Shab-e-Baraat or 15th Shabaan: From the Bidahs innovated by some is the celebration on the night of mid-Shabaan (i.e., specifying it for prayer) – and singling out its day for fasting, when there is NO reliable evidence for it; A Few Da’eef (weak) Ahaadeeth have been reported about the virtues of mid-Shabaan but they CANNOT be relied upon. As for the reports about (the virtue of) Salaat (prayer) on 15th Shabaan; they are all Mawdoo (fabricated) as various scholars have warned… …and verily, the da’eef ahaadeeth are (only) acted upon regarding those worships, which are (already) established by saheeh (authentic) ahaadeeth. As for celebrating mid-Shabaan; this has no sound basis, to which these Da’eef ahaadeeth can be appended to – this essential principle was mentioned by Imam Shaikhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (rahimahullah) and I am conveying it you, O reader! How the Bidah of celebrating mid-Shabaan began? Al-Haafidh Ibn Rajab writes in his book, Lataa’if al-Ma’aarif – after mentioning what we have discussed above; “The night of mid-Shabaan was venerated by the Tabi’oon from Shaam – such as Khalid ibn Mi’daan, Makhool, Luqmaan ibn Aamir and others; – they venerated this night and would strive in worship during it- and the people picked this up (veneration of mid-Shabaan) from them. It is said that this (idea of venerating mid- Shabaan) reached them through Israeeli reports (Jewish sources), and when it became widespread; people differed concerning it; some accepted it, and agreed upon its veneration – and amongst them were a group of people from Basra and others, while majority of the scholars of Hijaz; including Ataa and ibn Abu Mulaykah DENOUNCED it. …So, NOTHING is established from the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) or his Sahabah concerning Qiyaam during mid-Shabaan. It is (only) known from a group of Taba’een; specifically the Fuqaha of Shaam.” - end quote Ibn Rajab (rahimahullah) In these words of Ibn Rajab, is a clear explanation that there is nothing established (concerning mid- Shabaan) from the Prophet or his Sahabah. As for what is held by al-Awza’ee (rahimahullah) that Qiyaam during it is mustahabb for individuals, and Ibn Rajab’s agreeing with it – then this is a weak and ghareeb (strange) position – because everything which is NOT established as a prescribed (form of worship) by proofs of the Sharee’ah, it is NOT permissible for the Muslim to innovate it in the Deen of Allah – whether individually or in congregation, secretly or publicly due to the generality of the Prophet saying, “Whosoever does an act, which is not in accordance with this matter of ours (Islam), will have it rejected.” and due to other proofs that reject Bidahs and warn against it… What about the narrations concerning mid- Shabaan? - Salaat al-Alfiyyah “O Ali, whoever prays 100 rak’ahs on the night of mid-Shabaan, reciting 10 times in each rak’ah; the Opening of the Book (i.e., Soorah al-Fatiha) and ‘Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad’ Allah will meet all his needs…” “This narration is mawdoo’ (fabricated).” writes al- Allamah ash-Shawkaani (rahimahullah) in al- Fawaaid al-Majmoo’ah - he further comments, “Its wordings declares what reward the doer will achieve, and no man with sense of distinction can doubt that it is a fabrication! – and its narrators are Majhool (unknown). It is narrated by other two isnaads, all of which are Mawdoo (fabrications) too; and their narrators are Majhool (unknown).” …The narration of Ali narrated by Ibn Hibbaan, “When it is the night of the mid-Shabaan, spend it in prayer, and fast its day.” – this is a da’eef (weak) narration. In al-La’aali’, he said, “One hundred rak’ahs (i.e., Salaat Alfiyyah) on mid-Shabaan reciting (Soorat) al-Ikhaas ten times in each…” - this is a mawdoo‘ (fabricated) narration, and majority of its narrators in all three isnaads are majhool (unknown) and da’eef (weak). and he (Imam Shawkani) said, “(the narration concerning) twelve rak’ahs reciting al-Ikhlaas thirty times – this is mawdoo‘; and also (narration concerning) fourteen rak’ah is mawdoo.” Imam Shawkani also explained, “A