The following is a summary of the discussion on the fifteenth night of Shaban (also known as Shab e Bara’at) by Mawlana Muhammad Anas Rida Qadiri, taken from his book Dala’il al-Ahnaf.1
The Ahl al-Sunnah perform worship on the fifteenth night of Sha’ban and they fast on the following day because it is established in Hadith that this night is full of blessings and that one should fast during its day.
Muadh Ibn Jabal reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Allah looks at his creation on the middle night of Sha’ban and He forgives all of His creation except the polytheist (mushrik) and the mushahin2.”
Sahib Ibn Hibban
In the commentary of this Hadith, Shuayb Arnut has said “The Hadith is Sound (Saheeh) with its supporting narrations (shawahid). Its narrators are reliable however the chain is Munqati since Makhul did not meet Malik ibn Yukhamir.”
However in Tahzib al-Tahzib, Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani has mentioned the name of Makhul under those who took narrations from Malik ibn Yukhamir. And with respect to the principles of Hadith, these two narrators lived in the same time and Makhul was a reliable Tabi’i. So even if a meeting between them was not established, the mere possibility of them meeting is sufficient according to the majority to consider the Hadith suitable as mentioned above.
Abu Musa al-Ash’ari reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Indeed Allah examines (His creation) on the middle night of Sha’ban and He forgives all of His creation except the polytheist (mushrik) and the mushahin.”
Sunan Ibn Majah
In another chain the same meaning is reported. Al-Albani (the leader of the Wahabis) said that the Hadith is hasan.
Sayiduna Ali ibn Abi Talib narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“When the middle night of Shab’an arrives, stand (in prayer) during its night and fast during its day. For indeed, Allah descends to the sky of the earth at sunset and says ‘Is there anybody seeking forgiveness from Me that I may forgive him? Is there anybody seeking sustenance from Me that I may provide for him? Is there anybody suffering so that I may relieve him?’ And so forth, until the dawn breaks.”
Sunan Ibn Majah
Kathir ibn Murra al-Hadrami narrates that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“In the middle night of Sha’ban, Allah Mighty and Majestic, forgives all the people of the earth except the mushrik and the mushahin.”
Shu’ab al-Iman of Imam al-Bayhaqi
This Hadith is Mursal. And the Hadith is narrated via another path from Makhul from Abu Tha’laba al-Khushani from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and Makhul once again is in it. And Abu Tha’laba is a Mursal Jayid narrator.
The acceptance of dua on this night is established in Hadith. The following narration is in Shu’ab al-Iman of Imam al-Bayhaqi from Abdullah Ibn Umar who said:
“There are five nights in which dua is not rejected: The night of Friday, the first night of Rajab, the middle night of Sha’ban, the night of Eid al-Fitr, and the night of Eid al-Adha.”
In Sunan al-Bayhaqi al-Kubra is the following narration from Imam al-Shafi’i:
“It has reached us that it used to be said: Dua is surely answered on five nights; the night of Friday, the night of Eid al-Adha, the night of Eid al-Fitr, the first night of Rajab, and the middle night of Sha’ban.”
Imam al-Shafi’i
According to the Wahabis the fifteenth night of Sha’ban has no blessings and to specifically worship on this night and to fast in the morning is not allowed. In one particular book I came across, a Wahabi Molvi Sahib disapproves of this without any evidence and whilst displaying his little knowledge, deems worshipping on this night an innovation, and fasting during its day as disliked (makruh)! And all this whilst the Wahhabis claim they are the people of Hadith (ahl al-Hadith) who follow the Hadith in every statement and action!
Firstly, all of the Hadiths on the middle night of Sha’ban are not weak. Rather, some are also strong (qawiy) such as those mentioned above. Secondly, in the realm of virtues (fada’il), even one weak Hadith is enough to be acted upon. This is stated by Imam al-Nawawi in al-Arba’in, Imam ibn Hajar Makki in Sharh Mishkat and Mawlana Ali Qari in Mirkat and Hirz Thamin Sharh Hisn Hasin.3
In terms of fada’il, even one Hadith is acceptable to be acted upon, so when there are so many Hadiths regarding the fifteenth night of Sha’ban, several of them strong, then to say they cannot be acted upon is ignorance. Also, in the books of Uloom al-Hadith it is stated that when a weak Hadith has various Isnads then that Hadith reaches the level of Hasan.
Even if we were to say (hypothetically speaking) that all of the Hadiths on the fifteenth night of Shaban were fabricated, does that mean it becomes prohibited to worship on that night and fast during that day? Where does it state in the Quran and Hadith that it is prohibited to do so?
Anyway, the majority of the Fuqaha have deemed worshipping on this night to be recommended (Mustahab). It is stated in al-Mawsuah al-Fiqhiyya:
Most of the Fuqaha went with the opinion that it is recommended to stand in worship during the night in the middle night of Sha’ban due to what was narrated from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): “When it is the middle night of Sha’ban, stand in worship during its night and fast during its day.”
Strangely, the Deobandis of our time follow the Ghair Muqalid Wahhabis and do not hold this night in importance even though their biggest scholars have said this is a blessed night4.5
[1] Dala’il al-Ahnaf, page 197-204
[2] The Mushahin is the one who quarrels with others or the one who has hatred towards other Muslims.
[3] In fact, the consensus (Ijma) of the scholars is that weak Hadiths can be narrated and acted upon, with certain conditions. Read more here: https://orthodoxmuslim.com/2022/05/15/the-strength-of-weak-hadiths/
[4] The author then quotes a number of their main scholars in this regard.
[5] To learn more about this important and blessed night, read the following: https://muwasala.org/2015/05/29/the-night-of-mid-shaban/
Orthodox Muslim 