Sha’ban is the month before the blessed month of Ramadan. There are many practices amongst Muslims related to the month of Shaaban that are not supported by any authentic hadith of Prophet(s) . This post summarizes some of those misconceptions of Shaban.
Here is an explanation of some of the misconceptions ,
Fasting on 15th of Shaban is a deed of great reward.
The reality, however, is that the hadith literature lacks the evidence of any authentic ahadith related to this topic.
- Fasting ONLY on 15th of Shabaan is an innovation and not according to the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Thus should be totally avoided. Fasting frequently in Shabaan was the Sunnah of Rasool Allah However; Rasool prohibited his ummah from fasting after 15th of Shabaan due to fear of becoming too weak to be able to fast in Ramadan.
Rasool Allah Sallaalahu alayhe Wasallam said :
“When half of shaban has passed, do not fast”
(Abu Dawood Bab 12: Hadith 2337- Classed Hasan Sahih by Albani)
Fasting on the last day of Shaaban is not allowed
There are a number of ahadith and scholarly opinions on this issue some of which are as follows:
Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar said: “It was understood from this that it is haraam to fast the day of doubt, because the Sahaabah would not say such a thing based on personal opinion, so a report such as this has the same status as a marfoo’ hadeeth.
The Prophet (S) said: “Do not anticipate Ramadaan by fasting one or two days before it begins, but if a man habitually fasts, then let him fast.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1914; Muslim, 1082. So if a person is used to fasting on Mondays, for example, and that coincides with the last day of Sha’baan, then it is permissible for him to observe that as a voluntary fast and it is not forbidden for him to do so.
The scholars have stated concerning the day of doubt, “The Sunnah indicates that it is haraam to fast this day (last day of Shaaban).” (Fataawa al-Lajnah, 10/117).
Shab e Baraat i.e. the 15th of Shabaan is a Special Night for prayers in Islam.
The middle of the month of Shaaban should not be singled out for special worship.There is no such thing as Shab e Baraat. Word Shab e Baraat never appears in the Quran or Hadith. Shab e Baraat is infact NOT an Arabic Word. In this context, the scholars have stated the following:
… if a person wants to pray qiyaam on this night as he does on other nights – without doing anything extra or singling this night out for anything – then that is fine. The same applies if he fasts the day of the fifteenth of Shaaban because it happens to be one of the ayyaam al-beed, along with the fourteenth and thirteenth of the month, or because it happens to be a Monday or Thursday. If the fifteenth (of Shaaban ) coincides with a Monday or Thursday, there is nothing wrong with that (fasting on that day), so long as he is not seeking extra reward that has not been proven (in the saheeh hadith texts).” (islamqa.info)
On this blessed night Allah Tala descends down to forgive people
Allah Tala descends down EVERY night to forgive the people who repent.
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said,
“When it is the last third of the night, our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, descends every night to the heaven of the world and says, ‘Is there anyone who invokes Me (demand anything from Me), that I may respond to his invocation; Is there anyone who asks Me for something that I may give (it to) him; Is there anyone who asks My forgiveness that I may forgive him?’“
[Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 75, Number 333]
This is the blessed night on which the taqdeer is decided.
Who will live…who will die. Who will get how much rizq. The following verses of the Quran are presented as evidence stating that this verse is talking about a blessed night on which everything is decreed and that night is 15th of Shaban.
Veriy We Sent it down on a blessed night Verily, We are ever warning. There in is decreed every matter of ordainments. As a Command from Us. Verily, We are ever sending, (As) a Mercy from your Lord. Verily! He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.
[Surah Dukhaan Chapter 44 Verse 4]
The verse is being misquoted. This Verse is about a Night in Ramadan NOT Shab e Baraat. The verse is talking about revelation of Quran on a blessed Night. Read the first 2 ayats of Surah Dukhaan again!
Indeed we sent IT (i.e. The Quran) on a blessed Night (Lailtul Qadr in Ramadan) Allah has informed us in Surah Baqarah that the Quran was revealed in the month of Ramadan.
The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an. (Surah Al Baqarah. Chapter 2:185)
