15th of Shaaban - Reality & Its Analysis

Insha Allah in this series we will look at the reality of 15th of Shaaban and see what is said about it in - Hadith, by Fuqaha and the Muhaddiseen. In the last post Insha Allah, i will post about the Bidah which have been associated with it and do not have any daleel of doing so.

Hadith No. 1 - First Century (1-100 Hij.)

أَخْبَرَنَا الْقَاضِي أَبُو الْقَاسِمِ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْأَنْبَارِيُّ أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ بْنُ الْبَلْخِيِّ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُحَمَّدُ نَافِعُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْخُزَاعِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهِيبٍ حَدَّثَنَا مُورِعُ بْنُ جُبَيْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا الْمُعَافَى ابْن مُطَهَّرٍ عَنْ حُصَيْنٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ (مَنْ أَحْيَا أَرْبَعَ لَيَالٍ أَحْيَاهُ اللَّهُ مَا شَاءَ لَيْلَتَيِ الْعِيدَيْنِ وَلَيْلَةِ عَاشُورَاءَ وَلَيْلَةِ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ أَحْيَاهُ اللَّهُ مَا شَاءَ)

SANAD (Chain of Narrators)

Imam Abi Taahir Rh. »»► Qazu Abul Qaasim Hussain bin Muhammed Rh. »»► Abu Abdullah Muhammed al Balkhi Rh. »»► Abu Muhammed Naafe Al Khuzaayi Rh. »»► Abdullah bin waheeb Rh. »»► Maurii bin Jubair Rh. »»► Mu’aafi bin Muttahar Rh. »»► Hussain Rh. »»► Abi Abdur Rehman Rh. »»► Ali bin Abi Taalib Rdh. »»► Rasoolullah S.A.W.

Text (Matan)

Hazrat Ali Rdh. say that Rasoolullah S.A.W. said that the one who prays in these four nights, Allah will grant him (better) life the way Allah wants, (Those nights are) the two nights of the Eidain, night of Aashura (10 Muharram) and the night of fifteenth Shabaan. 

(Mashikhatu Ibn Taahir Ibn Abi Safar : Page 127)

Hadith No 2 :

نا عَلِيٌّ، نا يَحْيَى بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنِي الْمُفَضَّلُ بْنُ فَضَالَةَ، عَنْ عِيسَى بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ الْجَزَرِيِّ، عَنْ مَرْوَانَ بْنِ سَالِمٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ كُرْدُوسٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: مَنْ أَحْيَا لَيْلَةَ الْعِيدِ، وَلَيْلَةَ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ لَمْ يَمُتْ قَلْبُهُ يَوْمَ تَمُوتُ الْقُلُوبُ

SANAD (Chain of Narrators)

Imam Ibn ul arabi Rh. »»► Ali Rh. »»► Yahiya bin Abdullah bin Bukair Rh. »»► Al Mufazzal bin Fuzaala Rh. »»► Isaa bin Ibrahim Rh. »»► Salama bin sulaimaan al Jazari Rh. »»► Marwaan bin Saalim Rh. »»► Ibn Kurdoos Rh. »»► Kurdoos »»► Rasoolullah S.A.W.

Text (Matan)

Hazrat Ibn Kurdoos narrates from his father that - Rasoolullah S.A.W said whoever stays awake in the night of Eid and fifteenth of Shabaan his heart will not die on the day, the day everyones heart will be dead. 

[Mujjam Ibn ul Arabi : Hadith No 2252 , Page 1047]

Hadith No 3

أخبرنا أبو الفتح نصر الله بن محمد حدثنا نصر بن إبراهيم أنبأنا أبو سعيد بندار بن عمر الروياني أنبأنا أبو محمد عبد الله بن جعفر الخبازي أنبأ أبو علي الحسن بن علي بن محمد بن بشار الزاهد بهمذان قراءة عليه من أصل سماعه أنبأنا علي بن محمد القزويني حدثنا إبراهيم بن محمد بن برة الصنعاني حدثنا عبد القدوس حدثنا إبراهيم بن أبي يحيى عن أبي قعنب عن ابي أمامة الباهلي قال قال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وسلم) خمس ليال لا تر فيهن الدعوة أول ليلة من رجب وليلة النصف من شعبان وليلة الجمعة وليلة الفطر وليلة النحر

SANAD (Chain of Narrators)

Imam Ibn Asaakir Rh. »»► Abul Fatah Nasrullah bin Muhammed Rh. »»► Abu Saeed Bindaar bin Umar Rh. »»► Abu Muhammed Abdullah bin Jafer Rh. »»► Abu ali Al Hasan bin Ali Rh. »»► Ali bin Muhammed Rh. »»► Ibrahim bin Muhammed Rh. »»► Abdul Quddus Rh. »»► Ibrahim bin Abi Yahiya Rh. »»► Abi Qa’anab Rh. »»► Abu Umaamah Rdh. »»► Rasoolullah S.A.W.

