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:

Assalaamualaikum,


Happy Ramadhan to my all brothers and sisters.

Do we have to perform night prayer on 15th night of Shaban? And Do we have to fast on 14 & 15th day of Shaban? and not only that Do we have to pray in the month of Rajab 27th night? I knew only about Power of Night in the month of Ramadhan 21,23,25,27,29. About Shaban/Rajab prayer nights i do not know much can you please explain to me whether we should perform prayers or not? If at all I am wrong please correct me I will be greatful for that and thankyou very much for kind help and advise.

Thanking you,

Allah hafiz

(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:

Bida innovation of shabaan and rajab

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 Question: Do we have to perform night prayer on 15th night of Shaban?

Other than the normal obligatory and/or voluntary prayer one prayers on any other night of the year, there is absolutely no evidence in the authentic Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) that he (saws) would commemorate or celebrate or offer any special prayers on the night of 15^th Shabaan.

The unfortunate commemoration and celebration of the night of 15^th Shabaan by some ignorant people today has absolutely no evidence in the Sunnah; and thus it is a clear and manifest bida or innovation which was added to the deen long after the death of Prophet Mohamed (saws)!

Sahih Muslim Hadith 1885 Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said in a sermon: “The best speech is that which is embodied in the Book of Allah, the Al Quran; and the best guidance is the guidance given by me, Mohamed (saws). The most evil affairs are the innovations, and every innovation is an error.”

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4515 Narrated by Ali ibn AbuTalib

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said: “If anyone introduces an innovation (in religion), he will be responsible for it. If anyone introduces an innovation or gives shelter to a man who introduces an innovation (in religion), he is cursed by Allah, by His Angels, and by all the people.”

Your Question: And Do we have to fast on 14 & 15th day of Shaban?

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 3.128a

Abu Dharr al-Ghafari reported: "The Messenger of Allah (saws) encouraged us to fast for three days of every month--that is, on the days of the full moon (the 13th, 14th, and 15th of the lunar month). And he (saws) said: 'It is like fasting the whole year.'"

Related by an-Nasa'i and by Ibn Hibban.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.202 Narrated by Abu Huraira

My friend (the Prophet (saws)) advised me to observe three things:

(1) to fast three days a month;

(2) to pray two Rakat of Duha prayer (forenoon prayer); and

(3) to pray Witr before sleeping.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) encouraged the believers to fast any three days of the month, and preferred that if they could they should fast the three days of the full moon (ie. the 13^th, 14^th, and 15^th of the lunar month). This was a general guidance and encouragement for the believers who wished to offer extra or ‘nafl’ fasts, to fast three days of every lunar month and was not specific to the month of Shabaan.

Because every good deed has at least a ten-fold reward in the sight of Allah Subhanah, the Messenger of Allah (saws) declared that if one fasts three days in a month that would be reckoned as 30 days or the whole month as fasting in the Sight of the Lord Most Gracious, and if one fasts 3 days in every month, then 'It is like fasting the whole year!'

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 3.127

The Prophet would fast most of the month of Sha'ban. Aishah said: "I never saw the Messenger of Allah (saws) fast a complete month save for Ramadan, and I have never seen him fast more in a month than he did in Sha'ban." (Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)

Usamah ibn Zaid inquired: "O Messenger of Allah (saws), I never find you fasting in any month like you do during the month of Sha'ban." The Prophet (saws) responded: "That is a month the people neglect. It comes between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which the deeds are raised to the Lord of the Worlds. I love that my deeds be raised while I am fasting." (Related by Abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i, and by Ibn Khuzaimah.)

Other than the whole of the holy month of Ramadan, it was the practice of the Messenger of Allah (saws) that he would keep as many voluntary fasts as possible in the month of Shabaan. Thus if one intends to fast on the 13^th, 14^th and 15^th of the month of Shabaan, or one fasts less than that or more than that because he intends to follow the example of the Messenger of Allah (saws), he would indeed have his due reward with his Lord Most Gracious.

But if one believes that the middle of Shabaan has specific importance, or that the fasting of the 14^th and 15^th of Shabaan has more reward than fasting on the other days of Shabaan, then it would be an incorrect belief.

Your Question: Do we have to pray in the month of Rajab 27th night?

There is absolutely no evidence in the authentic Sunnah whereby the Messenger of Allah (saws) or his noble companions or family ever celebrated or commemorated the night of 27^th Rajab, nor did he (saws) ever offer any special prayers on this night, nor did he (saws) ever command the believers to do anything special on this night!

If one believes that the night of 27^th Rajab is special, or that one has to offer any specific or special prayers on this particular night, or that this night of 27^th Rajab is better than any other normal night, etc.; then indeed it would constitute a clear manifestation of ‘bida’ (innovation) and one would be following something which has absolutely no evidence from the practice and Sunnah of the Noble Messenger of Allah (saws).

Sahih Muslim Hadith 1885 Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said in a sermon: “The best speech is that which is embodied in the Book of Allah, the Al Quran; and the best guidance is the guidance given by me, Mohamed (saws). The most evil affairs are the innovations, and every innovation is an error.”

Your Statement: About Shaban/Rajab prayer nights i do not know much can you please explain to me whether we should perform prayers or not? If at all I am wrong please correct me I will be greatful for that

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzab verse 21:

There is indeed the best example for you to follow in the Messenger of Allah, for every such person who looks forward to Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much.

Dear and Beloved brother in Islam, it is the solemn belief of every true believer who sincerely fears Allah and the Last Day, that there was, is, or never will be anyone in the annuls of creation who worshipped Allah Subhanah more or better than the Noble Last and Final Messenger of Allah, Mohamed ar-Rasool Allah (saws)!

Thus if anyone dares to come up with any celebration, commemoration, or prescribes importance to any prayer, or fast, or night or day, or invents, innovates, or adds anything in the deen of Islam which is not endorsed by the Noble Prophet (saws), then it implies one of three things:

1. that the person who claims that worship is due on this specific night in this specific way loves and worships Allah more than the Noble Prophet (saws)!!!
2. or, that the person knows more than the Noble Prophet (saws)!!!
3. or, that the person has received revelations from Allah Subhanah after the death of the Prophet Mohamed (saws)!!!

Allah is our witness brother, if anyone in the annuls of creation ever claims to have any of the above three qualities is nothing more than a confirmed and manifest liar!; for Allah is our witness, no man in the annuls of creation loved or worshipped their Lord more than Prophet Mohamed (saws), no man in the annuls of creation had more knowledge of the Truth than the Noble Prophet Mohamed (saws), and Allah is our witness, the Last and Final Revelations of The Lord Most Majestic were revealed on Prophet Mohamed (saws), and there is none who will or can receive revelations after him (saws)!

If one brings, invents, adds or innovates any act or deed in religion which has not been specifically endorsed by Allah and His Messenger (saws), then it has to be a ‘bida’ (innovation in the religion after the deen was completed on Prophet Mohamed (saws)), and Allah is our witness, every innovation in the deen of Islam is an error in the Sight of Allah Subhanah!

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan