Authentic Hadith About Shab-e-Bara’at (Mid Night of Shaban)

Authentic Hadith About Shab-e-Bara’at (Mid Night of Shaban)

Literally, Shab-e-Barat means the night of salvation or the night of freedom from the Fire of Hell. It occurs in Mid-Shaban – between the 14th and 15th day of Shaban. This night, known as Shab-e-Barat or Laylat-ul-Baraa, is called Laylatun Nisf min Shaban in Arabic. The blessed night starts at sunset on the 14th and ends at dawn on the 15th.

He whole of the month of Shaban is meritorious. Its excellent merit is evident from a tradition narrated by Aisha, the mother of the faithful: “The Prophet did not fast in any month more than Shaban.” (Sahih Bukhari)

Authentic Ahadith about the merits of Shab-e-Bara’at

1)Among the Hadiths stressing the importance of 15th Sha`ban is the following:

The special merit is attached to Shab-e-Barat. Aisha, the mother of the faithful, also reported: “The Prophet said: ‘On the middle night of Shaban (that is, Shab-e-Barat), Allah most high descends to the lowest heaven and remits more sins than the hair of the goats of Banu Kalb.’” (Jami Tirmidhi)

2)A third tradition of Hazrat Aisha, the truthful, states that the Holy Prophet asked: “Do you know what happens this night?” meaning the middle night of Shaban (that is, Shab-e-Barat). She submitted: “O Allah’s Messenger, what happens in it?” He replied: “In it record is made of every human being who will be born, and of every human being who will pass away this year. In it their deeds are taken up to heaven and in it their provisions are sent down.” (Baihaqi)

3) Narrated by Aisha (r.a), I missed Allah's Messenger during the night and found him in al-Baqui'. He said: Were you afraid that Allah and His Messenger would deal unjustly with you? I said: Allah's Messenger, I thought that you had gone to some of your other wives. He (the Prophet) said: Verily Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, comes down to the heaven of the world in "the middle night of Sha'ban" and forgives sins even more abundant than the hair of the goats of Kalb. [Sunan Tirmidhi Volume 001, Hadith Number 670, Ibn Maja Volume 002, Hadith Number1379]

4) Narrated by Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, Allah's Messenger said, Allah, the Exalted and Glorious looks down on "the middle night of Sha'ban" and forgives all His creation, except a polytheist or one who is mushahin(one bent on hatred). [Sunan Ibn Maja Volume 002, Hadith Number 1380]

5)  Narrated by Abdullah Ibn Amr Ibn al-'As Allah's Messenger said, Allah, the Exalted and Glorious looks down on "the middle night of Sha'ban" and forgives all His creation except two people, the Mushahin (one bent on hatred) and the murderer. [Musnad Ahmad Volume 003, Hadith Number 6353]

6) It is reported by Abu Thalaba that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: On the 15th night of Shabaan, Allah looks over at his creation and forgives all the believers except for the one who begrudges and hates. He leaves them in their enmity. [Bayhqi, Tafsir ad-Dar al-Manthur under the Verse 44:3]

7) It is reported by Muaz bin Jabbal that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Allah looks at His creation in "the night of mid-Sha`ban" and He forgives all His creation except for a Mushrik (idolater) or a Mushahin (one bent on hatred). [Ibn Hibban, Sahih, ed. Shu`ayb Arna'ut Volume 012: Hadith Number 5665]

 8) Narrated by A'isha: She said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) 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 (pbuh) said: "O A'isha, O fair little one (Humayra')! Did you think that the Prophet had broken his agreement with you?" She replied: "No, by Allah, O Messenger of Allah, but I thought that your soul had been taken back because you 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."  [Bayhaqi in Shu`ab al-Iman Volume 003: Hadith Number 3835]

9) IImran bin Husain (ra) reported, Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) having said to him or to someone else: Did you fast in the "Middle of Sha'ban?" He said: No. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: If you did not observe fast, then you should observe fast for two days. [Muslim Book 006, Number 2607]

Scholarly Opinions

The virtue of the night of mid Shaban has been established right from the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself and has come from multiple channels of transmission from Abdullah bin Amr, Muadh, Abu Hurairah, Abu Thulabah, Awf bin Malik, Abu Bakr, Abu Musa, Aishah (May Allah be pleased with all of them) each of the narrations strengthening each other.

