Shab-e-Barat: Authentic Evidence, Innovations and Fireworks Exposed

Excerpt Source:
This excerpt is taken from the book Ahkām wa Masā’il in the Light of the Qur’an and Sunnah by Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani.

Question:​

Is there any authentic ḥadīth regarding Shab-e-Barā’at? Some people engage in fireworks and similar activities on this night—what is the Sharī‘ah ruling on such actions?

Answer:​

Islam is a complete religion that provides comprehensive guidance for every aspect of life. Complete direction regarding acts of worship and worldly matters is present in the Qur’an and Sunnah. No individual has the right to devise forms of worship according to personal desires, inclinations, or preferences, nor to introduce societal customs and innovations into the religion.

The intermingling and blind imitation that some Muslims have adopted from Jews, Christians, Hindus, and other nations is a direct result of such cultural mixing. Similarly, certain practices were invented by some Ṣūfīs, which the masses follow blindly, assuming them to be acts of religion merely because they attribute them to “saints,” even when there is absolutely no evidence for them.

Many fabricated and invented prayers were introduced by some Ṣūfīs and ascetics, thereby spreading bid‘ah (innovations) within the Muslim Ummah. Among these invented practices are the fabricated prayers and specific forms of worship associated with the 15th night of Sha‘bān, which will be mentioned below.

On this night, mosques and religious centers are illuminated, and Pakistani Muslims in particular engage in fireworks and firecrackers, even though fireworks have absolutely no connection with worship, nor is there any proof for them within the Islamic framework. The Sharī‘ah has never accepted fireworks as part of worship on any occasion.

Evidence from the Sunnah Regarding Fire and Illumination​

When the adhān was first introduced, some Companions suggested lighting a fire so people could gather for prayer upon seeing it. However, the Prophet ﷺ disliked this suggestion.

ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما narrates:

كان المسلمون حين قدموا المدينة يجتمعون فيتحينون الصلوات وليس ينادى بها أحد فتكلموا يوما فى ذلك فقال بعضهم اتخذوا ناقوسا مثل ناقوس النصارى وقال بعضهم قرنا مثل قرن اليهود فقال عمر أولا تبعثون رجلا ينادي بالصلاة قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يا بلال قم فناد بالصلاة

“When the Muslims arrived in Madinah, they used to gather and wait for the time of prayer, and no one would call for it. One day they discussed this, and some said: ‘Adopt a bell like the Christians,’ while others said: ‘Use a horn like the Jews.’ ʿUmar رضي الله عنه said: ‘Why not send a man to call for prayer?’ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘O Bilāl! Stand and call to prayer.’”

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 377

Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه narrates:

ذكروا أن يعلموا وقت الصلاة بشيء يعرفونه فذكروا أن ينوروا نارا أو يضربوا ناقوسا فأمر بلال أن يشفع الأذان ويوتر الإقامة

“They mentioned informing people of the prayer time by something recognizable. Some suggested lighting a fire or ringing a bell. But Bilāl was commanded to make the adhān even and the iqāmah odd.”

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 378

In another narration, when fire was mentioned before the Prophet ﷺ, he said:

ذاك للمجوس
“That is for the Magians.”

Reference: Fatḥ al-Bārī: 2/80

This shows that fire-worship and displaying fire on occasions of celebration is the way of the Magians (Majūs). Even today, Nowruz in Iran and Diwali among Hindus are celebrations rooted in fire-worship. Due to cultural intermingling, Muslims have unfortunately introduced fireworks and firecrackers into their religious occasions.

Origin of Illumination and Fireworks​

One of the most well-known Magian families was the Barmakids (Barāmikah). Barmak was their forefather and the custodian of a fire temple.

ʿAllāmah Muḥammad Ṭāhir Pannī Hindī writes:

قال على وأول حدوث الوقود من البرامكة وكانوا عبدة النار فلما أسلموا أدخلوا فى الإسلام ما يموهون أنه من سنن الدين مقصودهم عبادة النيران ولم يأت فى الشرع استحباب زيادة الوقود على الحاجة فى موضع

“ʿAlī ibn Ibrāhīm said: ‘The innovation of excessive lighting originated with the Barmakids. They were fire-worshippers, and when they entered Islam, they introduced into it what they falsely claimed to be from the Sunnah, while their actual aim was fire-worship. There is no evidence in the Sharī‘ah permitting excessive illumination beyond necessity.’”

Reference: Tadhkirat al-Mawḍū‘āt, p. 46

Thus, illumination and fireworks are innovations originating from the Magians and have no connection with Islam.

Historical Origin of Shab-e-Barā’at Practices​

The practice of singling out Shab-e-Barā’at originated after the 4th century Hijri.

Imām Abū Muḥammad ʿIzz al-Dīn ibn ʿAbd al-Salām al-Maqdisī states:

لم يكن بيت المقدس قط صلاة الرغائب فى رجب ولا صلاة بصف شعبان...

“There was never Ṣalāt al-Raghā’ib in Rajab nor any prayer of mid-Sha‘bān in Bayt al-Maqdis. This innovation appeared in 448 AH…”

Reference: Al-Bā‘ith ‘alā Inkār al-Bida‘, p. 32

Ṣalāt al-Alfiyyah (100 Rak‘ahs)​

Later, people began performing Ṣalāt al-Alfiyyah (100 rak‘ahs with 10 recitations of Sūrat al-Ikhlāṣ in each rak‘ah).

ʿAllāmah Muḥammad Ṭāhir Pannī Hindī writes:

“All reports regarding this prayer are either weak or fabricated. Do not be deceived by its mention in Iḥyā’ ʿUlūm al-Dīn.”

Reference: Tadhkirat al-Mawḍū‘āt, p. 44

Statements of the Scholars​

Zayd ibn Aslam said:

ما أدركنا أحدا من مشايخنا وفقهائنا يلتفتون إلى ليلة البراءة

“We did not find any of our scholars or jurists paying special attention to Shab-e-Barā’at.”

Reference: Tadhkirat al-Mawḍū‘āt, p. 45

Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Diḥyah said:

أحاديث صلاة البراءة موضوعة

“The narrations regarding the prayer of Shab-e-Barā’at are fabricated.”

Reference: Tadhkirat al-Mawḍū‘āt, p. 45–46

Misinterpretation of Sūrat al-Dukhān​

Some attempt to justify Shab-e-Barā’at using the verse:

﴿إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُبَارَكَةٍ﴾

Reference: Al-Dukhān: 3–4

However, Laylah Mubārakah refers to Laylat al-Qadr, as clearly explained by the Qur’an itself:

﴿شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ﴾

Reference: Al-Baqarah: 185

Imām Ibn al-ʿArabī رحمه الله states:

“To claim that the Qur’an was revealed on any night besides Laylat al-Qadr in Ramaḍān is false.”

Reference: Aḥkām al-Qur’ān: 4/1690

Conclusion ✔​

◈ There is no authentic ḥadīth regarding the special virtue of Shab-e-Barā’at.
◈ All narrations related to its specific prayers are weak, rejected, or fabricated.
◈ The practices of illumination, fireworks, firecrackers, and firing on this night are baseless innovations.
◈ These practices originated in 448 AH and have no foundation in the Qur’an or Sunnah.
◈ The general virtue of Sha‘bān lies in increased voluntary fasting, as practiced by the Prophet ﷺ, without singling out the 15th night.

(هٰذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب)