Shab-e-Barat
Specifically, worship on the night of the 15th of Sha’ban and fasting the next morning is not established from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), the pious predecessors, or the Imams of the religion. Rather, some scholars have even declared it an innovation. Presented here is a review of the arguments of those who advocate worship on this night.
Argument Number 1.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
إذا كانت ليلة النصف من شعبان فقوموا ليلها وصوموا نهارها فإن الله ينزل فيها لغروب الشمس إلى سماء الدنيا فيقول ألا مستغفر لي فأغفر له ألا مسترزق فأرزقه ألا مبتلى فأعافيه ألا كذا ألا كذا حتى يطلع الفجر.
Spend the night of the fifteenth of Sha’ban in prayer and fast during the day. On this night, immediately after sunset, Allah Almighty descends to the heavens of the world and says: Is there anyone seeking forgiveness? I will forgive him. Is there anyone seeking provision? I will provide for him. Is there anyone who is ill? I will grant him health and well-being. Allah continues to say this until the break of dawn.
The narration is fabricated.
➊ Abu Bakr ibn Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Subrah is a liar and fabricator.
❀ Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal رحمه الله said:
يضع الحديث.
He used to fabricate hadith.
➋ Ibrahim ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Abbas is unknown; he is only mentioned by Imam Ibn Hibban رحمه الله
.
❀ Hafiz Nawawi رحمه الله declared this narration weak.
Evidence Number 2.
❀ It is narrated from Sayyida Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her.
One night on the fifteenth of Sha’ban, it was my turn. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, was resting with me. At midnight, I found the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, missing from the bed. I felt displeased; this is the nature of a woman. I covered myself with a sheet. By Allah, that sheet was neither wool nor silk, neither raw silk nor silk fabric whose warp and weft are silk, nor cotton, nor linen fabric. When asked, what was that sheet made of? He said its warp was made of goat hair and its weft was made of camel hair. I searched for you, O Messenger of Allah, in the chambers of the other wives, but you were not found there either. I returned to my chamber. Suddenly, there was a cloth of yours on the ground. You were in prostration and reciting this supplication.
سجد لله سوادي وخيالي وآمن بك فؤادي هذه يدي وما جنيته بها على نفسي يا عظيم رجاء لكل عظيم اغفر الذنب العظيم سجد وجهي للذي خلقه وشق سمعه وبصره.
My existence has prostrated before Allah Almighty. My heart has believed in You. These are my hands and my deeds. O the One from whom great deeds are hoped, forgive great sins. My face is prostrated before the Being who created it and made its ears and eyes.
After finishing, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, entered with me under the sheet. My breath was heavy. What happened to me? Why did I do this? The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said, “Why is your breath heavy?” I informed him of the situation. He began to stroke my knees with his blessed hand and said, “Woe to those knees that could not worship on this night. On this night, Allah Almighty descends to the heavens of the world and forgives all servants except the polytheist and the one who harbors hatred and enmity towards his Muslim brother.”
The chain of narration is weak.
➊ Sulaiman ibn Abi Karima narrates rejected reports. Imam Abu Hatim Al-Razi, may Allah have mercy on him, calls him weak.
❀ Imam Ibn Adi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
عامة أحاديثه مناكير.
Most of his hadiths are rejected.
❀ Imam Aqili, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
يحدثه بمناكير ولا يتابع على كثير من حديثه.
He narrates rejected reports. Many of his narrations were not followed.
❀ Hafiz Al-Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, writes:
لين صاحب المناكير.
He is weak and narrates rejected hadiths.
➋ There is discussion about the narrations of Umar ibn Hashim Al-Bayruti.
Therefore, this hadith is weak and not acted upon.
❀ Hafiz Ibn Al-Jawzi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
هذا حديث لا يصح.
This hadith is not established.
❀ Hafiz Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
في إسناده سليمان بن أبى كريمة ضعفه ابن عدي فقال عامة أحاديثه مناكير.
In its chain is Sulaiman ibn Abi Karima, whom Imam Ibn Adi, may Allah have mercy on him, declared weak and said most of his hadiths are rejected.
There are other chains of this hadith as well.
The chain is weak; Nazar ibn Kathir is weak.
The chain is weak.
➊ Saeed ibn Abdul Karim Al-Wasiti is not authenticated.
