Saturday, August 16, 2008

15th Shaban

Assalaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu,

The 15th night of Shaban is tonight.

Here is a duaa for this auspicious night




to download it click here




















Shaban is the month of special blessings. In this month Allah Ta’ala has favoured the Ummah of His last Prophet (Sallalaho Alaihi Wasallam) and has given them means to achieve Blessings, Salvation and Forgiveness. In this month there comes a special night called Lailatul Bara’at, the fazilat of which are given in a special article in this issue. There are many Hadiths of Prophet (Sallalaho Alaihi Wasallam) in which he described the Virtue and Blessings of this month. Hazrat Abu Huraira has reported Prophet (Sallalaho Alaihi Wasallam) saying, “Rajab is the month of Allah Ta’ala, Shaban is my month and Ramadan is the month of my Ummah. In Shaban sins are forgiven by Allah Ta’ala and in Ramadan my people are completely purified from sins.”

The Prophet (Sallalaho Alaihi Wasallam) has said :“Shaban has superiority over other months as I have superiority over all the Prophets (Alaihis Salaam).” The Prophet (Sallalaho Alaihi Wasallam) also said, “Between Rajab and Ramadan there is the blessed month of Shaban.People are not aware of it. The actions of men are presented to Allah Ta’ala in this month. Therefore I like to fast when my actions are presented to Allah Ta’ala.”

In another Hadith our beloved Prophet (Sallalaho Alaihi Wasallam) has said :“When the blessed month of Shaban reaches you, it cleanses your spirit to receive the blessed month of Ramadan. Pure your intentions, surely the greatness of Shaban is like my greatness over all Prophets. Be mindful, Shaban is my month and anyone who keeps fast in it, my intercession will be wajib for him.”One should fast on the 13th 14th & 15th of Shaban, if not on all three then fast only on the 15th Shaban.

** Please note the above Ahadith are weak (da'eef) and not Sahih Hadith.


Here is a Duaa meant for Laylatul Qadr but can be recited extensively tonight also, as well as any other time. It is as follows:

`A'ishah (radhiallahu `anha) reported that she asked Allah's Messenger (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam), "O Messenger of Allah! If I knew which night is Laylat ul-Qadr, what should I say during it?" And he instructed her to say:

"Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuh.ibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee - O Allah! You are forgiving, and you love forgiveness. So forgive me." [Recorded by Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and at-Tirmithi. Verified to be authentic by Al-Albani]

Here is another hadith for the 15th of Shabaan

Mother of the believers, Sayidatuna A’isha (May Allah be pleased with her) says, I missed the Prophet (Swall Allau Alaihi Wasallam) one night so I went out to al-Baqi’ (graveyard, and found him). He said: “Were you afraid that Allah would wrong” I said: “O Messenger of Allah, I thought that you might have gone to visit one of your [other] wives.” He said: “Allah Glorious and Exalted descends to the nearest heaven on the night of mid-Shabaan (15th night) and He forgives more people than the number of hair on the hides of the flocks and herds of sheep of the tribe of Kalb. {Tirmidhi}

It is recorded in books that the tribe of Kalb used to have the most number of sheep in Arabia, but some unfortunate people are still not forgiven on this night when Allah showers His mercy on mankind. Amongst them are 1) those who are habitual drinkers [alcoholics] 2) those who are habitual adulterous 3) those who are disobedient to their parents 4) those who break family ties 5) those who are mischief-spreaders and, 6) those who are back-bitters. In another narration mischief-spreader is replaced with those who make pictures. {Mukashifatul Quloob}. In other narrations those who practice magic, those who eat interest, those who lower their pants below their ankles with pride, those who start a fight between two Muslims, those who bear malice (have hatred for another Muslim) in their hearts without a lawful cause are also not forgiven on this blessed night unless they repent sincerely and also ask for forgiveness from fellow Muslims and make peace.

** Another Da'eef Hadith


Salaah on this night:

It is recorded from the Friends of Allah [Auliya-Allah] to pray 6 cycles of ritual prayer [raka’] after the Maghrib prayer. In the first two raka’ add with the intention that with its blessing extend life with harmony. Next two for the protection from misfortunes and evil, and next two so that may Allah make us dependant on Him and no one else. After every two cycles [raka’] recite 21 times Surah Ikhlas OR once Sura Yasin (chapter 36). Rather read both and gain mounts of rewards and then recite the Supplication of Shabaan (dua’ of Shabaan)

Spend the night, as much as possible, in worship and on the 15th of Shabaan fast. It is written in Anees-ul-Waezeen that whoever fasts on the fifteenth of Shabaan the fire of hell will not touch him.

Since the book of deeds is changed on the 15 night, if it is possible, also fast on the 14th so that the last day of the yearly deed book is spent fasting and the first day is spent fasting.

Lets make the best of this precious night.

May Allah forgive All of us and may we be among the dwellers of Jannah. Ameen Summameen



4 comments:

Rainbow In The Grey Sky said...

Aslamu alakum sister
from what i understand this is a weak hadith and scholars have decleared celebration this night in this way a BIDDAH. I have this Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Hukm al-Ihtifaal bi Laylat al-Nusf min Sha’baan (Ruling on celebrating the fifteenth of Sha’baan):

Celebrating the night of the fifteenth of Sha’baan (Laylat al-Nusf min Sha’baan) by praying etc, or singling out this day for fasting, is a reprehensible bid’ah (innovation) according to the majority of scholars, and there is no basis for this in sharee’ah
http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/49675

I can say nothing to avoid hurting your feelings but i have my duty to Allah first and if i see wrong i can try to correct it for His sake alone. I make a dua that Allah keep us sisters guided upon the straight path of pure islam and that which pleases HIM ameen.

HF said...

I agree sis, this practice is very much dominant in the south asian communities. The prophet(saw) used to fast 13th 14th n 15th of EACH month not just one and he used to be in qiyam ul layl every night.Ya know its really sad that ive noticed in my own family that many will not bother to pray in masjids 5times a day as the prophet HIGHLY recommended (for men) and even women wont bother praying regularly but when I tell them the truth about 15th shaban and many such things theyll say "no no u will get prophet's intercession on qiyamah!" yeah, u will get his intercession if u do EXACTLY as he did. im amazed at how so many look for "quick barakah" *shakes head sadly*

So sis do try to reseacrh more on this after all we are all here to help one another :)

Moon said...

walaikum Assalaam

Jazakallah for the information, indeed we should follow exactly as the prophet did, i was not aware of this fatwa. Wil check it out.However, i believe that there is nothing wrong with praying for forgiveness on this night or any other. It is much better to spend it doing ibadat than doing anything else.

Indeed Allah is the best to forgive. And if we get this one night why not? And indeed Allah Knows Best and i know not.

Anonymous said...

Assalaamu alaykum
It is strange that they callit a BID'AH. There are various narrations on the issue and in total there are narrationsofm ore than seven Sahaabah radhiyallahu anhum having made ibaadah on this night.It is a known ruling in the Ilmul hadeeth that if a narration regarded as weak is aided by other narrations it recieves strength which then allows one to practise upon them.