Welcoming Shab-e-Baraat.

From the Layman’s Desk: 
(First published in Hamaraforums.com by Nasir)

SOME BASICS ON SHABBE-BARAAT. – culled from various internet sources.

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, MOST BENEFICIENT, MOST MERCIFUL.

Importance of Shabaan:

The Prophet ( Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam) mentioned in a hadith, “Rajab is the month of Allah, Sha`ban is my month and Ramadan is the month of the Nation”. (Imam Bukhari RA)
In a Hadeeth Sayyidina Usaama (radhiyallahu anhu) reports, that Rasoolullah (Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam), said, “There is a month between Rajab and Ramadhan called Sha’baan, people are VERY IGNORANT towards this month, even though the reward of each deed is greater within it, and the deeds are presented to Allah Ta’ala”
(Imaam Bayhaqi reports this Hadeeth in his Shuab-ul- Iman)

It has been narrated by Sayyidina Anas (radhiyallahu anhu) that upon the arrival of Rajab,Rasoolullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) used to recite:

“Allahumma barik fee rajaba wa sha’baana wa ballighnaa ilaa ramadhan”

“O Allah  Bless us abundantly in Rajab and Sha’baan and deliver us safely unto Ramadhan.”

It has also been stated in the Kitaab ‘Daylami’ that Rasoolullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) proclaimed , “Sha’baan is my month “.

In another Hadeeth Sayyidina Ayesha (radhiyallahu anha) narrates that Rasoolullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) preferred to observe the fasts of Sha’baan thus uniting them with the fasts of Ramadhan. From the above Ahadeeth we learn the significance of Sha’baan and Rasoolullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam’s) attachment to this blessed month. This month should be spent preparing for Ramadhan.

What is Shabbe Baraat?

This is the Night of Salvation. In Arabic it is known as Lailatul Bara’ah – The Night of Freedom from Fire. In Persian and Urdu it is called Shabbe Baraat. Baraat means forgiveness or salvation, absolution.

Importance of this Night:

The Night of Bara`ah is a night in which special blessings are directed towards the Muslims. Therefore, this night should be spent in total submission to Allah Almighty, and one should refrain from all those activities which may displease Allah.

When is this Night this year in Mumbai, India?

This Night falls falls between 14th and the 15th days of the month of Shaabaan. It is also known as Nisf Shabaan. This year in Mumbai this Night corresponds to the night following the day of  6th August 2009  Insha Allah. (verfiy from your local masjid).

What’s the origin or historicity of this Night?

Allah said in the Holy Qur’an in Surah Dukhan:

[Dukhan 44:1] Ha-Meem. (Alphabets of the Arabic language – Allah, and to whomever He reveals, know their precise meanings.)
[Dukhan 44:2] By oath of this clear Book.
[Dukhan 44:3] We have indeed sent it down in a blessed night – indeed it is We Who warn.
[Dukhan 44:4] During it are distributed all the works of wisdom.
[Dukhan 44:5] By a command from Us – indeed it is We Who send.
[Dukhan 44:6] A mercy from your Lord; indeed He only is the All Hearing, the All Knowing.

Hadrat Ibn-e- Abbas{may Allah be pleased with him}said,”Ha-Mim means that Allah has predetermined everything in existence till the day of Resurrection. Book means AL-QURAN,which is a mercy from Allah and provide guidance and was revealed in “blessed night”. The ‘blessed night’ is the night of mid-Sha’ban in which every wise and important work is decided and is made distinct. Mid of Sha’ban is the night of absolution.” (He was referrfing to the Ha-Mim in Surah Dukhan of the Holy Quran: 44:1-3)

There is one night in the year when Allah gives the knowledge to the Angels, about what is going to happen in the following year, for example, who is going to die, who will be born, who will be ill and how much food people will have in the year, etc. Ikramah who was a student of Abdullah bin Abbas (Radi allahu unho) says that night is 15th of Shabaan.

There is a Hadith which Imam Tabari (Radi allahu unho) writes:

“Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] said, ‘From Shabaan to Shabaan there is a decision made of who is going to die, be married and some people get married but their names are written in the death program.” [Tafsir Tabari, under Surah Dukhan, verse 1 by Imam Tabari]

Although the majority of the commentators consider the “blessed night” in the above verses to refer to the Night of Decree (laylat al-qadr) which is considered to be in the month of Ramadan, yet the commentaries also mention that this “blessed night” may be that of mid-Sha`ban (laylat al-bara’a). This view is based on the profusion of hadiths on the great merits of the latter. Consequently the Shari`a has commended observance of that night.

