Bismihi Ta`ala *AROUND THE 15TH SHA`BAAN.* *These are two main conditions for acceptance of a good action: ikhlaas and sunnah. That is one should fine tune one`s motivation and objective of accomplishing the action only and only for Allah Ta`ala. And also do the action according to the established sunnah of Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam. That is why we need to know the sunnah way of life.* *By learning about his Sunnah, we shall avoid introducing new practices in the Deen. Because the innovation of unfounded practices or habits is strictly condemned by the Shariah: “Beware of new innovations in the Deen. Because every innovation is Bid’ah. And every Bid’ah leads to Hellfire.” (Abu Dawood). That is why the Deen must be practised correctly. One must distinguish between ancestral traditions and the sunnah, in order to adopt the sunnah only. That is why we shall mention only the sunnah as regards the 15th night of Shabaan.* *THE GREAT NIGHT OF SHAB E BARAAT* *We have no right to ascribe worthiness or sacredness to any day or night unless we find evidence thereof in the holy Qur-aan and in the sunnah of the beloved prophet (Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam). The bearers of the sunnah are the Sahabah (RA). It is they who have demonstrated the value of the sunnah to mankind. The beloved prophet (Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam) has proclaimed the benchmark of true guidance: “Only that group which shall adopt my sunnah and the practices of the Sahabahs (RA) shall be on the right path” (Tirmizi). It is to be noted that the nights of great value according to the Qur-aan and the sunnah are: the nights of Ramadhaan(including lailatul qadr), the nights of the two Eids, the first 10 nights of Zil Hijjah and the 15th night of Shabaan. (Shab e Baraat). One can observe that the 27th night of Rajab and the nights of Rabi ul Awwal has no preferencial value over other nights.* *It has been reported by Sahih Ibn Hibbaan, by Tirmizi and by Ibn Majah that the prophet (Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam) valued the 15th night of Sha`baan as a night of sanctity. Hazrat Ayesha (RA) has reported that it was her turn to spend the night with the prophet (Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam). However, on entering her house, the prophet (Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam) left immediately without a word. So she followed him and saw him in Jannat ul Baqi (the graveyard) seeking Allah’s forgiveness for the dead. The prophet (Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam) informed her that it was the 15th night of Shabaan, when Allah forgives without reckoning, with the exception of unbelievers and those who break ties. This same report can be found in the following books: Baihaqi, Tabrani Awsat, Tabrani Kabeer, Shua’bul Imaan, Musnad Ahmad, Musnad Bazzaar, Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaibah and Musannaf Abdur Razzaak. Although some have qualified the account of Tirmizi as being weak, but the collection of ahadiths with different sources bring the following hadith of Ibn Majah as being hassan and reliable:* عن أبي موسى الأشعري عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال إن الله ليطلع في ليلة النصف من شعبان فيغفر لجميع خلقه إلا لمشرك أو مشاحن سنن ابن ماجة ''*Allah Ta`ala descends His mercy during the night of 15th Sha`baan so that He forgives all His creation except a Polytheist or someone who break ties.’’(Ibn Majah)* *The vast majority of the ulamas of India and Pakistan also hold the view of the virtue of the night of 15th Sha`baan. Sheikh Abdul Haq Muhaddith Dahlawi r.a., Mufti Kifayatullah r.a. of Kifayatul Mufti,Mufti Mahmood r.a. of India and whose qabr lies South Africa did also mention the virtues of the night of 15th Sha`baan in his fatawa Mahmoodiyah, M Thanwi r.a. etc. S. Same view by Mufti Taqi Usmani, Mufti Radha ul Haq d.b. and other contemporary ulams. Arab ulamas also do accept the virtue of this night.* *Hence, the night of Shab e Baraat enjoys the virtue of a night of ibaadah according to valid hadiths. One must, however, note that no hadith has been found in favour of nafil salaah in congregation, or recitation of specific surahs or occasions where food is distributed specifically during that night. Hence, we should avoid all these things which are simply innovations.* *ASKING FORGIVENESS TO EACH OTHER BEFORE SHABE BARAAT IS BID`AH AND INNOVATED LATELY.* *A newly innovated practice is to ask forgiveness to each other before the night of 15th Sha`baan. This practice is not found in the Qur-aan and Sunnah. The reasoning behind it is that it has been reported that one year`s detailed destiny is revealed to the angels during that night. Although most tafseers indicate that that night of destiny is laylatul qadr during Ramadhaan, but we find some riwayats and tafseers that support that human life ending is revealed yearly to the angels during 15th Sha`baan night. But nothing about asking forgiveness to each other. But rather to ask forgiveness to Allah Ta`ala because we may not know that our names may be listed in the death list.