The blessings of the fifteenth night of Shaban

By: Muwasala.org

The fifteenth night of Shaban, known in Arabic as Laylat al-Nisf min Shaban, literally “the eve of the middle of Shaban”, is one of the most important nights of the year. (In the Islamic calendar, night precedes day, so it is actually the night before the fifteenth day of Sha’ban.)

‘Ata ‘bin Jasar said that after Laylat al-Qadr there is no better night than the fifteenth night of Shaban. Its greatness is due to the divine gifts that are granted during it.

One night Sayyidah ‘A’ishah noticed that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had left his house. She went out to see where he was and found him in the Baqi Cemetery with his arms raised to heaven in supplication. He told him that on that night, the fifteenth night of Shaban, Allah forgives more people than there are hairs on the sheep of the Kalb tribe, an Arab tribe known for the large flocks of sheep they owned. (Ahmad, Tirmidhi)

He also said that Allah looks at His creation on the fifteenth night of Shaban and then forgives all His slaves, except for two types of people: those who attribute partners to Allah and those who hold a grudge against other Muslims (Ahmad). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said that when this night comes, we should spend it in prayer and fast the next day, because verily Allah calls His slaves from dusk to dawn saying:

“Is there anyone who asks for forgiveness from Me, so that I may forgive him? Is there anyone seeking provision from Me so that I may provide for him? Is there anyone suffering so that I may relieve his suffering?” (Ibn Mayah)

Imam Ali went out on the fifteenth night of Sha’ban and looked up at the sky. He said that the Prophet Dawood, peace be upon him, came out at a similar time on this very night and said that if anyone calls Allah at that time, Allah responds to him and if anyone seeks His forgiveness, He forgives him. For this reason he would spend the night in worship. It has been narrated that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

There are five nights when dua is not rejected: the first night of Rajab, the fifteenth night of Sha’ban, Thursday night, the night before Eid al-Fitr and the night before Eid al-Nahr (al-Adha). (Suyuti)

Ikrimah and other Qur’anic commentators were of the opinion that the “Blessed Night” referred to in Surah al-Dukhan is the fifteenth night of Shaban (although most say it is the night of Laylat al-Qadr). Allah says of her:

In it every wise matter is distributed. (The Smoke, 44:4)

According to this view, it is the night when all that Allah has decreed for His slaves for the following year becomes manifest. Their provision is allocated and those who are destined to die are named. ‘Ata’ bin Yasar said that on this night the Angel of Death receives a scroll on which are the names of all those who are destined to die in the coming year. He said, “A man can plant crops, marry, and construct buildings, while his name has already been recorded among the dead. The Angel of Death is only waiting for the order to take his soul.” Thus, many of the pious asked Allah on this night to be registered among the happy and also asked for abundant provisions.

Sayyiduna ‘Umar bin ‘Abd al-‘Aziz said: “Do not overlook four nights in the year, because on those nights Allah pours His mercy on His slaves: the first night of Rajab, the fifteenth night of Shaban, the night before Eid al-Fitr and the night before Eid al-Adha.” For this reason it was the custom of the early Muslims to fill the fifteenth night of Sha’ban with life. They encouraged people to gather in the mosque on that night to pray, supplicate and ask for forgiveness.

Some of the hadiths that speak of the immense gifts that Allah bestows on this night mention various categories of people who are excluded from receiving these gifts. Among those mentioned are those who attribute partners to Allah and those who hold a grudge in their hearts for their Muslim brothers. Some scholars have specifically mentioned those who insult the Sahaba or the first generations of Muslims or declare their Muslim brothers as disbelievers or innovators. Other categories mentioned are those who fornicate, cut ties of kinship, or despise their parents.

These categories of people are also denied forgiveness and acceptance on other great nights such as the first night of Ramadan and Laylat al-Qadr. We should do everything we can to avoid these attributes. One of the early scholars said, “The best attributes are to have a healthy heart, a generous soul, and sincerely wanting the best for the Ummah. Through these qualities the great ones came to the stations they reached, not through a great deal of prayer and fasting.”

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Source: http://muwasala.org Translated and edited by https://es.newmuslim.net