Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Currently, we are in the auspicious month of Sha’baan and just a few days away from the mubaarak month of Ramadhaan.
During this month of Sha’baan, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would keep abundant nafil fasts more than he would keep in any other month.
Hazrat Usaamah bin Zaid (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) reports, “I once said to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), ‘I do not see you fasting in any month as much as I see you fasting in Sha’baan.’ Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, ‘This is a month (Sha’baan) between Rajab and Ramadhaan in which people are negligent, and it (Sha’baan) is a month in which the (yearly) deeds of the servants are raised to the Lord of the worlds (Allah Ta‘ala), and I desire that my deeds be raised while I am fasting.’”(Sunan Nasaai #3357, Targheeb #1537)
The Fast of Sha’baan is a Preparation for the Fast of Ramadhaan
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was once asked regarding the most virtuous fast after the fast of Ramadhaan. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “The fast of Sha’baan in honour of the month of Ramadhaan”. (Sunan Tirmizi #663)
It should be borne in mind that the fast of Sha’baan is virtuous when kept to honour and prepare for Ramadhaan. Otherwise, the most virtuous month to fast after Ramadhaan is Muharraam, as it appears in the Authentic Hadith of Sunan Abi Dawood that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “The most virtuous fast after Ramadhaan is the fast of Muharram”. (Sunan Abi Dawood #2429)
Hazrat Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) mentioned, “When the month of Sha’baan would commence, the Muslims (i.e. The Sahaabah and Taabi’een) would be devoted to the recitation of the Qur’aan.” (Lataa’if-ul-Ma’aarif pg. 258)
Laylatul Baraa’ah – The Night of Forgiveness and Emancipation from the Fire of Jahannum
The month of Sha’baan is a month that brings along with it immense goodness and blessings due to Laylatul Baraa’ah (the night of Baraa’ah) being found in it. Baraa’ah means ‘declaration of forgiveness and emancipation from the fire of Jahannum’.
The night of Baraa’ah is an extremely auspicious and virtuous night in which tremendous blessings and mercies of Allah Ta‘ala descend upon the ummah, and is among the great nights in the Islamic calendar.
There are many authentic Ahaadith which are reported from Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) regarding the abundant virtues of this auspicious night. Below are some of the virtues:
1) Allah Ta‘ala Focusing His Special Mercy and Forgiveness Towards the Creation On this Night
Hazrat Mu’aaz bin Jabal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Allah Ta‘ala focuses (His divine mercy) towards the entire creation on the 15th night of Sha’baan, and He forgives His entire creation with the exception of those who ascribe partners with Allah Ta‘ala and those who harbour malice for the creation.” (Targheeb# 1546)
2) Special Mercies Descending on the Ummah from the Beginning of the Night until Dawn
During the nights of the year, Allah Ta‘ala sends down His special mercy upon the creation during the last third of the night. However, on the night of Baraa’ah, Allah Ta‘ala sends down His special mercy from the beginning of the night (sunset) until the time of fajr. Hence, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) encouraged his ummah to spend this night in ibaadah.
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “When it is the 15th night of Sha’baan, then stand (in ibaadah) during its night, and fast during its day, as Allah Ta‘ala (i.e. the special mercy of Allah Ta‘ala) descends to the lowest heaven during this night, from the time of sunset. Allah Ta‘ala announces, ‘Is there anyone seeking forgiveness so that I may forgive him? Is there anyone seeking sustenance so that I may grant him sustenance? Is there anyone afflicted with any difficulty so that I may grant him ease and relief? Is there anyone who has any other need so that I may fulfil it?’ This (call from Allah Ta‘ala) continues until the time of Fajr.” (Sunan Ibnu Maajah #1388)
3) The Entire Year’s Deeds of the Ummah being Presented before Allah Ta‘ala On this Night
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said that this month (of Sha’baan) is a month in which the actions of the servants are raised to Allah Ta‘ala (i.e on the night of Baraa’ah). (Sunan Nasaai #3357, Targheeb #1537)
4) Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) Desiring that His Deeds be Presented before Allah Ta‘ala while He is Fasting
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “I desire that my deeds are raised (and presented before Allah Ta‘ala on this night of Baraa’ah) while I am fasting.” (Sunan Nasaai #3357, Targheeb #1537, Tayseer 2/77)
5) Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) Desiring that the Decision of His Death Take Place While He is Fasting
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Allah Ta‘ala decides (in this month of Sha’baan, on the night of Baraa’ah,) who is going to pass away that year. I desire that (the decision of) my death take place while I am fasting.” (Musnad Abu Ya’laa #4911, Targheeb #1540)
6) Allah Ta‘ala Freeing People from Jahannum Equal to the Strands of Hair On the Animals of Bani Kalb
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “During this night, Allah Ta‘ala frees many servants from the fire of Jahannum – equal to the number of the strands of hair on the goats and sheep of the Banu Kalb tribe.” (Shu’abul Imaan #3556, Sunan Tirmizi #739)
7) Jannah Being Compulsory for the Person who Worships Allah Ta‘ala On this Night
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “The one who enlivens five nights of the year with ibaadah, Jannah becomes compulsory for him. (These five nights are) the night of Tarwiyah (8th of Zul Hijjah), the night of Arafah (9th of Zul Hijjah), the night of Nahr (10th of Zul Hijjah), the night of Eidul Fitr and the night of the 15th of Sha’baan.” (Targheeb #1656)
The Manner in which Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) Worshipped Allah Ta‘ala On this Night
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would exert himself in ibaadah and dua during the night of Baraa’ah.