Concerning supererogatory worship on the night of mid-Sha`ban Suyuti says in his Haqiqat al-sunna wa al-bid`a:

The general virtue of this night has been accepted by many great Ulama of the past. From among many great scholars which have agreed to the virtue of this night are: Umar ibn Abdul-Aziz, Imaam al-Shaafi’ee, Imaam al-Awzaa’ie, Attaa ibn Yassaar, Imaam al-Majd ibn Abdul-Aziz, ibn Rajab al-Hanbaliy and Hafiz Zaynu-ddeen al-Iraaqiy (Rahmatullaahi alayhim) – refer Laylatul Ma’aarif of Hafiz ibn Rajab pgs.263-264 and Faydhul Qadeer vol.2 pg.317

As for the night of mid-Sha`ban, it has great merit and it is desirable (mustahabb) to spend part of it in supererogatory worship. (Suyuti, Haqiqat al-sunna wa al-bid`a aw al-amr bi al-ittiba` wa al-nahi `an al-ibtida` (1405/1985 ed.) p. 58. He adds: “However, this must be done alone, not in congregation.”)

Even Ibn Taymiyya considered the night of mid-Sha`ban “a night of superior merit” in his Iqtida’ al-sirat al-mustaqim:

[Some] said: There is no difference between this night (mid-Sha`ban) and other nights of the year. However, the opinion of many of the people of learning, and that of the majority of our companions (i.e. the Hanbali school) and other than them is that it is a night of superior merit, and this is what is indicated by the words of Ahmad (ibn Hanbal), in view of the many ahadith which are transmitted concerning it, and in view of what confirms this from the words and deeds transmitted from the early generations (al-athar al-salafiyya). Some of its merits have been narrated in the books of hadith of the musnad and sunan types. This holds true even if other things have been forged concerning it. (Ibn Taymiyya, Iqtida’ al-sirat al-mustaqim (1369/1950 ed.) p. 302.)

Two great followers of Ibn Taymiyya and Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab an-Najdi, are Hafiz ‘Abdullah Rawpari and Thana’ullah Amritsari, who both state that to worship on the 15th night of Sha’ban is not a bid’a and the person who worships on this night will obtain reward for it. The narrations concerning this night are weak but this does not matter since weak ahadith are acceptable for virtuous actions.
[Hafiz Rawpari, Fatawa Ahl al-Hadith; Amritsari, T., Fatawa Thana’iya, chapter on ‘Fasting’]

Now some prophetic traditions:

It is related by Muaz bin Jabbal that the Blessed Prophet said: Allah looks over at his creation on the fifteenth night of Shabaan and forgives everyone but for two people: a polytheist and one who holds a grudge against people.

Imam Ibn Hibban has narrated this hadith in his Sahih, Imam Bayhaqi in his Shua’bal Imaan, Imam Tabarani in Al Mu’jam al Kabeer, & Abu Nu’aym in Al Hulya. Imam Haithami has also narrated this hadith in his Majmu’al Zawaid and after narrating it, he has commented that all of the people in the chain of narrators of the above hadith are trustworthy and this hadith is authentic.

This hadith is also narrated by Imam Mundhari in Al Targheeb wal Tarheeb, Imam Suyuti in Durrul Manthoor, & the late Saudi Shaykh Albani has also narrated this hadith in his Silsilah Sahiha (a book in which he has narrated only authentic hadith according to him.)

It is related by Abu Thalaba that the Blessed Prophet said: On the 15th night of Shabaan, Allah looks over at his creation and forgives all the believers except for the one who begrudges and hates. He leaves them in their enmity.

This hadith is narrated by Bayhaqi (raheemullah) in Shubal Imaan, Hafiz Ibn Abi Asim in Kitabus Sunnah, Imam Suyuti in Durrel Manthoor, and the late Saudi Shaykh Albani confirms its authenticity by narrating it in his Silsilah Sahiha.

.Sayyidina Abdullah bin Amar has narrated that Rasulullah has said, “Allah on the 15th night of Shabaan looks at the people and He forgives all believers except for two kinds of people: 1) Someone who holds a grudge against others and 2) someone who has taken an innocent life.