➋ Abu Nu’man Sa’di’s biography is not found.
❀ Imam Al-Bayhaqi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
في هذا الإسناد بعض من يجهل.
Some narrators in this chain are unknown.
The chain is weak and mursal (interrupted).
➊ ‘Alaa ibn Harith did not hear from Sayyida Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her.
➋ There is discussion about some narrations of Ahmad ibn Abdul Rahman ibn Wahb narrated from his uncle Abdullah ibn Wahb.
The chain is weak. Muhammad ibn Yahya ibn Ismail Al-Tamimi Al-Tammar is not preferred according to Imam Al-Daraqutni, may Allah have mercy on him.
ليس بالمرضي.
He is not preferred.
❀ Hafiz Al-Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
أتى بخبر منكر.
He narrated the aforementioned rejected hadith.
The chain is very weak; Salam Tawil is abandoned.
Salam ibn Sulaiman Al-Madaini is also weak.
Also, Imam Al-Bayhaqi, may Allah have mercy on him, declared its chain weak.
The chain is fabricated.
➊ ‘Ibad ibn Ahmad Al-Arzami was abandoned by Imam Al-Daraqutni, may Allah have mercy on him.
➋ ‘Ibad’s uncle Muhammad ibn Abdul Rahman ibn Muhammad Al-Arzami is also abandoned; Muhammad ibn Abdul Rahman’s father is also abandoned.
❀ Imam Al-Daraqutni, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
محمد بن عبد الرحمن متروك وأبوه وجده.
Muhammad ibn Abdul Rahman, his father, and grandfather are all abandoned.
It is fabricated. ‘Ata ibn Ajlan is abandoned, liar, and fabricator. It is established that all the chains of this narration are weak.
Argument Number 3.
❀ It is narrated from Sayyida Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her.
One night I found the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, missing from the bed. I went out in search of him and saw that he was in Baqi, with his blessed head raised towards the sky. Afterwards, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “Do you fear that Allah and His Messenger, peace be upon him, will wrong you?” Sayyida Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said, “I replied, ‘O Messenger of Allah, there is no such thing. I thought you had gone to another wife.’ The Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
إن الله عز وجل ينزل ليلة النصف من شعبان إلى السماء الدنيا فيغفر لأكثر من عدد شعر غنم كلب.
Allah descends on the night of the fifteenth of Sha’ban towards the earth and forgives more people than the hairs of the goats of Kalb tribe.
The chain of narration is weak.
➊ According to the majority, Hajjaj ibn Artaatah is weak and a mudallis (one who conceals a defect in the chain).
➋ Yahya ibn Abi Kathir is a mudallis who narrates from ‘An.
➌ Yahya ibn Abi Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him, did not hear from Urwah.
➍ Hajjaj ibn Artaatah did not hear from Yahya ibn Abi Kathir.
❀ Imam Tirmidhi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
سمعت محمدا يضعف هذا الحديث وقال يحيى بن أبى كثير لم يسمع من عروة والحجاج بن أرطاة لم يسمع من يحيى بن أبى كثير.
I heard Imam Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him, declare it weak, saying Yahya ibn Abi Kathir did not hear from Urwah, and Hajjaj ibn Artaatah did not hear from Yahya ibn Abi Kathir.
Argument Number 4.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Mu’adh رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
من أحيا الليالي الخمس وجبت له الجنة.
Whoever stays awake for five nights, Paradise becomes obligatory for him. These are the nights of Dhu al-Hijjah, Arafah, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and the night of the 15th of Sha’ban.
This is a fabricated narration.
➊ Abd al-Rahman ibn Zayd ibn Aslam is unanimously weak; he has narrated fabricated reports attributed to his father.
❀ Imam Hakim رحمه الله says:
روى عن أبيه أحاديث موضوعة.
He narrated fabricated hadiths from his father.
This narration is also narrated by him from his father, therefore it is fabricated and invented.
➋ Regarding Suwayd ibn Sa’id al-Hadthani, Hafiz Ibn Hajar رحمه الله says:
صدوق فى نفسه إلا أنه عمي فصار يتلقن ما ليس من حديثه.
He was truthful but after becoming blind he accepted prompting.
Argument Number 5.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Umamah Bahili رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
خمس ليال لا ترد فيهن الدعوة أول ليلة من رجب وليلة النصف من شعبان وليلة الجمعة وليلة الفطر وليلة النحر.
