What is Shab e Barat in Islam? : Is it proved by Quran and sahih Hadith? | 15 Shaban 2024

Introduction

Celebrating Shab e Barat involves a variety of rituals, including attending special prayers and reading the Qur’an. In addition, Muslims often engage in charitable acts, such as giving to the poor and fasting throughout the day. 

This blog post will explore the significance of Shab e Barat, the celebrations and rituals associated with the event, the potential benefits and dangers, and recommendations for celebrating it.

Understanding Shab e Barat

The Mother of the Believers Aisha [May Allah be pleased with her] reports I missed the Prophet one night so I went out to al-Baqi` (and found him). He said: “Were you afraid that Allah would wrong you and that His Prophet would wrong you?” I said: “O Messenger of Allah, I thought that you might have gone to visit one of your wives.” He said: “Allah Glorious and Exalted descends to the nearest heaven on the night of mid-Shaban and He forgives to more people than the number of hairs on the hides of the sheep of the tribes of Kalb.

-Narrated from Aisha by Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and al-Tirmidhi who said that he heard al-Bukhari grading this Hadith as weak because some of the sub-narrators did not narrate directly from each other.

Reference : Sunan Ibne Majah 1388 1389 1390

What Hadith Says About Shaban Month

It is a month where people tend to neglect, between the months of Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which the deeds are raised to the Lord of the worlds, and I like my deeds to be raised while I am fasting.

Reference : Sunan An Nasa'i 2357(Hasan)

Hadith about Shab e Barat

There are numerous hadiths about the importance and significance of the 15th of Shaban, but unfortunately, none of them is considered Sahih or truly authentic. However, if a weak Hadith is referenced in multiple sources, it gains credibility and is elevated to the level of a Sahih Hadith. Moreover, if a weak Hadith is not excessively weak and there is no Sahih Hadith contradicting it, it is recognized as evidence of purity.

The goat hair hadith of the Banu Kalb  

It was narrated that ‘Aishah said:

"I missed the Prophet (ﷺ) one night, so I went out looking for him. I found him at Al-Baqi', raising his head towards the sky. He said: 'O 'Aishah, were you afraid that Allah and His Messenger would wrong you?'" She said: "I said: 'No, it is not that, but I thought that you had gone to one of your other wives.' He said: 'Allah descends on the night of the middle of Sha'ban to the lowest heaven, and He forgives more than the numbers of hairs on the sheep of Banu Kalb.'"

Reference: Sunan Ibn Majah 1389, Book 5, Hadith 587

Grade: Da’if (weak)

Explanation: The tribe of Kalb was quite significant, possessing a vast number of sheep. Hence, the final statement of the Hadith indicates the numerous individuals who are pardoned by Allah Almighty on this night. 

According to Imam Tirmidhi, Imam Bukhari referred to this Hadith as “da’eef,” or weak, because the connection between Yahya bin Abi Kasir and Ur Wah bin Zubayr, as well as Yahya bin Ab Kasir of Hijaz Bir Artata, has not been established.

The Hadiths about forgiveness on the 15th Shaban

It was narrated from Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

"Allah looks down on the night of the middle of Sha'ban and forgives all His creation, apart from the idolater and the Mushahin." Another chain from Abu Musa, from the Prophet (ﷺ) with similar wording.

Reference: Sunan Ibn Majah 1390, Book 5, Hadith 588

Grade: Da’if (weak)

Explanation: The Hadith found in Ibn Majah is supported by two chains of narration, and both of these chains are considered Jui. However, the first chain, which involves Waleed bin Muslim, is considered weak due to inconsistencies between Ibn Abdur Rahman and Abu Musa. The second chain, which involves Ibn Lahiya, is a combination of Mukhtalit and Mazhul narrations from Jabir bin Salim, Abdurrahman bin Arzab, and Abu Musa Razi. This chain is also weak because a meeting with the narrator was not established.

It was narrated that ‘Ali bin Abu Talib said:

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'When it is the night of the middle of Sha'ban, spend its night in prayer and observe a fast on that day. For Allah descends at sunset on that night to the lowest Heaven and says: 'Is there no one who will ask Me for forgiveness, that I may forgive him? Is there no one who will ask Me for provision, that I may provide for him? Is there no one who is afflicted by trouble, that I may relieve him?' And so on, until dawn comes."

Reference: Sunan Ibn Majah 1388, Book 5, Hadith 586

Grade: Maudu' (fabricated)

Explanation: According to Hafiz Ibn Hajar, the scholars of Jirah and Ta’dil referred to one of the narrators of this Hadith, Abu Bakr bin Abi Sabrah, as the one who created the hadiths. However, Allama Zahabi and Imam Bukhari classified it as “da’eef” or weak.

It was narrated that ‘Aishah said:

 "The Prophet stood up in prayer during part of the night and made his prostration so lengthy that I thought his soul had been taken back. When I saw this, I got up and went to move his big toe, whereupon he moved, so I drew back. When he raised his head from prostration and finished praying, he said: "Oh `A'isha, Oh fair little one! Did you think that the Prophet had broken his agreement with you?" She replied: "No, by Allah, Oh Messenger of Allah, but I thought that your soul had been taken back because your stayed in prostration for so long." He said: "Do you know what night this is?" She said: "Allah and His Prophet know best." He said: "This is the night of mid-Sha'ban! Verily Allah the Glorious and Majestic look at His servants on the night of mid-Sha'ban, and He forgives those who ask forgiveness, and He bestows mercy on those who ask mercy, and He gives a delay to the people of envy and spite in their state."

Reference: Shu’ab al Iman (3:382)

Grade: Maudu' (fabricated)

Explanation: The author of the Hadith, Al-Bayhaqi, commented that the Hadith is missing a Companion in its chain of narration but is still considered a good hadith (hadha mursal jayyid). It was possibly taken by al-Ala’ ibn al-Harith from Makhul, and Allah knows for sure.

Fasting on the 15th of Sha’ban 

Fasting on Sha’ban is considered a way to show devotion and seek blessings from Allah. But there is no Sahih hadith about fasting on the 15th of Sha’ban. But there are various Sahih hadith about fasting in the month of Sha’ban.

It was narrated that Abu Salamah said:

"I asked 'Aishah about the fasting of the Prophet (ﷺ). She said: 'He used to fast until we thought he would always fast. And he used to not fast until we thought he would always not fast. I never saw him fast more in any month than in Sha'ban. He used to fast all of Sha'ban; he used to fast all of Sha'ban except a little.'"

Reference: Sunan Ibn Majah 1710, Book 7, Hadith 73

Grade: Sahih

It was narrated that Rabi’ah bin Ghaz asked ‘Aishah about the fasting of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). She said:

"He used to fast all of Sha'ban, until he joined it to Ramadan."

Reference: Sunan Ibn Majah 1649, Book 7, Hadith 12

Grade: Sahih

Special Prayers on the 15th of Sha’ban

Shab e Barat is an important Islamic occasion celebrated on the 15th night of the Islamic month of Sha’aban. During this night, Muslims pray to Allaah for forgiveness and blessings. They offer special, known as Shab e Barat, and special supplications. These prayers are directed towards Allaah to seek His mercy, blessings, and forgiveness. However, there is no sahih hadith proof about these namaz. Some of them are mentioned in the fabricated Hadith.

Six rakaat Nawafil prayer

1. Six raakats Nawafil prayer

There are Six raakats of this Nawafil prayer. Repeat the niyyah of 2 Nawafil three times. There is no need to repeat any particular surah in any Nawafil. 

The first two Nawafil are for living longer. The second two are for a tranquil existence, one free of stress and suffering. The third and final Nawafil are for an individual’s success. After finishing two Nawafil, repeat Surah Yaseen and Dua e Nisf Shaban one time each.

The commentator of al-Ihya mentioned that this prayer was recognized in the books of later Sufi masters. Still, there is no reliable evidence in the Sunnah to substantiate it, nor is there evidence for the connected du’a.

Salat alafiya (Hazari prayer)

2. Salat alafiya (Hazari prayer)

The prayer that is performed in 100 rakats involves reciting Surah Fatiha once and Surah Ikhlas ten times in each rakat. By performing this prayer, the person can seek forgiveness from Allah, and their prayers may be answered. This prayer is believed to protect the person from the fire of hell and lead them towards paradise. 

It was narrated that,

Whoever prays 100 Rakaats in the night of 15th Sha'aban, Allah will send 100 angels towards him. Thirty will give him the tidings of Jannat. Thirty will save him from the torments of Jahannam. Thirty will save him from the troubles of the world and ten will keep him away from the devil.

Grade: Maudu' (fabricated)

Explanation: Ibn Zawzi and Shaukani have claimed that this tradition is fabricated. Mulla Ali Qari Hanafi has written that the prayer, which consists of 100 rakats, was introduced in Islam after the 4th century of the Islamic calendar. This innovation was approved in Baitul Maqdis, and fabricated hadiths were created to support it.

Conclusion

Some people believe that in Surah al-Dukhan (44:3-4) there is a reference to this night as Allah says, “We sent it (the Qur’an) down during a blessed night. We are truly warners. In that night is made distinct every affair of wisdom”

-But the night referred to here cannot be a Sha’ban night, because it is said here clearly that the Qur’an was revealed in this night. We know from the Surah al-Qadr (97) that the Qur’an was revealed in the night of Qadr and we also know from the Qur’an (Al-Baqarah 2:185) that the Qur’an was revealed in the month of Ramadan, so it is obvious that the night of the revelation of the Qur’an was in Ramadan, not Sha’ban, and that it was Laylatul Qadr not Shab-e-barat (or the Sha’ban night).

Some people also say that in the 2nd year of Hijrah, the direction of Qiblah was changed from Jerusalem to Ka’bah (Makkah) on the 15th day of Sha’ban. -This report is also not confirmed by authentic Ahadith.

We only found weak and fabricated hadiths about Shab-e-Barat it is not proved by Quran and Sahih Hadiths. it is a bid`ah and there is no celebration in Sha’ban and there is no special act of worship to be performed in mid-Sha’ban or during the last days of the month.

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