This hadith is narrated by Imam Mundhiri in Al-Targheeb wal Tarheeb, Imam Ahmad in his Musnad, and Hafiz Al Haithami in Majmual Zawaid. Shaykh Albani has narrated this hadith in his Silsilah Sahiha and after a lengthy discussion regarding its chain of narrators; he concludes that this hadith is Hassan.

(It becomes as clear as the crystal even to a common man that there is something very special about this night and it’s very important to be involved in prayers and worship this night, since Allah Himself has chosen this night to forgive the believers as stated above.)

Tirmidhi, Ahmad, and Ibn Majah relate:

From `A’isha: I missed the Prophet one night so I went out to al-Baqi` (and found him). 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 wives.” He said: “Allah Glorious and Exalted descends to the nearest heaven on the night of mid-Sha`ban and He forgives more people than the number of hairs on the hides of the sheep of the tribes of Kalb.

(Tirmidhi, Ahmad, and Ibn Majah. Tirmidhi said that he had heard that Bukhari had graded this hadith weak because some of the sub-narrators did not narrate directly from each other.) Imam Bukhari has objected upon one narrator but this is compensated by the fact that Ibn Maja has narrated it with different narrations (chains). Ibn Rajab describes this narration as one of the best on the subject.

Ahmad and Ibn Majah relate:

From `Ali ibn Abi Talib: The Prophet said: “The night of mid-Sha`ban let all of you spend in prayer (i.e. partly) and its day (i.e. preceding it) in fasting, for Allah 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 dawn rises. ( Its chain contains Ibn Abi Sabra who is weak (da`if).)

Bayhaqi relates from `A’isha in Shu`ab al-iman with his chain of transmission:

From `A’isha: She said: The Prophet stood up in prayer during part of the night and made his prostration 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 `A’isha, O fair little one (humayra’)! 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 look 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, and He gives a delay to the people of envy and spite in their state.”

Bayhaqi continues:I say: This hadith is missing the Companion in its chain, and is a good hadith (hadha mursal jayyid). It is probable that al-`Ala’ ibn al-Harith took it from Makhul, and Allah knows best. (Bayhaqi, Shu`ab al-iman, ed. Zaghlul 3:382 #3835.)

Thus there are many Sahaaba (Radhiallaahu Anhum) that narrated Ahaadith regarding the merit of this night, such as: Abu Hurayra (Musnad al-Bazzaar), Abu Tha’labah (Shu’ubul Imaan), Awf ibn Maalik (Musnad al-Bazzaar), Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-Aas (Musnad Ahmad Hadith6642), Abu Moosa al-Ash’ari (ibn Majah Hadith1390; Shu’ubul Imaan Hadith3833) and others. The collective strength of these narrations cannot be refuted.

What should be done in this night?

Remember that the prayer is after all something good, and as our beloved Prophet (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him!) famously said, as narrated by Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him!):

al-SalAtu khayrun mawDU’un istakthara aw aqalla
[The prayer is [always] a good thing; whether [done] a little or a lot] (Related by al-Tayalisi, Ahmad, Ibn Majah, al-Bazzar, Ibn Hibban, al-Tabarani (in his Kabir and Awsat), al-Hakim, al-Bayhaqi (in his Shu’ab), with variants).

(For details of prayers the reader is advised to consult any Arabic or transliterated Panj Surah Book which will give the necessary details as to what to recite at the sunset, the nawafil salahs to be performed immediately after the Maghrib prayers, etc.)

Generally…..
In order to observe the Night of Bara’ah, one should remain awake in this night as much as he can. If someone has better opportunities, he should spend the whole night in worship and prayer. However, if one cannot do so for one reason or another, he can select a considerable portion of the night, preferably of the second half of it for this purpose, and should perform the following acts of worship:

(a) Salah. Salah is the most preferable act to be performed in this night. There is no particular number of Rak’at but preferably it should not be less than eight. It is also advisable that each part of the Salah like qiyam, rukoo’ and sajdah should be longer than normal. The longest surahs of the Holy Qur’an one remembers by heart should be recited in the Salah of this night. If someone does not remember the long surahs, he can also recite several short surahs in one rak’ah.

( Tilawa. The recitation of the Holy Qur’an is another form of worship, very beneficent in this night. After performing Salah, or at any other time, one should recite as much of the Holy Qur’an as he can.