Hazrat Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) reports, “Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said to me (on the night of Baraa’ah), ‘O Aaishah! Will you let me go and stand up in ibaadah tonight?’ I replied, ‘Yes – may my father and mother be sacrificed for you!’
“Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then stood in salaah. When he went into sajdah, he remained in sajdah for such a long portion of the night that I thought that he had passed away. I thus stood up to touch him (to see that he had not passed away). I placed my hand on the soles of his blessed feet (which were together in sajdah), and his body moved. I was then filled with happiness (to see that he was alive).” (Shu’abul Imaan #3556)
Dua to be Recited on Shab-e-Baraat
Hazrat Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) reports, “When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was in sajdah during the night of Baraa’ah, I heard him recite the following dua:
أَعُوْذُ بِعَفْوِكَ مِنْ عِقَابِكَ وَأَعُوْذُ بِرِضَاكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْكَ جَلَّ وَجْهُكَ لَا أُحْصِيْ ثَنَاءً عَلَيْكَ أَنْتَ كَمَا أَثْنَيْتَ عَلٰى نَفْسِكَ
O Allah, I seek refuge in Your forgiveness from Your punishment, and I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your displeasure, and I seek refuge in You (in Your mercy) from You (from Your punishment). You are exalted. I am unable to praise You as You ought to be praised. You are as You have praised Yourself.
Hazrat Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) says, “The following morning, when I mentioned this dua to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) (which I heard him recite the previous night), he said to me, ‘O Aaishah! I see that you learnt this dua?’ I said to him, ‘Yes, I have learnt it (from you when you recited it last night).’ Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Continue to remember it and teach it to others, as Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) had taught these words to me and instructed me to repeat them in sajdah.’” (Shu’abul Imaan #3556)
An Interesting Incident that Transpired on Laylatul Baraa’ah
Hazrat Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) reports:
Once, when it was my turn for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to spend the night with me, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) returned from the musjid after the Esha salaah. He took off his shawl, removed his sandals, and placed them at his foot side, after which he lay down next to me on the bed.
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) only lay down for a short while, until he felt that I was asleep. He then took his shawl silently, wore his sandals silently, opened the door (silently), exited the house (silently), and then locked the door silently.
At that time, a strong feeling of possessiveness overcame me. I thought that perhaps he is going to spend the night with one of his other wives.
I immediately woke up from the bed, wore my cloak and scarf and other outer garments, and then I left the home in order to follow him. I walked behind him (without letting him know that I was following him) until he came to Baqee’ (the graveyard of Madinah Munawwarah). On coming to Baqee’, he stood there for a long time, raising his hands in dua.
Hazrat Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) mentions, “When I found Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) standing in Baqee, making dua for the forgiveness of the believing men and women and the martyrs, I thought to myself, ‘May my father and mother be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allah Ta‘ala! You are engaged in fulfilling the command of Allah Ta‘ala, while I am entertaining these wrong worldly thoughts of you (going to another wife)!’”
After completing the dua, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then turned around (to leave the graveyard and return home). (When I realized this,) I also turned around (to quickly leave for home).
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) spotted Hazrat Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) and knew that she had come out following him. Hazrat Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) says:
So he then began to walk faster, and I also walked faster. He then began to run, and I also ran. He then ran even faster, and I ran faster. I reached home before him, and just as I lay down on the bed, he entered the home. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) asked me, “What is the matter, O Aaishah? Has something happened? Why are you breathing so heavily?” I replied, “No, nothing has happened!”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) responded, “Either you will tell me, or else the One who is the Knower of the hidden things, the Being who is All-Aware (Allah Ta‘ala), will definitely inform me.” I replied, “O Rasul of Allah! May my father and mother be sacrificed for you!” and then I informed him of what had transpired.
