Laylah Mubārakah Refers to Laylat al-Qadr, Not the Night of Mid-Sha‘bān
Written by: Ilyas Hamed
Allah Almighty says:
﴿إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُبَارَكَةٍ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنْذِرِينَ﴾
“Indeed, We sent it [the Qur’an] down during a blessed night – indeed, We were to warn [mankind].”
[Surah al-Dukhān: 3]
Some people claim that the “blessed night” mentioned in this verse refers to the 15th night of Sha‘bān (Laylat al-Nisf min Sha‘bān). However, this interpretation is incorrect and not supported by any credible classical exegete (mufassir) from the early generations of Islam.
Even when this interpretation is cited, it is usually for the purpose of refutation, not endorsement.
It is authentically narrated that ʿAbdullah ibn ʿAbbās, the Interpreter of the Qur’an, said that the “blessed night” in this verse refers to Laylat al-Qadr.
"إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُبَارَكَةٍ"
“Indeed, We sent it down on a blessed night.”
[Al-Mustadrak 3678 | Al-Dhahabi: Authentic upon the conditions of Muslim]
“The correct opinion is that this refers to Laylat al-Qadr.”
[Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī, 8/22]
“The exegetes said: The blessed night is Laylat al-Qadr.”
[Maʿānī al-Qur’ān, 4/423]
“The People of Tafsīr said: We revealed the Book – meaning the Qur’an – on Laylat al-Qadr.”
[Tafsīr al-Māturīdī, 9/196]
“It is Laylat al-Qadr; this is the opinion of Ibn ʿAbbās, al-Hasan, Saʿīd ibn Jubayr, and the majority of scholars.”
[Tafsīr al-Samarqandī, 5/121]
“The majority of scholars say it is Laylat al-Qadr. Those who claim it is the night of 15th Sha‘bān are mistaken.”
[Aḥkām al-Qur’ān, 4/117]
“It is Laylat al-Qadr – this is the opinion of the majority.”
[Zād al-Masīr, 4/87]
“Those who say this refers to the night of 15th Sha‘bān have no reliable proof for their claim.”
[Tafsīr al-Kabīr, 27/651]
“The blessed night is Laylat al-Qadr… Some say it’s the 15th of Sha‘bān, but the first view is more correct.”
[Al-Jāmiʿ li-Aḥkām al-Qur’ān, 16/127]
“The blessed night refers to Laylat al-Qadr in Ramadan… the opinion that it refers to mid-Sha‘bān is baseless.”
[Al-Tashīl, 2/266]
“It is Laylat al-Qadr; whoever says it is the night of 15th Sha‘bān has strayed far from the truth.”
[Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr, 7/246]
From the 3rd century AH to the 8th century AH, all authoritative exegetes have consistently affirmed that the “blessed night” mentioned in Surah al-Dukhān is none other than Laylat al-Qadr, not the night of 15th Sha‘bān.
“The claim that this verse refers to the night of mid-Sha‘bān, as narrated from ʿIkrimah and others, is without a doubt false, as it contradicts the explicit wording of the Qur’an.”
[Aḍwā’ al-Bayān, 7/172]
✔ The interpretation that “Laylah Mubārakah” refers to Laylat al-Qadr is backed by the Qur’an, Hadith, and a consensus of classical scholars.
✖ Associating this verse with the 15th of Sha‘bān is baseless, unsupported, and contradicts clear textual evidence.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Written by: Ilyas Hamed❖ Qur’anic Reference
Allah Almighty says:
﴿إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُبَارَكَةٍ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنْذِرِينَ﴾
“Indeed, We sent it [the Qur’an] down during a blessed night – indeed, We were to warn [mankind].”
[Surah al-Dukhān: 3]
❖ Which Night is the ‘Blessed Night’ (Laylah Mubārakah)?
Some people claim that the “blessed night” mentioned in this verse refers to the 15th night of Sha‘bān (Laylat al-Nisf min Sha‘bān). However, this interpretation is incorrect and not supported by any credible classical exegete (mufassir) from the early generations of Islam.
Even when this interpretation is cited, it is usually for the purpose of refutation, not endorsement.
❖ Authentic Interpretation from the Salaf
✔ Sayyiduna Ibn ʿAbbās (RA):
It is authentically narrated that ʿAbdullah ibn ʿAbbās, the Interpreter of the Qur’an, said that the “blessed night” in this verse refers to Laylat al-Qadr.
"إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُبَارَكَةٍ"
“Indeed, We sent it down on a blessed night.”
[Al-Mustadrak 3678 | Al-Dhahabi: Authentic upon the conditions of Muslim]
❖ Statements of Notable Exegetes
➊ Imam al-Ṭabarī (d. 310 AH):
“The correct opinion is that this refers to Laylat al-Qadr.”
[Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī, 8/22]
➋ Imam al-Zajjāj (d. 313 AH):
“The exegetes said: The blessed night is Laylat al-Qadr.”
[Maʿānī al-Qur’ān, 4/423]
➌ Imam al-Māturīdī (d. 333 AH):
“The People of Tafsīr said: We revealed the Book – meaning the Qur’an – on Laylat al-Qadr.”
[Tafsīr al-Māturīdī, 9/196]
➍ Imam al-Samarqandī (d. 489 AH):
“It is Laylat al-Qadr; this is the opinion of Ibn ʿAbbās, al-Hasan, Saʿīd ibn Jubayr, and the majority of scholars.”
[Tafsīr al-Samarqandī, 5/121]
➎ Imam Ibn al-ʿArabī (d. 543 AH):
“The majority of scholars say it is Laylat al-Qadr. Those who claim it is the night of 15th Sha‘bān are mistaken.”
[Aḥkām al-Qur’ān, 4/117]
➏ Imam Ibn al-Jawzī (d. 597 AH):
“It is Laylat al-Qadr – this is the opinion of the majority.”
[Zād al-Masīr, 4/87]
➐ Imam Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī (d. 606 AH):
“Those who say this refers to the night of 15th Sha‘bān have no reliable proof for their claim.”
[Tafsīr al-Kabīr, 27/651]
➑ Imam al-Qurṭubī (d. 671 AH):
“The blessed night is Laylat al-Qadr… Some say it’s the 15th of Sha‘bān, but the first view is more correct.”
[Al-Jāmiʿ li-Aḥkām al-Qur’ān, 16/127]
➒ Imam Ibn Juzayy (d. 741 AH):
“The blessed night refers to Laylat al-Qadr in Ramadan… the opinion that it refers to mid-Sha‘bān is baseless.”
[Al-Tashīl, 2/266]
➓ Imam Ibn Kathīr (d. 774 AH):
“It is Laylat al-Qadr; whoever says it is the night of 15th Sha‘bān has strayed far from the truth.”
[Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr, 7/246]
❖ Conclusive Consensus
From the 3rd century AH to the 8th century AH, all authoritative exegetes have consistently affirmed that the “blessed night” mentioned in Surah al-Dukhān is none other than Laylat al-Qadr, not the night of 15th Sha‘bān.
❖ Additional Statement
Imam al-Shinqīṭī (d. 1394 AH):
“The claim that this verse refers to the night of mid-Sha‘bān, as narrated from ʿIkrimah and others, is without a doubt false, as it contradicts the explicit wording of the Qur’an.”
[Aḍwā’ al-Bayān, 7/172]
❖ Summary
✔ The interpretation that “Laylah Mubārakah” refers to Laylat al-Qadr is backed by the Qur’an, Hadith, and a consensus of classical scholars.
✖ Associating this verse with the 15th of Sha‘bān is baseless, unsupported, and contradicts clear textual evidence.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
