The Importance Of The Month of Sha'baan

Sha'baan, the eighth Islamic month is second only to Ramadhan in virtue, blessings and greatness. It is due to this virtue and greatness that the Prophet SAW used to emphasise its importance not only verbally but practically too.

A'ishah RA narrates, "Rasulullah SAW used to fast till we would say that he would never stop fasting and he would abandon fasting till we would say that he would never fast. I never saw Rasulullah SAW fasting for a whole month except the month of Ramadhan and did not see him fasting in any month more than in the month of Sha'baan." (Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Daud, Nasa'i)

A'ishah RA narrates, "Rasulullah SAW used to fast the (whole) month of Sha'baan except for a few days." (Nasa'i)

Usamah RA asked, "O Rasulullah! I do not see you fasting in any month as much as in Sha'baan." He replied, "It is a month people are negligent of between Rajab and Ramadhan. It is a month in which deeds are raised towards the Lord of the worlds. Therefore, I like my deeds to be raised whilst I am fasting." (Nasa'i)


The Importance of the Fifteenth of Sha'baan

Amongst the days and nights of Sha'baan, there is one night called Laylatul Bara'at, a night noted for its great blessings and virtues. The Glorious Qur'an describes it as the blessed night.

"Lo! We revealed it on a blessed night." (Surah 44: Ayat 3)

According to Ikrimah RA and a group of muffassireen, the 'blessed night' referred to in this verse is the fifteenth night of Sha'baan.

Fortunate indeed are those who attain the full blessings and benefits of this night by spending it in performing good and refraining from evil. One must strive his utmost to attend to 'ibadah (worship) in this auspicious night as this night indeed is a great favour of Allah Ta'ala for the believers. There are a number of Ahadith in regard to this night.

'Ali RA narrates that Rasulullah SAW said, "When it is the fifteenth of Sha'baan, then stand (in worship) at night and fast during the day. Because Allah Ta'ala descends in this night at sunset to the first heaven and says: 'Is there any seeker of forgiveness, that I may forgive him? Is there any seeker of sustenance, that I may sustain him? Is there anyone in affliction, that I may remove his affliction? Is there anyone like this, like that (and so on)'. This continues until Fajr." (Ibn Majah)

Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari RA narrates that the Messenger of Allah SAW said, "In the fifteenth night of Sha'baan, Allah Ta'ala manifests and forgives all His creation except for the Mushrik (idolater) and the spiteful." (Ibn Majah)

A'ishah RA narrates: "The Messenger of Allah SAW came to me (one night) and took off his clothes, but he had hardly sat down when he got up again, put on his clothes and left. A strong ghayrat (sense of honour and self-respect) overtook me as I thought he was going to one of his other wives. I followed him and found him in the graveyard of Baqi' seeking forgiveness for believing men and women and the martyrs. I said (to myself), 'May my parents be sacrificed for you. You, (the Prophet) are in want of your Lord and I am in want of the world.'

I returned to my room (quickly) and I was breathless. The Prophet SAW arrived shortly and said, 'Why are you breathless, O A'ishah?' I said, 'May my parents be sacrificed for you. You came to me and took off your clothes, but you had hardly sat down when you got up and put on your clothes (and left). A strong ghayrat overtook me and I thought you were going to one of your (other) wives until I saw you in (the graveyard of) Baqi' doing whatever you were doing.'
He said, 'O A'ishah! Did you fear that Allah and his Messenger will treat you with injustice? Jibril came to me and said, 'This night is the fifteenth night of Sha'baan. Allah sets free from Hell during this night, souls equivalent to the hair (and wool) of the goats of Bani Kalb' (Bani Kalb possessed the largest number of goats in the Arabian peninsula).

'However, Allah will not look (with mercy) even on this (auspicious) night towards idolaters, one who harbours ill will against his fellow beings, one who cuts himself off from his near relatives, one who dangles his clothes over his ankles, one disobedient to parents and a habitual drunkard.'"

A'ishah RA says, "He took off his clothes, then said, 'O A'ishah! Will you permit me to spend this night in worship.' I replied, 'Certainly. May my parents be sacrificed for you.' The Prophet SAW got up and remained in sajdah (prostration) for a very long time until I thought he had passed away. I got up to inquire and placed my hand on his feet to feel that he was alive, thus I became happy. I heard him say in his prostration:

'I take refuge of Your forgiveness from Your punishment. I take refuge of Your pleasure from Your anger. I take refuge from You. Great is Your eminence. I cannot praise You (as You are worthy of praise). Your eminence is exactly as You have praised yourself.'

In the morning I mentioned these words to him. He said, 'O A'ishah! Learn them and teach them (to others) because Jibril taught me and ordered me to repeat them over and over again in sajdah.'" (Bayhaqi)

Note: Mufti Taqi 'Uthmani Hafizahulllah states: "Although the chain of narrators of some of these traditions suffers with some minor technical defects, yet when all these traditions are combined together, it becomes clear that this night has some well founded merits, and observing this night as a sacred night is not a baseless concoction as envisaged by some modern scholars who, on the basis of these minor defects, have totally rejected to give any special importance to this night. In fact, some of these traditions have been held by some scholars of hadith as authentic and the defects in the chain of some others have been treated by them as minor technical defects which, according to the science of hadith, are curable by the variety of their ways of narration. That is why the elders of the Ummah have constantly been observing this night as a night of special merits and have been spending it in worship and prayers."


Recommended Deeds

The following practices are derived from the traditions of the Prophet SAW which have been mentioned above for Sha'baan and its virtuous 15th night.

It is desirable that one fasts in the month of Sha'baan as much as one can. However, if fasting in Sha'baan is going to affect the fasting of Ramadhan then one should refrain from it.

Although the fast of 15th of Sha'baan can only be derived from the Ahadith which have a weak chain of narration, nevertheless the fast would be desirable considering other factors such as:

a) The fasts of the first half of Sha'baan have special merits as can be seen from the practice of the Prophet SAW

b) The virtues of the fasts of Ayyaamul Beedh (i.e. 13th, 14th and 15th of the Islamic month) have been mentioned in the Ahadith

c) A large number of the elders (salaf) of the Ummah have been observing the fast of the 15th of Sha'baan.

Although everyday solat should be performed in Jama'ah (congregation), on this auspicious night, one must participate with deep and solemn care in the Maghrib, 'Isya and Fajr Solat.

Spend as much time of the night as possible in worship individually. No specific du'a or method of worship has been prescribed. One may engage in zikr, recitation of the Qur'an, solat, learning and teaching or any other form of 'ibadah. However, one must refrain from worldly talk and wasting of time. If 'ibadah is not possible then at least avoid all sinful and useless acts and go to bed as soon as possible.

In one hadith it has been mentioned that Rasulullah SAW visited the graveyard of Baqi'. However, one may not establish the practice to be Sunnah as there is no mention of Rasulullah SAW making it a general practice of this night. Hence, if one visits the graveyard once in a while it will be permissible.

One must refrain in particular from all those practices which are contrary to the Sunnah. Many of us deprive ourselves of the blessings of such auspicious moments and the Favours of Allah Ta'ala by following those customary acts which have no basis in the Qur'an and Sunnah.
May Allah Ta'ala guide us all on the straight path and enlighten us with the blessings of this sacred month and its blessed night. Aameen.