sha'ban: misconceptions and realities

The month of Shabaan would bring in a lot of excitementand celebration. And that was because celebrating the night of the fifteenth ofShabaan was a big thing and considered a very virtuous act, indeed.
Men wouldgather in the masjid while the women prepared 'Halwas' and sweets, preparationswere made for all night vigils or "Shabeenas" as they were called, buses weremade available to take the men to visit the graveyards and flyers weredistributed to everyone containing a long list of 'special prayers' so that theycould stay up all night praying.

But, Alhamdulillaah, how Allaah Subhaanahu wa Taala protects His Deen. WhenAllaah enabled me to study this beautiful religion of ours, all that changed. Irealized that all those 'special prayers', all those night vigils, all thoseHalwas and all those graveyard visits were really not the way of the Prophet(Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam). In fact all that was far...far away from hisSunnah and the Shareeah that he brought.

And so I thought I would bring to attention some of the misconceptions and wrongideas attached to this month as this ignorance and innovation has become sorampant, that it has become a sort of an epidemic in practically every Muslim community that exists.

Misconception # 1:
The night of the 15th of Shabaan should be singled out for worship, prayer, etc.

Clarification:Our best example and role model is the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam)and he never, ever singled out this night for worship or qiyaam nor did hisSahaba.Shaykh Ibn Baaz said:"There is no saheeh hadeeth concerning the night of thefifteenth of Sha’baan. All the ahaadeeth that have been narrated concerning thatare mawdoo’ (fabricated) and daeef (weak), and have no basis. There is nothingspecial about this night, and no recitation of Quraan or prayer, whether aloneor in congregation, is specified for this night. What some of the scholars havesaid about it being special is a weak opinion. It is not permissible to singleit out for any special actions. This is the correct view. And Allaah is theSource of strength." (Fataawa Islamiyyah, 4/511)read moreLaylat al-Nusf min Sha’baan should not be singled out for worshiphttp://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/8907

Misconception # 2:
There are special prayers to be offered on this night.

Clarification:
The truth of the matter is that there are NO special prayers to be offered onthis night specifically. And all those 'ahaadeeth' giving you long lists ofspecial 'formulas' that are "supposed to guarantee you Allaah's forgiveness andJannah" are all fabricated, false and innovations in our Deen. If there weresuch prayers, the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) would have told usabout them and we would have had evidence of him and the Sahaba doing it.

Misconception # 3:
Allaah descends to the first heavens on this night to forgive us.
Clarification:
Allaah’s descending to the first heaven does not only happen on the night of thefifteenth of Shabaan. Rather it happens every single night of the year.The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said: "Every night when it is thelast third of the night, our Lord, the Superior, the Blessed,descends to thenearest heaven and says: Is there anyone to invoke Me that I may respond to hisinvocation? Is there anyone to ask Me so that I may grant him his request? Isthere anyone asking My forgiveness so that I may forgive him?. " (Bukhaari)
Thus, when Abd-Allaah ibn al-Mubaarak was asked about the descent of Allaah onthe night of the fifteenth of Shabaan, he said to the one who asked him: “O weakone! The night of the fifteenth?! He descends every night!” read moreDoes Allaah come down to the first heaven on the night of the fifteenth ofSha’baan?http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/49678

Misconception # 4:
This is the night when our fate, lifespan, and provisions are decreed.
Clarification:
Some people think that the "blessed night" (laylatim-mubarakah) mentioned inSurah ad-Dukhaan (44): 3, refers to the night of 15th Shabaan, when Allahdecrees our lifespan, provisions and fate. In fact, they even pray 6 rakahs, 2for each of these things. However, all that is fabricated and far, far away fromthe Sunnah. And, in reality, the "blessed night" mentioned in Surah ad-Dukhaan,actually is referring to Laylatul Qadr that comes in Ramadhaan. (Tafseer IbnKathir of Surah al-Qadr)

Misconception # 5:
One should fast on the day of the fifteenth.
Clarification:
Here again, there is no saheeh reports that tell us that the Prophet (SalAllaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) or his Sahaabah ever picked this day specifically tofast. The Sunnah of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) was to fast mostof this month and not just the 15th. However, if the fifteenth of Shabaancoincides with a Monday or Thursday, or with the three white days or if a personis generally fasting, without associating seeking extra rewards to fasting thisspecific day, then it is allowed. (Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid)

