15th Shaban
15th Shaban
The Night of the 15th of Shaban
This night, which is termed in “Laylatul-bara’ah” (The night of freedom from Fire) is the night occurring between 14th and 15th days of the month of Shaban.
It is believed that on this night, a person’s activities of the last year are closed and a new record is opened for the coming year, the life and fortunes of each person is set for the next year.
In this night, Almighty Allah forgives those who seek forgiveness and bestows His mercy upon those who pray for mercy. Allah calls: ‘Is there anyone who is asking for forgiveness so that I can forgive them, who is in distress that I may relieve his distress, is there anyone who needs (rizq) food that I may give it to him,” and this continues till the morning. (Ibn Majah)
SOURCE REFERENCES
It is reported that Usama ibn Zaid reports that he asked Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): “Messenger of Allah, I have seen you fasting in the month of Shaban so frequently that I have never seen you fasting in any other month.” Prophet Muhammad (SAW) replied: “That (Shaban) is a month between Rajab and Ramadan which is neglected by many people. And it is a month in which an account of the deeds (of human beings) is presented before the Lord of the universe, so, I wish that my deeds be presented at a time when I am in a state of fasting.”(An-Nasaai)
Hazrat ‘Aishah (ra) is reported to have said, “Once Prophet Muhammad (saw) performed the Salah of the night (Tahajjud) and made a very long Sajdah until I feared that he had passed away. When I saw this, I rose (from my bed) and moved his thumb (to ascertain whether he is alive). The thumb moved, and I returned (to my place). Then I heard him saying in Sajdah: ‘I seek refuge of Your forgiveness from Your punishment, and I seek refuge of Your pleasure from Your annoyance, and I seek Your refuge from Yourself. I cannot praise You as fully as You deserve. You are exactly as You have defined Yourself.’ Thereafter, when he raised his head from Sajdah and finished his salah, he said to me: ‘Aishah, did you think that the Prophet has betrayed you?’ I said, ‘No, O Prophet of Allah, but I was afraid that your soul has been taken away because your Sajdah was very long.’ He asked me, ‘Do you know which night is this?’ I said, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He said, ‘This is the night of the half of Sha’ban. Allah Almighty looks upon His slaves in this night and forgives those who seek forgiveness and bestows His mercy upon those who pray for mercy but keeps those who have malice (against a Muslim) as they were before, (and does not forgive them unless they relieve themselves from malice).'”
In another Tradition Sayyidah’ Aishah (ra) has reported that Prophet Muhammad (saw) has said, “Allah Almighty descends (in a manner He best knows it) in the night occurring in the middle of Sha’ban and forgives a large number of people more than the number of the fibers on the sheep of the tribe, Kalb.” (Tirmidhi)
Hazrat Ayesha (r.a.) is reported to have said “The Prophet used to fast the whole of Sha‘ban. She asked [him], ‘O Messenger of Allah, is Sha‘ban for you the most beloved month for fasting?’ He replied, ‘In this month Allah prescribes a list of all persons dying this year. Therefore, I like that my death comes while I am fasting.’” (Narrated by Abu Ya‘la).
In yet another Tradition, she has reported Prophet Prophet Muhammad (saw) to have said, “This is the middle Night of Sha’ban. Allah frees in it a large number of the people from Fire, more than the number of the hair growing on the sheep of the tribe, Kalb. But He does not even look at a person who associates partners with Allah, or at a person who nourishes malice in his heart (against someone), or at a person who cuts off the ties of kinship, or at a man who leaves his clothes extending beyond his ankles (as a sign of pride), or at a person who disobeys his parents, or at a person who has a habit of drinking wine.”
Sayyidna Mu’adh ibn Jabal (ra) reports that Prophet Muhammad (saw) has said: “Allah Almighty looks upon all those created by Him in the middle Night of Sha’ban and forgives all those created by Him, except the one who associates partners with Him or the one who has malice in his heart (against a Muslim)”.
Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him), reported that the Prophet (pboh) said: “Allah descends to the lowest heaven on the 15th night of Sha‘ban. He then forgives His entire creation except an idolatrous man and a man who has enmity in his heart.”
Elders of the ummah have constantly been observing this night as a night of special merits and have been spending it in worship and prayers.
