Shab E Barat is Bid’ah?
Weak & Fabricated Hadith
Many scholars show the hadiths listed below to prove the significance of the middle of Sha’ban or Shab E Barat. Note that none of these hadiths are Sahih or Authentic. When scholars who support the significance of Shab E Barat, never show the Grades of these Hadiths when they mention them.
It was narrated that ‘Ali bin Abu Talib said:
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘When it is the night of the middle of Sha’ban, spend its night in prayer and observe a fast on that day. For Allah descends at sunset on that night to the lowest heaven and says: ‘Is there no one who will ask Me for forgiveness, that I may forgive him? Is there no one who will ask Me for provision, that I may provide for him? Is there no one who is afflicted by trouble, that I may relieve him?’ And so on, until dawn comes.’” – Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1388. Grade: Maudu (fabricated).
It was narrated that ‘Aishah said:
“I missed the Prophet (ﷺ) one night, so I went out looking for him. I found him at Al-Baqi’, raising his head towards the sky. He said: ‘O ‘Aishah, were you afraid that Allah and His Messenger would wrong you?’” She said: “I said: ‘No, it is not that, but I thought that you had gone to one of your other wives.’ He said: ‘Allah descends on the night of the middle of Sha’ban to the lowest heaven, and He forgives more than the numbers of hairs on the sheep of Banu Kalb.’” – Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1389. Grade: Da’if (weak).
Aishah narrated:
“I could not find the Messenger of Allah one night. So I left and found him at Al-Baqi. He said: ‘Did you fear that you had been wronged by Allah and His Messenger?’ I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! I thought that you had gone to one of your wives.’ So he said: ‘Indeed Allah, Mighty and Sublime is He, descends to the lowest Heavens during the night of the middle of Sha’ban, to grant forgiveness to more than the number of hairs on the sheep of (Banu) Kalb.'” – Jami At-Tirmidhi, Vol. 2, Book 3, Hadith 739. Grade: Da’if (weak).
It was narrated from Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Allah looks down on the night of the middle of Sha’ban and forgives all His creation, apart from the idolater and the Mushahin.” Another chain from Abu Musa, from the Prophet (ﷺ) with similar wording. – Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1390. Grade: Da’if (weak).
Misunderstood Qur’anic Verse
Many Scholars also shows the verse mentioned below from the Qur’an to prove the significance of the middle of Sha’ban i.e. Shab E Barat. They even sometimes call this night ‘Lailatul Mubaraka’ because in arabic ‘mubaraka’ is used in the verse which states that Allah says, “Indeed, We sent this Qur’an down during a Mubaraka Night”. We know from other verses from the Qur’an and through many Authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) that the Qur’an was revealed in the month of Ramadan not Shab’an. This clearly proves that this verse in Surah Ad-Dhukan is talking about the blessed night of Shab E Qadr which is in the month of Ramadan.
“By the clear Book, Indeed, We sent it (Qur’an) down during a blessed night. Indeed, We were to warn [mankind]. On that night is made distinct every precise matter – [Every] matter [proceeding] from Us. Indeed, We were to send [a messenger] as mercy from your Lord. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.” – Surat Ad-Dukhan, Chapter 44, Verse 2-6.
Many Scholars sometimes even extract some verses from Surah Al-Qadr which is in Chapter 97 to prove that Shab E Barat or Lailatul Mubaraka is a blessed night. The name of the Surah itself is sufficient to prove this wrong as the name of the Surah is Al-Qadr not Barat or Mubaraka. This chapter is a continuation of the above mentioned verse in Surah Ad-Dukhan, chapter 44. The above verse states, “We sent it (Qur’an) down during a blessed night.” and the verse below states, “We have sent it (this Qur’an) down in the night of Al-Qadr (decree)”, if we combine both the verses we will get “We have sent it (this Qur’an) down in a blessed night of Al-Qadr (decree).
