Prayer of Chandrat:
It is not proven but rather an innovation to dedicate the nights of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha to worship. A research-based presentation of the evidence is presented here.
Evidence Number (1)
1. It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
من قام ليلتي العيدين محتسبا لله لم يمت قلبه يوم تموت القلوب
Whoever stands in prayer on the nights of the two Eids hoping for reward, his heart will remain alive on that (terrifying) day when the hearts of people will die (due to the horror of the Day of Judgment).
The chain of narration status of this hadith:
The chain of narration is very weak.
➊ Muhammad bin Mu’alla bin Bahool is a person who practices tadlees (concealment in narration); the clarification of the hearing is not established.
➋ Baqiah bin Walid is guilty of tadlees taswiyah (equalizing concealment); a continuous chain of narration is required.
2. من طريق عمر بن هارون البلخي عن ثور بن يزيد عن خالد بن معدان عن أبي أمامة
The chain of narration is very weak.
➊ Umar bin Harun Balkhi was declared a liar by Imam Yahya bin Ma’in, may Allah have mercy on him
. Imam Abu Hatim Razi, may Allah have mercy on him
, said he is weak in hadith. Imam Nasai, may Allah have mercy on him
, said his hadith is abandoned. Imam Darqutni, may Allah have mercy on him
, said he is weak.
➋ Mundhir bin Muhammad bin Mundhir is not authenticated.
➌ Ahmad bin Musa al-Asadi is unknown.
3. عن إبراهيم بن محمد قال : قال ثور بن يزيد عن خالد بن معدان عن أبي الدرداء به موقوفا
The chain of narration is very weak.
➊ Ibrahim bin Muhammad bin Abi Yahya Aslami Abu Ishaq al-Madani is abandoned.
❀ Hafiz Al-Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
هو متروك عند الجمهور
According to the majority, he is abandoned.
❀ Hafiz Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
ضعفه الجمهور
The majority have said he is weak.
❀ He also says:
أكثر أهل الحديث على تضعيف إبراهيم بن أبي يحيي
Most hadith scholars say Ibrahim bin Abi Yahya is weak.
❀ Allama Ayni Hanafi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
ضعفه الجمهور
The majority have said he is weak.
➋ Khalid bin Ma’dan does not have an established hearing from Sayyiduna Abu Darda, may Allah be pleased with him.
❀ Hafiz Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, said this narration is weak.
Argument Number (2).
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Kardus رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
من أحيا ليلتي العيد وليلة النصف من شعبان لم يمت قلبه يوم تموت القلوب
Whoever stays awake in worship on Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and the fifteenth of Sha’ban, his heart will not be dead on the day when hearts will die.
The chain of narration status of this hadith:
The chain is very weak.
➊ Isa bin Ibrahim bin Tahman Qureshi has been declared a denier of hadith by Imam Yahya bin Ma’in, may Allah have mercy on him
, لَيْسَ بِشَيْءٍ. Imam Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him
, and Imam Nasai, may Allah have mercy on him
.
Imam Abu Hatim Razi, may Allah have mercy on him, declared him abandoned in hadith.
➋ Regarding Salmah bin Sulaiman Jazari, Imam Ibn Adi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
ليس هو بذلك المعروف إنما يحدث عنه علي بن حرب وابن أبي العوام الرياحي وبعض ما يرويه لا يتابعه عليه أحد
He is not well-known in narration; Ali bin Harb and Ibn Abi Al-Awam Riyahi narrate from him, but none have followed up on some of his narrations.
Note:
His biography is missing from Al-Kamil fi Du’afa ar-Rijal printed by Dar al-Fikr.
➌ Marwan bin Salim Ghafari Abu Abdullah Jazari is abandoned.
➍ There is no trace of Ibn Kardus.
➎ Mufaddal bin Fudala is weak.
❀ Hafiz Ibn al-Jawzi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
هذا حديث لا يصح عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وفيه آفات
This hadith is not established from the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him; it has many defects.
❀ Hafiz Al-Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
هذا حديث منكر مرسل
He is a denier and a mursal narrator.
