Mid-Sha'ban is the 15th day of the Muslim month of Sha'ban. Laylatul Bara'ah is the night preceding the 15th day of Shaban.
Muslims observe Sha'ban as the month in which the deeds of the people are taken up to Allah. It is preferred for Muslims to fast almost the whole of Sha'ban.
The reason for this is explained in the report narrated by al-Nasaa'i and Abu Dawood, and classed as saheeh by Ibn Khuzaymah, according to which Usaamah ibn Zayd said: "I said, 'O Messenger of Allaah, I do not see you fasting in any month more than in Sha'baan.' He said, 'That is a month concerning which many people are heedless, between Rajab and Ramadan. It is the month is which people's deeds are taken up to the Lord of the Worlds, and I would like my deeds to be taken up whilst I am fasting.'" Classed as hasanbyal-AlbaaniinSaheeh al-Nasaa'i, 2221.
However, some Muslims fast only on the 15th of Sha'ban and observe it as Lailatul Bara'ath and maintain that it is advisable to fast on this day.[1]
Other Muslim scholars maintain that it is recommended to fast almost the whole of Sha'ban - but oppose the "singling out" of only one day, i.e. the 15th of Sha'ban for worship and fasting as the Prophet Muhammad has never taught of such a practice. [2]
Shias celebrates the 15th night of Sha'ban as Laylat al Bara'at and observes this night as a night of worship. Being different to sunnis they also believe that on the 15th of Sha'ban, 255 AH (868CE), Muhammad al-Mahdi was born. Shias believe him to be the twelveth Shia Imam and also the Mahdi, a very important figure who is believed by Muslims to bring absolute peace to the world.
Some Sunni groups observe Mid-Sha'ban as a night of worship and salvation, commemorating when Allah saved Noah followers from the deluge. In their belief, during this night, Allah prepares the destiny for all people on Earth for the coming year. For this reason it is sometimes called the Night of Emancipation Lailat al Bara'at.
Imam Ibn-Taimiyyah rahmatullahi alayh was asked about the importance of the 15th night of Sha’ban. He replied:
As for the 15th night of Shabaan, there are many narrations and Athar (quotes from the Sahabah image) regarding its virtue. It has been reported of the salaf that they prayed in this night. Therefore, praying alone on this night, having precedence in the salaf, is sufficient evidence and something of this kind surely cannot be denied.
At another occasion, Imam Ibn-Taimiyyah rahmatullahi alayh was asked the same question and he replied:
If one prays on this night alone or in a select company of people as many groups amongst the salaf did, then it is good. As for congregating in the masjid upon a fixed prayer like gathering upon a salat with 100 rakats, and reciting Surah Ikhlas a thousand times, this is bida’t. None of the scholars extolled this and Allah knows best. [3]
Sheikhul Hadith Fazlur Rahman A'azami (a Hanafi scholar) writes in his balanced book titled, "Shabe Baraat: The fifteenth of Sha'ban in light of the Qur'an and Hadith": "Ibnu-Taymiyyah, a scholar notorious for refuting such things, also accepts the virtue of the night of Baraat. He says: 'So many Ahaadith and reports exist regarding the excellence of the fifteenth night of Sha'ban that one is compelled to accept that this night does possess some virtue.' Some of the pious predecessors used to specially devote this night for Salat."[4]
Other Sunnis contend that the day is a bidah against Islam and should not have any special status. They argue that the earliest generations of Muslims, notably the Salaf, never observed nor commemorated this day at all. Notable scholars who hold this position include Ibn Rajab who asserted :
There is no sound report from Rasulullah or from his companions about Laylat al-Nusf min Sha’ban (the middle of Sha’ban).[5]
Moreover, Imam Nawawi stated:
The prayer that is known as salaat al-raghaa’ib, which is twelve rak’ahs between Maghrib and ‘Ishaa’ on the night of the first Friday in Rajab, and the prayer of Laylat al-Nusf min Sha’ban, of one hundred raka'ah – these two prayers are reprehensible bidah. No one should be deceived by the fact that they are mentioned in the books Qut al-Qulub and Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Deen, or by the hadith which is mentioned in these two books. All of that is false.[6]
1. Authentic ahadeeth
All the hadeeth about the virtues of the middle of Sha’baan are weak and fabricated. The only exception is the one below, based on the research of Sheikh Muhammad Naasir ud – Deen al – Albaanee:
Aboo Hurayrah, ‘Aa’ishah, and other companions (may Allaah be pleased with them) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Allaah looks upon His creation on the middle of the night of Sha’baan, and He forgives all of His creation, except for a mushrik or a quarreler.” [7]
The Messenger of Allaah Sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "Allaah the Blessed and Most High looks to His creation on the middle night of Sha'baan and forgives all of His creation except for the one who ascribes partners to Him and the one who shows enmity." [8]
2. Weak and Fabricated hadeeth:
As for the other narrations concerning the 15th of Sha'baan (which are not authentic), the Hanafi scholar, Shaikh Mulla 'Alee al-Qaaree (d.1014H) Rahimahullah records some of these Ahadeeth:
The Hadeeth: "Whoever prays on the middle night of Sha'baan with 30 Rak'ahs, reciting in each Rak'ah Soorah al-Ikhlaas 30 times, he is permitted to intercede for ten of those who were destined for the Fire."