There are five nights on which supplications are not rejected: the first night of Rajab, the night of the fifteenth of Sha’ban, the night of Friday, the night of Eid al-Fitr, and the night of Eid al-Adha.
It is fabricated and weak.
➊ Ibrahim bin Abi Baychi is weak and abandoned in Islam.
➋ The biography of Abu Qanab is not found.
➌ It is not known that Abu Qanab heard from Sayyiduna Abu Umamah رضي الله عنه.
➍ The biography of Abdul Quddus bin Mird is not found.
Evidence Number 6.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
من صلى ليلة النصف من شعبان ثنتي عشرة ركعة يقرأ فى كل ركعة قل هو الله أحد ثلاثين مرة لم يخرج حتى يرى مقعده من الجنة ويشفع فى عشرة من أهل بيته كلهم وجبت له النار.
Whoever prays twelve rak’ahs on the night of the fifteenth of Sha’ban, reciting Surah Ikhlas thirty times in each rak’ah, will not depart from this world until he sees his place in Paradise. He will intercede for ten members of his family who are destined for Hell.
This is a fabricated narration.
➊ Abu Isma’il Abd al-Samad bin Muhammad Qantari.
➋ Abu al-Hasan Ali bin Ahmad Baz Nani.
➌ Muhammad bin Jabhan.
➍ Umar bin Abdul Rahim. (His biography is not available.)
➎ It is a transmission from Baqiyah bin Walid.
➏ Laith bin Abi Sulaym is weak and has poor memory.
➐ There is no chain from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه through Qaqa’.
Hafiz Ibn al-Jawzi رحمه الله has declared it fabricated and fabricated.
❀ Hafiz al-Dhahabi رحمه الله says:
إسناده ظلمات إلى بقية.
There is no reliable trace of its chain up to Baqiyah.
Proof Number 7.
❀ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him.
رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ليلة النصف من شعبان قام فصلى أربع عشرة ركعة ثم جلس بعد الفراغ فقرأ بأم القرآن أربع عشرة مرة وقل هو الله أحد أربع عشرة مرة وقل أعوذ برب الفلق أربع عشرة مرة وقل أعوذ برب الناس أربع عشرة مرة وآية الكرسي مرة ولقد جاء كم رسول الآية فلما فرغ من صلاته سألت عما رأيت من صنيعه فقال من صنع مثل الذى رأيت كان له كعشرين حجة مبرورة وكصيام عشرين سنة مقبولة فإن أصبح فى ذلك اليوم صائما كان كصيام ستين سنة ماضية وسنة مستقبلة.
I saw the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, on the night of the fifteenth of Sha’ban. He performed fourteen rak’ahs of prayer. After finishing, he sat and recited Surah Al-Fatiha fourteen times, Surah Al-Ikhlas fourteen times, Surah Al-Falaq fourteen times, Surah An-Nas fourteen times, once Ayat al-Kursi, and the 128th verse of Surah At-Tawbah once. When the Prophet, peace be upon him, finished the prayer, I asked about it. He said: Whoever performs this act will be rewarded with the reward of twenty accepted Hajj pilgrimages and twenty years of accepted fasting. Whoever fasts on the day of the fifteenth of Sha’ban from dawn will receive the reward of sixty years of past fasting and one year of future fasting.
This is a fabricated narration.
➊ Abu al-Qasim Abdul Khaliq bin Ali, the Mu’adhdhin.
➋ Abu Ja’far Muhammad bin Bustam Qumsi.
➌ Abu Ja’far Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Jabir.
➍ Ahmad bin Abdul Karim.
➎ Khalid Hamasi.
The biographies of all these narrators are not available.
Imam Al-Bayhaqi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
في رواية قبل عثمان بن سعيد مجهولون والله أعلم.
Before Uthman bin Sa’id in this narration, unknown narrators have been inserted. And Allah knows best.
➏ Hukm bin Utaybah is a fabricator; the chain of transmission is not specified.
➐ Ibrahim Nakha’i, may Allah have mercy on him, did not hear from Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him.
❀ Imam Abu Zur’ah, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
إبراهيم النخعي عن على مرسل.
The narration of Ibrahim Nakha’i, may Allah be pleased with him, from Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, is a mursal (interrupted) narration.