❀ Hafiz Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
في إسناده مروان بن سالم وهو تالف
In his chain is Marwan bin Salim, who is extremely weak.
Proof Number (3).
1. It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ubada bin Samit, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
من صلى ليلة الفطر والأضحى لم يمت قلبه يوم تموت القلوب
Whoever prays on the night of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, his heart will remain alive on that (terrifying) day when the hearts of people will die (due to the horror of the Day of Judgment).
The chain of narration status of this hadith:
The chain is invalid.
➊ Umar bin Haroon Bhatti is abandoned.
➋ Khalid bin Ma’dan did not hear from Sayyiduna Ubada bin Samit, may Allah be pleased with him.
2. من طريق بشر بن رافع عن ثور بن يزيد عن خالد بن معدان عن عبادة بن الصامت
The chain is weak.
➊ Bishr bin Rafi’ Harithi has been declared weak by Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, Imam Bukhari, Imam Abu Hatim Razi, Imam Nasai, and Imam Dar Qutni, may Allah have mercy on them.
➋ Khalid bin Ma’dan did not hear from Sayyiduna Ubada bin Samit, may Allah be pleased with him.
Proof Number (4).
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Muadh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
من أحيا الليالي الأربع وجبت له الجنة ليلة التروية وليلة عرفة وليلة النحر وليلة الفطر
Whoever worships on the nights of Tarawih, Arafah, Eid al-Adha, and Eid al-Fitr, Paradise becomes obligatory for him.
The authenticity status of this narration:
The chain is weak.
➊ Abd al-Rahman bin Zaid al-Ghummi al-Basri is abandoned and a liar.
➋ Zaid bin Hawari ‘Ami is weak.
➌ There is a discontinuity between Wahb bin Munabbih رحمه الله and Sayyiduna Muadh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه. Sayyiduna Muadh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه died during the caliphate of Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه, and Wahb bin Munabbih رحمه الله was born during the caliphate of Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه.
➍ About Suwaid bin Saeed al-Hadathani, Hafiz Ibn Hajar رحمه الله says:
صدوق في نفسه إلا أنه عمي فصار يتلقن ما ليس من حديثه
He was truthful but after becoming blind he accepted narrations by prompting.
❀ Hafiz Ibn al-Jawzi رحمه الله says:
هذا حديث لا يصح
This hadith is not established.
Evidence number (5).
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Salman رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
مامن عبد يصلي ليلة العيد ست ركعات إلا شفع في أهل بيته كلهم قد أوجبت له النار
Whoever prays six rak’ahs on the night of Eid will intercede for those members of his household for whom Hellfire has become obligatory.
The chain of narration status of this hadith:
It is a fabricated chain.
➊ Regarding Isma’il ibn Abi Ziyad al-Sukkuni, Imam Abu Zur’ah رحمه الله says:
يروي أحاديث مفتعلة
He narrates fabricated hadiths.
❀ Imam Dar Qutni رحمه الله says:
يضع الحديث كذاب متروك
He is a fabricator of hadith and abandoned.
❀ Hafiz Suyuti رحمه الله called him a liar.
➋ The biography of Isma’il ibn Fadl is not found.
➌ The biography of Sahu Yah ibn Shabib is not found.
➍ The identity of ‘Asim is not determined.
➎ Sulayman ibn Tarkhan al-Taymi رحمه الله is a narrator.
Proof number (6).
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Talhah bin Ubaidullah رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
ليلة الفطر ليلة رحمة يعتق الله فيها الرقاب فمن سجد في تلك الليلة سجدتين كتب الله تعالى له من الثواب كمن صام رمضان من صغير أو كبير أو ذكر أو أنثى ويعطيه الله الثواب من صلى يوم الفطر في الجماعة من المشرق من المغرب
The night of Eid al-Fitr is a night of mercy. Allah Almighty frees people from Hellfire on this night. Whoever performs two prostrations on this night will receive the reward equivalent to the fasting of all men and women (all people) who observed the fasts of Ramadan. Whoever performs the Eid al-Fitr prayer in congregation, Allah Almighty will grant him the reward equal to that of the East and the West.