The hadeeth: "Whoever recites on the middle night of Sha'baan 1000 times Soorah al-Ikhlaas... Allaah sends to him 100,000 Angels to convey the good news to him."
The hadeeth: "O 'Alee! Whoever prays 100 Rak'ahs on the middle night of Sha'baan reciting 100 times Soorah al-Ikhlaas..."
Shaikh al-Qaaree goes on to say: "Prayers such as these were newly introduced into Islaam following the first 400 years, emerging from the region of Bayt al-Muqadis, thereafter ahadeeth were fabricated in their favour," and he further says, "There are other ahadeeth of this nature and there is nothing authentic in them whatsoever." [9]
Likewise, Ash-Shawkanee (d.1250H) lists a number of hadeeth similar to the above in which various numbers of raka'hs (along with specific soorahs) are instructed to be prayed on the middle night of Sha'baan which he concludes by saying: "All of it is futile and fabricated." (Al-Fawa'id al-Majmu' fee Ahadeeth al-Mawdu' no.147-148)
And al-Ghazaalee mentions prayer on the middle night of Sha'baan in his book Ihya 'Uloom ad-Deen, saying: "The prayer of Sha'baan is observed in the night of the 15th Sha'baan with 100 rak'ahs."
Commenting on this al-Haafidh al-'Iraaqee (d. approx 800H) wrote in Al-Mughnee (no.634): "A futile narration."
Evidence is also sought with the following hadeeth: "If the middle night of Sha'baan comes, you should offer prayer during the night and observe fast during the day..."
This hadith is recorded by Ibn Majah with his chain of transmission, and it is not authentic. Al-'Iraaqee says in Al-Mughnee (no.634): "Its chain of transmission is weak" and the same is said by al-Bowsaree in his book az Zawaa'id. Its weakness is, in fact, very severe since its chain of transmission contains the narrator Aboo Bakr bin 'Abdullah bin Muhammad ibn Abee Sabrah. Imaam al-Bukhaaree said about him: "Rejected in hadeeth" and an-Nasaa'ee said: "He is abandoned in hadeeth" and Imaam Ahmed said: "He used to fabricate hadeeth." Therefore, Shaikh al-Albaanee indicates that this hadith is extremely weak in Mishkaat (1/no.1308).
The hadeeth: "In it (i.e. the 15th of Sha'baan) a record is made of every human who will be born and of every human who will die that year, in it their actions are taken up to Heaven and in it their provision is sent down..."
The narration is attributed to al-Bayhaaqee in ad-Da'waat al-Kabeer. This is one of the principle narrations used by those who believe that it is on the middle night of Sha'baan that such things are decreed. Its authenticity should certainly be looked into. Everyone who claims that it is authentic has the burden of proof to establish that every man in its chain of transmission is trustworthy and reliable and that the chain is connected without having any defects. Shaikh al-Albaanee writes in Mishkaat (1/no.1305): "I did not come across it in the book (i.e. of al-Bayhaaqee), nor have I come across its isnaad, nor anyone who has spoken about it, and in all probability it is weak."
And there is another narration saying: "Indeed Allaah records in it (i.e. in Sha'baan) the persons who will die that year..."
It is reported by Abu Ya'la in his Musnad (8/no.4911). Its chain of transmission contains Suwayd bin Sa'eed and Muslim bin Khalid az-Zanjee and they are both weak narrators as Ibn Hajar says in at-Taqreeb. In addition to this, the narration speaks only of Sha'baan in general and mentions nothing concerning the 15th of that month so there is no proof in this for those who seek to single out this night. There is a similar narration in an-Nasaa'ee (4/no.201).
Dr. Muhammad al – Jibaly said: The hadeeth indicates that this night surely has a special merit, and only Allaah knows its reason. The hadeeth, however, does not call to performing any special acts of worship during this night or the following day. It merely calls to eliminating all shirk and hatred from among the Muslims in order to deserve Allaah’s immense forgiveness.
Thus, people’s celebration of the 15th of Sha’baan by gathering together for a long prayer in which Soorat ul – Ikhlaas is recited one thousand times, by fasting the following day, etc – these are innovated acts of worship that are rejected in Islaam.
We should note that, in the above hadeeth, the Prophet (peace be upon him) indicated that Allaah, the Most High, does not forgive on this night those who have a quarrel with others. How, then, about a person who deviates from the Sunnah and establishes bid’ahs, thereby declaring a quarrel against the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself? How would such a person be forgiven?[10]
The conclusion drawn from Shaikhul Hadith Fazlur Rahman A'azamis book is that yes, this night has a special significance because of the various Ahadith on this topic. Though no specific number of Salat are mentioned for this night, but extra Salat can be performed (as mentioned by Ibnu Taymiyyah in the above mentioned book by Shaykhul Hadith Fazlur Rahman) but there is no authentic Hadith supporting the fast specifically of this day.[11] Hence if someone wants to fast, they should fast on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of this blessed month or they should fast on Mondays and Thursdays of this blessed month of Sha'ban. Muslims should not 'single out' the 15th of Sha'ban for fasting.
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