Imam Shafi'i writes:

“Verily, Dua is accepted on five nights: the night of Juma’, the night of Eid Al-Adha, the night of Eid Al-Fitr, the first night of Rajab, and the 15th night of Shabaan”. [Al-Umm, Volume 001, Page No. 231]

Imam Shurunbulali Hanafi writes:

“It is desirable to revive the last ten nights of Ramadan, two nights of Eidain (Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha), ten nights of Zil Hijjah, and the 15th night of Sha`ban.” [Noorul Eidhah Page No. 63]

Shaikh Abu-Ishaq Ibrahim Al-Hanbali writes:

“It is desirable to revive the time (with Salat and Ibadah) between the two E’sha’s (Maghrib and E’sha) because of the Ahadith. Many scholars say: Similarly with the night of Ashura, the first night of Rajab, and the 15th night of Sha`ban”. [Al-Mubdi Volume 002, Page No. 27]

Sheikh Mansoor Bahoti Hanbali writes:

“As for the 15th night of Sha`ban, it is a night of virtue. Some of the Salaf prayed the whole night, although establishing congregational prayers (on this night) is good innovation. And the reward of Ibadah on "the 15th night of Sha`ban" is the same as the reward of Ibadah on the night of E’id. [Kash-shaful Qina, Volume 001: Page No. 444]

Sheikh Mubarakpuri (Salafi scholar) writes:

 “You should know that a sufficient number of Ahadith have been narrated confirming "the virtues of the 15th night of Sha`ban". All these Ahadith prove that it has a basis.

 After relating many Ahadith about the importance of this night, he says:

 “The sum of all these Ahadith is strong evidence against the one "who thinks there is no proof" of the virtue of the 15th night of Sha`ban" and Allah knows best. [Tuhfat ul Ahwadhi Volume 003: Page. 365-367]

Ibn-Taimiyyah when asked about the 15th night of Sha’ban replied:

 ‘‘As for the 15th night of Shabaan, there are many narrations and Athar (quotes from the Sahabah) regarding its virtue. It has been reported of the Salaf that they prayed in this night. Therefore, praying alone on this night, having precedence in the Salaf, is sufficient evidence and something of this kind surely cannot be denied”.

At another occasion, Ibn-Taimiyyah was asked the same question and he replied:

“If one prays on this night alone or in a select company of people as many groups amongst the Salaf did, "then it is good". [Fatawa Ibn Taimiyyah Volume 23, Page 131-132]

Usually the some group claiming that all Hadiths about the merits of Shab-e-Bar’at are “Daeef” (Weak). First of all, the Hadith of Ibn Habban is termed as "SAHIH" by classical scholars of this technical Islamic science. Even if any follower of such groups does not believe in the classical scholars of Hadith, here is a compelling evidence from those group who raise object their scholar  of the last century and a reputed scholar of Ahlehadees, Nasir ud Din Albani. He declared Hadiths of 15th Shabaan as “Hassan” and “Sahih” (authentic). See: (Silsilat ul-Ahadith-as Sahiha, Nasir ud din Albani, Volume No. 3, Page No. 135) seethe scan copy of [Sahih Ibne Maja Safha 414] page

One more scholar of Ahlehadees,  Muhaddis  Allama Abdur Rahman Mubarakpuri said these Hadiths are collectively declare argument against those se who claim 15 Shaaban Night has no merits  [Tohfatul Ahwazi P.441-442/3]

Conclusion:

To sum up, the virtues of the blessed night of mid Sha’aban are established by authentic Ahadith and a group of the Salaf (سلف "predecessor" is an early Muslim of the first three generations of proponents of the religion). So, it is highly recommended to celebrate this night and stay up on it.