The Status of the Chain of Transmission of this Hadith:
The chain is fabricated.
➊ The life details of Muhammad bin Ali Rabi’ are not found.
➋ The identity of Ata bin Muhammad could not be determined.
❀ Allama Ibn Iraq رحمه الله says:
فيه محمد بن عطاء ومحمد بن علي الربيع لم أعرفهما
“I do not know Muhammad bin Ata and Muhammad bin Ali Rabi’ in its chain.”
➌ Ishaq bin Talhah bin Ubaidullah is of unknown status.
Evidence Number (7)
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
والذي بعثني بالحق إن جبريل عليه السلام أخبرني عن إسرافيل عن ربه عزوجل أنه من صلى ليلة الفطر مائة ركعة، يقرأ في كل ركعة الحمد مرة وقل هو الله أحد عشر مرات ويقول في ركوعه وسجوده عشر مرات: سبحان الله والحمد لله ولا إله إلا الله والله أكبر فإذا فرغ من صلاته استغفر مائة مرة ثم يسجد ثم يقول: يا حي يا قيوم يا ذا الجلال والإكرام يا رحمن الدنيا والآخرة ورحيمهما يا أرحم الراحمين يا إله الأولين والآخرين اغفر لي ذنوبي وتقبل صومي وصلاتي، والذي بعثني بالحق إنه لا يرفع رأسه من السجود حتى يغفر الله عزوجل له ويتقبل منه شهر رمضان ويتجاوز عن ذنوبه وإن كان قد أذنب سبعين ذنبا كل ذنب أعظم من جميع النار
By the One Who sent me with the truth! Jibra’il conveyed to me through Israfil that Allah, the Lord of Glory, said: Whoever prays one hundred rak’ahs on the night of Eid al-Fitr, reciting Surah Al-Fatiha once and Surah Al-Ikhlas ten times in each rak’ah, and recites سبحان الله الحمد لله لا اله الا الله والله اكبر ten times in bowing and prostration, and after completing the prayer recites Astaghfirullah one hundred times, then prostrates and in that prostration recites this supplication: O Ever-Living and Sustainer! O Possessor of Greatness and Honor! O Most Merciful in this world and the Hereafter! O Most Compassionate! O Lord of those before and after! Forgive my sins, accept my fasts and prayers. By the One Who sent me with the truth! Before he raises his head from the prostration, Allah forgives his sins, honors his Ramadan fasts with acceptance, pardons his sins even if they are seventy times as many and each sin is greater than the entire fire of Hell.
The Authenticity Status of This Hadith:
It is a fabricated hadith.
➊ The biography of Abu Zakariya Yahya bin Al-Qasim is not found.
➋ The biography of Muhammad bin Abi Salih is also not found.
➌ There is no authentication for Umar bin Muhammad bin Ali bin Sabah Bazzaz.
➍ Imam Yahya bin Ma’in, may Allah have mercy on him, said that Abu Taybah Isa bin Sulayman bin Dinar Jurjani is “weak.”
❀ Imam Ibn ‘Adi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
هذه الأحاديث لكرز بن وبرة يرويها عنه أبو طيبة وهي كلها غير محفوظة
“These hadiths narrated from Abu Taybah through Karz bin Wabara are all unreliable.”
❀ Hafiz Ibn al-Jawzi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
هذا حديث لا نشك في وضعه، وفيه جماعة لا يعرفون أصلا
“Undoubtedly, this hadith is fabricated; it contains a group of unknown narrators.”
❀ Hafiz Al-Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
رواه أبو الفتح القواس، ثنا عمر بن محمد الصباح، ثنا يحيى بن قاسم، ثنا محمد بن أبي صالح، عن سعد بن سعد، فلا أدري من وضعه منهم
“This narration was reported by Abu al-Fath Qawas from Umar bin Muhammad Sabah, who narrated from Yahya bin Qasim, who narrated from Muhammad bin Abi Salih, who narrated from Sa’d bin Sa’d. It is unknown which one of them fabricated this narration.”
