Sha'baan: Misconceptions and Realities

By Asma Bint Shameem

Growing up in Pakistan, the month of Sha'baan would bring in a lot of excitement and celebration. And that was because celebrating the night of the fifteenth of Sha'baan was a big thing and considered a very virtuous act, indeed. Men would gather in the masjid while the women prepared 'Halwas' and sweets, preparations were made for all night vigils or "Shabeenas" as they were called, buses were made available to take the men to visit the graveyards and flyers were distributed to everyone containing a long list of 'special prayers' so that they could stay up all night praying.

But, Alhamdulillaah, how Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'ala protects His Deen. When Allaah enabled me to study this beautiful religion of ours, all that changed.

I realized that all those 'special prayers', all those night vigils, all those Halwas and all those graveyard visits were really not the way of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam).

In fact all that was far...

far away from his Sunnah and the Sharee'ah that he brought.

And so I thought I would bring to attention some of the misconceptions and wrong ideas attached to this month as this ignorance has become so rampant, that it has become a sort of an epidemic, not only in Pakistan but in practically every Muslim community that exists.

🔺Misconception #1: The night of the 15th of Sha'baan should be singled out for prayer, worship, etc

✅Clarification:

Our best example and role model is the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) and he never, ever singled out this night for worship or qiyaam nor did his Sahaabah.

🍃Shaykh Ibn Baaz said:

"There is no saheeh hadeeth concerning the night of the fifteenth of Sha'baan. All the ahaadeeth that have been narrated concerning that are mawdoo' (fabricated) and da'eef (weak), and have no basis. There is nothing special about this night, and no recitation of Qur'aan or prayer, whether alone or in congregation, is specified for this night. What some of the scholars have said about it being special is a weak opinion. It is not permissible to single it out for any special actions. This is the correct view. And Allaah is the Source of strength."

(Fataawa Islamiyyah, 4/511)

🔺Misconception # 2: There are special prayers to be offered on this night.

✅Clarification:

The truth of the matter is that there are NO special prayers to be offered on this night specifically. And all those 'ahaadeeth' giving you long lists of special 'formulas' that are "supposed to guarantee you Allaah's forgiveness and Jannah" are all fabricated, false and innovations in our Deen.

If there were such prayers, the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) would have told us about them and we would have had evidence of him and the Sahaabah doing it.

🍃The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

I tell you, by Allaah, that I have warned and commanded and prohibited things that are as important as what is in the Qur'aan, if not more so."

(Abu Dawud-- Saheeh by al-Albaani)

🔺Misconception # 3: Allaah descends to the first heavens on this night to forgive us.

✅Clarification:

Allaah's descending to the first heaven does not only happen on the night of the fifteenth of Sha'baan. Rather it happens every single night of the year.

🍃The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

"EVERY NIGHT when it is the last third of the night, our Lord, the Superior, the Blessed, descends to the nearest heaven and says: Is there anyone to invoke Me that I may respond to his invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone asking My forgiveness so that I may forgive him?. "

(Bukhaari)

Thus, when 'Abd-Allaah ibn al-Mubaarak was asked about the descent of Allaah on the night of the fifteenth of Sha'baan, he said to the one who asked him:

"O weak one! The night of the fifteenth?! He descends every night!"

🔺Misconception # 4: This is the night when our fate, lifespan, and provisions are decreed.

✅Clarification:

Some people think that the "blessed night" (laylatim-mubarakah) mentioned in Surah ad-Dukhaan (44)Ayah 3, refers to the night of 15th Shabaan, when Allah decrees our lifespan, provisions and fate.

In fact, they even pray 6 rakahs, 2 for each of these things.

However, all that is fabricated and far, far away from the Sunnah. And, in reality, the "blessed night" mentioned in Surah ad-Dukhaan, actually is referring to Laylatul Qadr that comes in Ramadhaan. (Tafseer Ibn Kathir of Surah al-Qadr)

🍃Zayd ibn Aslam said:

"We never saw any of our shaykhs or fuqaha' saying that Laylat al-Baraa'ah (15 Sha'baan) had any superiority over other nights."

🍃And Ibn Dihyah said:

"The hadeeths about the prayer on Laylat al-Baraa'ah are fabricated and one has an interruption in the isnaad. Anyone who acts upon a report which is known to be false is a servant of the Shaytaan."

(Tadhkirat al-Mawdoo'aat by al-Fatni)

🔺Misconception # 5: One should fast on the day of the fifteenth.

✅Clarification:

Here again, there is no saheeh reports that tell us that the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) or his Sahaabah ever picked this day specifically to fast.

The Sunnah of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) was to fast most of this month and not just the 15th.