❀ Hafiz Al-Bayhaqi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
يشبه أن يكون هذا الحديث موضوعا وهو منكر.
This hadith appears to be fabricated and rejected.
❀ Hafiz Ibn al-Jawzi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
هذا موضوع أيضا وإسناده مظلم وكان واضعه يكتب من الأسماء ما وقع له ويذكر قوما ما يعرفون.
Similarly, this narration is also fabricated and its chain is unknown. The fabricator would write an imaginary name and mention people whose whereabouts are unknown.
❀ Hafiz Al-Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
إسناده مظلم وفيه كذاب.
The chain is unknown and there is a liar in it.
Argument Number 8.
❀ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
من صلى ليلة النصف من شعبان خمسين ركعة قضى الله له كل حاجة طلبها تلك الليلة وإن كان كتب فى التوح المحفوظ شقيا يمحو الله ذلك ويحوله إلى السعادة ويبعث إليه سبعمائة ألف ملك يكتبون له الحسنات وسبعمائة ألف ملك يبنون له القصور فى الجنة.
Whoever prays fifty rak’ahs on the night of the 15th of Sha’ban, Allah Almighty fulfills every need of his that he asks for on that night, even if he is written as unfortunate in the Preserved Tablet. Allah Almighty erases that and writes him as fortunate, and seven hundred thousand angels are appointed to record his good deeds, and seven hundred thousand angels build his palaces in Paradise.
This is a fabricated narration.
➊ Hafiz Al-Dhahabi رحمه الله says about Muhammad bin Saeed al-Tabari:
لا يدري من هو.
There is no trace of him.
Imam Ibn Adi رحمه الله says:
محمد بن سعيد الأزرق أبو عبد الله الطبري من أهل ميلة يضع الحديث.
Muhammad bin Saeed from the people of the fair is a fabricator of hadiths.
➋ Hafiz Al-Dhahabi رحمه الله has called Muhammad bin Umar Bajali unknown.
➌ The biography of Shu’aib bin Abdul Malik could not be found.
❀ Hafiz Al-Dhahabi رحمه الله says:
قبح الله من وضعه.
May Allah Almighty destroy the one who fabricates it.
Argument Number 9.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
يا على من صلى مائة ركعة فى ليلة النصف يقرأ فى كل ركعة بفاتحة الكتاب وقل هو الله أحد عشر مرات قال النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم يا على ما من عبد يصلي هذه الصلوات إلا قضى الله عز وجل له كل حاجة طلبها تلك الليلة قيل يا رسول الله وإن كان الله جعله شقيا أيجعله سعيدا قال والذي نفسي بالحق يا على إن مكتوب فى اللوح أن فلان بن فلان خلق شقيا ويمحوه الله عزوجل ويجعله سعيدا ويبعث الله إليه سبعين ألف ملك يكتبون له الحسنات ويمحون عنه السيئات ويرفعون له الدرجات إلى رأس السنة.
Ali, whoever prays one hundred rak’ahs on the night of the fifteenth of Sha’ban, reciting Surah Al-Fatiha and Surah Al-Ikhlas ten times in each rak’ah, the Noble Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم further said: Ali, whoever performs this prayer, whatever need he asks from Allah Almighty on that night, Allah the Exalted fulfills it. It was asked, O Messenger of Allah, what about the unfortunate one? Will he be made fortunate? He said, By the One Who sent me with the truth, Ali, even if it is written in the Preserved Tablet that so-and-so is unfortunate, Allah Almighty erases it and writes him as fortunate. Allah sends seventy thousand angels towards that person who record his good deeds, erase his bad deeds, and raise his ranks until the end of the year.
This is a fabricated narration.
➊ Imam Abu al-Sheikh رحمه الله says about Fadl ibn Khasib ibn Abbas ibn Nasr Abu Abbas Asbahani:
كان حديثه يزيد وذكر قبل عن أبى كريب حديثين ثم زاد وكان يقرأ عليه من كتب أبى مسعود كل ما يحمل إليه.
His hadiths are added (fabricated). He previously narrated two hadiths from Abu Karib in which he added extra words. He attributed them to the books of Abu Mas’ud and narrated every hearsay.
