LAYLAT AL-NUSF MIN SHA’BAAN (THE MIDDLE OF SHA’BAAN) SHOULD NOT BE SINGLED OUT FOR WORSHIP.
CONTENT.
SOME DALEEL PRESENT BY INNOVATORS TO DEFEND THEIR INNOVATED BELIEFS.
LAYLAT AL-NUSF MIN SHA’BAAN (THE MIDDLE OF SHA’BAAN) SHOULD NOT BE SINGLED OUT FOR WORSHIP.
WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF 15 SHABAN,IS IT THE NIGHT IN WHICH THE FATE OF EVERY ONE IS DECIDED FOR THE NEXT YEAR?
ARE THERE MORE DEATHS IN THE MONTH OF SHA’BAAN?
RESPONSE TO THOSE INNOVATORS WHO SUPPORT THIS INNOVATED ACTIONS OF THEIRS, THEY PRESENT THE OPINION OF SHAIKH ALBAANI.
SAYINGS OF SCHOLARS.
CONCLUSION.
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SOME DALEEL PRESENT BY INNOVATORS TO DEFEND THEIR INNOVATED BELIEFS. :-
It was narrated that ‘Ali bin Abu Talib said:“The Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h) said: ‘When it is the night of the middle of Sha’ban, spend its night in prayer and observe a fast on that day. For Allah descends at sunset on that night to the lowest heaven and says: ‘Is there no one who will ask Me for forgiveness, that I may forgive him? Is there no one who will ask Me for provision, that I may provide for him? Is there no one who is afflicted by trouble, that I may relieve him?’ And so on, until dawn comes.’”
IBN MAJAH (Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1388)
RESPONSE :-
AL-ALBAANI SAID :-
Mawdoo
(DAEEF AL-TARGHEEB 623,SILSILAH AL-DAEEFAH 2132,DAEEF IBN MAJAH 261)
IMAM MIZZI SAID :-
[فيه] أبو بكر محمد بن عبد الله بن أبي سبرة قال أحمد بن حنبل يضع الحديث وقال يحيى بن معين ضعيف الحديث وقال البخاري وابن المديني ضعيف
Imam ahmed bin hambal said Muhammad bin abdullah bin abi basra is not trustworthy,yahya ibn maeen said muhammed bin abdullah bin abi basra is daeef,imam bukhari & ibne madni said abi basra is daeef.
(TAHDHEEB AL KAMAAL 21/79)
ALLAMA AINI AL-HANAFI SAID :-
Daeef
(UMMADUL QARI 11/117)
IMAM SHAWKANI SAID :-
Isnaad Daeef
(TAHFADUL ADKARI 241)
Imam ad-dahabi,Ibn rajab,Shaykh Uthaymeen many others scholar classed it daeef.
It was narrated that ‘Aishah said:“I missed the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) one night, so I went out looking for him. I found him at Al-Baqi’, raising his head towards the sky. He said: ‘O ‘Aishah, were you afraid that Allah and His Messenger would wrong you?’” She said: “I said: ‘No, it is not that, but I thought that you had gone to one of your other wives.’ He said: ‘Allah descends on the night of the middle of Sha’ban to the lowest heaven, and He forgives more than the numbers of hairs on the sheep of Banu Kalb.’”
IBN MAJAH (Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1389)
RESPONSE.
