Authentic Hadith regarding 15th night of Sha'ban

The following is an article from Al miftah written by mawlana Muhammed. May Allah reward him for his efforts.

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The Significance of the 15th of Sha’ban

Many hadiths have been narrated extolling the virtue of the 15th of Sha’ban.

Amongst them is the narration of Sayyiduna Mu’ad ibn Jabal (radiallahuánhu) that Rasulullah (sallallahuálaihu wasallam) said, ‘Allah Ta’ala turns to his entire creation on the fifteenth night of Sha’ban and forgives all of them except one who ascribes partners to Him and one who harbors enmity in his heart.’ (This hadith has been recorded by Imam Tabrani in his Mu’jam al-Awsat hadith 6776 and mu’jam al-Kabir vol.20 pg.108-109)

Imam Ibn Hibban (rahimahullah) has classified this narration as sahih (authentic) and has included it in his book – Al-Sahih. (Sahih ibn Hibban vol.12 pg.482; Hadith5665). Hafiz Al-Haythami (rahimahullah) has mentioned that all the narrators of this hadith are reliable. (Majma’ al-Zawa’id vol.8 pg.65)

Besides this narration classified as sahih by Imam Ibn Hibban (RA), there is another classified as sound by Hafiz al-Mundhiri (RA) in his Al-Targhib (vol.3 pg.459). This narration is of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radiallahuánhu) and is recorded by Imam Bazzar (RA) in his Musnad. In fact, Hafiz Ibn Hajar (RA) has also classified one of its chains as hasan (sound). (al-Amal al-mutlaqah pgs.119-120)

Besides the above two, there are many other Sahaba (radiallahuánhum) that narrated hadiths regarding the merit of this night.

3) Sayyiduna Abu Hurayra (radiallahuánhu) (Musnad al-Bazzar hadith: 3551)

4) Sayyiduna Abu Tha’laba (radiallahuánhu) (Shu’ al-Iman)

5) Sayyiduna Awf ibn Malik (radiallahuánhu) (Musnad al-Bazzar)

6) Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘As (radiallahuánhu) (Musnad Ahmad hadith 6642)

7) Sayyiduna Abu Musa al-Ash’ari (radiallahuánhu) (Ibn Majah hadith 1390; Shu’b al-Iman hadith 3552)

8) Sayyiduna ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (radiallahuánhu) (Ibn Majah hadith: 1388; Shu’b al-Iman hadith: 3542)

9) Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (radiallahuánhu)

10) Sayyiduna ‘Uthman ibn Abil-‘As (radiallahuánhu) (Shu’b al-Iman hadith 3555)

11) Sayyidatuna ‘Aysha bint Abi Bakr (radiallahuánhu) (Shu’b al-Iman)

12) Kathir Ibn Murrah (radiallahuánhu) (Shu’b al-Iman hadith: 3550) (see Ajwibat al-Mardiyya vol.1 pgs.325-332)

The collective strength of these narrations cannot be refuted.

The general virtue of this night has been accepted by many great ‘Ulama of the past. From amongst the many great scholars who have attested to the virtue of this night are:

Khalifa ‘Umar ibn ‘Abdul Aziz, Imam Shafi’i, Imam Awza’i, ‘Atta ibn Yassar, Imam al-Majd ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali and Hafiz Zaynuddeen al-‘Iraqi (Rahmatullahi alayhim) – refer Lataif al-Ma’arif of Hafiz Ibn Rajab pgs.263-264 and Fayd al-Qadir vol.2 pg.317

In fact, Hafiz Ibn Taymiyyah has said, ‘As for the middle night of Sha’ban, there are various narrations that have been narrated regarding it’s significance and it has been reported from a group of the Salaf (predecessors) that they performed salat in it individually, hence, such a deed cannot be disputed.’ (Majmu’ al-Fatawa ibn Taymiyyah vol.23 pg.132)

Imam ‘Ata ibn Yasar (rahimahullah) –the great Tabi’i- said: “After Laylat al-Qadr, there is no other night in the year that is more vitreous than the middle (15th) night of Sha’ban” (Lataif al-Ma’arif, pg.197)

Hafiz Ibn Rajab (rahimahullah) has quoted Imam Shafi’i (rahimahullah) to have mentioned that duas are accepted by Almighty Allah on the 15th of Sha’ban. (ibid, pg. 196)

All of the above sufficiently confirm the significance of the 15th night of Sha’ban.

Note: Together with duá and istighfar (seeking forgiveness from Allah Taála), on this night one should engage in any act of worship that one feels comfortable with.