➋ Imam Ibn Adi رحمه الله says about Ali ibn Hasan ibn Ya’mar al-Masri:
أحاديثه كلها بواطيل ليس لها أصل وهو ضعيف جدا.
All his narrations are false and baseless, and he is very weak.
❀ Imam Darqutni رحمه الله says:
مصري يكذب يروي عن الثقات بواطيل.
Al-Masri is a liar and narrates false reports attributed to trustworthy narrators.
❀ Imam Hakim رحمه الله says:
روى عن الثوري وابن أبى ذتب ومالك بن أنس وعبد الله بن عمر أحاديث موضوعة.
He narrated fabricated reports attributed to Sufyan al-Thawri, Ibn Abi Dhi’b, Malik ibn Anas, and Abdullah ibn Umar.
➌ It is an ‘an’anah’ (repeated transmission) of Sufyan al-Thawri.
➍ Laith ibn Abi Sulaym is weak.
➎ Mujahid did not hear from Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه.
❀ Hafiz Ibn al-Jawzi رحمه الله says:
هذا حديث لا نشك أنه موضوع وجمهور رواته فى الطرق الثلاثة مجاهيل وفيهم ضعفاء بمره والحديث محال قطعا.
This hadith is undoubtedly fabricated. Most of the narrators in its three chains are unknown and some are weak. It is absolutely impossible for it to be a hadith.
❀ Hafiz al-Dhahabi رحمه الله declared it false.
He also said:
ألظاهر أنه من وضع على هذا.
Ali ibn Hasan’s narration is fabricated.
Argument Number 10.
❀ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Kardus, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, 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 is very weak.
➊ Isa ibn Ibrahim ibn Tahman al-Qurashi was declared weak by Imam Yahya ibn Ma’in, may Allah have mercy on him.
Imam Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him,
and Imam Nasai, may Allah have mercy on him,
called him a denier of hadith.
Imam Abu Hatim al-Razi, may Allah have mercy on him, declared him a rejected narrator.
➋ Regarding Salmah ibn Sulayman al-Jazari, Imam Ibn ‘Adi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
ليس هو بذلك المعروف إنما يحدث عنه على بن حرب وابن أبى العوام الرياحي وبعض ما يرويه لا يتابعه عليه أحد.
Note: The narration is not well-known; Ali ibn Harb and Ibn Abi al-Awam al-Riyahi narrate from him, but none have followed up on some of his narrations.
His biography is missing from Al-Kamil fi Du’afa’ al-Rijal printed by Dar al-Fikr.
➌ Marwan ibn Salim al-Ghifari Abu Abdullah al-Jazari is rejected.
➍ There is no trace of Ibn Kardus.
➎ Mufaddal ibn 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 and blessings be upon him; it has many defects.
❀ Hafiz al-Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
هذا حديث منكر مرسل.
It is a denied and mursal (interrupted) hadith.
❀ Hafiz Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
في إسناده مروان بن سالم وهو تالف.
Its chain includes Marwan ibn Salim, who is extremely weak.
ليس بشيء
Argument Number 11.
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 Tarwiyah, Arafah, Eid al-Adha, and Eid al-Fitr, Paradise becomes obligatory for him.
The chain of narration is weak.
➊ Abdul Rahman bin Zaid al-Kami al-Basri is abandoned and a liar.
➋ Zaid bin Hawari is weak in knowledge.
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 passed away 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 Regarding Suwaid bin Saeed Hadthani, Hafiz Ibn Hajar رحمه الله says:
صدوق فى نفسه إلا أنه عمي فصار يتلقن ما ليس من حديثه.
He was truthful; after becoming blind, he accepted prompting.
❀ Hafiz Ibn al-Jawzi رحمه الله says:
هذا حديث لا يصح.
This hadith is not established.
Argument Number 12.
❀ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنهما that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
من قرأ ليلة النصف من شعبان ألف مرة قل هو الله أحد فى مائة ركعة لم يخرج من الدنيا حتى يبعث الله إليه فى منامه مائة ملك يلبون يبشرونه بالجنة وثلاثون يومنونه من النار وثلاثون يعصمونه من أن يخطيء وعشرون يكيدون من عاداه.
Whoever recites Surah Ikhlas a thousand times in one hundred rak’ahs on the night of the 15th of Sha’ban will not die until Allah sends one hundred angels to him in a dream, who will call out to him and give him the glad tidings of Paradise. Thirty angels will grant him safety from Hell, thirty will protect him from sins, and twenty will devise plans against the deceit of enemies.
