Hadith & Virtues 15th Shaban (11-12th May 2017) – for those in doubt
Hadith & Virtues 15th Shaban (11-12th May 2017) – for those in doubt
Hadith & Virtues 15th Shaban – for those in doubt, may Allah Almighty guide you and for you to read and understand the below references and Hadith about one of the Holiest night/day’s of the year in the Islamic calendar.
Allah azza wa Jallah, The Generous, The Most Merciful, granted His worshippers many opportunities throughout the year to spiritually cleanse ourselves, purify our hearts, and nourish our souls by opening doors for us to get close to Him Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. He promised those who stay up the nights because of His Love and devotion to Him to grant them with His Munajat (speaking to Him), forgiven sins, and many other rewards.
Similarly, to those who fast during the days (other than only Ramadan), to give them blessings, purification, and many inconceivable rewards to the human mind. Allah Ta’ala promised to purify them and reward them in a non-imaginable way to us, consistently so with His Mercies and Generosity. Furthermore, Allah Ta’ala bestowed special honour, forgiveness and privileges onto special days and special nights throughout the time span of this earth, such as the night of Laylatul Qadr, the nights and day of both Eids, and the day in which our Beloved Prophet (SWS), sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam, was born, the night of Muzdalifah, and many many other very special days/nights, among them the night of the middle of Sha’ban and its day.
Imam Bayhaqi RA narrated in the Shu’ab RA, and Al Kharaiti in Masaw’e Al Akhlaq, through Marhoom bin Abdul Aziz RA through Dawud bin Abdur Rahman RA through Hisham bin Hassan RA, through al Hasan (Al Basri) RA, through Uthman bin abil-Aas RA, that the Holy Prophet (SWS), Sallallahu Alayhi wa Aalihi wa Sallam, said:
( During the night of the middle of Sha’baan, a caller will call: is there anyone who is asking for forgiveness so I forgive? Is there anyone who is asking, so I grant?. Anyone who asks will be granted, except an adulterer and a Mushrik).
The Prophet (SWS), Sallallahu Alayhi wa Aalihi wa Sallam, tells us explicitly and directly that anyone who asks Allah Azza wa Jalla in the night of Nisf-Sha’baan, will be granted, except a few categories. This calls for us to devote ourselves for Du’a and prayers that night and to ask Allah Azza wa Jalla forgiveness and other needs, specifically that night.
Imam Al-Hafeth Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali (RA) said in his book “Lataaef Al Ma’aref, page 195:
(The Tabi’ieen RA –followers of the Sahaba RA – from the people of Shaam like Khald Ben Ma’daan RA, Mak’hool RA, Lokman bin Amer RA and others, used to glorify the night of the middle of Sha’baan, and strive in it with worship. From them (the Tabi’ieen) people took the glorification and virtues of the middle of Sha’baan).
From the above evidences, the texts clearly point to the specific honour of the night of the middle of Sha’baan, indicating that it is a special night, therefore one should be relentless in seeking Allah Ta’ala’s forgiveness and generosity during this night specifically.
Imam Shafi’i RA (radiya’Allahu Anhu) said in his book: Al Umm, vol 2, page 485:
(We received that it was said that prayer/Dua is answered on five nights: the night of Friday, Eid nights, the first of Rajab and the night of the middle of Sha’baan. Al-Rabi’ said; Shaf’iiy RA told us: We were told by Ibrahim ibn Muhammad RA: I saw the chieftain of the most pious of the people of Medina come to the Masjid of the Holy Prophet (SWS), peace be upon him, the night of Eid.
They mention Allah and pray until some time of the night passes. We received that Ibn Umar RA used to stay-up the night of Jam’. The night of Jam’ is the night of Eid, for in its morning you offer sacrifice. Imam Shafi’i RA said: “I like to do that in all the above mentioned nights, without it being an obligation”.
Allama Sharbini Al-Shafi’iy RA in Mughni Al Muh’taaj 1/591 said after talking about staying up the night of the two Eids:
( Staying up the night is done by staying up the whole night such as in Mina, and some said partial of the night, even an hour of it. On the authority of Ibn Abbas RA (Radiya’Allahu anhuma) : Praying Isha in congregation and intending to pray Fajr in congregation as well. Praying/Du’a in them (the night of the two Eids), and in the night of Jumu’a, the first of Rajab, and Nisf Sha’baan is answered, so it is encouraged as mentioned in the Rawdah (of Imam Nawawi RA) ).
Imam Nasa’iy RA and others narrated with a Hasan Isnaad on the authority of Usamah bin Zayd RA, Radiya’Allahu anhuma, that he asked the Messenger of Allah (SWS) saying:
O Prophet of Allah, I have not seen you fast in any other month like you fast in Sha’baan. (Holy Prophet) He, Sallallahu Alayhi wa Salam replied:
(That –Sha’baan- is a month that people forget, being between Rajab and Ramadan, and it is a month where the deeds are taken to Allah Ta’ala, so I like for my deeds to be taken while fasting).
Sahih al-Bukhari RA and Sahih al-Muslim RA narrated on the authority of the Lady Aisha RA (radiya’Allahu anha) saying about the Holy Prophet (SWS), sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam:
( I have never seen him fast any month more than he fasts in Sha’baan, he used to fast all of it, he used to fast all of Sha’baan except a few (days) ).
Hence, fasting in Sha’baan is highly emphasized, and the middle of Sha’baan is part of the month of Sha’baan. But the 15th of Sha’baan, i.e. Nisf-Sha’baan is even more emphasized to be fasted along with day 13th and day 14th of it, because of the following authentic narrations:
The Sunniyyah (authentic Sunnah basis) of fasting the day of Nisf-Sha’baan is authentically narrated and generally covered in the authentic Hadith that is narrated by Sahih Al Bukhari RA and Sahih al-Muslim RA through Abu Hurayra RA:
Which means: “My companion told me to do three things: fast three days of every month, 2 rak’ah of duha, and Witr before I sleep”.
In an Authentic Hadith as per Ibn Hajar Al Asqalani RA in his Fat’h Al Barai, Allama Ayni in his Umdatul Qari, and Ibn Al Mullaqn in his Shar’h of Sahih al-Bukhari RA, and the hadith’s isnaad cannot be under Hasan under any present circumstance:
On the authority of Jarir bin Abdillah RA, the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi wa Aalihi wa Sallam, said: “ Fasting three days of every month is like fasting the whole time, the days of light (ayyamul beedh= the lunar nights in which the nights are lit because of the full moon lighting them) the morning of day 13, day 14th, and day 15th (of the lunar month)”.
Source: suffahfoundation.com
Bir hurmati Habib bir hurmati Anzalta Surat al-Fatiha.