© Dhikr. One should also perform dhikr (recitation of the name of Allah) in this night. Particularly the following dhikr is very useful:

One should recite Salah (durood) on Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, as many times as he can. The dhikr can also be recited while walking, lying on bed and during other hours of work or leisure.

(d) Dua. The best benefit one can draw from the blessings of this night is prayers and supplications. It is hoped that all the prayers in this night will be accepted by our Lord, insha-Allah. Prayer itself is an ‘Ibadah, and Allah Almighty gives reward on each prayer along with the fulfillment of the supplicator’s need. Even if the purpose prayed for is not achieved, one cannot be deprived of the reward of the prayer which is sometimes more precious than the mundane benefits one strives for. The prayers and supplications also strengthen one’s relation with Allah Almighty, which is the main purpose of all kinds and forms of worship.

One can pray for whatever purpose he wishes. But the best supplications are the ones made by Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. These are so comprehensive and all-encompassing prayers that all the human needs, of this world and the Hereafter, are fully covered in the eloquent expressions used in them. Actually, most of the prophetic prayers are so profound that human imagination can hardly match their greatness.

(Several books in various languages are available which provide these prophetic prayers, and one should pray to Allah Almighty in accordance with them, whether by reciting their original Arabic text or by rendering their sense in one’s own language.)

(e) There are some people who cannot perform any additional Salah or recitations for any reason, like illness or weakness or being engaged in some other necessary activities. Such people also should not deprive themselves completely of the blessings of this night. They should observe the following acts:

(i) To perform the Salah of Maghrib, ‘Isha’ and Fajr with Jama’ah in the mosque, or in their homes in case of their being sick.

(ii) They should keep reciting the dhikr, particularly the one mentioned in para © above, in whatever condition they are until they sleep.

(iii) They should pray to Allah for their forgiveness and for their other objectives. One can do so even when he is in his bed.

Praying for the dead and Visiting the Cemetary:

(The subject of visiting graves and also that of Eesaale Sawaab require a different dissertation altogether and therefore they are not discussed here. But some basics: )

According to a hadith, which is relatively less authentic, Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, went in this night to the graveyard of Baqi’ where he prayed for the Muslims buried there. On this basis, some of the fuqaha hold it as mustahabb (advisable) in this night to go to the graveyard of the Muslims and recite Fatihah or any other part of the Qur’an, and pray for the dead.

Praying for the dead, asking forgiveness for them, and giving charity on their behalf are some of the things God causes the dead in their graves to benefit from and be protected from punishments. There are many hadiths about this, and many fine and virtuous people have witnessed it in their dreams. So visiting the cemetaries (Qabristan) for this purpose is also a virtuous act.

Generally also, it is recommended to visit graves. The Messenger of God, may blessings and peace be upon him, permitted this after having at first forbidden it. It contains benefits both for the living visitor and the dead person who receives the visit. The Prophet said, may peace and blessings be upon him: ‘Visit graves, for they remind you of death.’ And: ‘I used to forbid you to visit graves, but now you should visit them. They render one able to do without the things of the world, and remind one of the Hereafterne of the greatest things which one may offer to the dead is to recite Qur’an and send on the reward for it. This is of great benefit and baraka. The Muslims have agreed on this everywhere throughout the ages, the majority of scholars and virtuous people have recommended it, and there are hadiths to confirm this. He must not forget his dead ones when he prays, asks forgiveness, or gives alms, lest he in turn be forgotten after his death, for the one who remembers is remembered, and the one who forgets is forgotten. Benevolence goes ahead of you, and God allows not the reward of those who have done good to be wasted. (18:30)

Fast of the 15th Sha’ban

On the day immediately following the Night of Bara’ah, i.e. the 15th of Sha’ban, it is mustahabb (advisable) to keep fast. Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, is reported to have recommended this fast emphatically. Although the scholars of hadith have some doubts in the authenticity of this report, yet many prophetic traditions point out to that the fasts of the first half of Sha’ban have special merits and Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, used to fast most of the days in Sha’ban. Moreover, a large number of the elders (salaf) of the Ummah have been observing the fast of the 15th of Sha’ban. This constant practice indicates that they have accepted the relevant hadith as authentic. Therefore, it is advisable to fast the 15th of Sha’ban as an optional (nafl) fast. One can also keep a fast of qada on this day and it is hoped that he can also benefit from the merits of this fast.