This is a fabricated narration; the conditions of most of its narrators are unknown, and the text is fabricated.
❀ Hafiz Ibn al-Jawzi رحمه الله says:
هذا حديث لا نشك أنه موضوع وجمهور رواته فى الطرق الثلاثة مجاهيل وفيهم ضعفاء بمره والحديث محال قطعا.
This hadith is undoubtedly fabricated; most of the narrators in its three chains are unknown and some are weak, therefore it is absolutely impossible for it to be a hadith.
❀ Hafiz al-Dhahabi رحمه الله says:
هذا من عمل الحسين بن إبراهيم أو شيخه والإسناد ظلمة.
This is the work of Husayn bin Ibrahim or his teacher; its chain is obscure.
Husayn bin Ibrahim’s teacher is Muhammad bin Jabar al-Saduq; this appears to be the fabrication of those after them.
Argument Number 13.
It is a false narration.
➊ Amr bin Thabit is abandoned.
❀ Imam Yahya bin Ma’in, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
ليس بثقة ولا مأمون
He is neither trustworthy nor reliable.
❀ Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
كان ممن يروي الموضوعات عن الأثبات
He used to narrate fabricated hadiths attributed to trustworthy narrators.
❀ Hafiz Al-Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, declared him abandoned.
➋, ➌ The identity of Abu Yahya and his father could not be determined.
➍ Muhammad bin Marwan Dhili is unknown.
Argument Number 14.
It is narrated from Muhammad bin Ali Abu Ja’far Baqir, may Allah have mercy on him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
من قرأ ليلة النصف من شعبان ألف مرة قل هو الله أحد عشر مرات، لم يمت حتى يبعث الله إليه مائة ملك ثلاثون يبشرونه بالجنة وثلاثون يؤمنونه من النار وثلاثون يقومونه أن يخطئ وعشر أملاك يكتبون أعداءه
Whoever recites Surah Ikhlas a thousand times on the night of the fifteenth of Sha’ban and repeats this practice ten times, he will not die until Allah sends one hundred angels to him in a dream; thirty will give him glad tidings of Paradise, thirty will grant him safety from Hell, thirty will protect him from sins, and ten angels will devise plans against his enemies.
The chain of narration is false.
➊ Imam Khateeb Baghdadi, may Allah have mercy on him, says about Abu Yusuf Ya’qub bin Abdul Rahman:
في حديثه وهم كثير
There is a great deal of doubt in his narration.
➋ Muhammad bin Ubaidullah.
➌ The identity of his father Abdullah is not established.
➍ Who is Amr bin Muqaddam? Nothing is known.
➎ Ali bin Asim, if he is Ali bin Asim bin Suhaib Al-Wasti, is severely weak.
➏ Abu Ja’far Baqir Tabi’i is narrating as if directly meeting the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him; therefore, the chain is disconnected (Mursal).
❀ Hafiz Ibn al-Jawzi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
هذا حديث لا نشك أنه موضوع، وجمهور رواته فى الطرق الثلاثة مجاهيل وفيهم ضعفاء بمرة والحديث محال قطعا
This hadith is undoubtedly fabricated; most of its narrators are unknown, and among them are very weak narrators. It is absolutely impossible for this to be a hadith.
Proof Number 15.
It is false
➊ Imam Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him, says about Muhammad bin Ubaid Arzami Abu Abdur Rahman Al-Kufi:
تركه ابن المبارك و يحيي
Imam Abdullah bin Mubarak and Imam Yahya bin Saeed Al-Qattan, may Allah have mercy on them, declared him unreliable.
Imam Yahya bin Ma’in, may Allah have mercy on him, said ليس بشيء
Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
ترك الناس حديثه
Muhammad Thain abandoned his hadith.
❀ It is a Mursal from Abu Ja’far Baqir, may Allah have mercy on him.
Proof Number 16.
