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 the night precedes the day so it is actually the night before the fifteenth day of Sha’ban).

`Ata` bin Yasar said that after Laylat al-Qadr there is no night better than the fifteenth night of Shaban. Its greatness is due to the divine gifts bestowed 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 her 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 copartnership to Allah and those who bear grudges for other Muslims (Ahmad). The Prophet ﷺ said that when this night comes we should spend it in prayer and fast the next day, for verily Allah calls His slaves from sunset to sunrise 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 came out on the fifteenth night of Sha’ban and looked at the sky. He said that Prophet Dawud, peace be upon him, came out at a similar time on this same night and said that if anyone calls out to Allah at that time, Allah answers 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 ﷺ 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 commentators of the Qur’an 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 it:

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

According to this view, it is the night when all that Allah has decreed for His slaves for the coming 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 build 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 ones and also asked for abundant provision.

Sayyiduna `Umar bin `Abd al-`Aziz said: “Do not overlook four nights in the year, for on those nights God showers His mercy on His slaves: the first night of Rajab, the fifteenth night of Sha’ban, the night before Eid al-Fitr and the night before Eid al-Adha”. For this reason it was the habit 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 several categories of people who are excluded from receiving these gifts. Among those mentioned are those who attribute partners to Allah and those who have 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 brethren as disbelievers or innovators. Other categories mentioned are those who fornicate, cut kinship ties or despise their parents.

These categories of people are also denied forgiveness and acceptance on other major nights such as the first night of Ramadan and Laylat al-Qadr. We should do our best to avoid these attributes. One of the early scholars said, “The best attributes are to have a sound heart, a generous soul and to sincerely want the best for the Ummah. Through these qualities the great ones reached 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