MONTH OF SHA'BAN - SIGNIFICANCES AND THE 15TH NIGHT OF SHA'BAN - Al-Ihsan Media

All thanks to Almighty Allah. May the blessings of Allah be upon the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, including His entire household and His companions.

THE MONTH OF SHA'BAN

The first month after the first sacred month of the Islamic calendar is indeed a month which is filled with the blessings of Allah. The month of Sha'ban is no doubt one of those months whose qualities and significances are well known to all the Muslims regarding the blessings and the mercy of Almighty Allah contained in it, also its value was made clear to us and explained in some of the Hadiths of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

It was reported in an Hadith narrated by Seyyidah Aisha R.A that:

The Prophet never fasted in any month more than in the month of Sha'ban. He used to say, "Do those deeds which you can do easily, as Allah will not get tired (of giving rewards) till you get bored and tired (of performing religious deeds)." The most beloved prayer to the Prophet was the one that was done regularly (throughout the life) even if it were little. And whenever the Prophet offered a prayer he used to offer it regularly ." 

Al-Bukhari. 

The word "Sha'ban" is an Arabic word which is composed from 5 letters. These letters are, Shīn, 'Ayn, Bā, Alif, and Nūn. It is said by some scholars that these letters represents some of the blessings of Allah bestowed upon the true believers. 

• Shīn stands for Shar'f and Shafā'ah(شرف و شفاعة ),  means Honor and Intercession;
• 'Ayn stands for 'Izzah and Karāmah (عزة و كرامة ), means Power and Dignity;
• Bā stands for Birr' (بر), means Piety;
• Alif stands for Ulfah (ألفة) , means harmony;
• Nūn stands for Nūr (نور) ، means Light.

In short, those who believe in Allah, His Messenger and also hold high respect of this month by increasing in their good deeds will be rewarded with all the aforementioned attributes.

Some scholars also believe that these months of Rajab, Sha'ban and Ramadan are in this order for important reasons. One of it is that Rajab, the first sacred month of the Islamic calendar is used by a good Muslim to cleanse his body from all impurities. The heart is purified in Sha'ban while the soul is purified in Ramadan. When the body is not cleansed in Rajab, and the heart in Sha'ban, how would the soul be purified in Ramadan? 

 Some wise scholars also mentioned that "Rajab is also used to seek forgiveness from all misdeeds, Sha'ban is used to rebuild the hear from all blemishes, Ramadan is to lighten up the heart and Lailatul Qadr (The night of Majesty) to get close to Almighty Allah".

FASTING IN THE MONTH OF SHA'BAN

It is one of the Sunnah (traditions) of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to fast the month of Sha'ban as it has been established in the previous hadith. It was also reported in another Hadith narrated by Seyyidah Āisha R.A:

Allah's Apostle used to fast till one would say that he would never stop fasting, and he would abandon fasting till one would say that he'd never fast. I never saw Allah's Apostle fasting for a whole month except the month of Ramadan, and did not see him fasting in any month more than in the month of Sha'ban". 

Sahih Al-Bukhāri 1969.

At-Tirmidhi also related an Hadith by Anas that the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was asked "Which fasting is the best?" He said:

(The month of) Sha'ban, in glorification of Ramadan.

In another Hadith, 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."'

An-Nasāi 

 There are many other Hadiths which emphasize on fasting in this glorious month. So, it is highly recommended that we also follow the path of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ by fasting as much as we can or as possible it is for us.

LAILATUL BARĀ'AH (THE NIGHT OF EMANCIPATION) & FASTING ON THE 15TH DAY.

Lailatul Barā'ah is the 15th night of Sha'ban. The is the most significant day of this month. It is a night which no Muslim should take for granted. The importance of this day has been discussed and stressed upon by many Islamic scholars. 

Today, it is surprising that we see some Muslims  trying to disregard the excellence of this night and the fasting of its day by proving it false and making other Muslims with less knowledge see it as a normal night with no significance. 

This night of 15th of Sha'ban has been titled and tagged many names by different Scholars. Some of these names are:

• Lailatun Mubārakah - A blessed night (as named in Suratul Dukhān).
• Lailatu'Rahmat - The night of mercy.
• Lailatu'Saw'ki - The night of the document. 
• Lailatul Barā'ah - The night of emancipation. (Seyyidinā Abdullah bn Abbas R.A usually call it by this name and many other names.)
• Lailatul Magfirah - The night of forgiveness.
• Lailatul 'itq - The night of freedom. 

All these names were as a result of the significance of this night. It has been mentioned in the previous Hadith that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said that:

.....That is a month to which people do not pay much attention, between Rajab and Ramadan..... 

With the knowledge of this saying of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, it will be very disrespectful for any Muslim to still tag any act of worship on this night as innovation (Bid'ah) or impermissible (Haram). 

In an Hadith narrated by Mua'dh bn Jabal R.A that the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that: 

"Verily Allah Ta’ala turns to His entire creation on the 15th Night of Sha’ban, and He forgives His entire creation except a polytheist and one who has enmity.” 

Related by Ibn Hi'bān.

 Ibn Majah also related in an Hadith from Seyyidinā Ali bn Abi Talib R.A that the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that :

When it is the night of half of Sha'ban, wake up on its nights, fast in its days, surely, Allah descends on these days from the sunset to the first heaven, and He says: "Is there anyone  seeking for forgiveness and I will forgive him?. Is there anyone seeking for provisions and I will provide for him?. Is there any sick person and I will heal him?. And He continues to ask till dawn". 

There are still many other Hadiths related to the deeds performed on the night of 15th of Sha'ban and fasting on its day. Although, some of these Hadiths are classified weak (da'īf) by the Hadith Scholars but but altogether they are at least good (Hasan) and reaches the level of sound (Sahih). According to the most reliable opinion of the muḥaddithīn and fuqahā’, weak Hadīth can be used in establishing virtues if the correct conditions are met. 

It should be known to us that this moment comes once in a year and a Muslim seize such moment to seek for Allah's blessings. Fasting on the 15th day of Sha'ban can also be seen as an opportunity to kill two birds with a stone. Fasting on the white days (13th,14th and 15th) of each Islamic month is a Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ which is highly recommended and holds great reward. If fasting on the 15th of Sha'ban still seem inappropriate and brings doubtness to the mind, fasting on the white days shouldn't be neglected. 

May Almighty Allah Grant us the opportunity to follow and hold firmly on to the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.