, Chapters of Establishing the Prayers & the Sunnah regarding them, Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 2).

and,

It was narrated that Ali bin Abu Talib (RA) said: Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “When it is the night of the middle of Shaban, spend its night in prayer and observe fast on that day, for Allah descends at sunset on that night to the lowest heaven and says: 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.”

(Hadith No. 1388, Chapters of Establishing the Prayers & the Sunnah regarding them, Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 2).

If these ahadith are taken at their face values, we get the impression that this belief is correct that Allah descends down to lowest of the heavens on this night to listen to people’s prayers. However, when these narrations are studied in depth, the conclusion is otherwise.

The first of the ahadith above is reported by Imam Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah, and both these Imams have categorized this narration as ‘Daeef’ i.e. weak. Hence, it cannot be relied upon.

The status of second narration mentioned above is even more serious. Imam Ibn Majah has classified it as ‘Mawdu’ i.e. a fabricated hadith. Therefore, this cannot be talked about at all.

On the contrary, there are several other authentic narrations which tell us the correct ruling about this matter. Refer to one of those narrations reported by Bukhari as well as Muslim:

Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Our Rubb (Allah), the Blessed, the Superior, comes down every night on the nearest heaven (sky) to us during the last third of the night and He says: Is there anyone who invokes Me, so that I may respond to his / her invocation? Is there anyone who asks Me, so that I may grant his / her request? Is there anyone who seeks My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him / her?”

(Hadith No. 1145, Book of Salat-ul-Tahajjud, Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 2; Hadith No. 1772 (758), Book of Traveller’s Prayer & Shortening Thereof, Sahih Muslim, Vol. 2).

It is clear that Almighty Allah descends down to the lowest of heavens every night during a certain period (described in the narration above) to listen and answer the prayers of His worshippers. Every night is blessed with this opportunity for human beings.

Therefore, the belief that Allah descends to the lowest of heavens only on the night of 15 Shaban is wrong and all the beliefs and rituals associated with this view are Bida’a (i.e. an innovation).

C. Many believe that souls of the dead visit the earth during this night and therefore one should go to graveyards in the night of 15 Shaban; Right or Wrong?

People who hold this view base their belief on the hadith mentioned at the start of Section B of this article, where it is reported that the Prophet (PBUH) went to graveyard during the night of 15 Shaban. Accordingly, the ritual of visiting graveyards during the night of 15 Shaban came into existence; the followers of this practice can be found in abundance in the areas of Indian sub-continent particularly.

But, this view is not correct. I will explain why.

I have already clarified the status of that hadith; it is a ‘Daeef’ (i.e. weak) hadith, and cannot be relied upon. The correct ruling regarding this matter should be understood from the following:

حَتَّى إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدَهُمْ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ رَبِّ ارْجِعُونِ

“Until when death comes to one of them (those who join partners with Allah), he says, “My Lord! Send me back,”

لَعَلِّي أَعْمَلُ صَالِحاً فِيمَا تَرَكْتُ كَلاَّ إِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَائِلُهَا وَمِنْ وَرَائِهِمْ بَرْزَخٌ إِلَى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ

“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 a ‘Barzakh’ (a barrier) until the day when they will be resurrected.”

(Aayah No’s 99 & 100, Surah Al-Muminun, Chapter No. 23, Holy Qur’an).

After death, the soul of the dead is kept in either ‘Illiyeen’ (if it is a good soul) or in ‘Sijjeen’ (if it is a bad soul). Allah creates a barrier (the ‘barzakh’) between this world and the Hereafter (thereby a barrier between the departed souls and this world). The dead souls can never visit this world till the ‘Day of Resurrection’.

Hence, the belief that dead souls visit the earth on the night of 15 Shaban and we should visit the graveyards during that night is wrong, and all the rituals associated with such a belief are Bida’a
(i.e. an innovation).

D. Many believe that performing nawafil prayers in the night and fasting in the day of 15 Shaban are acts which have great rewards associated with them; Right or Wrong?

People holding this view use the second hadith mentioned in Section B of this article to support their belief. I have clarified that this hadith is ‘Mawdu’ (i.e. fabricated) and there is no element of authenticity in it. However, I am going to give some more references in this section of the article, for further clarification about the subject.

D.1. Nawafil prayers in the night of 15 Shaban

There are voluntary prayers associated with ‘Qayaam-ul-layl’ which are not restricted to any particular night. In fact, ‘Qayaam-ul-layl’ means ‘staying up at night’ and doing ‘Remembrance of Allah’. It includes offering Salat and reciting Qur’an. The Salat associated with ‘Qayaam-ul-layl’ is called Tahajjud.

For a Muslim, it is recommended to observe ‘Qayaam-ul-layl’ every night (though not compulsory). There are several rewards associated with the nawafil prayers performed in ‘Qayaam-ul-layl’. The rewards get increased during the nights of the month of Ramadan. All these details have been discussed at length in a separate article titled ‘Qayaam-ul-Layl’; the article is available at www.quranandhadith.com.

Further, the other special night discussed in Qur’an and ahadith is the night of Al-Qadr, which falls in the last 10 days of the month of Ramadan. There is a strong recommendation for us to perform voluntary prayers during the night of Al-Qadr, as this night has special rewards associated with it. Details about this can be found in a detailed article titled ‘Night of Al-Qadr’; the article is available at www.quranandhadith.com.

