Today is 2nd Shabaan in Pakistan. Arrival of Shabaan brings excitment in the lives of muslims as the month of Ramadan is approaching. I have a few confusions in my mind regarding the things we have been doing for centuries in the middle of this month and I have included the opinions of various ulema like Mufti Taqi Usmani, Dr Farhat Hashmi and Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz. Please read and help me reach a decision.
Significance of Shabaan:
Shabaan is the eight month of the Islamic calendar. It falls between two sacred months, Rajab and Ramadaan. Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) used to spend most part of Shabaan by fasting, Imaam Bukharee (rahimahullah) reports in his Saheeh that Aa’ishah (radhi allahu anha) said:
“The Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) used to fast until we thought he would never break his fast, and he would not fast until we thought he would never fast. I never saw the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) fasting for an entire month except in Ramadaan, and I never saw him fast more than he did in Shabaan.”
Fasting in Shabaan serves as training before Ramadaan. However, fasting the whole month of Shabaan is Makrooh (dislike) and against the Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam). Ibn Abbas (radhi allahu anhu) said:
“The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) did not fast any entire month apart from Ramadaan.” [Saheeh al-Bukharee]
Do’s and don’t in Shabaan
By Mufti Taqi Usmani
Sha’ban is one of the meritorious months for which we find some particular instructions in the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. It is reported in the authentic ahadith that Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, used to fast most of the month in Sha’ban. These fasts were not obligatory on him but Sha’ban is the month immediately preceding the month of Ramadan. Therefore, some preparatory measures are suggested by Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. Some of these are given below:
1. The blessed companion Anas, Radi-Allahu anhu, reports that Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, was asked, “Which fast is the most meritorious after the fasts of Ramadan?” He replied, “Fasts of Shaban in honor of Ramadan.”
2. The blessed companion Usama ibn Zaid, Radi-Allahu anhu, reports that he asked Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam: “Messenger of Allah, I have seen you fasting in the month of Sha’ban so frequently that I have never seen you fasting in any other month.” Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, replied: “That (Sha’ban) is a month between Rajab and Ramadan which is neglected by many people. And it is a month in which an account of the deeds (of human beings) is presented before the Lord of the universe, so, I wish that my deeds be presented at a time when I am in a state of fasting.”
3. Ummul Mu’mineen ‘Aishah, Radi-Allahu anha, says, “Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, used to fast the whole of Sha’ban. I said to him, ‘Messenger of Allah, is Sha’ban your most favorite month for fasting?’ He said, ‘In this month Allah prescribes the list of the persons dying this year. Therefore, I like that my death comes when I am in a state of fasting.”
4. In another Tradition she says, “Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, would sometimes begin to fast continuously until we thought he would not stop fasting, and sometimes he used to stop fasting until we thought he would never fast. I never saw the Messenger of Allah, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, fasting a complete month, except the month of Ramadan, and I have never seen him fasting in a month more frequently than he did in Sha’ban.”
5. In another report she says, “I never saw the Messenger of Allah, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, fasting in a month so profusely as he did in the month of Sha’ban. He used to fast in that month leaving only a few days, rather, he used to fast almost the whole of the month.” Read more
Night of Bara’ah
Another significant feature of the month of Sha’ban is that it consists of a night which is termed in Shariah as“Laylatul-bara’ah” (The night of freedom from Fire). This is the night occurring between 14th and 15th day of Sha’ban. There are certain traditions of Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, to prove that it is a meritorious night in which the people of the earth are attended by special Divine mercy. Some of these traditions are quoted as follows:
1. Ummul-Mu’mineen ‘Aishah, Radi-Allahu anha, is reported to have said, “Once Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, performed the Salah of the night (Tahajjud) and made a very long Sajdah until I feared that he had passed away. When I saw this, I rose (from my bed) and moved his thumb (to ascertain whether he is alive). The thumb moved, and I returned (to my place). Then I heard him saying in Sajdah: ‘I seek refuge of Your forgiveness from Your punishment, and I seek refuge of Your pleasure from Your annoyance, and I seek Your refuge from Yourself. I cannot praise You as fully as You deserve. You are exactly as You have defined Yourself.’ Thereafter, when he raised his head from Sajdah and finished his salah, he said to me: ‘Aishah, did you think that the Prophet has betrayed you?’ I said, ‘No, O Prophet of Allah, but I was afraid that your soul has been taken away because your Sajdah was very long.’ He asked me, ‘Do you know which night is this?’ I said, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He said, ‘This is the night of the half of Sha’ban. Allah Almighty looks upon His slaves in this night and forgives those who seek forgiveness and bestows His mercy upon those who pray for mercy but keeps those who have malice (against a Muslim) as they were before, (and does not forgive them unless they relieve themselves from malice).’” Read more
Rulings on Celebrating Middle of Sha’aban
By Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz
raise 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.
Read more.
Misconceptions Vs Facts About Shabaan
By Javeria from the lectures of Dr Farhat Hashmi
MISCONCEPTION: Fasting only 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.
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.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
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:
Aim of our life in this world is to be able to do such deeds which leads us to Heaven. I wonder if this night is so important I wish not to lose it and if leads to innovation in the religion May Allah keep me away from it.May Allah guide us on the right path.Ameen.
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Rasool Allah saw said: “Who ever knowingly attributes a lie to me then he should make his abode in hell” ( Bukhari)
The following are some of the weak and fabricated hadiths and saying about Shabaan which are famous and are narrated frequently and are attributed to Prophet Muhammad (saw).
Weak Hadiths and fabricated hadiths should not be quoted as hadiths as it is equivalent to attributing a lie to Rasool Allah (saw) and is a major sin.
Following are the weak and fabricated hadiths:
Oh Allah, Bless for us the month of Rajab and Shaban and grant us the month of Ramadan”
The superiority of Shabaan over other months is like my superiority over other prophets.
When the night of 15th of Shabaan arrives, then pray during the night and fast during the day
There are five nights during which no invocation (dua ) is rejected, the first night of rajab,the night of 15th of Shabaan, the night of Friday, the night of Eid ul fitr and the night of Eid of sacrifice.
Jibreeel alayhis salam came to me and said – this is the night of 15th of Shabaan and in this night the as many people are freed from hell as the amount of hair on the goats (of the tribe) of banu kalb.
Oh Ali (Radiallahu Anhum) whoever prays a hundred rakat on the night of 15th Shabaan and in that prayer he recites Surah Ikhlaas (Qul Ho Wallahu Ahad) a thousand time, then Allah Tala will fulfill all his needs which he asks that night.
Whoever recites Surah Ikhlaas one thousand times on the 15th of Shabaan, then Allah will send hundred thousand angels to him who will give him the glad tidings (of paradise)
On the 15th of Shabaan, whoever prays three hundered rakat prayer ( according to another tradition it is twelve rakat) and in every rakat he recites Surah Ikhlaas thirty times, then his intercession for 10 people who were destined for hell will be accepted.!
Shabaan is my month
Who ever stays up for worship on the night of Eid and the night of 15th of Shabaan, then his heart will not become dead (on the day) when every other heart will become dead.
Whoever stays up for worship on the five nights, then paradise will become a must (wajib) for him. The night of Taroiah, Night of Arafah,Night of sacrifice, night of eid ul fitr and the night of 15th of Shabaan.
May Allah have mercy on us all. All of the above mentioned hadiths on fasting and doing worship at night on the 15th of Shabaan are Weak (Daif) and unauthentic. We should be very clear that there isn’t a single “Sahih” hadith about this day which may be used to accept and recognize these acts of worship.
Considering the status of these hadiths it can be stated that fasting especially on the 15th of shabaan and doing worship during the night of 15th of shabaan is an extreme innovation (Biddat) which has no basis whatsoever in the sunnah and should be avoided.
source: Reality of Shabaan at http://www.farhathashmi.com
Thank you Javeria. I pray to Allah Almighty to guide us all on the right path.