15th Sha’ban
The night between the 14th and 15th of Sha’ban is referred to as Shab-e-Baraat or Lailatul Baraah, and is regarded by many Muslims as a holy night. Some Muslims commemorate the date with extra worship, while others prefer to not observe this as a special occasion in itself.
While the scholars of the Shariah Council are yet to treat with this issue, the Secretariat recognizes that any initiative to worship Allah (swt) is welcome and necessary, and for those who ask the following are some information around the issue to consider. When the topic is dealt with by the Shariah Council, the paper would be available for your reference at our publications link.
SIGNIFICANCE
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. In this night, the life and fortunes of each person is set for the next year, and persons’ sins can be forgiven.
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)
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)
It is reported that Hazrat Aisha (RA) reported that: “On this night the Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] went to Jannat-ul-Baqee to make dua, I followed him. The Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] said to me: Allah puts His attention towards the first Heaven, and forgives the sins of the people, even if they were equivalent to the hairs of the goats of Bunn Qalb (A tribe who at the time had a lot of goats).” (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).
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.”
PRAYERS TO BE SAID ON THE NIGHT OF 15TH OF SHABAN
Some of the prayers that are commonly associated with this night include the following:
- Before sunset, recite La Hawla walaa Quwatta illa Billahi-ali-yul Azeem
- Reciting Darood Sharif
- Reading Qur’an
- Reading nafil prayers
Following are some common prayers.
After Salaatul Maghrib, pray 6 rakaat nafil, two at a time.
- For the first two rakaats, make intention to seek Allah’s favor for a long and prosperous life
- For the second two rakaats, make intention to seek Allah’s favor for warding off all calamities
- For the third two rakaats, make intention to seek Allah’s favor to be independent from others for meeting your needs.
- For each, recite surah Fatiha once and Surah Ikhlaas 3 times
- After every 2 rakaats, recite darood sharif, surah yaseen and darood sharif.
- After you have competed all 6 rakaat, make the following dua: (source: http://www.deenislam.co.uk/dua/Dua_Nifs_Shaban.htm)
DU‘A NISF SHA‘BAN
Allahumma Yaa Dhal Manni walaa yumannu ‘Alayh
Yaa Dhal Jalaali wa’l Ikraam
Yaa Dhat-Tawli wa’l In’aam
Laa Ilaaha illa anta
Zahru’llaajeen wa jaaru’l mustajeereen wa amaanu’l khaaifeen
Allahumma in kunta katabtanee ‘Indaka fee Ummil Kitabi
Shaqiyyan aw mahruman aw matrudan aw muqattaran ‘alayya fi’rrizqi
Fa’mhuAllahumma biFadlika
Shaqaawatee wa hirmaanee wa tardee wa’qtitaara rizqee
Wa-athbitnee ‘Indaka fee Ummil Kitabi
Sa’eedan marzuqan muwaffaqan li’lkhayraati Fa Innaka Qulta wa Qawluka’l Haqq
Fee Kitabika’l munzal ‘alaa lisaani Nabiyyika’l Mursal
Yamhullahu maa Yashaa’u wa yuthbit
Wa ‘Indahu Ummul Kitab
Ilaahi Bittajalli’l A’zam
Fee laylatin-nisfi min shahri Sha’ban al-Mukarram
Allatee yufraqu feehaa kullu amrin hakeemin wa yubram
An takshifa ‘annaa mina’l ballaai wa’l balwaai
Maa na’lamu wa maa laa na’lam
Wa anta bihi a’lam
Innaka anta’l A’azzu’l Akram
Wa Sallallahu Ta’ala ‘alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-in
Wa ‘alaa aalihi wa as’haabihi wa sallam
Wa’l Hamdu Lillahi Rabbi’l ‘Aalameen
SUPPLICATION ON THE NIGHT OF 15th SHA’BAN
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.
OTHER PRAYERS FOR THE NIGHT
Hadrat Hasan al Basri Radiallah A’nhu said that it was quoted to him by 30 Sahaba of our Beloved Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) that on the night of 15th Sha’baan whoever performs this Salat, ALLAH Ta’ala looks upon them 70 times with Rehmat, and on each sight 70 desires are granted. The least amongst those desires is the forgiveness from sins.
Instructions:
Salatul Khair has 100 Raka’ats. Pray 100 Raka’at of Nawafil, two at a time. In each Raka’at recite Surah Ikhlaas 10 times after Surah Fatihah.
(Kitabul Modoo’at, Part 2 ,PP 127 – Assalatu Lailatun Nisfe Sha’ban) and (Ihya Uloom uddeen, Imam Ghazali and Ghunniyatut Talibeen)
CONCLUSION
It is hoped that you have a rewarding experience and closer bond with Almighty Allah (swt), whatever the occasion or in absence of any occasion at all. If you want to learn more, the following links are provided for reference.
- http://www.quranreading.com/blog/significance-of-the-15th-of-shaban-in-islam/
- https://muslimvillage.com/2018/04/27/118536/recommended-worship-night-15th-shaban/
- http://www.radioislam.org.za/a/index.php/library/161-significant-days-and-nights/10824-the-significance-of-shaban.html
- https://www.deoband.org/2017/05/general/virtuous-deeds/virtues-of-the-15th-night-of-shaban/
- http://www.deenislam.co.uk/dua/Dua_Nifs_Shaban.htm