“Verily! We have sent it (this Qur’an) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree). And what will make you know what the night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is? The night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allah in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, (i.e. 83 years and 4 months). Therein descend the angels and the Ruh [Jibrael (Gabriel)] by Allah’s Permission with all Decrees, Peace! (All that night, there is Peace and Goodness from Allah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn.” – Surat Al-Qadr, Chapter 97, Verse 1-5.
This proves that there is no mention of such night as Shab E Barat in the Qur’an and the Authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
No Special Night Prayer & Fasting on 15th Shab’an
If someone prays in the night of 15th Shab’an considering that it has special significance, he will be doing Bid’ah (innovation in religion) and Bid’ah in Islam is completely prohibited and is considered a great sin. But, if a person is used to offering the Night Prayer (Tahajjud) in other nights of the year, he may offer his Night Prayer (Tahajjud) in the night of 15th Shab’an as well, just like any other nights. And if a person is used to fasting on 13th, 14th, 15th of every month of the year, he may as well fast on the day of 15th Shab’an just like any other months.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) used to fast on 13th, 14th, 15th of every month
One thing must be mentioned that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) used to pray the night prayer in every night of the year and that he (pbuh) also used to fast on 13th, 14th and 15th of every months of the year. And that Allah descends on to the lowest heaven on every night of the year to forgive people who ask through the night prayer. Therefore, all these facts are not exclusive to 15th Shab’an.
It was narrated from Jubair bin Nufair that a man asked Aishah about fasting and she said:
“The Messenger of Allah used to fast all of Sha’ban, and he made sure to fast on Mondays and Thursdays.” – Sunan An-Nasa’i, Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2188. Grade: Sahih.
It was narrated that ‘Aishah said:
“The Messenger of Allah did not fast any month more than Shaban; he used to fast (all of) it, or most of it.” – Sunan An-Nasa’i, Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2356. Grade: Sahih.
It was narrated that ‘Aishah said:
“The Messenger of Allah used to fast (all of) Shaban except a little.” – Sunan An-Nasa’i, Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2357. Grade: Sahih.
Usamah bin Zaid said:
“I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting any month as much as Shaban.’ He said: ‘That is a month to which people do not pay much attention, between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which the deeds are taken up to the Lord of the worlds, and I like that my deeds be taken up when I am fasting.” – Sunan An-Nasa’i, Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2359. Grade: Hasan (good).
Allah descends to the Lowest Heaven on Every Night
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
Our Lord, the Blessed and the Exalted, descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the latter part of the night is left, and says: Who supplicates Me so that I may answer him? Who asks Me so that I may give to him? Who asks Me forgiveness so that I may forgive him? – Sahih Al Muslim, Book 4, Hadith 1656.
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
Allah descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the first part of the night is over and says: I am the Lord; I am the Lord: who is there to supplicate Me so that I answer him? Who is there to beg of Me so that I grant him? Who is there to beg forgiveness from Me so that I forgive him? He continues like this till the day breaks. – Sahih Al Muslim, Book 4, Hadith 1657.
Act of Bid’ah (innovation in Islam) is Rejected
Narrated Aisha:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “If somebody innovates something which is not in harmony with the principles of our religion, that thing is rejected.” – Sahih Al Bukhari, Vol. 3, Book 49, Hadith 861.
Aishah narrated that:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever innovates something in this matter of ours (i.e. Islam) that is not part of it, will have it rejected.” – Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 14. Grade: Sahih.
‘Asim reported:
I asked Anas b. Malik whether Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) had declared Medina as sacred. He said: Yes. (the area) between so and so. He who made any innovation in it, and further said to me: It is something serious to make any innovation in it (and he who does it) there is upon him the curse of Allah, and that of the angels and of all the people, Allah will not accept from him on the Day of Resurrection either obligatory acts or the supererogatory acts. Ibn Anas said: Or he accommodates an innovator. – Sahih Al Muslim, Book 7, Hadith 3159.
May Allah guide us and make us among the ones who seek and follow the right path. And may Allah also protect us from any form of Bid’ah (innovation in religion), which is indeed a great sin.
Also read – Ruling on Celebrating the Middle of Shaban.