من طريق الحسين بن علوان عن جعفر بن محمد عن أبيه قال۔ من قرا ليلة النصف من شهر رمضان هذا خطا والصواب شعبان قل هو الله احد الف مرة في ماية ركعة، في كل ركعة عشر مرات، لم يمت حتى يري في منامه ماية من الملائكة ثلاثين يبشرونه بالجنة وثلاثين يومنونه من النار، وثلاثين يعصمونه ان يخطي والعشرة الباقية يكتبون له اعداءه
Whoever on the fifteenth night of Ramadan (this is an error, it should be Sha’ban) prays one thousand rak’ahs, that is, recites Surah Ikhlas ten times in each rak’ah, will not die without seeing one hundred angels in a dream. Thirty will give him glad tidings of Paradise, thirty will give him a certificate of freedom from Hell, thirty will protect him from sins, and the remaining ten will write plans against his enemies.
This is a false chain of narration.
➊ Husayn bin Alwan is unanimously considered a liar, abandoned, and fabricator.
➋ It is a mursal narration from Abu Ja’far Baqir, may Allah have mercy on him.
❀ Allama Abu Shama Al-Maqdisi, may Allah have mercy on him
, says:
ليس في بفضيلة هذه الليلة وقيام الليلة مستحب في جميع ليالي السنة وكان على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم واجبا فهذه الليلة بعض من الليالي التي كان يصليها ويحييها وانما المحذور المنكر تخصيص بعض الليالي بصلاة مخصوصة على صفة محصصوصة واظهار ذلك على مثل ما ثبت من شرائع الاسلام كصلاة الجمعة والعيد وصلاة التراويح
It does not mention any specific prayer, but only alludes to the virtue of that night. The night vigil throughout the year is recommended, which was obligatory on the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him (later the obligation was abrogated). This night is among those nights in the year in which the Prophet, peace be upon him, used to pray and stay awake at night. The deniers and forbidders are those who assign certain prayers with specific attributes to specific nights and consider them among the symbols of Islam like Friday, the two Eids, and Taraweeh prayers.
He also says:
قد ثبت ان هاتين الصلاتين اعني صلاتي رجب وشعبان صلاة بدعة قد كذب فيهما على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بوضع ما ليس من حديثه وكذب على الله تعالى بالتقدير عليه في جزاء الاعمال ما لم ينزل به سلطانا
The prayers of Rajab and Sha’ban are innovations; something has been fabricated upon the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, which is not from the transmitted hadith of the Prophet, peace be upon him. Also, it is a lie upon Allah that He rewards deeds on these nights, whereas Allah has not revealed any proof for this.
❀ Allama Al-Shatibi, may Allah have mercy on him
, says:
الالتزام العبادات المعينة في اوقات معينة لم يوجد لها ذلك التعيين في الشريعة، كالالتزام صيام يوم النصف من شعبان وقيام ليلته
To adhere to specific acts of worship at specific times for which there is no established determination in the Shariah, such as fasting and night vigil on the fifteenth of Sha’ban.
❀ Allama Al-Shawkani, may Allah have mercy on him
, says:
اما مجرد ثبوت ورود ما يدل على فضيلة الوقت فلا ملازمة بينه وبين مشروعية الصلاة فيه
The virtue of a certain time does not make prayer prescribed in it.
❀ Allama Ibn Baz, may Allah have mercy on him
, says:
Among the innovations people have invented is gathering on the night of the fifteenth of Sha’ban and fasting the next day specifically. There is no reliable evidence for its permissibility. Weak narrations have come regarding its virtue, which cannot be trusted. All the transmitted narrations about the virtue of prayer on this night are fabricated, as many scholars have warned about. Some discussions on this will come, God willing. Similarly, some reports from the predecessors of the people of Sham and others have been transmitted. The consensus of the majority of scholars is that holding a gathering on this night is an innovation. All the transmitted narrations about its virtue are weak, some of which are fabricated.
❀ Sheikh Muhammad bin Salih Al-Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy on him
, says:
There are three levels of night vigil on the night of the fifteenth of Sha’ban.
First Instance :
A person prays as usual, and it is his habit to stand in prayer at midnight. Therefore, on the night of the 15th of Sha’ban, he performs the same acts without any addition or subtraction. He does not perform extra worship with the intention of the special virtue of that night, then it is permissible and does not fall under the category of innovation.