Misconception # 6:
This is the night when the souls of departed ones return to their families.
Clarification:
Here again, some people misunderstand the ayaat in Surah al-Qadr and think thatthe 'sending down of the Ruh' as mentioned in this Surah refers to the souls ofdead people returning to see their families, even though it refers to Jibreel(Tafseer Ibn Kathir). And that is why we see women preparing the sweets,the Halwas and other 'goodies' for the souls of their loved ones.Not only is that in itself an erroneous, deviant belief and bidah, but tobelieve that the souls of the dead can return back to the world and meet/seetheir relatives is also totally incorrect and false. The teachings of the Quraanand the Sunnah clearly state that the souls of the dead do not return back tothe world. Besides, they don't even eat the Halwas. It is actually you who eatsit!

Misconception # 7:
Visiting graveyards especially this night is something good.
Clarification:
Although the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) encouraged visiting graves,he forbade singling out any day or night for any kinds of good deeds if it isnot prescribed in the Shareeah. And he did not specifically visit the graveyardon the night of the 15th of Shabaan. The hadeeth of Aisha that mentions that theProphet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) visited the graveyard this night is notauthentic and thus does not have any proof for visiting graves specifically onthis night of Shabaan.

Misconception # 8:
Even if the ahaadeeth about worship on this night are weak, one can still do it.
Clarification:
The correct scholarly view is that weak ahaadeeth should not befollowed at all, even if they speak of righteous deeds or of targheeb andtarheeb (promises and warnings). The saheeh reports are sufficient and theMuslim has no need to follow the daeef reports.Shaykh Ahmad Shaakir said: "There is no difference between rulings or righteousdeeds; we do not take any of them from daeef reports, rather no one has theright to use any report as evidence unless it is proven to be soundly narratedfrom the Messenger of Allaah (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) in a saheeh or hasanhadeeth." read moreShould he fast on the fifteenth of Sha’baan even if the hadeeth is da’eef?http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/49675

Misconception # 9:
Look at all those people doing it. How can they all be wrong?
Clarification:
The Muslim is supposed to refer to Allaah and His Messenger (Sal Allaahu Alayhiwa Sallam)'s Sunnah, if there is any confusion or dispute about matters and NOTwhat the rest of the world is doing.“O you who believe! Obey Allaah and obey the Messenger and those of you who arein authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it toAllaah and His Messenger, if you believe in Allaah and in the Last Day. That isbetter and more suitable for final determination [al-Nisaa’ 4:59]Shaykh Ibn Jibreen said: "These reports (about worship and fasting an the 15thof Sha'baan) became very well known in some countries which were overwhelmed byignorance; One should not be deceived by the large numbers of ignorant peoplewho do these things."

The REAL Sunnah regarding Sha'baan:

If you truly and sincerely want to please Allaah and do deeds that will beacceptable to Him, then follow the REAL Sunnah of the Prophet (Sal AllaahuAlayhi wa Sallam). Here is what is proven in the authentic sunnah:
1. Fast most of this month as much as you can.Aaishah RA said: “I never saw the Messenger of Allaah fasting for an entiremonth except in Ramadaan, and I never saw him fast more than he did inSha’baan.” (Bukhaari, Muslim).
2. However, if you are weak or do not fast habitually and feel that this nafilfasting may be a hindrance to your obligatory fasting in the month of Ramadhaan,then the person may stop the nafil fasting in the last few days of this month.And for that person, the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:“When Sha’baan is half over, do not fast.” (saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheehal-Tirmidhi).
3. If you have fasts left over from last Ramadhaan to make up, then hurry up anddo so in this month of Sha'baan before the next Ramadhaan comes. It is notpermissible to delay missed fasts until after the following Ramadhaan, except incases of necessity (such as a valid excuse that continues between the twoRamadaans).Aa'ishah RA said: 'It used to be that I had days to make up for Ramadhaan and Iwould not be able to do so except in Sha'baan.” [Bukhaari]
As-salaam Walekum