Proof Number (8)
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Umamah Bahili رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
من صلى ليلة النحر ركعتين يقرأ في كل ركعة بفاتحة الكتاب خمس عشرة مرة وقل هو الله أحد خمس عشرة مرة وقل أعوذ برب الفلق خمس عشرة مرة وقل أعوذ برب الناس خمس عشرة مرة، فإذا سلم قرأ آية الكرسي ثلاث مرات ويستغفر الله خمس عشرة مرة، جعل الله اسمه في أصحاب الجنة وغفر له ذنوب السر وذنوب العلانية وكتب له بكل آية قرأها حجة وعمرة، وكأنما أعتق ستين رقبة من ولد إسماعيل، فإن مات فيما بينه وبين الجمعة الأخرى مات شهيدا
“Whoever prays two rak’ahs on the night of Eid al-Adha, reciting in each rak’ah Surah Al-Fatiha, Surah Al-Ikhlas, Surah Al-Falaq, and Surah An-Nas fifteen times each, and after completing the salam recites Ayat al-Kursi three times and seeks forgiveness from Allah fifteen times, Allah Almighty includes his name among the people of Paradise, forgives his hidden and apparent sins, grants him the reward of Hajj and Umrah for every verse recited, and he is like the one who freed sixty slaves from the descendants of Ismail. If he dies between this Friday and the next Friday, he dies a martyr.”
The chain of narration status of this hadith:
It is a false narration.
➊ Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Ghalib Bahili Basri, known as Ghulam Khalil Wadda’ (fabricator of false hadiths) and Dabbaal (a major liar) was.
➋ Walid bin Muslim’s tadlees is fabricated.
➌ The conditions of Muhammad bin Ali bin Husayn bin Abi al-Jarrah Qatwani are not found.
➍ Ali bin Husayn bin Abi al-Jarrah is also unknown.
➎ The identification and authentication of Ishaq bin Ahmad bin Abdullah is not established.
❀ Hafiz Ibn al-Jawzi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
هذا حديث لا يصح
“This hadith is not authentic.”
Warning:
It is narrated from Khalid bin Ma’dan, may Allah have mercy on him:
خمس ليال في السنة من واظب عليهن رجاء ثوابهن وتصديقا بوعدهن أدخله الله الجنة، أول ليلة من رجب يقوم ليلها ويصوم نهارها وليلة النصف من شعبان يقوم ليلها ويصوم نهارها وليلة الفطر يقوم ليلها ويصوم نهارها وليلة الأضحى يقوم ليلها ويصوم نهارها وليلة عاشوراء يقوم ليلها ويصوم نهارها
“There are five nights in the year, whoever prays on them with the intention of reward and believes in the promises made therein, Allah will admit him to Paradise. The first night of Rajab, whoever prays during this night and fasts the following day. The night of the 15th of Sha’ban, whoever prays during this night and fasts the following day. The night of Eid al-Fitr, whoever prays during this night and fasts the following day. The night of Eid al-Adha, whoever prays during this night and fasts the following day. And the night of Ashura, whoever prays during this night and fasts the following day.”
It is a false statement.
➊ Salmah bin Musa al-Farsi’s authentication is not found.
➋ Imam Abu Hatim al-Razi, may Allah have mercy on him, called Abu Musa Hilali “majhool” (unknown).
Therefore, this statement is neither reliable nor acceptable as evidence.
❀ Hafiz Ibn Rajab, may Allah have mercy on him
, says:
قد ورد في خصوص إحياء ليلتي العيدين أحاديث لا تصح
“There are no authentic narrations regarding special worship on the nights of the two Eids.”
Benefit Number (1)
Two false narrations are reported regarding the virtue of the nights of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
❀ It is narrated from Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
يفتح الله الخير في أربع ليال سرا: الأضحى، والفطر، وليلة النصف من شعبان، وليلة عرفة إلى الأذان
“On the nights of Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, the fifteenth of Sha’ban, and the night of Arafah, Allah keeps the doors of mercy open until the Fajr call to prayer.”