* *PAYING A VISIT TO GRAVE YARD FOR MEN.* *In some of those riwayats, one finds the sunnah of paying a visit to the graveyard during that night, as already mentioned before. In fact, one should not arrange group visits as it is not an obligation to go there. It is advisable to pay a discreet visit alone, as did the prophet (SAW), without the need to publicize it. One should not also feel the need to go there on each Shab e Baraat, as a kind of obligation, because we do not find such practices in the lives of the Sahabahs (RA). So alternatively, the men folk only can go individually and discreetly to the grave yard(Fatawa Mahmoodiya).* *FASTING ON THE 15th DAY OF SHABAAN* *It has been reported in a hadith of Ibn Majah that the Prophet (SAW) has stated: “Spend the night of 15th Shabaan in Ibaadah and fast on the 15th day.” (Ibn Majah).* قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا كَانَتْ لَيْلَةُ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَقُومُوا لَيْلَهَا وَصُومُوا نَهَارَهَا ابن ماجة *Although that hadith is weak, but know that it has also been reported in several books namely: Mishkat, Tafseer Rouhul Ma’ani, Dourre Mansoor of Imam Suyuti, Baihaqi, Umdatul Qari and in Tuhwatul Ahwazi of Mubarakpuri. It should be noted that hadith is not mawdoo nor a fabricated hadith.* *One must bear in mind that, although that hadith is weak, it is still virtuous to fast because we are here in presence of a hadith in itself and it is not a lie attributed to the prophet (Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam). And it has always been principle of all ulamas at all times to accept a weak hadith when it deals with matters of virtuous actions.* *Hence we find the list of these ulamas that support the fasting of 15th Sha`baan alone as virtuous:* 1. Sheikh Abdul Haq Dahlawi r.a. 2. Mowlana Thanwi r.a. in his book deen ki batein. 3. Mufti Mahmood ul Hassan Gangohi r.a. in his Fatawa Mahmooduyah. 4. Mufti Kiyatullah r.a. in his Kifayatul Mufti Fatawas. 5. Mufti Shafi` r.a., late great Mufti of Pakistan. 6. Mufti Azizur Rahman in Fatawa Deoband. 7. Mowlana Sayid Zawar Hussein in Umdatul Fiqh. 8. Islami Fiqh Vol 1. Pg 417. 9. Fatawa Haythami. 10. Fatawa ramali Shafi`ee 11. Sheikh Mardawi hanbali. Quotes: *It is recommended to fast on the 15th Sha'baan. ..basing on the hadith mentioned(in Ibn Majah)"-Fatawa Ramali.* *We find the same opinion of fasting in Fatawa Mahmoodiyah.* *Hazrat Mowlana Ashraf Ali Thanwi r.a. also writes: ‘It is mustahab to fast on the 15th Sha`baan’(Zawalus Sunnah, Pg 10)* *Fatawa Zakaryah exhibit that Hazrat Mufti Radha ul Haq sahab d.b. also hold the same view that one can fast on the 15th Sha`baan objectively for its virtue.* *Mufti Taqi Usmani damat Barakaatuhu writes: ‘There has been clear texts from ulamas inducing that 15th Sha`baan fasting is recommended.’* *Mufti Shafi` sahab r.a., the once great mufti of Pakistan also hold the view to fast objectively on 15th.(Fatawa Zakarya)* *Allamah Qudbuddeen Muhaddith Dahlawi also writes the recommendation of fasting on 15th Sha`baan(Mazahire Haq 2/364).* *As such it is recommended to spend the night of Shabe Baraat in salaah, tilaawah and zikrullah and also keep the fast on the day of 15th Shabaan.* *We find this du`a from Shu`abul Imaan and also from Nassai that can be read during the night of Shabe Baraat:* أَعُوذُ بِعَفْوِكَ مِنْ عِقَابِكَ، وَأَعُوذُ بِرِضَاكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْكَ، جَلَّ وَجْهُكَ، لَا أُحْصِي ثَنَاءً عَلَيْكَ أَنْتَ كَمَا أَثْنَيْتَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ *Aauzu bi’afwika min ‘iqaabika wa ‘aoozu bi Ridhaaka min sakhatika wa ‘aoozu minka jalla wajuka laa uhsee sanaa an ‘alayka anta kama asnayta ‘ala nafsik* *Translation: I seek protection in Your forgiveness from Your punishment; and I seek shelter in Your pleasure from Your displeasure; and I seek safety in You, from You. Glory be to You. I am unable to fully praise You. You are as you have praised Yourself*. *Please note that no special dish or specific ibaadahs for this night. Nor beautifying masjid. But rather spend whole night or partial night in ibaadahs and duas. Ask for forgiveness to Allah because Allah Ta`ala forgive a lot during this night. There are some unfortunate exceptions from this forgiveness: Mushrik(Non believer), breaking family ties, criminal, men who cover their ankles with their trousers, disobedient to perents, drunkard/drug addict, adulterer, those who deceive people and those who paint living things.* *If ever you happen to be indulging in these, then instantly make tawbah and ask forgiveness and make a pact to Allah Ta`ala that you will not redo again. Then insha Allah, you will be forgiven tonight in the 15th Shabaan insha Allah.* Mufti Ayoob Mackoojee