Shab-e-Baraat/Barah (Fifteenth (15th) Night of Shaban/Shabaan) Fatwas

Source Website: http://darulifta-deoband.org/ (Darul Ifta, Darul Uloom Deoband, India)

Question: 24955    Fiji

assalamualaikum, what do the islamic scholars say about the following masala: is there any virtures of fasting on the day of 15th shabaan? is it based on any hadith? i wanted to know if there is any hadith separately regarding the fast on the day 15 shabaan, please with quotations?  

Answer: 24955   Aug 14,2010(Fatwa: 1310/1033/D=1431)

عن على رضى الله عنه عن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا كان ليلة النصف من شعبان فقوموا ليلها و صوموا نهارها فإن الله تعلى ينزل فيها لغروب الشمس إلى السماء الدنيا فيقول الحديث . رواه ابن ماجه (مشكوة 115)

There are some more hadith on the same topic in which keeping fast on fifteenth of Shaban was emphasized; hence fasting on the day is mustahab.

Allah (Subhana Wa Ta'ala) knows Best

Question: 24852    Pakistan

AsalamOalikum.. i want to know about is there any saheeh hadees or ayat which tells us to pray/worship on the middle night of shabaan(shab-e-barat)???? is there any special about this night..i got emails from some groups in which they told us that these are misconcept which ppl create about islam ..kindly answer with references .. jazakAllah  

Answer: 24852   Sep 21,2010(Fatwa: 1545/10001/L=1431)

Several ahadith speak about the virtues of shab-e bara'at (fifteenth night of Sha'ban). It is proved that Almighty Allah turns to the people especially in this blessed night as well as it is proved that everyone is forgiven except a few unfortunate persons. Those who deny the virtues of this blessed night, they are wrong. If you want to see the detail, study the book 'Shab-e Bara'at' by Mufti Muhammad Shafee (رحمة الله عليه).

Allah (Subhana Wa Ta'ala) knows Best

Question: 24567    India

asalaamu alaikum, Dear Sheik, I'm frm chennai and in our area we used to celebrate the mid of shabaan by reciting 3 times surah yasin after magrib salah and use to perform Tasbih nafil salah after Isha prayer(whicch they postpone after 9pm) and after tht we used to go n visit the grave and dua for them and some masjid they used to decorate with lights etc etc. Pls inform me whether doing all these things are under sunnah or under Bidaa if bidaa pls give a sound and great warning abt this act so tht i can show ur fatwa to our familly members and other inorder to avoid frm these types of Bidaa and pls dua for all our brother n sister in India as we are doing much acts which are against Islam Awaiting ur earliest reply  

Answer: 24567   Aug 04,2010(Fatwa: 1233/1233/M=1431)

The night of 15th Shaban is blessed one. In this night, one should offer nafl, tilawat, zikr and dua individually at home. If one can, he should go to graveyard in the last part of night silently, and do dua and make isal-e-sawab for the dead and keep fast the next day. It is narrated in Ibn Majah:

قوموا ليلها و صوموا نهارها .

In this blessed night, decorating the mosques, lightening the streets, playing fireworks, visiting graveyard while making noise and creating disturbance, making the graveyard a function hall and celebrating Urs etc is nonsense and unlawful. It is necessary to avoid it.

Allah (Subhana Wa Ta'ala) knows Best