Second Instance :
He prays specifically on this night; it is not his routine on ordinary nights. This is an innovation (bid’ah), not transmitted from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ neither commanded it nor practiced it himself, nor did his companions, may Allah be pleased with them, do so. As for the narration transmitted by Ibn Majah from Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, that one should stand in prayer on the night of the 15th of Sha’ban and fast that day, we have already mentioned that Hafiz Ibn Rajab, may Allah have mercy on him, declared it weak, and Allama Muhammad Rashid Rida Misri, may Allah have mercy on him, called it fabricated. Legal rulings cannot be established on such narrations. The scholars who have permitted acting upon weak narrations in virtues have done so with several conditions, which are not fulfilled in this matter.
The first condition:
The hadith should not be severely weak, whereas this hadith is severely weak; its narrators are unreliable, as we have mentioned referring to Allama Muhammad Rashid Rida, may Allah have mercy on him.
The second condition:
The original issue must be established. Because when the original issue is established and then some weak narrations of a lighter degree come regarding it, they encourage the act due to the hope of the mentioned reward but are not taken as certain. Therefore, if it is established, the act is also established; if not, the doer suffers no harm because the basis of the act is established. It is known that this condition is not met regarding praying on the night of the 15th of Sha’ban because the original issue is not established from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, as Allama Ibn Rajab, may Allah have mercy on him, and others have stated in Lata’if al-Ma’arif
:
Similarly, standing in prayer on the night of the 15th of Sha’ban is not established from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ or his companions, may Allah be pleased with them. Regarding this, Allama Muhammad Rashid Rida, may Allah have mercy on him, said: Allah Almighty has not mentioned any special act for this night in His Book (i.e., the Holy Quran) through the words of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ or his Sunnah. Allama Sheikh Ibn Baz, may Allah have mercy on him, states: All the narrations reported about the virtue of praying on this night are fabricated.
In summary, some of the pious followers (Tabi’in), may Allah have mercy on them, did pray this prayer, as Hafiz Ibn Rajab, may Allah have mercy on him, said in Lata’if al-Ma’arif
:
Some of the Tabi’in of the people of Sham used to honor this night and remain engrossed in worship. People narrated to them the virtue and greatness of this night. It is said that some Israelite narrations also reached them. When this practice became famous in other cities, people differed; some accepted it and agreed with their honoring of it, but most scholars of Hijaz rejected it and declared it an innovation. There is no doubt that the path of the scholars of Hijaz is the truth. Allah Almighty said:
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا
“Today I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.”
If this prayer were part of the religion, Allah, the Lord of Glory, would have mentioned it in His Book or through the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Since He has not, it is clear that it has no relation to the religion; therefore, it is an innovation, and the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: Every innovation is misguidance.
Third Time:
Every year on this night, a specific prayer is performed in a specific number of rak’ahs; therefore, this is a bid’ah (innovation) beyond the second degree and a deviation from the Sunnah. Moreover, the narrations transmitted regarding this are fabricated.
Worshipping with a special intention on the fifteenth night of Sha’ban and fasting on its day is absolutely not proven from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the Companions, or the pious predecessors and Imams of the religion. Rather, some have declared it a bid’ah. Similarly, there is a false narration regarding performing one hundred rak’ahs.
❀ Allama Mulla Ali Qari Hanafi, may Allah have mercy on him
, states:
العجب ممن شم رائحة العلم بالسنة ان يغتر بمثل هذا الهديان ويصليها وهذا الصلاة وضعت في الاسلام بعد الاربعماية ونشات في بيت المقدس
It is astonishing for one who appreciates the fragrance of Hadith knowledge that he would be deceived by such futile and meaningless narrations and perform this prayer (i.e., performing one hundred rak’ahs and reciting Surah Al-Fatiha and Surah Al-Ikhlas ten times in each rak’ah). This prayer began in Islam four hundred years later in Jerusalem.
❀ Hafiz Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, declared this prayer blameworthy, rejected, and an innovation.
❀ Hafiz Ibn Dahiya, may Allah have mercy on him, said the hadith narrated regarding the virtue of mid-Sha’ban is fabricated.
Conclusion.
There is no authentic hadith regarding the virtue of the fifteenth night of Sha’ban. Acting upon weak hadiths is not correct even in matters of virtues, because virtues are also part of the religion, and a weak hadith is not religion; religion is only the name of authentic hadiths. It is not proven from any companion or any trustworthy follower that worship on this night with special intention and care is established. Whatever is mentioned about this has no reality.