Lastly,we need to remember that there is a principle, as the hadith scholar al-Suyuti (may God show him His mercy) has said, that: ‘Weak hadiths may be acted upon when they indicate acts of goodness.’ Therefore, although the chain of narrators of some of these traditions suffers with some minor technical defects, yet when all these traditions are combined together, it becomes clear that this night has some well founded merits, and observing this night as a sacred night is not a baseless concoction as envisaged by some modern scholars who, on the basis of these minor defects, have totally rejected to give any special importance to this night. In fact, some of these traditions have been held by some scholars of hadith as authentic and the defects in the chain of some others have been treated by them as minor technical defects which, according to the science of hadith, are curable by the variety of their ways of narration. That is why the elders of the ummah have constantly been observing this night as a night of special merits and have been spending it in worship and prayers.

Unfortunate People

It is understood from the Prophetic Traditions that even on this night, some servants of Allah Ta’ala are deprived of his forgiveness.
They are as follows:
• Idolators
• Consumer of alcohol
• Those who disobey their parents
• Those who commit adultery and murders
• Those who sever family ties
• Those who harbour enmity against others
• Those who wear their trousers, kurtas, lungis etc below their ankles
SPECIAL DU`A ON THE NIGHT OF 15th SHA’BAN U`A NISF SHA’BAN – SHABBE BARAAT KI DUA

On the Holy Night of 15th Shaban, between Maghrib and Isha prayer read Surat Yasin three times, and after each time, read the following du`a. The niyyat (intention) for the first reading should be for long life. The niyyat (intention) for the second reading should be for protection from calamities. The niyyat (intention) for the third Reading should be for not being needy to anyone except Allah.

DU’A NISF SHA’BAN – SHABBE BARAAT KI DUA
ARAB IC TRANSLITERATION:

Allahumma Yaa Dhal manni walaa yumannu `alayh
Yaa dhal Jalaali wa’l iIkraam
Yaa dhal-Tawli wa’l iIn’aam
Laa Ilaaha illa anta
Zahru’l laaje’en wa Jaaru’l mustajeereen wa Amaanu’l khaa’ifeen
Allahumma in kunta katabtanee `indaka fee Ummil Kitabi
shaqiyyan aw mahruman aw matrudan aw muqattaran `alayya fir-rizqi
famh’ullahumma bi-fadlika
shaqaawati wa hirmaani wa tardi waqtitaara rizqee
wathbitnee ‘indaka fee Ummil Kitabi
sa`eedan marzuqan muwaffaqan lil-khayraati
fa innaka qulta wa qawluk al-haqq
fee kitabikal muzal `alaa lisaani Nabiyyikal mursal
<>
Ilaahi bit-tajalli’l A’dham
fee laylatin-nisfi min shahri sha`ban al-mukarram
allatee yufraqu feehaa kullu amrin hakeemin wa yubram
an takshifa `annaa min al-balaa’i wal-balwaa’i
maa na`lamu wa maa laa na`lam
wa anta bihi a`lam
Innaka antal-a`azz ul-akram
wa sallallahu ta`ala `alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-in
Wa `alaa Aalihi wa Ashaabihi wa sallam
Wal-hamdu lillahi Rabbil-‘aalameen
Ameen Ya Allah

ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE DUA:

O Allah! You shower favours on everyone
And no one can do You any favour.
O The Possessor of Majesty and Honour,
O The Distributor of bounty and rewards,
There is no one worthy of worship except You.
You help the fallen
And provide refuge to the refugees
And give peace to those who are in fear.
O Allah! If in the Mother of All Books that is with You
You have written me down as someone who is
Doubtful of achieving salvation, or deprived,
Or rejected or without enough sustenance,
Then, O Allah, with Your Grace
Remove all of these misfortunes from me
and in the Mother of All Books that is with You,
establish me as someone who is
blessed, with abundant provision and charitable good deeds.
Indeed, what You said in The Book You sent
Through the tongue of Your Blessed Prophet is true
That Allah changes and establishes what He wants
And with Him is the Mother of All Books.
O My Lord! For the sake of Your Divine Manifestation
On this fifteenth night of the blessed month of Sha’ban
In which You issue all Wise and Irrevocable Decrees
Remove from us all calamities and hardships,
those that we know about as well as those that we don’t,
while You know everything.
Truly, You are the Most Powerful, Most Generous.
And may Allah the Exalted shower blessings and peace on
Sayyidina Muhammad, and on his family and his companions
And all praise is for Allah, Lord of the worlds.
Amen O Allah

NASIR.