Therefore, every night is a night in which it is recommended to stand up and perform voluntary prayers, recite Holy Qur’an, pray to Allah, seek forgiveness, ask Him for whatever you want to. Special status is given to the night of Al-Qadr (as explained in Surah Al-Qadr, Chapter No. 97 of Holy Qur’an). It is not correct to single out the night of 15 Shaban for performing special prayers.

D.2. Fasting during the day of 15 Shaban

There are great rewards associated with voluntary fasts. But it should be very clear that the methods of fasting shall be as per the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH). There are several details which can be talked of and need to be understood in order to get the correct rulings about voluntary fasting. We will not go into all those details here, as it will be out of scope of this discussion.

There are many narrations which tell us that the Prophet (PBUH) used to observe (voluntary) fasts in the month of Shaban. There are also ahadith which tell us that he told us not to observe fasts after the mid (i.e. the fifteenth) of the month of Shaban. There is no authentic hadith showing that the Prophet (PBUH) recommended fasting on the day of 15 Shaban. The hadith used by people in support of their view is the one mentioned in Section B of this article (the second hadith mentioned there); and I have explained earlier that it is a fabricated hadith which holds no authenticity.

Therefore, singling out the day of 15 Shaban for fasting is not Sunnah, rather it is a Bida’a (i.e. an innovation).

E. Many believe that this is a night of celebration and hence they do fireworks etc. as a part of their celebration; Right or Wrong?

Keeping in view all that we have discussed above, we can safely say that there is no exclusive celebration associated with 15 Shaban.

Doing fireworks etc. as a mark of celebration is not a good idea at all, even if it is done for some other occasion. Spending in fireworks and firecrackers means we spend handsome amounts of money in these activities. All such expenditure is a waste of one’s money and amounts to ‘Israf’, or may be even ‘Tabzir’ (please refer to a detailed article titled ‘Extravagance’; it is available at www.quranandhadith.com). Islam is against wastage; let us be careful.

Concluding remarks

The conclusion can be summarized as below:

1. It is wrong and against the teachings of Qur’an to believe that matters of ordainments are decreed by Allah on the night of 15 Shaban. In fact, such matters are decreed on the night of Al-Qadr (which falls in the last 10 days of the month of Ramadan).
2. It is immature understanding if one believes that Allah descends down to lowest of the heavens on the night of 15 Shaban only. The fact is that Allah descends down to lowest of the heavens every night.
3. It is wrong to believe that dead souls visit the earth in the night of 15 Shaban and hence we should visit graveyards on this occasion. All rituals associated with such a belief are Bida’a.
4. Singling out the night of 15 Shaban for performing voluntary prayers and the day of 15 Shaban for fasting is an act of Bida’a.
5. Doing fireworks etc. on 15 Shaban as a mark of celebrations is not an Islamic practice; it leads to extravagance, and should be avoided completely.

Dear brothers and sisters! Islam is a complete religion. Allah says:

الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمْ الإِسْلامَ دِيناً

“This day I have perfected (completed) your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.”

(Aayah No. 3, Surah Al-Ma’idah, Chapter No. 5, Holy Qur’an).

All these acts of Bida’a find no place in Islam. We should avoid them; if not, we are in for trouble. Refer to following narration to understand the severity of involvement in Bida’a:

Abdur Rahman bin Amr As-Sulami and Hujr bin Hujr said: We came to Al-Irbad bin Sariyah, who was one of those concerning whom the verse: Nor (is there blame) on those who came to youto be provided with mounts, when you said: I can find no mounts for you, was revealed. We greeted him and said, “We have come to you, to visit you, and benefit from you.” Al-Irbad said: Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) led us in prayer one day, then he turned to face us, and he exhorted us in an eloquent speech upon which our eyes filled with tears, and hearts filled with fear. Someone said, “O Allah’s Messenger (PBUH)! It is as if this is a farewell address. What do you enjoin upon us?” He said, “I enjoin you to fear Allah, and to hear and obey, even if it (the leader appointed over you) be an Ethiopian slave. Whoever among you lives after I am gone will see great disputes; you must adhere to my Sunnah and the way of the Rightly Guided Khulafa. Hold on to it and cling fast to it. And beware of newly invented matters, for every newly invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is a deviation.”

(Hadith No. 4607, Book of the Sunnah, Sunan Abu Dawud, Vol. 5).

It is very clear that any act which is not authenticated by Qur’an and/or Sunnah is an innovation (calledBida’a). And the Prophet (PBUH) has said that every Bida’a is a deviation (from the path of guidance).

I wish to remind all my brothers and sisters about what we recite in our daily prayers i.e. Surah Al-Fatiha (Chapter No. 1, Holy Qur’an): We pray to Allah to help us walk the path of truth, the path of guidance, the path of people on whom Allah bestowed His mercy and blessings before us; and we pray to Allah to keep us away from the path of people who invited His anger and those who went astray and got deviated from the correct path.

Isn’t it ironical that on one hand we pray to Allah for being guided to right path, and on the other hand we keep doing the acts which are the acts of misguided path? Any sane person will mock at such behaviour.

Our aim is to be among the guided ones (Insha’Allah); and hence, we should follow the Holy Qur’an, the Sunnah and the footsteps of the rightly guided companions of the Prophet (PBUH).

Please stay away from the acts of Bida’a. Shun them completely.

And Allah knows best.

May Allah forgive me if I am wrong and guide us to the right path…Ameen.

.سُبْحَانَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُون َ ; وَسَلامٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ ; وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