THE 15TH NIGHT OF SHABAN

By Sh Fakhruddin Owaisi

On the 15th night of Shaban (Nisfu Shaban) we should read Surah Yasin with the famous Nisf Sha'ban Dua 3 times, with the 3 intentions of Long life with good deeds, Warding off Calamitues, and non-dependance on creation. This has been prescribed by our Tijani Shaykhs.

Also recite the Awrad Ikhtiyariyyah like the Hizb al-Sayfi, al-Mughni, Asma Idrisiyyah, Musabbi'at...etc....if you have permission.

Reciting a lot of Salat al-Fatih is always a blessing.

1-Rasul-Allah (SAW) Said:

"Allah Looks at His creation in the night of mid-Sha'ban and He forgives all His creation except for a mushrik (idolater) or a mushahin (one bent on hatred)."

Narrated by Ibn-Hibban.

2-Rasul-Allah (SAW) said:

"Allah looks upon His creatures on the night of mid-Sha'ban and He forgives all His servants except two: one intent on hatred, and the killer". 

Narrated by Tirmidhi, Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal and al-Bazzar.

3- Sayyidah Aishah stated 

The Prophet (SAW) stood up in prayer during part of the night and made his Sajdah so lengthy that I thought his soul had been taken back.

When I saw this I got up and went to move his big toe, whereupon he moved, so I drew back.

When he raised his head from prostration and finished praying, he said: "O Aishah! Did you think that the Prophet had broken his agreement with you?" 

She replied: "No, by Allah, O Messenger of Allah, but I thought that your soul had been taken back because your stayed in prostration for so long."

He said: "Do you know what night this is?" She said: "Allah and His Prophet know best."

He said: "This is the night of mid-Sha'ban! Verily Allah the Glorious and Majestic LOOKS AT His servants on the night of mid-Sha'ban, and He Forgives those who ask forgiveness, and He bestows Mercy on those who ask mercy, but He delays the people of Jelaousy and Spite in their (bad) state." 

Narrated by al-Bayhaqi.

4- From Sayyidah Aishah also:

"I missed the Prophet (SAW) one night so I went out to al-Baqi graveyard (and found him there).

He said: "Were you afraid that Allah would wrong you and that His Prophet would wrong you?"

I said: "O Messenger of Allah, I thought that you might have gone to visit one of your (other) wives."

He said: "Allah Glorious and Exalted descends (i.e. His special Mercy) to the nearest heaven on the night of mid-Sha'ban and He forgives more people than the number of hairs on the skin of the sheep of the tribes of Kalb.

Narrated by Tirmidhi, Ahmad bin Hanbal,and Ibn-Majah.

5-From Sayyidina Ali bin Abi-Talib:

The Prophet (SAW) said:

"On The night of mid-Shaban, let all of you spend the night in prayer and its day in fasting, for Allah (i.e. His special Gaze) descends to the nearest heaven during that night beginning with sunset and says:

Is there no one asking forgiveness that I may forgive them?

Is there no one asking sustenance that I may grant them sustenance?

Is there no one under trial that I may relieve them?

Is there not such-and-such, is there not such-and-such, and so forth until until dawn rises".

Narrated by Ahmad and Ibn-Majah.

Allah Taala Himself says in the Blessed Quran:

"Inna anzalnahu fi laylatin mubarakatin inna kunna mundhirin. Fiha yufraqu kullu Amrin Hakeem".

Lo! We revealed it on a BLESSED NIGHT! Lo! We are ever warning! Whereupon every wise command is made clear!

(The Holy Qur'an 44: 3-6)

Although the majority of the Quran commentators consider the BLESSED NIGHT in this Ayat to be the 27th Night of Ramadan (Laylat ul-Qadr), many scholars, like Imam al-Suyuti said that it COULD BE THE MIDDLE THE NIGHT OF SHABAN ALSO!

This is because of all the Ahadith that highlight the greatness of that night.

It is because of this Ayah that it is believed that Allah Ta'ala reveals our Destinies (Taqdeer) for the whole year to the Angels on this night.

People make Ibadah on this night because if we are in a state of Ibadah, then it may be that Allah will change some of His Taqdeer regarding us to better.

Islamic Scholars from all groups, such as Imam al-Suyuti and Shaykh Ibn-Taymiyyah agree that the Night of 15th Shaban is one of the holiest nights in the Islamic Year.

The blessings of the Middle Night of Shaban are related to us through many sources.

SOME THINGS TO DO ON THIS BLESSED NIGHT ARE:

1-IT IS SUNNAH TO MAKE A  LOT OF IBADAH ON THE 15th NIGHT OF SHABAN, AS IT IS THE NIGHT OF FORGIVENESS.

SO ONE SHOULD PRAY A LOT ON THAT NIGHT AND SHUN SLEEP.

2-IT IS SUNNAH TO VISIT THE GRAVEYARD ON THAT NIGHT. SO PLEASE VISIT THE GRAVEYARDS NEAR TO YOU.

YOU CAN MAKE IBADAT THERE ALSO, BUT THE MASJID IS THE FIRST PREFERENCE.

3-PLEASE FAST ON THE DAY OF 15th SHABAN.

FASTING IS VERY MUCH LOVED BY ALLAH.

4-PLEASE RECITE AT LEAST ONE JUZ OF THE QURAN ON THIS NIGHT.

READING THE HOLY QURAN IS ONE OF THE GREATEST IBADAT.

5-PRAY SALAT UL-TASBIH. THIS IS A SPECIAL PRAYER PRESCRIBED BY THE PROPHET ﷺ.

May Allah accept from us. Ameen!

By Sh Fakhruddin Owaisi