What about the hadeeth that on the night of 15th Sha’baan Allaah forgives his slaves?

by Asma bint Shameem

Yes there’s a hadeeth narrated by Abu Moosa radhi Allaahu anhu that says:

“Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala looks down on the night of the fifteenth of Sha‘baan and forgives all His creation except a mushrik or one who harbors hatred against the Muslims”

And yes, this hadeeth was classed as “saheeh” by Shaykh al-Albaani, not on its on merit but due to corroborating evidence.

However, the VAST MAJORITY of the scholars have argued that it’s NOT authentic.

But even if we assume that this hadeeth is authentic, that does not prove in any way, that we should do any ”special” ibaadaat this night or fast the next day.

Rather Allaah automatically forgives those who do not commit shirk and those who don’t have grudges against each other.

And that’s out of His Great Mercy.

This concept of forgiveness is similar to the one mentioned in the following hadeeth.

🍃The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said

“The gates of Paradise will be opened on Mondays and on Thursdays, and every servant [of Allaah] who associates nothing with Allaah will be forgiven, except for the man who has a grudge against his brother. [About them] it will be said: Delay these two until they are reconciled; delay these two until they are reconciled.”(Saheeh Muslim 2565)

Does that mean that we start doing specific ibaadaat every Thursday?

NO!

There’s no proof that the Prophet ﷺ did any “specific” ibaadaat every Thursday.

So just because Allaah will look at His slaves and forgive their sins does not necessarily mean that it’s a night of ibaadah.

A night can be of virtue by itself WITHOUT any special acts of ibaadah associated with it.

🍃Shaikh Ibn Baaz said:

“ What the MAJORITY of scholars are agreed upon is that celebrating it (the night of the 15th of Sha’baan is an INNOVATION, and that the hadeeths that speak of its virtues are all da‘eef, and some of them are fabricated.

Among those who pointed this out is al-Haafiz Ibn Rajab in his book Lataa’if al-Ma‘aarif.”

(Hukm al-Ihtifaal bi Laylat an-Nusf min Sha‘baan)

And the Shaykh said:

“Furthermore, it is known in the Islamic Sharee’ah that the presence of an event does not necessitate action from the worshipper UNLESS there is a textual proof legislating that.

For example,

• the night of al-Israa’ and Mi’raaj with the revelation of the five daily prayers,
  

• the migration of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam to Madeenah,
  

• the birthday of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam,
  

• Revelation in the cave of Hiraa

ALL of these are important events, but there is no proof from the Qur’aan, Sunnah or from the Sahaabah that the Muslim should do anything special or out of the ordinary on these occasions.

In fact, to do so is an innovation and misguidance.”

(Majmoo’ Fataawaa Al-Imaam Ibn Baaz 2/882).

And actually it’s a sign of the MERCY of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala that He forgives us AUTOMATICALLY, WITHOUT having us ASK for it.

🔺Another question to ask:

If this night being “blessed” meant extra ibaadaat, nafl, duaas, etc, wouldn’t the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam know about that?

Wouldn’t the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam SHOW us with his actions and teachings that this night is blessed so we must do extra ibaadaat on this night?

Would the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam do special ibaadaat this night and no body found out?!

Although the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam knew very well that Allaah forgives His slaves that night, he Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam did NOT spend it worshiping Allaah in any ‘special’ or ‘out of the ordinary’ way.

This night was spent the SAME way he spent ALL his other nights.

No special prayers.

No extra Nawaafil.

No special duaa.

No Surahs to recite.

If ibaadah on this night was good and special, we would have had EVIDENCE of that from his practice.

But we don’t.

🔺Bottom line:

The debate about ibaadaat on the night of the 15th of Sha’baan will continue

Whoever wants to follow “people” will follow them.

But whoever wants to follow the “PROPHET” sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam, then his example is there to follow.

There’s NO AUTHENTIC hadeeth that proved that the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam himself worshipped this night with ANY special duaa, Nawaafil or other ibaadaat.

This was a NORMAL, ROUTINE night for him Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam.

Our job is not to “convince people”;

It’s ONLY to CONVEY the message

May Allaah guide us and them.

And Allaah knows best