AL-ALBAANI SAID :-
Daeef
(DAEEF IBN MAJAH 262,TAKHREEJ MISHKAT MASABEEH 1251,DAEEF AL-JAAMI 1761)
IMAM MUBARAKAFOORI SAID :-
Munqati
(TAHFADUL AHDAWI 3/160)
ALLAMA AINI AL-HANAFI SAID :-
Munqati
(UMMDADUL QAARI 11/116)
IMAM BUKHARI SAID :-
Daeef
(SUNAN TIRMIDHI 739)
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LAYLAT AL-NUSF MIN SHA’BAAN (THE MIDDLE OF SHA’BAAN) SHOULD NOT BE SINGLED OUT FOR WORSHIP. :-
Praise be to Allaah.It is not prescribed in Islam to celebrate the night of the fifteenth of Sha‘baan, whether that is by spending the night in prayer, dhikr and reading Qur’aan, or by distributing sweets or giving food to people and so on. It is not known in the saheeh Sunnah that this night is to be singled out for acts of worship or customs. The night of the fifteenth of Sha‘baan is just like any other night. Some innovators on the night of 15 Sha’baan, not only kindle lights in their Mosques but they also arrange congregational Salaat ut-Tasbeeh etc, and they also innovate many other innovations in the name of religion and consider these so called Ibaadaat to be extremely virtuous. And in order to strengthen their innovated views, they are often seen taking the help of some useless & baseless proofs. Therefore if for this very sake, they had to bring a proof from the planet Saturn, they would not wait for a second to do that. In fact, even if they find a proof that somewhat supports their Madhab, they would open their arms for it very happily and run towards the Crowds (to proclaim it to them).Only recently in the roads a bunch of banners etc were seen for the advertisement of Salaat ut-Tasbeeh on the 15th night of Sha’baan and many posters were also distributed on this occasion,
There is no saheeh marfoo’ report that speaks of the virtue of the middle of Sha’baan that may be followed, not even in the chapters on al-Fadaa’il (chapters on virtues in books of hadeeth etc.). Some maqtoo’ reports (reports whose isnaads do not go back further than the Taabi’een) have been narrated from some of the Taabi’een, and there are some ahaadeeth, the best of which are mawdoo’ (fabricated) or da’eef jiddan (very weak). These reports became very well known in some countries which were overwhelmed by ignorance; these reports suggest that people’s lifespans are written on that day or that it is decided on that day who is to die in the coming year. On this basis, it is not prescribed to spend this night in prayer or to fast on this day, or to single it out for certain acts of worship. One should not be deceived by the large numbers of ignorant people who do these things.
THE SCHOLARS OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE FOR ISSUING FATWAS SAID :-
It is not permissible to celebrate the occasion of Laylat al-Qadr or any other night, or to hold celebrations on other occasions such as the night of the fifteenth of Sha‘baan, the night of the Mi‘raaj, or the Prophet’s birthday (Mawlid) and so on, because these are innovations that have been introduced into the religion and were not narrated from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) or any of his Companions. And he (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever does an action that is not part of this matter of ours (i.e., Islam) will have it rejected.” And it is not permissible to help others to hold these celebrations by giving money or gifts or distributing cups of tea, and it is not permissible to give speeches and lectures on these occasions, because that comes under the heading of approving of them and encouraging them. Rather it is obligatory to denounce them and not to attend them.
(FATAAWA AL-LAJNAH AD-DAA’IMAH 2/257-258)
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked:
We have some customs that we grew up with and that have been passed down to us, on some occasions, such as making cakes and cookies on Eid al-Fitr, and preparing platters of meat and fruit on the night of the twenty-seventh of Rajab and the fifteenth of Sha‘baan, and different kinds of sweets that must be prepared on the day of ‘Ashoora’. What is the Islamic ruling on that?
He replied:
As for expressing joy and happiness of the days of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, there is nothing wrong with that if it is within the limits prescribed in Islam, such as preparing food and drink and the like. It is proven that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “The days of at-Tashreeq are days of eating and drinking and remembering Allah, may He be glorified and exalted.” This refers to the three days following Eid al-Adha, when the people offer their sacrifices and eat from the meat and enjoy the blessings that Allah has bestowed upon them. Similarly, on Eid al-Fitr there is nothing wrong with expressing joy and happiness so long as it does not overstep the limits set by Islam.
As for expressing joy on the night of the twenty-seventh of Rajab or the fifteenth of Sha‘baan or the day of ‘Ashoora’, this is something for which there is no basis. Rather it is forbidden and the Muslim should not attend if he is invited to such celebrations. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Beware of newly invented matters, for every newly invented matter is an innovation (bid‘ah), and every innovation is a going astray.”
The night of the twenty-seventh of Rajab is what some people claim is the night of the Mi‘raaj during which the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was taken up to Allah, may He be glorified and exalted. There is no proof of this date from a historical point of view, and everything for which there is no proof is false, and that which is built on falsehood is also false. Even if we assume that this event took place on that night, it is not permissible for us to introduce on that date any of the symbols of festivals or acts of worship, because no such thing is proven from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) or from his Companions who were the closest of people to him and the keenest of people to adhere to his Sunnah and follow his path. So how could it be permissible for us to introduce something that did not happen at the time of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) or at the time of his Companions??
Even with regard to the night of the fifteenth of Sha‘baan, there is no proof that the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) ever venerated it or spent that night in prayer. Rather some of the Taabi‘een spent that night in prayer and dhikr, not in eating and celebrating as if it were a festival.