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said to me, “So you were the person that I had seen moving ahead of me?” I replied, “Yes.”
Hazrat Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) said to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), “I thought that you were going to spend the night with one of your other wives (that is why I followed you).”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then said to her, “Do you think and fear that Allah Ta‘ala and His Rasul (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) will oppress you?”
In one narration, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said to her, “What happened to you, O Aaishah? Were you overcome by possessiveness?” Hazrat Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) replied, “Why should a wife like me not feel possessive over a husband like yourself?”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then said to her, “Did your Shaitaan come to you (and instil this suspicion in your heart)?” Hazrat Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) asked, “O Rasul of Allah! Do I have a Shaitaan with me?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Yes.” Hazrat Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) then asked, “Does every person have a Shaitaan with him?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Yes (i.e. Allah Ta‘ala has kept with each person an angel to motivate him towards good, and a Shaitaan to tempt him towards evil).”
Hazrat Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) says:
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then gently hit my chest with his hand (in order to remove the evil effects of Shaitaan’s whisper from my heart).
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then explained to Hazrat Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) the reason for him leaving the home at that time. He said, “Jibreel came to me at the time you saw (me leaving the home). He called me in a secret manner. So I responded to his call in the same way. He (Jibreel [‘alaihis salaam]) did not want to enter the room while you were present as you had removed your outer clothing. I thought that you had fallen off to sleep, and I disliked waking you up (that is why I did everything silently). Jibreel said to me, ‘Your Lord commands you to go to the inmates of Baqee’ and make dua for their forgiveness.’”
In other narrations, is reported that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) mentioned, “Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) came to me and said, ‘Tonight is the 15th night of Sha’baan. During this night, Allah Ta‘ala frees many servants from the fire of Jahannum – equal to the number of the strands of hair on the goats and sheep of the Banu Kalb tribe.”
(Saheeh Muslim #974, #2815, Shu’abul Imaan #3556, Sunan Ibnu Maajah #1389)
Eight Classes of People Deprived of Forgiveness and Mercy on Laylatul Baraa’ah
Despite Laylatul Baraa’ah being a night of abundant forgiveness, there are certain classes of people who are deprived of forgiveness on this auspicious occasion due to them engaging in major sins. Below are the 8 classes of people who are not granted forgiveness on this night:
(1) the mushrik (the person who commits acts of shirk)
(2) the person who harbours ill-feelings in his heart for others
(3) the person (male) who wears his garments (pants or kurta, etc.) below his ankles
(4) the person who is addicted to wine (or any other types of intoxicants e.g. drugs)
(5) the person who disobeys his parents
(6) the person who severs family ties
(7) the person who commits zina
(8) the person who commits murder.
(Sunan Ibnu Maajah #1390, Musnad Ahmed #6642, Shu’abul Imaan #3548, 3555, 3556, Da’awaat Kabeer lil-Bayhaqi 2/147)
Fasting On the 15th of Sha’baan
It was the mubaarak habit of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) to fast throughout the month of Sha’baan. Similarly, it was the habit of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to fast on the thirteenth, fourteenth and 15th of every month.
In view of these Ahaadith, we understand that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was fasting on the 15th day of Sha’baan.
Hence, since this day (the 15th) coincides with the fast of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), our Ulama are of the opinion that fasting on this day alone will also be permissible (though it is better for one to fast on the thirteenth, fourteenth and 15th).
As far as the Hadith that commands fasting on the 15th day of Sha’baan is concerned, though it is regarded as very weak according to the Muhadditheen, practicing upon it will be permissible since it comes within the purview of the other authentic Ahaadith which explain that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) fasted throughout the month of Sha’baan.
Furthermore, it is authentically reported in the Hadith that when Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was asked the reason for him fasting during the month of Sha’baan, he said, “In this month of Sha’baan, the book of deeds of a person (in which the entire year’s actions are recorded) is raised to Allah Ta‘ala, and I desire that my deeds also be raised in the condition that I am fasting.” (Sunan Nasaai #3357, Targheeb #1537)
From this Hadith, we understand that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was fasting on the 15th of Sha’baan since the 15th night is the occasion when the actions are raised to Allah Ta‘ala as is understood from other Ahaadith.
In conclusion, we understand that there is no harm in one fasting on the 15th of Sha’baan as it is among the days in which Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) fasted.