Text (Matan)

Hazrat Abu Umaama Baheli Rdh. says that Rasoolullah S.A.W said : In these nights the dua is not rejected. : The first night of Rajab, the middle night of Shabaan, night of Friday and the night of Eidain.

(Taarikh Ibn Asaakir : Volume 10 : Page 408)

The above three ahadith have separate chain of narrators which brings them to the status of Hassan Lighairihi. (A number of similar weak Ahadith on a particular issue can be raised to the degree of Hasan (agreeable) if the weakness found in their reporters is of a mild nature.)

Hadith No 4

Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Omer Rdh. Al Mutawaffa 74 Hij. narrates that Prophet S.A.W said that - there are five nights in which the dua is not rejected and those are, the night of Jumma, the first night of Rajab, the night of fifteenth of Shabaan and the nights of the two Eids. (Musannaf Abdur Razzak : Hadith No 7927)

Hadith No 5

Hazrat Umar Bin Abdul Aziz Rh. Al Mutawaffa 100 Hij. writes in a letter to the Governor of Basra in which he states - you must worship in the four masnoon nights because Allah showers his blessings and Rehma immensely during them.

1 – The first night of Rajab

2 – The night of 15th of Shabaan

3 – The night of Eid ul Fitr

4 – The night of Eid Ul Adha

From this hadith Imam Ibn ul Mulaqqan Rh. Al Mutawaffa 804 Hij and Imam Ibn Hajar Asqalaani Rh. Al Mutawaffa 852 Hij. has done Istedlaal, which shows that they considered this hadith to be SAHEEH.

(Istedlaal - means when jurists uses the word more or less in the sense of inferring a thing from another thing in connection with the rules of interpretation)

(Badr ul Muneer : Volume 5 : Page 40)

(Talkhees ul Habeer : Volume 2 : Page 191) 

(At-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb Lil Abul Qaasim Asbahaani : Volume 2 : Page 393)

• Hazrat Makhool Rh. Al Mutawaffa 100 Hij.  is also agreeing to the Fazilat of 15th of Shabaan. (15 Shabaan ki Haqiqat : Page 20)

In the highlighted text, the heading very clearly states that performing prayer or worshiping in Jamaat is a BIDAH but doing it alone is MUSTAHAB (''It is that action which Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) or Sahabah practiced upon seldomly.''(Bahishti zewar 11/4)''By practicing upon it a person will be rewarded but by leaving it out he wont get any sin.''(ibid, Raddul muhtaar 1/123)''Fuqaha also term it as nafil, mandub and tatawu.''(ibid) Hence you can see there is no difference between these terms.)

Second Century 101-200 Hij. :

1 – Hazrat Khalid Bin Ma’ad Rh. Al Mutawaffa 103 Hij.

2 – Luqmaan Bin Aamir Rh.

3 – Imam Auzaayi Rh. Al Mutawaffa 157 Hij.

also agree on the Fazilat of 15th of Shabaan.

(15 Shabaan ki Haqiqat : Page 20-21)

Third Century [201-300 Hij.] :

1 – Imam Shafa’i Rh. Al Mutawaffa 204 Hij. says that dua is accepted in the following five nights.

1 – The night of Jumma.

2 – Night of Eid Ul Adha 

3 – Night of Eid Ul Fitr

4 – First night of Rajab

5 – Night of 15th of Shabaan

(Kitaab Ul Umm : : Volume 2 : Page 485 , Hadith No 492 ,: Page 264)

2 – Imam Abu Abdullah Muhammad Bin Ishaaq Bin Abbas Faakihi Makki  275 Hijri in his Book on History “Akhbaar-E-Makkah” has included a complete Chapter with the heading:

“The Practice of People of Makkah on 15th of Shabaan and There Mujahida on that Night due to its Fazeelat”

He writes:

And the people of Makkah from the past until now, whenever it is 15th of Shabaan, all the people would go to Masjid e Harum, offer Salaah and do Tawaaf, worship the whole night and do recitation of the Holy Quran till morning. Until the whole Quran was finished and then offer prayers. (Akhbaar E Makkah Fii Qadaamin Dahri Wa Hadeesihi : Page 84)