(FATAAWA ISLAMIYYAH 4/693)
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WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF 15 SHABAN,IS IT THE NIGHT IN WHICH THE FATE OF EVERY ONE IS DECIDED FOR THE NEXT YEAR?
Praise be to Allaah. Laylat al-Nusf min Sha’baan (the 15th of Sha’baan) is like any other night, and there is no sound report from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to indicate that on this night the fate or destiny of people is decided. With regard to the night mentioned in the verses:
“We sent it (this Qur’aan) down on a blessed night. Verily, We are ever warning [mankind that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of Lordship and in Our Oneness of worship].
Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments”
(SURAH AD-DUKHAAN 44 VERSE 3-4)
IBN JAREER AL-TABARI SAID:-
the commentators differed concerning that night, i.e., which night of the year it is. Some of them said that it is Laylat al-Qadr, and it was narrated from Qurtaadah that it is Laylat al-Qadr. Others said that it is the night of the 15th of Sha’baan. The correct view is the view of those who say that it is Laylat al-Qadr, because Allaah has told us of that when He says, ‘Verily, We are ever warning’ [al-Dukhaan 44:3].”
(TAFSEER AL-TABARI, 11/221)
With regard to the phrase, “Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments”: Ibn Hajar said in his commentary on Saheeh al-Bukhaari: “What this means is that the decrees for the year are decided on that night, because Allaah says: ‘Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments’. And al-Nawawi said: the scholars said that it is called Laylat al-Qadr because on this night the angels write down the decrees (aqdaar), because Allaah says, ‘Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments’. This was also narrated by ‘Abd al-Razzaaq and other mufassireen with saheeh isnaads from Mujaahid, ‘Ikrimah, Qutaadah and others. Al-Toorbashti said that the word used in the Qur’aan is qadr, whereas people think it is qadar (decree); the word qadr refers to the detailed manifestation of the decree.
Laylat al-Qadr brings great reward for the one who does good deeds and strives in worship on that night.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, We have sent it (this Qur’aan) down in the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree).
And what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is?
The Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allaah in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months).
Therein descend the angels and the Rooh [Jibreel (Gabriel)] by Allaah’s Permission with all Decrees,
(All that night), there is peace (and goodness from Allaah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn”
(SURAH AL-QADR 97 VERSE 1-5)
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ARE THERE MORE DEATHS IN THE MONTH OF SHA’BAAN? :-
Praise be to Allaah. What is mentioned in some reports is that the names of those for whom death has been decreed in the coming year are all revealed to the Angel of Death in the month of Sha’baan, and that he is told of their names in scrolls from Allaah, or that the annual decree of people’s deaths is written in Sha’baan, so death is decreed in this month according to these reports. But these reports and ahaadeeth are all weak (da’eef), so they should not be relied upon and no attention should be paid to their contents.
AL-QAADI ABU BAKR IBN AL-‘ARABI SAID. :-
There is no reliable hadeeth about Laylat al-Nusf min Sha’baan (the fifteenth of Sha’baan) or about its virtues, or that people’s deaths are decreed on this day, so no attention should be paid to that.
(AHKAAM AL-QUR’AAN 4/117)
We will quote here some of the reports quoted by al-Suyooti (may Allaah have mercy on him) which speak of the decree of death during Sha’baan, in his book al-Durr al-Manthoor (7/401-401), and we will comment briefly on each report.
IMAM SUYUTI SAID :-
Ibn Jareer, Ibn al-Mundhir and Ibn Abi Haatim narrated via Muhammad ibn Sooqah from ‘Ikrimah: “Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments” [al-Dukhaan 44:4]. He said: On the night before the fifteenth of Sha’baan, the affairs of the year are decreed, and death is decreed for some people, and it is decreed who is going to perform Hajj, and no name will be added to or omitted from whatever is decreed. This is contrary to the correct view and interpretation of the verse on which the salaf were agreed, which is that what is meant thereby is Laylat al-Qadar. This has been discussed in the first part.
Narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Death is decreed from one Sha’baan to another, even if a man gets married and a child is born to him when his name is among those who are going to die.”
(AL-DAYLAMI)
AL-SHAWKAANI SAID :-
Daeef.
(FATH AL-QADEER 4/801)
AL- ALBAANI SAID :-
It is Munkar.
(SILSILAT AL-DAEEFAH 6607)
Narrated that ‘Ata’ ibn Yasaar said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not fast in any month more than he did in Sha’baan, and this is because death is decreed for some people in that month for the coming year.
(MUSANNIF IBN ABI SHAYBAH)
This is mursal and da’eef.
Narrated from ‘Aa’ishah that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to fast all of Sha’baan, and she asked him about that and he said: “Allaah decrees in it every soul who will die that year, and I want the decree of my death to come to me when I am fasting.”
(MUSNAD ABU YALA 8/311)
Its isnaad includes Suwayd ibn Sa’eed al-Hadathaani, and Muslim ibn Khaalid al-Zanji, and Tareef, all of whom are classed as da’eef in books of narrators’ biographies.
Narrated Raashid ibn Sa’d that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “On the night before the fifteenth of Sha’ban, Allaah reveals to the angel of death to take the soul of every person whom He wants to take (in death) that year.”
(AL-MUJAALISAH WA JAWAAHIR AL-‘ILM P. 206)
It is mursal and da’eef.
AL-ALBAANI SAID :-
Daeef .
(DAEEF AL-JAAMI 4019)
Narrated from al-Zuhri, that ‘Uthmaan ibn Muhammad ibn al-Mugheerah ibn al-Akhnas said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Death is decreed from one Sha’baan to another, even if a man gets married and a child is born to him when his name is among those who are going to die.”
(SHOABUL IMAAN BAIHAQI)
AL-ALBAANI SAID :-
Munkar
(SILSILAT AL-DAEEFAH 6607).
Narrated that ‘Ata’ ibn Yasaar said: When the night before the fifteenth of Sha’baan comes, a scroll is given to the angel of death, and it is said: Take (the souls) of those who are mentioned in this scroll. A man may furnish a house and get married and build houses, but his name is already written among those who are to die.
(IBN ABI’L-DUNYA)
These are only the words of ‘Ata’; there is no isnaad for this report.
Narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to fast all of Sha’baan, until he joined it to Ramadaan, and he did not fast any month in full except Sha’baan. I said: O Messenger of Allaah, is Sha’baan one of the dearest of months to you in which to fast? He said: “Yes, O ‘Aa’ishah, for there is no soul who is to die during the year but his death is decreed in Sha’baan, and I want my death to be decreed when I am worshipping my Lord and doing righteous deeds.”
The version narrated by Ibn al-Najjaar says: “O ‘Aa’ishah, in it the angel of death writes down whose soul he will take, and I do not want my name to be written down except when I am fasting.”
(AL-KHATEEB TAREEKH BAGHDAAD 4/436)
Its isnaad includes Abu Bilaal al-Ash’ari who was classed as da’eef by al-Daraqutni, as it says in Mizaan al-I’tidaal (4/507). It also includes Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Humayd al-Makhdoob, Abu Ja’far al-Muqri’, of whom al-Daaraqutni said: he is not strong. So the hadeeth is da’eef jiddan (very weak).
To sum up, There is no saheeh hadeeth to suggest that there are more deaths in Sha’baan.
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RESPONSE TO THOSE INNOVATORS WHO SUPPORT THIS INNOVATED ACTIONS OF THEIRS, THEY PRESENT THE OPINION OF SHAIKH ALBAANI. :-
IN SHA ALLAH WE WILL UPDATE IN SEPARATE ARTICLE.
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SAYINGS OF SCHOLAR. :-
IMAAM UKAYLEE SAID :-
“The ahadeeth regarding the Nuzool of Allaah on the 15th night of Sha’baan are all weak. The Nuzool of Allaah is proven in every night, which also includes the 15th night of Sha’baan, In-Sha-Allaah.”
(AD-DU’AFA AL-KABEER BY UKAYLEE 3/29)
HAAFIDH ABUL KHATTAAB IBN DIHYAH SAID :-
“The people of Jarh wat Ta’deel say that no report regarding 15th Sha’baan is Saheeh”
(AL-BAA’ITH BY ABI SHAAQ PAGE 127)
IMAAM ABU BAKR IBN AL-ARABI SAID :-
“There is no reliable hadeeth regarding virtues of 15th Sha’baan, and there is no reliable report saying that in this night the decisions of deaths are taken. Therefore, these ahadeeth should not be paid any attention”
(AHKAAM UL-QUR’AAN BY IBN AL-ARABI 2/214)
ATAA BIN YASAAR SAID : –
“I hope that every night has this virtue.”
(SHARH USOOL UL-I’TIQAAD: 3/451)
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CONCLUSION. :-
To sum up, there is no celebration in Sha‘baan and there is no special act of worship to be performed in the middle of it or during the last days of the month. Doing that is an innovation that has been introduced into the religion.
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