group of fuqahaa were deceived by this hadeeth like the author of al-Ihyaa’ and some mufassireen – and the (manner of performing the) prayer of this night – i.e., mid-Shabaan – was reported in different manners – all of which are Batil (false) and mawdoo (fabricated). This (above discussion) does NOT contradict the narration of at-Tirmidhee from Aishah (radhi allahu anha) about the Prophet’s visiting Baqee, Allah’s descending to the lowest heaven on the night of mid-Shabaan, and that He forgives more people than the hair on the ram of Bani Qalb. -because our discussion here is about the innovated Salaat during this night – although there is weakness and interruption in the narration of Aishah…” - end quote of Imam ash-Shawkani Al-Haafidh al-Iraqi said, “The Hadeeth about Salaat during the night of mid-Shabaan is mawdoo (fabrication) and a lie attributed to the Messenger of Allah.” Imam an-Nawawi said in his book al-Majmoo, The prayer known as-Salaat ar-Raghaa’ib, which is 12 rak’ahs between Maghrib and Isha on the night of the first Friday in Rajab, and the prayer of mid-Shabaan of 100 rak’ahs (i.e., Salaat Alfiyyah) – these two are reprehensible Bidahs. No one should be deceived because they are mentioned in the books, ‘Qoot al-Quloob’ and ‘Ihyaa’ ‘Uloom ad-Deen’, nor should he be deceived by the Hadeeth mentioned in these two books – all of them are batil (false). Nor should they be deceived by the fact that some Imams were confused about this matter, and wrote a few pages stating that these prayers are Mustahabb (recommended) – because they were mistaken in that.” end quote of Imam an-Nawawi ash-Shaikh al-Imam Abu Muhammad Abdur- Rahmaan ibn Ismaa’eel al-Maqdisi wrote a valuable book proving the falsity of these narrations, and he did an excellent job. Words of the scholars concerning this are too numerous; - if we were to quote them all, it would be too lengthy – hopefully, what we have mentioned is sufficient and convincing for the seeker of truth. If it were permissible to single out a night for special acts of worship… In Saheeh Muslim, it is narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Do NOT single out the NIGHT of Jumu’ah (Friday) for prayer, and do NOT single out the DAY of Jumu’ah (Friday) for fasting - unless it is part of the ongoing regular fast of any one of you.” If it were permissible to single out a night for worship, Friday night would be the most appropriate, because it’s day is the best of days upon which the sun rises, as is stated in the saheeh hadeeth. but the Prophet’s warning against singling out this night proves that singling out other nights is even more prohibited. It is NOT permissible to specify it for any worship – except with a proof. Exerting efforts during the night of laylatul-Qadr and Ramadaan is prescribed and the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) has guided us to it, and encouraged the ummah to establish it – and he himself acted upon it… If it was prescribed to single out for celebration or for any form of worship; the night of mid-Shabaan the night of the first Friday in Rajab the night of al-Isra wal-Me’raaj then the Messenger of Allah would have guided his ummah to it, OR the Prophet himself would have acted upon it, AND if something of this sort happened, the Sahabah would have reported it to the ummah, and they would NOT have kept quite about it – for, they were the best of people and the most sincere after the Prophets (alaihis-salaam). Now you know from the words of the scholars quoted above; there is nothing established from the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) nor from his Sahabah concerning the virtue of the night of mid- Shabaan. commemorating this occasion is an innovation in Islam, and thus, singling it out for any form of worship is a reprehensible Bidah. and it is Allah, Who gives us the Tawfeeq (guidance) to follow the Sunnah and keep steadfast on it and beware of that which contradicts it. May the blessings of Allah be upon His slave and Messenger Muhammad, his family and Companions.
Posted on: Mon, 24 Jun 2013 10:23:10 +0000
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