Mid-Sha'ban is the 15th day of the Muslim month of Sha'ban. Laylatul Bara'ah is the night preceding the 15th day of Shaban.
The month of Sha’ban is the eighth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The fifteenth night of this month is known as Laylatul Bara’ah or Laylatun Nisfe min Sha’ban in the Arab world. In India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Afghanistan, etc., it is known as Shab-e-barat.
- Lailatul Baraat
- Lailatul Dua
- Nim Sha'ban in Afghanistan and Iran.
- Nisf Sha'ban in Arabic speaking countries.
- Nisfu Sya'ban in Malay speaking countries.
- Shab e Bara'at in South Asia meaning the 'Night of Emancipation'.
- Berat Kandili in Turkish
Sunni view
Sunnis (except for the 'Salafi manhaj') observe Mid-Sha'ban as a night of worship and salvation. The 'date' remembers when Allah saved Noah's followers from the deluge. The Sunni narrative is that Allah determines the destiny of all people, including whether a person lives or dies, in the coming year and for this reason it is sometimes called the "Night of Emancipation".
Imam Nawawi mentioned in his Majmu`, where he also quoted Imam al-Shafi`i from the latters al-Umm that it has reached him that there are 5 nights when dua ( prayers ) is answered, one of them being the night of the 15th of Sha`ban.
Imam Ibn Khuzaymah also recorded in his Kitab At-Tawheed wa Ithbat Sifat ar-Rabb in a section of "Nuzool" ie, The Descent of Allah, as one of The Almighty God's Attributes taught to us, and in one of the narrations it specifically mentions His Majesty's Descent on the night of Nisf-Sha'ban. We mention this just to refute those neo-Salafis who challenge reports from this night for Ibn Khuzaymah and his book Kitab at-Tawheed is one of the books highly recommended in Salafi circles when it comes to 'Aqeedah. However, there is a caution on how we should believe in "Nuzool" of Rabb al-Alameen as stated by the same Imam Ibn Khuzaymah in Kitab At-Tawheed: "The scholars of Hijaz and Iraq reported from the Prophet that the Lord descends to 'Samaai Dunya'(approximate translation: the worldly heaven or the first heaven as reported by many narrations) every night. We therefore testify and acknowledge on our tongues while our hearts are certain of the information about the descending of Allah without delving into how it happens because our Prophet did not describe to us how our Creator descends to 'Samaai Dunya' but he only informed us that He does descend. And Allah and His Prophet did not leave a matter that Muslims are required to know about their religion without mentioning it to them. Therefore, we narrate this information and believe in what it includes about the descending of Allah without delving into how this happens or describing this descending as the Prophet did not describe it to us.”
The night of the 15th starts at sunset on the 14th and ends at sunrise on the 15th.
It is reported from Sayyiduna Ali that Muhammad (sallallaho alaihe wa sallaam) said: "Let all of you spend the night of mid-Sha`ban in worship (i.e. partly) and its day in fasting. Allah descends to the nearest heaven during this 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." [1] This hadith was classified as weak however there is general consensus that weak hadiths may be acted upon for virtuous acts (Fadaail A'mal), such as voluntary fasting and prayer, as long as the hadith is not excessively weak, returns to a general basis in the Shariah, and one is not convinced that Muhammad (PBUH) specifically prescribed it.
There are many other narrations from Sahaba (radhe allaho ajmaeen) and early Muslims confirming this matter, as mentioned by Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali in his Lataif al-Ma`arif, and others.
- About hadith:
On this night, perform Nawaafil, recite the Qur'an, Salawat, Kalima Tayyibah, and seek forgiveness.
As for the other narrations concerning the 15th of Sha'baan (which are not believed authentic), the Hanafi scholar, Shaikh Mulla 'Alee al-Qaaree (d.1014H) records some of these hadith:
In another narration, the following people have also been mentioned:
- One who deals in usury (Riba),
- One who wears his trousers below his ankle with pride and arrogance (In Arabia, people displayed their wealth and boasted in this manner),
- One who creates disunity among two Muslims,
- The person who unjustly takes away the right and property of another Muslim and has not yet rectified himself.
All these persons are not shown mercy on this auspicious Night. A humble appeal to seek pardon and ask Allah’s forgiveness
Also on this night the Doors of Mercy and Forgiveness are opened wide,and those who sincerely grieve over and repent for their past sins and seek forgiveness from Allah (SWT) are pardoned and forgiven by Allah.
Each Tasbih or Du’a should begin and terminate with the recital of Salawat and one who wishes for the acceptance of his Du’as should use the Wasila of Muhammad.
Shaykh Abd al-Qadir al-Gilani has mentioned in his famous book ”Ghunyat li Talibee Tariqil Haqq” (ie, The Gift for the student who seeks the path of truth) that the month of Shaban according to some narrations is related to [[Muhammad](PBUH)]. So, it is our duty, as the followers of [[Muhammad](PBUH)] to love and respect this month more than any other month (besides Ramadhan). One should also offer abundantly salutations upon Muhammad(PBUH).