3 – Imam Ishaq Bin Rahaawe Rh. Al Mutawaffa 235 also agree on the Fazilat of 15th of Shabaan. (15 Shabaan ki Haqiqat : Page 21)

Fourth Century (301-400 Hij.) :

Shaykh Abu Taalib Al Makki Rh. Al Mutawaffa 386 Hij. also says that it is Mustahab to do Ibadaah on the night of fifteenth of Shabaan. (Qootul Quloob : Volume 1 : Page 189)

Fifth Century (401-500Hij.) :

Imam Behaiqi Rh. Al Mutawaffa 458 Hij. copies Imam Shafii Rh. statement in Muta’adidi Maqaamaat and does Istedlaal which shows that he also agreed on the blessings of fifteenth of Shabaan. (Sunan E Kubra Lil Behaiqi : Volume 3 : Page 319)

(Maarifatus Sunan Wal Aasaar Lil Behaiqi : Volume 5 : Page 118 , Raqm No 7028)

(Shoaib Ul Imaan : Volume 5 : Page 287 , Hadith No 3438)

2 – Sheikh Abdul Qadar Jilaani Rh. Al Mutawaffa 561 Hij. also mentions about fifteenth of Shabaan in his book and its blessings which proves that he also agreed with the blessings of this night. (Ghunayatut Taalibeen Mutarjim : Page 368)

Sixth Century (501-600 Hij.) :

1 – Imam Ghazali Rh. Al Mutawaffa 505 Hij. also agrees with the Fazilat of fifteenth of Shabaan. (15 Shabaan ki Haqiqat : Page 21)

Seventh Century (601-700 Hij.) :

1 – Imam Ibn Salaah Rh. Al Mutawaffa 643 Hij. also agrees with the Fazilat of fifteenth of Shabaan. (Shab e Baraat ki Haqiqat : Page 21)

2 – Imam Nawawi Rh. Al Mutawaffa 676 Hij. does Istedlaal and says that Imam Shafa’i Rh. in his book Kitaab Ul Umm states that dua is accepted in five nights.

1 – The night of Jumah

2 – Night of Eid Ul Adha

3 – Night of Eid Ul Fitr

4 – First night of Rajab.

5 – The night of fifteenth of Shabaan 

(Al Majmu Lin Nawawi : Volume 5 : Page 50)

Eighth Century 701-800 Hij. :

1 – Imam Ibn Taimiya Rh. Al Mutawaffa 728 Hij. says whatever said, fifteenth of Shabaan does have Fazilat and the Salaf use to do prayers in it. Doing Ibadah in a jamaat is still a bidah. 

(Mustadrak Alaa Majmua Al Fatawaa : Volume 3 : Page 112)

2 – Imam Ibn Ul Haaj Al Maaliki Rh. Al Mutawaffa 737 Hij. says about the Aslaaf on fifteenth of Shabaan and while mentioning there routine says 

“And there is no doubt that this night has a lot of blessings and has a high status in front of Allah. Our Aslaaf use to respect it and prepare themselves long before it arrives for blessings. When this night use to come, they use to be ready for it, to give due respect and this is the right to do in this night. 

(Al Mudkhal : Volume 1 : Page 299)

3 – Imam Ibn Rajab Rh. Al Mutawaffa 795 Hij. says

فينبغي للمؤمن أن يتفرغ في تلك الليلة لذكر الله تعالى ودعائه بغفران الذنوب وستر العيوب وتفريج الكروب

Its better for a momin to be free for this night, for remembering Allah, doing dhikr, and asking for forgiveness. etc etc 

(Lataa-E-Ful Ma’arif : Page 365)

Nineth Century (801-900 Hij.) :

Imam Abu Ishaq Ibn Muflih Rh. Al Mutawaffa 884 Hij says that

It is Mustahab to be awake during Maghrib and Isha and do Ibadaah due to hadith. The night of Ashura, first night of Rajab, and the night of 15th of Shabaan. It is mustahab to worship in them. 

(Al Mubdi : Volume 2 : Page 33)

Tenth Century (901-1000 Hij.) :

Imam Suyuti Rh. Al Mutawaffa 911 Hij. says that fifteenth of night has Fazilat and to worship in it is Mustahab. 

(Haqiqatus Sunnah Wal Bidaah : Page 54)

So we see above that 1000 Century of Salaf, Fuqaha and Muhaddiseen have all agreed on its Fazilat and have encouraged us to worship in it. 


In the next post Insha Allah we will see more sayings of the Salaf, Fuqaha and Muhaddissen on 15th of Shabaan.