A Very Big Night: The 15th Shabaan

Posted by Hamza | Posted in Hadith, sunnah | Posted on 05-08-2009

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Bismillah

The fast of the 15th Sha’ban, on the day immediately following the Night of Bara’ah, the 15th of Sha’ban, (tonight) it is mustahabb (advisable) to keep fast.

Tonight is a big night too inshallah, Abu Huraira (ra) reported the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) as saying: Gabriel (as) came to me on the night of mid-Sha’ban and said to me: “O Muhammad, raise your head heavenwards!” I asked him: “What night is this?” and he replied: ” This is the night when Allah (SWT) opens three hundred of the gates of mercy, forgiving all who do not make anything His partner . The only exceptions are those who practice sorcery or divination, are addicted to wine, or persist in usury and illicit sex; these He does not forgive until they repent.”

At a quarter of the night, Gabriel (as) came down and said: “0 Muhammad, raise your head!” So I looked up, to behold the gates of Paradise wide open. At the first gate an angel was calling: “Good news for those who bow in worship this night!” At the second gate an angel was calling: “Good news for those who prostrate themselves in worship this night!” At the third gate an angel was calling: “Good news for those who offer supplication this night!” At the fourth gate an angel was calling: “Good news for those who make remembrance this night!” At the fifth gate an angel was calling: “Good news for those who weep this night from fear of Allah (SWT) !” At the sixth gate an angel was calling: “Good news for those who submit this night!” At the seventh gate an angel was calling: “Will anyone ask, that his request may be granted?” At the eighth gate an angel was calling: “Will anyone seek forgiveness, that he may be forgiven?”

I said: ” O Gabriel, how long will these gates remain open?” He replied: “From the beginning of the night until the break of dawn.” Then he said: “0 Muhammad, tonight Allah (SWT) has as many slaves emancipated from the Fire as the number of woolly hairs on the flocks and herds of Kalb.”

May Allah (SWT) allow us to gain the full reward for the night and day of the 15th Shabaan, amin

Wasalaam

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Hamza Isa

Jazakamullahu khayran brother for those words, I was going to mention in the post that the authenticity has been debated by the ullema, but forgot to write it in my haste.

I wasn't aware that it is regarded as an innovation though, that's the first time I have heard of it. However, there is a principle that Hadith, although week, can be narrated and used if the Hadith is a call towards amaal and does not contain any conflict with aqeedah or shariyah. Pls correct me if that is wrong.

The ullema, such as shaykhul Hadith Muhammad Zakariya (ra) have used this principle when authoring the book Fadhali Amaal and others.

Allah knows best, I am just a layman.

Thank you very much, very beneficial mashallah
alam

Standing the night of the 15th of Sha'baan in prayer and fasting during it's day
*Please appropriately reference this fatwa to: www.fatwa-online.com, thankyou!*
Question: Is standing the night of the 15th of Sha'baan in prayer and fasting during it's day legislated?

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

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

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