IBAA’DAT
Based on the above it is advisable that you make some extra Ibaadat on this blessed night (see following). Also the day immediately following the Night of Bara`ah, i.e. the day of the 15th of Sha`ban, it is mustahabb (advisable) to keep fast. Prophet Muhammad (saw) is reported to have recommended this fast emphatically. A large number of the predecessors (salaf) of the Ummah have been observing the fast of the 15th of Sha`ban.
Based on the guidance of Maulana Dr. Waffie Mohammed – the following can be done on the 15th night of the month of Shaaban. Also, reciting Qur’an, Darood and Astagfar are always favorable acts for the pleasure of Almighty Allah.
1) Nafil Salaat after Salaatul Maghrib
Read six extra Nafl Salaat after Maghrib Salaat, comprising two rakaats each. In each rakaat recite Surah Fatiha once, and Iqhlaas 3 times. After each two rakaats’ sit down after the Salaam and
– recite Surah Yaseen, then
– make the Nisf Shabaan du’a:
– after the first two rakaats pray to Allah (swt) for long life and protection against calamities;
– after the second two rakaats pray for forgiveness
– after the third two rakaats pray for the removal of dependency on anyone except Allah.
2) Zikr
Another recommended act is to recite,
Darood 1100 times
Surah Muzammil 11 times
Darood 1100 times.
And pray to Allah as you may desire.
3) Pray Salat al-Khair
(The Prayer of Benefits, traditionally performed on the night of mid-Sha`ban)
It is good to spend that night praying Salat ul-Khair, which consists of 100 raka’ts comprising two rakaats each, in each raka’t reciting Sura al-Fatiha once and 10 times Surat Ikhlas.
DU’A NISF SHA’BAN
TRANSLITERATION
Allahumma Yaa Dhal manni walaa yumannu `alayh
Yaa dhal Jalaali wa’l iIkraam; Yaa dhal-Tawli wa’l in’aam
Laa Ilaaha illa anta
Zahru’l laaje’en wa
Jaaru’l mustajeereen
wa Amaanu’l khaa’ifeen
Allahumma in kunta katabtanee `indaka fee Ummil Kitabi
shaqiyyan aw mahruman aw matrudan
aw muqattaran `alayya fir-rizqi
famh’ullahumma bi-fadlika
shaqaawati wa hirmaani wa tardi waqtitaara rizqee
wathbitnee ‘indaka fee Ummil Kitabi
sa`eedan marzuqan muwaffaqan lil-khayraati
fa innaka qulta wa qawluk al-haqq
fee kitabikal muzal `alaa lisaani Nabiyyikal mursal
Ilaahi bit-tajalli’l A’dham
fee laylatin-nisfi min shahri sha`ban al-mukarram
allatee yufraqu feehaa kullu amrin hakeemin wa yubram
an takshifa `annaa min al-balaa’i wal-balwaa’I
maa na`lamu wa maa laa na`lam
wa anta bihi a`lam
Innaka antal-a`azz ul-akram
wa sallallahu ta`ala `alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-in
Wa `alaa Aalihi wa Ashaabihi wa sallam
Wal-hamdu lillahi Rabbil-‘aalameen
Ameen Ya Allah
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
O Allah! You shower favours on everyone
And no one can do You any favour.
O The Possessor of Majesty and Honour,
O The Distributor of bounty and rewards,
There is no one worthy of worship except You.
You help the fallen
And provide refuge to the refugees
And give peace to those who are in fear.
O Allah! If in the Mother of All Books that is with You
You have written me down as someone who is
Doubtful of achieving salvation, or deprived,
Or rejected or without enough sustenance,
Then, O Allah, with Your Grace
Remove all of these misfortunes from me
and in the Mother of All Books that is with You,
establish me as someone who is
blessed, with abundant provision and charitable good deeds.
Indeed, what You said in The Book You sent
Through the tongue of Your Blessed Prophet is true
That Allah changes and establishes what He wants
And with Him is the Mother of All Books.
O My Lord! For the sake of Your Divine Manifestation
On this fifteenth night of the blessed month of Sha’ban
In which You issue all Wise and Irrevocable Decrees
Remove from us all calamities and hardships,
those that we know about as well as those that we don’t,
while You know everything.
Truly, You are the Most Powerful, Most Generous.
And may Allah the Exalted shower blessings and peace on
Sayyidina Muhammad, and on his family and his companions
And all praise is for Allah, Lord of the worlds.