Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Ok then. Here is my proof. You claim that the prophet (SAW) did not celebrate shab-e-baraat because it is not written in the authentic books of narration. There is always a possibility that some of the things inthe narration books were changed. Furthermore, the most authentic book in Islam is the Holy Quran. We know, as Muslims, for a fact that the Holy Quran has not been changed to this day since it was sent down to the Prophet (SAW), and will never be changed till the Day of Judgement. So you should judge it from the Holy Quran and not from any old narration book that you just regard as authentic. Furthermore, just because something is not written does not mean that it never happened. Therefore, just because it is not written in one of your authentic narration books, does not mean that the Prophet(SAW) did not celebrate this night. Secondly, the language does not have to be arabic. How do you get this idea that just because the language is not arabic, it means that the Prophet(SAW) did not celebrate this 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Proof of Shab-e-Barat

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Statement: So you should judge it from the Holy Quran and not from any old narration book that you just regard as authentic. Furthermore, just because something is not written does not mean that it never happened. Therefore, just because it is not written in one of your authentic narration books, does not mean that the Prophet(SAW) did not celebrate this night.

So, then, where is the PROOF that the Messenger of Allah (saws) celebrated the Shab-e-Baraat? Nothing of Shab-e-Baraat is mentioned in the Holy Quran! Nothing is mentioned in the authentic books of narration (which you obviously don’t want to believe). Neither have you mentioned anything from the books that you believe to be authentic that the Messenger of Allah (saws) did indeed celebrate the Shab-e-Baraat in any way!!!! So, where is your proof? Brother, fear Allah, and witness only that which is the Truth…. And especially if you want to bear witness to something which was done or said by the Messenger of Allah (saws).

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.712 Narrated by Wathila bin Al Asqa

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "Verily, one of the worst lies is to claim falsely to be the son of someone other than one's real father, or to claim to have had a dream one has not had, or to attribute to me what I have not said."

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.217 Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Prophet (saws) said, "Name yourselves after me (by my name), but do not call yourselves by my Kuniya, and whoever sees me in a dream, he surely sees me, for Satan cannot impersonate me. And whoever intentionally ascribes something to me falsely, he will surely take his place in the (Hell) Fire.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.667 Narrated by Abdullah bin Amr

The Prophet (saws) said, "Convey (my teachings) to the people even if it were a single sentence, and tell others the stories of Bani Israel (which have been taught to you), for it is not sinful to do so. And whoever tells a lie on me intentionally, will surely take his place in the (Hell) Fire."

Thus brother, fear Allah and the Last Day, before you ascribe something to the Messenger of Allah (saws) which he might not have done!

Your Comment: Therefore, just because it is not written in one of your authentic narration books, does not mean that the Prophet(SAW) did not celebrate this night.

If this is the only basis on which you want to bear witness that the Prophet (saws) did celebrate the night of Shab-e-Baraat; May Allah have Mercy on you!

Why don’t you produce evidence of where it is written in ‘ANY’ book of the life of the Prophet (saws), that he did indeed celebrate shab-e-baraat?

Brother, the Prophet (saws) lived his whole life as an example for all the believers to follow until the end of time. It is absolutely inconceivable that the Prophet of Allah (saws) celebrated a particular night and worshipped Allah in a particular way in front of thousands of people for several years, and no one narrated or documented this incident!!!! And that too, when even the smallest deed of the Messenger of Allah (saws) has been recorded!

Ask any of the scholars of the mis-guided people who celebrate this night of Shab-e-Baraat, and they themselves will confirm to you that the Messenger of Allah (saws) never celebrated this night with any special prayers or ceremony!

Your Comment: Secondly, the language does not have to be arabic. How do you get this idea that just because the language is not arabic, it means that the Prophet(SAW) did not celebrate this.

From Allah we have all come, and to Him is our ultimate return!!!! How did ‘I’ get this idea? Brother, there is something called precedent in the realm of witnesses…. Could you please name me another Islamic Day or Night which the Prophet celebrated with a Persian or foreign name?

Ramadan is Arabic…Jumuah is Arabic…. Eid ul Fitr is Arabic… Eid ul Adha is Arabic ….Layla-tul-Qadr is Arabic… Ashoora is Arabic …. Hajj is Arabic… Umrah is Arabic ….. Tawaaf is Arabic … Sai is Arabic …. The Prophet was an Arab … and the only language he (saws) spoke was Arabic……

But according to you, my dear brother, he celebrated the night, considered it sacred; and then gave it a Persian Name!!!!!!!!!!

Brother, if you are not able to provide proof from any of your books from the life of the Prophet of Allah (saws), then bear witness that the celebration of this night of Shab-e-Baraat has no basis or authority from the acts and deeds of the Messenger of Allah (saws); and thus it is nothing more than an innovation which was started after the death of the Prophet (saws)!

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother in Islam,

Burhan