The 15th Of Sha’baan

Allah has given superiority to some days and nights over the others; this is a mercy from Allah for Muslims to engage more in good deeds and take benefit of these days/nights. Among the nights which narrations have proven to be a magnificent night is the night of the 15th of Sha’baan.

Unequivocally, there are ahadeeth and narratives that reported the significance of this night. Even though some of the ahadeeth are argued weak, some are definitely argued to be authentic.

An example of the authenticated hadith is the hadith of Mu’aadh bn Jabal, who narrated that the Prophet solla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, “On the night of the 15th of Sha’baan, Allah looks at His creation and forgives all of them except for the polytheist and the quarrelsome” [ recorded by Tabraani and Ibn Hibban in their Saheeh]. To verify better on the ahadeeth, their grading, the history of the night and conflicting sayings about this night, you can read the book titled “حسن البيان في ليلة النصف من شعبان” by Sheikh al-Muhaddith Abdullah al-Ghamaariyy.

We must as well note it that some group of people went to extremes regarding the 15th of Sha’baan, establishing many innovated acts for it. As those who condemn it totally also went to extremes making any extra ibaadah on this night a deviation or bid’ah. Certainly, the truth can be found between the two extremes. The 15th of Sha’baan is not the most blessed night of the year, no evidence to prove such.

As for other few weak ahadeeth regarding the night, we have scholars who opined the permissibility of acting upon weak ahadeeth for supererogatory acts. And this is the stance of the audience of scholars.

The majority of the scholars stance, including the four famous madhaa’ib, is that it is praiseworthy to spend all or most of the night of the 15th of Sha’baan in worshiping Allah.

A number of narratives have been narrated as well from the early generations (Salaf) regarding the blessings of this night, and some of the Salaf (Ali radiya Allahu anhu for example) would pray extra and do more ibaadah on this night. We advise us to take benefit of this night and do more of ibaadaat. It is already an established sunnah to fast on the 15th of every month, so fasting the day 15th of Sha’baan as well would be recommended.

Ibn Taemiyah as well affirmed performing more of ibaadah purposely for this night. In his Majmuu’ Fataawa, Vol. 23 page 131-132, he said: “If a person prays the entire night of the 15th of Sha’baan on his own, or in a congregation, this is indeed something praiseworthy. However, as for praying a specific number of rak’ah in the masjid, such as one hundred rak’ah, while reciting Suratu ikhlaas a thousand times, such actions are blameworthy innovations that none of the major scholars allowed”.

Those who wish to offer private tahajjud or make dua and dhikr on this night should be encouraged to do so. As those who exaggerate and think that the 15th of Sha’baan night is more blessed than laylatul qadr should be corrected.

Those who also believe that weak ahadeeth should not be followed and that it is bid’ah to do anything extra at any time should hold to their opinion without name calling and/or declaring the adversaries heretics, and they should know well that their position is a minority one, and the vast majority of scholars had the permissibility of acting upon weak ahadeeth for supererogatory acts.

Sadly, many of those who oppose ibaadaat, tahajjud and reciting Qur’an on this 15th night rarely do these actions on any night of the year. And this is a sign out of many of the problems of these set of people who claim to follow the pious predecessors while in reality they are far from it – in manners, methodology, ibaadaat, and conduct. The vast majority of the salaf themselves encouraged worshipping Allah with special deeds on this 15th night. So how then can a small group of later scholars miraculously ‘discover’ the truth of the matter and claim that the majority of the Ummah was incorrect in this matter!?

It is encouraged to spend a portion or all of the night of the 15th of Sha’baan in tahajjud and Qur’an, and anyone who believes otherwise should not discourage the majority who do it, and should himself do these deeds on other nights.

We have passed the era of forcing people to believe the opinion of a particular group or scholar said to only represent the correct creed. There is truth and falsehood in every tendencies. So people should not be threatened with labelling and blackmails.

Every second, minute, and hour in a day or night that we spend in worship and submission to Allah is of exceptional value. Let us not waste these precious times, especially those that Allah has singled out with greater blessings and excellence. Let us not be among those who are heedless of this month but make good use of the innumerable blessings and opportunities presented to us. Let us knock hard on the door of the Almighty to forgive us, to have mercy on us, and to accept us among His righteous servants.

May Allah grant us His mercy.