❀ Imam Dar Qutni (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
لا يصح ومن دون مالك ضعفاء
“This narration is not authentic; all the narrators below Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) are weak.”
❀ Hafiz Dhahabi (may Allah have mercy on him) declared it false.
Benefit Number (2)
❀ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
ليلة جمع تعدل ليلة القدر
“The night of Eid al-Adha is equal to Laylat al-Qadr.”
This is a false narration.
The biographies of Uthman ibn Harun and Abu Umar Waqtad could not be found.
Benefit Number (3)
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Salman Farsi رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
من صلى يوم الفطر بعد ما يصلي عيده أربع ركعات، يقرأ في أول ركعة بفاتحة الكتاب وسبح اسم ربك الأعلى وفي الثانية بالشمس وضحاها، وفي الثالثة والضحى، وفي الرابعة قل هو الله أحد، فكأنما قرأ كل كتاب الله تعالى على أنبيائه، وكأنما أشبع جميع اليتامى ودهنهم ونظفهم، وكان له من الأجر مثل ما طلعت عليه الشمس ويغفر له ذنوب خمسين سنة
“Whoever prays four rak’ahs after the Eid al-Fitr prayer, reciting Surah Al-Fatiha and Surah Al-A’la in the first rak’ah, Surah Ash-Shams in the second, Surah Ad-Duha in the third, and Surah Al-Ikhlas in the fourth, it is as if he has read all the books revealed by Allah to His noble Prophets, and as if he has fed all the orphan children until they are full, anointed them with oil, and purified them. Moreover, he will receive the reward equivalent to everything over which the sun rises, and his sins of fifty years will be forgiven.”
This is a fabricated narration.
➊ Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Siddiq’s reliability could not be confirmed.
➋ The biography of Abu Bakr Ahmad bin Ja’far Marwazi is not available.
➌ Ya’qub bin ‘Abd al-Rahman might be Abu Yusuf Jassas; regarding him Abu Muhammad bin Ghulam Zahri رحمه الله says:
ليس بالمرضي
“This is not preferred.”
❀ Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi رحمه الله says:
في حديثه وهم كثير
“There is a great deal of doubt in this hadith.”
➍ Regarding Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Rabi’ah Qudami, Hafiz al-Dhahabi رحمه الله says:
أحد الضعفاء، أتى عن مالك بمصائب
“He is weak; he reports troubles attributed to Imam Malik رحمه الله.”
➎ It is a narration from Sulayman bin Tarkhan al-Taymi رحمه الله.
❀ Hafiz Ibn al-Jawzi رحمه الله says:
موضوع، فيه مجاهيل
“It is fabricated; unknown narrators have settled in it.”
Salamah bin Shubayb narrated from Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Rabi’ah.
But this chain is also fabricated. The biographies of Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Shaybah and his teacher Fadl bin Muhammad Jundi are not available.
❀ Allama Ibn ‘Iraq رحمه الله says:
سلمة بن شبيب من رجال مسلم والأربعة لكن الراوي عنه الفضل بن محمد الجندي لم أعرفه فلعله سرقه، وركبه على هذا الإسناد فليحزر حاله والله أعلم
“Salamah bin Shubayb is a narrator of Sahih Muslim and the four Sunan, but his student Fadl bin Muhammad Jundi is unknown. Perhaps he stole this narration and connected it to this chain; from this, his condition can be estimated.”
❀ Allama Mu’allimi Yamani رحمه الله says:
لم يتبين لي أمرها، وهو على كل حال منكر سندا ومتنا
“I could not clarify his matter; in any case, this narration is rejected in terms of chain and text.”
Summary:
Nothing has been proven about the virtue of the nights of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha; virtue is only that which is established by the Quran and Hadith. Similarly, worship on these nights is not proven. You have understood the status of the transmitted narrations on this matter; it is futile and useless to strengthen them by combining the most severely weak and fabricated chains of narration.