However, if the fifteenth of Sha'baan coincides with a Monday or Thursday, or with the three white days or if a person is generally fasting, without associating seeking extra rewards to fasting this specific day, then it is allowed. (Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid)

🔺Misconception # 6: This is the night when the souls of departed ones return to their families.

✅Clarification:

Some people misunderstand the ayaat in Surah al-Qadr and think that the "Sending down of the Ruh" as mentioned in this Surah refers to the souls of dead people returning to see their families, even though it refers to Jibreel (Tafseer Ibn Kathir).

And that is why we see women preparing the sweets, the Halwas and other 'goodies' for the souls of their loved ones.

Not only is that in itself an erroneous, deviant belief and bid'ah, but to believe that the souls of the dead can return back to the world and meet with their relatives is also totally incorrect and false.

The teachings of the Qur'aan and the Sunnah clearly state that the souls of the dead do not return back to the world.

Besides, they don't even eat the Halwas. It is actually you who eats it!

🔺Misconception # 7: Visiting graveyards especially this night is something good.

✅Clarification:

Although the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) encouraged visiting graves, he forbade singling out any day or night for any kinds of good deeds if it is not prescribed in the Shari'ah.

And he did not specifically visit the graveyard on the night of the 15th of Sha'baan.

The hadeeth of Aisha that mentions that the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) visited the graveyard this night is not authentic and thus does not have any proof for visiting graves specifically on this night of Sha'baan.

🔺Misconception # 8: Even if the ahaadeeth about worship on this night are weak, one can still do it.

✅Clarification:

The correct scholarly view is that weak ahaadeeth should not be followed at all, even if they speak of righteous deeds or of targheeb and tarheeb (promises and warnings).

The saheeh reports are sufficient and the Muslim has no need to follow the da'eef reports.

🍃Shaykh Ahmad Shaakir said:

"There is no difference between rulings or righteous deeds; we do not take any of them from da'eef reports, rather no one has the right to use any report as evidence unless it is proven to be soundly narrated from the Messenger of Allaah (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) in a saheeh or hasan hadeeth. "

🔺Misconception # 9: Look at all those people doing it. How can they all be wrong?

✅Clarification:

The Muslim is supposed to refer to Allaah and His Messenger (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam)'s Sunnah, if there is any confusion or dispute about matters and NOT what the rest of the world is doing.

🍃Allaah says:

"O you who believe! Obey Allaah and obey the Messenger and those of you who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allaah and His Messenger, if you believe in Allaah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination."

[al-Nisaa:59]

🍃Shaykh Ibn Jibreen said:

"These reports about

worship and fasting on the 15th of Sha'baan) became very well known in some countries which were overwhelmed by ignorance; One should not be deceived by the large numbers of ignorant people who do these things."

🌿The REAL Sunnah regarding Sha'baan🌿

If you truly and sincerely want to please Allaah and do deeds that will be acceptable to Him, then follow the REAL Sunnah of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam).

Here is what is proven in the authentic sunnah:

🌷1. Fast most of this month as much as you can.

🍃Aa'ishah Radhi Allaahu anhaa said:

"I never saw the Messenger of Allaah fasting for an entire month except in Ramadaan, and I never saw him fast more than he did in Sha'baan."

(Bukhaari, Muslim)

Why so much stress on fasting Sha'baan?

🍃Usaamah ibn Zayd radhi Allaahu anhu said:

"I said, 'O Messenger of Allaah, I do not see you fasting in any month more than in Sha'baan.' He said, 'That is a month concerning which many people are heedless, between Rajab and Ramadaan. It is the month is which people's deeds are taken up to the Lord of the Worlds, and I would like my deeds to be taken up whilst I am fasting.'"

(Hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Nasaa'i)

🌷2. However, if you are weak or do not fast habitually and feel that this nafil fasting may be a hindrance to your obligatory fasting in the month of Ramadhaan, then the person may stop the nafil fasting in the last few days of this month.

🍃And for such a person, the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

"When Sha'baan is half over, do not fast."

(saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi).

🌷 3. If you're used to fasting

If you are used to fasting such as every other day or every Monday and Thursday, then its okay to continue to fast even in the last half of this month.

🍃The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

"Do not anticipate Ramadhaan by fasting one or two days before it begins, but if a man habitually fasts, then let him fast."

(al-Bukhaari, Muslim)

🌷4. If you have fasts left over from last Ramadhaan to make up, then hurry up and do so in this month of Sha'baan before the next Ramadhaan comes.

It is not permissible to delay missed fasts until after the following Ramadhaan, except in cases of necessity (such as a valid excuse that continues between the two Ramadhaans).

🍃Aa'ishah radhi Allaahu anhaa said:

'It used to be that I had days to make up for Ramadhaan and I would not be able to do so except in Sha'baan."

[Bukhaari]

And Allaah knows best.