The
Month of Sha’baan
and
its Auspicious Night
Prepared by: M.
Tahir Farrath([email protected])
Rajab
is one of the Sacred Months, and therefore, a Month of ALLAAH. Based on what has
circulated among the Ummah(community), some observed optional fasts on the
specified days, and being a Sacred month, they for that reason also performed
extra deeds to compliment the month. Though the ‘Ulamaa_(scholars) categorised
the various Ahaadiith(narrations) on Rajab as unreliable, they to some
extent viewed Sha’baan differently. It was during this month that the
Qibelah(direction of worship), 17 months since the Hijeroh(migration), was
changed from Jerusalem to Makkah. The name of Sha’baan (with Its plural forms
as Sha'baanaat and Sha'aabiin) is so called because in this month the Arabs
used to Tasha’aba(disperse) in search of water or dispersed to carry out raids
and incursions. Since this month is considered as “the month of Rosuulul LAAH”,
perhaps the word Sha’aba(to branch out or emerge) - which alludes that it is
between the months of Rajab and Romadaan - explains the 8th
Islamic month more appropriately.
Over
this period, the Muslimuun usually become so preoccupied with these two months
that no attention is paid to Sha'baan, and while thinking that certain months
contain particular virtues, very little consideration is given to the merits of
other months. In this regard, Usaamah ibn Zayd, Rodiyal LAAHU ‘anh,
narrated: "I said: O Messenger of ALLAAH, I do not see you fasting in any
other month like you fast in Sha'baan. He said:
“That is a month between Rajab and Romadaan to which people
do not attach much attention, and it is a month in which deeds are lifted up to
the Robbul ‘Aalamiin(Lord of the Worlds). I like my deeds to be lifted up when
I am fasting.
Doing
righteous deeds at times when people are distracted is more difficult, and such
deeds are considered more virtuous when it is most difficult on those to
remember ALLAAHU Subehaanahuu wa Ta’aalaa. Thus, when people tend to
become negligent, it is Mustahabb (desirable) to make good use of those
times with acts of worship. There is no element of “showing off” with fasting,
and since it is a secret between a slave and his Lord, hiding and concealing
such voluntary actions is always better. In this month of Sha’baan, our Nabiy
Muhammad, Sollal LAAHU ‘alayhi wa Sallam, fasted so much that his
people thought he would not abandon it, yet it seemed that he also hardly
fasted in it that they thought he would never fast therein. Then ‘Aa-ishah, Rodiyal
LAAHU ‘anhaa, concluded the narration as follows:
“I
never saw Rosuulul LAAH fasting for an entire month except in Romadaan
and I never saw him fast more than he did in Sha’baan”.
She
also said:
“There
were upon me dues from Romadaan. I could not perform Qodaa (for
it) except in Sha’baan”.
(NB: It is not permissible
to delay ones dues until after the next Romadaan except in cases of
necessity such as a valid excuse, which continued throughout that year. But
whoever is able to repay them before the next Romadaan, and does not do
so, must make them up thereafter. In addition to that, one must feed one poor
person for each day that was missed. This is the view among the A-immah Maalik,
Shaafi'iy and Ahmad. According to the Hanafiyyah, no Fideyah is
necessary.)
Sha'baan
is like an introduction or a sort of training (and according to a report “In
honour” of) for Romadaan, as it has certain things in common with the
Blessed Month, such as fasting, reciting the Holy Qur-aan and giving charity. A
report contained in Abuu Daawuud states:
"The most beloved of months for the Messenger of ALLAAH to
fast in was Sha'baan, and his fasting in Sha'baan was continuous with his
fasting in Romadaan”.
Ibn
Rajab commented: “The best of voluntary fasts are those that are (observed in
the months) closest to Romadaan, before or after it… Just as As-Sunanul
Rawaatib are better than other kinds of voluntary prayers (before the Fard
Solaah to make up for any shortfall in the obligatory prayers), so are
fasts observed (in the months) before and after Romadaan better than
fasts at other times”. However, the ‘Ulamaa_ are divided and have given various
reasons for Rosuulul LAAH(S.A.W.S.) fasting so much in Sha’baan, such as outstanding
voluntary fasts (as he did with outstanding voluntary prayers), fasting with
his wives for what they missed during Romadaan, etc. However, the
Nabiy(S.A.W.S.) also said:
"Do not precede Romadaan by one or two days, except
for those who have the habit of fasting regularly (or made a vow), in which
case they may fast”.
This
is regarded as Makruuh(disliked) by those who said that one should
differentiate between Sha'baan and Romadaan by not fasting for a while.
(NB: Imaam Maalik permitted
it if it happens to coincide with a day when a person habitually fasts, but
Imaam Shaafi’iy and Ahmad made a distinction between cases where it is a
fast that a person habitually observed or not. Naturally, those who have dues
must make them up even till before Romadaan properly starts. The Hanafiyyah
state that if one started a voluntary fast and during the day received
confirmation that it is the first day of Romadaan, then it will be
credited for Romadaan.)
And there is also a report from Abuu Hurayroh(R.A.) that Rosuulul
LAAH(S.A.W.S.) said:
“When there is the middle of Sha’baan,
then don’t fast”.
It
should be noted that fasting most of Sha'baan are for those who are capable of
performing it without causing the least deficiency in the Fard fasts of
Romadaan. If one fears that he will lose strength or freshness for Romadaan,
which is more important than any optional fasts, then he should refrain from
fasting most of Sha'baan if he is not able to welcome the month of Romadaan
with enthusiasm.
Another
significant feature of the month of Sha`baan is that it consists of a night
called Laylatul Baraa-ah (the night of Pardoning, Innocence, Exemption,
Immunity, Security, Safety or freedom from the Fire) – also called Laylatur Rohmah(night
of Mercy), Laylatul Mubaarokah/(night of Blessings) and Laylatus Sokk(night
of documentation). This night occurs between the 14th and 15th and
is known as Laylatun Nisfi min Sha’baan(The night of
mid-Sha’baan). It is a tradition among the majority of Muslimuun to single out
and revere the 15th night of the month of Sha’baan with
increased prayers, recitation from the Qur-aan, Thikr, and
making a great deal of supplication to ALLAAH during it. There is a
particular narration recorded in Bayhaaqii wherein ‘Aa-ishah(R.A.H.) said:
“Once
the Holy Prophet performed the night Solaah(Tahajjud) and made a very
long Sajedah(prostration) 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 Sajedah:
A’uuthu bi-‘Afwika min ‘Iqaabika wa A’uuthu bi-Ridaaka
min Sa-khotika wa A’uuthu bi-ka min-ka ilayka Laa Ahsii
Thanaa-an ‘alayka, Innaka Ka-maa Athnayta ‘alaa Nafsik(a)
I
seek refuge of Your forgiveness from Your punishment, and I seek refuge of Your
pleasure from Your annoyance, and I seek refuge in Thee from Thyself. I cannot
praise Thee as fully as Thou deserve. Indeed, Thou art exactly as Thou defined
Thyself.
Thereafter,
when he raised his head from Sajedah and finished his Solaah, he
said to me: ‘Aa-ishah, did you think that the Prophet has betrayed you?
I said: No, O Prophet of ALLAAH, but I was afraid that your soul has been taken
away because your Sajedah was very long. He asked me: Do you know
which night is this? I said: ALLAAH and HIS Messenger Know Best! He said: This
is the night of the half of Sha'baan. ALLAAH, the 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
another Muslim) as they were before, (and does not Forgive them unless they
relieve themselves from malice)”.
According
to the other narrations, ALLAAH does not Look at the following persons as well:
1. One who commits
Shirk(associating anyone or thing with ALLAAH)
2. One who cuts off ties
with (Muslim) kinship
3. One whose clothes are
beyond the ankles (in pride, arrogance and conceit)
4. One who disobeys his
parents
5. One who has a habit of
drinking wine
6. An adulteress
The narration as recorded in
Ibn Maajah states:
“When
it is the 15th night of Sha’baan, then commemorate the night (with
‘Ibaadah – worship) and fast its day. For verily ALLAAH descends to the first
heaven during the night (i.e. ALLAAH’s Mercy and Decree descends to the first
heaven) and HE Proclaims: Truly, is there one who seeks Forgiveness so that I
may Forgive him? Is there one who seeks sustenance that I may Sustain him? Is
there one that is sick that I may Heal him? Is there this or that till the rise
of dawn?”
