The Virtue of the 15th Night of Sha'baan

Athari · October 20, 2002, 10:26pm

The Virtue of the 15th Night of Sha’baan
Imaam Muhammad Naasirud-Deen Al-Albaanee
Source: Silsilatul-Ahaadeethis-Saheehah #1145
Translated by Abul-'Abbaas for www.bakkah.net

In the Name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, may His Complete Salaah and Salaam be upon His final Messenger, to proceed… ]

As for what is authentic regarding the night of the 15th of Sha’baan, [The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam, said,]

“Allaah, the Blessed and Exalted, comes to His Creation on Laylatun-Nisf (the 15th night) of Sha’baan, and He forgives all of His Creation, except for the polytheist and the mushaahin [1].”

It is an authentic narration narrated by a number of Companions with a number or different chains that strengthen each other, by way of Mu’aath ibn Jabal, Aboo Tha’labah Al-Khushanee, 'Abdullaah ibn 'Amr, Aboo Moosaa Al-Ash’aree, Aboo Hurayrah, Aboo Bakr As-Siddeeq, 'Awf ibn Maalik, and 'Aa’ishah… [2]

…So in summary, the narration is authentic without a doubt, as authenticity could be established for it even if there were not so many routes, so long as they are free of any severe weaknesses, as is the case with this narration.

As for what Al-Qaasimee, may Allaah Most High have Mercy on him, quoted in Islaah Al-Masaajid (p.107) [3], that the scholars of Hadeeth say that there is no authentic narration about the virtue of Laylatun-Nisf (the 15th night) of Sha’baan, it is not something to be relied upon. And if any of them did say this statement, then it was only from their haste and lack of effort in tracing the numerous routes (of the narration) as has been done here, and Allaah is the One who grants success. [4]

FOOTNOTES

[1] mushaahin: the one who has animosity (An-Nihaayah, 1/847)

[2] I have omitted Al-Albaanee’s 4-page discussion of the different chains of the narration here. To summarize, different wordings of the narration can be found in As-Sunnah of Ibn Abee 'Aasim, Saheeh Ibn Hibbaan, Shu’ab Al-'Eemaan of Al-Bayhaqee, Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabeer and Al-Awsat of At-Tabaraanee, the Musnad of Imaam Ahmad, the Sunan of Ibn Maajah, the Musnad of Al-Bazzaar, and many others, on the authority of the eight mentioned Companions.

[3] p.100 of Al-Maktab Al-Islaamee’s fifth printing, 1403

[4] This narration shows the virtue of the 15th night of Sha’baan, and as Imaam Al-Albaanee said in his checking of Islaah Al-Masaajid (p.99), “The authenticity of this hadeeth does not necessitate taking this night as an occasion to gather with the people and perform acts of innovation like those the author mentioned…” He is referring to people illuminating the masjids, praying 100 rak’ahs, reciting Soorah Al-Ikhlaas ten times in each rak’ah, etc. from the things mentioned by Al-Qaasimee, the author of Islaah Al-Masaajid. So to specify this night as a night for specific acts of worship is an innovation in the Religion, refer to the following statements of the scholars:

http://fatwa-online.com/news/0021017.htm

ammarr · October 21, 2002, 2:25pm

What should be the correct attitude when apparently two different point of views exist on a single topic, such as this? There is a fatawa by Mufti Taqi Usmani which agrees with this one (in saying that Nisf-shaban is a night to be singled out) and then there are others (posted in this forum) which say that there is no real authentic evidence of the above.

It would be a little harder to actually go and check all narrations/chains and frankly, even then I wouldn't be authorized to decide this for myself as I might have missed out on something- so what is one to do here? Can we pick and choose?

Uzee · October 21, 2002, 10:58pm

**Ruling on celebrating the middle of Sha’baan
**

Praise be to Allaah Who has perfected our religion for us, and has completed His Favour upon us. And blessings and peace be upon His Prophet and Messenger Muhammad, the Prophet of repentance and mercy.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meanings):

“This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion [al-Maa’idah 5:3]

“Or have they partners with Allaah (false gods) who have instituted for them a religion which Allaah has not ordained? [al-Shooraa 42:21]

In al-Saheehayn it is reported from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“Whoever innovates something in this matter of ours [Islam] that is not part of it, will have it rejected.”

In Saheeh Muslim it is narrated from Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to say in his Friday khutbahs: “The best of speech is the Book of Allaah and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). The most evil of things are those which are newly-invented, and every innovation (bid’ah) is a going-astray.”

And there are many aayaat and ahaadeeth which say similar things.

This clearly indicates that Allaah has perfected the religion of this ummah, and completed His favour upon them. He did not take the soul of His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) until he had conveyed the Message clearly and explained to the ummah everything that Allaah had prescribed for it of words and deeds. He (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) explained that everything that people would innovate after he was gone, all the words and deeds that they would attribute to Islam, all of that would be thrown back on the one who invented it, even if his intention was good. The companions of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) knew this matter, as did the scholars of Islam after them. They denounced bid’ah and warned against it, as has been stated by all those who wrote books praising the Sunnah and denouncing bid’ah, such as Ibn Waddaah, al-Tartooshi, Ibn Shaamah and others.

Among the bid’ahs that have been invented by some people is celebrating the middle of Sha’baan (Laylat al-Nusf min Sha’baan), and singling out that day for fasting. There is no evidence (daleel) for that which can be regarded as reliable. Some da’eef (weak) ahaadeeth 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 mawdoo’ (fabricated), as has been pointed out by many of the scholars. We will quote some of their comments below, in sha Allaah.

**