However,
it should be noted that both narrations somehow point to a Hadiith(narration)
relating to that portion of the night when Tahajjud Solaah - also called
Qiyaamul Lay(night prayer) - is performed (followed with a supplication upon
completion), for Abuu Hurayroh(R.A.) has reported something similar, and
instead starts by saying “Our Lord, the Blessed and Exalted, comes down to us every
night... “
Another
narration from ‘Aa-ishah(R.A.H.) states:
“I
could not find the Holy Prophet. So I went out (to search for him) and found
him at the Baqii’(the graveyard in Madiinah). He raised his head towards
heaven, and then said (to me): Were you afraid that ALLAAH and HIS Messenger
will do you an injustice? I said: O Messenger of ALLAAH, I thought that you
had gone to one of your other wives. He said: Truly the Almighty ALLAAH
Descends on the 15th night of Sha’baan and HE Forgives much more
people than the amount of hair found on the goats among the tribe of Kalb (with
its large population)”.
Certain
‘Ulamaa_ have said that although the “chain of narrators” of these narrations
suffer in some technical defects, all of them when combined together, clearly
show that this night has some well founded merits. Even though some of these
narrations are being disregarded for its relevance of showing special
importance to this night, they are curable in the ‘Uluumul Hadiith(sciences
of narration). Hence, observing this night as a Sacred Night should not be
discounted on the basis of minor defects. Though most ‘Ulamaa_ of Hadiith have
regarded the narrations on this night as weak because of a dubious person and
someone whose reliability was questionable in the “chain”, Ibn Hibbaan
instead considered some of the narrations as Sohiih(authentic).
Among
some of the learned it is said that certain Malaa-ikah(angels) start recording
all things for the year ahead (such as births, deaths, illnesses, prosperity
and misery, etc.) as it is Revealed to them from the Lawhil Mahfuudh(the
heavenly preserved Tablet) on Nisfush Sha’baan(mid-Sha’baan) until
Laylatul Qodr(night of Power) during Romadaan. And therefore recommend
that Suuroh Yaasiin be recited thrice, each with a different Niyyah(intention)
for a blessed life; protection against tribulations; independence of man; and
then to make the well known Du’aa_(supplication).
Other
‘Ulamaa_ disapprove, and state that Ibn Hajar recorded that the first
people to honour the 15th night were the Taabi’uun(the generation
who succeeded the Prophet’s companions) in Syria and soon the masses started to
celebrate it collectively in the Masaajid(mosques) in imitation of the Jews.
And to substantiate their claims, they quoted 44.Dukhaan:3 - 4 of the Holy
Qur-aan, to which the ‘Ulamaa_ say that the Aayah(verse) refers to Laylatul
Qodr. Concerning the Du’aa_, it contains a section that is Haraam and
against the principles of Tawhiid.
Ikrimah, a student of Ibn ‘Abbaas(.R.A.) said that the Night was the 15th
of Sha’baan.
There
are scholars who state that though the 15th Night is not Sunnah, it
is permissible, and Imaam Nawawiy wrote that Imaam Shaafi’iy listed the 15th
Night as among those wherein Da’waat are accepted. In conclusion, when the
month of Sha’baan reaches its end, the Holy Prophet said:
“…if there is cloud over you, then
complete the number of Sha’baan as thirty”.
Some
'Ulamaa_ hold that this is Yawmush Shakk(the day of doubt) and no fasting is
allowed on this day. The "day of doubt" is also a day when news of
the sighting of the crescent is received from someone whose word is not
accepted and people are not sure whether it is Romadaan or not. In such
instances it is wise to follow the Holy Prophet’s saying:
“Count the new moon of Sha’baan for Romadaan.”
WA AAKHIRU
DA'WAANAA ANIL HAMDU LIL-LAAHI ROBBIL 'AALAMIIN.