Here comes Sha’aban

[fahad]

Sha’aban is the month that brings the news that Ramadan is just a month away. It has a lot of significance due to some of the birth dates of members of the family of Holy Prophet. These people are not only important because they belonged to this great family but also due to fact that they changed the course of the history. Some of the most important birthdates & events of this month are:
• 01 Sha'aban, birth of Zaynab bint Ali (RA), daughter of Hazrat Ali(RA).
• 03 Sha'aban, birth of the third Hazrat Husayn ibn Ali (RA).
• 04 Sha'aban, birth of Hazrat Abbas ibn Ali (RA), son of Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA).
• 07 Sha'aban, birth of Qasim, son of the Hazrat Hassan ibn Ali (RA).
• 11 Sha'aban, birth of Ali Akbar, son of the Hazrat Husayn (RA).
• 14 Sha'aban, night of prayer known as Shab-e-Barat or "Laylatul-bara'ah" (The night of freedom from Fire).
During this month Prophet (SAW) observed fasts quite regularly. The blessed companion Anas, Radi-Allahu anhu, reports that Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, was asked, "Which fast is the most meritorious after the fasts of Ramadan?" He replied, "Fasts of Sha’aban in honor of Ramadan." As Ramadan is just a month away from this month, practice of fasting helps a lot. The blessed companion Usama ibn Zaid, Radi-Allahu anhu, reports that he asked Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam: "Messenger of Allah, I have seen you fasting in the month of Sha'ban so frequently that I have never seen you fasting in any other month." Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, replied: "That (Sha'ban) is a month between Rajab and Ramadan which is neglected by many people. And it is a month in which an account of the deeds (of human beings) is presented before the Lord of the universe, so, I wish that my deeds be presented at a time when I am in a state of fasting."

One of the most important events of this month is the mid of this month. Shab-e-Barat or Laylatul-bara'ah meaning “The night of freedom from Fire” has a lot of significance as there are many hadiths that tell the importance of this night. Although some scholors argue on the authenticity of these words of Prophet, but you cannot just ignore it. Ummul-Mu'mineen 'Aishah, Radi-Allahu anha, is reported to have said, "Once Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, performed the Salah of the night (Tahajjud) and made a very long Sajdah until I feared that he had passed away. When I saw this, I rose (from my bed) and moved his thumb (to ascertain whether he is alive). The thumb moved, and I returned (to my place). Then I heard him saying in Sajdah: 'I seek refuge of Your forgiveness from Your punishment, and I seek refuge of Your pleasure from Your annoyance, and I seek Your refuge from Yourself. I cannot praise You as fully as You deserve. You are exactly as You have defined Yourself.' Thereafter, when he raised his head from Sajdah and finished his salah, he said to me: 'Aishah, did you think that the Prophet has betrayed you?' I said, 'No, O Prophet of Allah, but I was afraid that your soul has been taken away because your Sajdah was very long.' He asked me, 'Do you know which night is this?' I said, 'Allah and His Messenger know best.' He said, 'This is the night of the half of Sha'ban. Allah Almighty looks upon His slaves in this night and forgives those who seek forgiveness and bestows His mercy upon those who pray for mercy but keeps those who have malice (against a Muslim) as they were before, (and does not forgive them unless they relieve themselves from malice).'"
This & many others tell the importance of this night. So doesn’t matter you believes in the authenticity of these verses or not, it is not a bad thing to pray. So do pray a lot in this night & all other nights as well. Fasting in this month has great importance as well. Please do comment and correct me if I’m wrong or if I have missed something. Also support us by visiting & shopping from our website which is http://www.islamicimpressions.com. I hope you will find it helpful.

[Om_Mohammed]

Assalaamu alaikum.

Thankyou, Fahad, for posting this reminder of Shabaan. However, I do have some questions about your post and your claims. My first question is...why have you not included your sources of the quotes of ahadith? This is a basic necessity in expressing any point you wish to claim, to ensure it's authenticity, and therefore that people will take heed of the words that you have written. If such reference is not included, it only goes to shed light on it's questionability.

As for the quotes you have mentioned, I do question most of them, basically because what IS included in the books of Sahih Ahadith is not in agreement with these statements. Perhaps that which stands foremost in my mind at this moment is the claim of this night of Shabaan, which you referred to as the 'night of baraa'.

According to the Sahih Al-bukhari, when the prophet (SAAW) was asked about which night throughout the year is most beneficial (in regards prayer and other worship), he mentioned the 'night of al-qadr', which is in the month of Ramadhan. And then he also continued on to mention that the best days of the year are the ten days of dhul-hijja (i.e. the days preceding eid al-adha).

First of all, the Quran says about the night of Al-Qadr(i.e. the night of Power):

"Verily, We have sent it (this Quran) down in the night of Al-Qadr (decree). And what will make you know what the night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is? The night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allah in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months). Therein descend the angels and the ruh (Jibreel) by Allah's Permission with all Decrees. (All that night), there is Peace (and Goodness from Allah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn." (s. 97, v. 1-5)

Here, the Quran itself tells us that this one night out of the year, which occurs yearly, is better than a thousand nights. No such or even near similar quality is given to any other night of the year. In this night, the angels and also Jibreel descend to the earth, by Allah's decree and permission, carrying with them the Decrees of the upcoming year. During this one night, there is Peace, until the appearance of dawn. Hence, the prophet's(saaw) own observance of intense and sincere worship during not only this night, but the last ten nights of Ramadhan, and even the whole month of Ramadhan, seeing as how he had the knowledge/insight that this night occurs in Ramadhan, and more precisely, sometime during the last ten nights of Ramadhan. Not only did he increase his own worship during this time in his humble effort to seek out the blessings of this night, but he was demonstrating to his own companions of how to do this, the importance of doing this, and even taught them by relaying to them the message that this night occurs sometime during the last ten nights, and they should spend that time in intense and sincere and humble worship, seeking out this night.

As is related to us in Sahih Al-Bukhari:
Narrated Abu Huraira(ARA): The Prophet(SAAW) said: 'Whoever fasted the month of Ramadhan with faith (i.e. belief) and a wish for a reward from Allah, then all his past sins will be forgiven, and whoever stood for the prayers in the night of Qadr with faith and a wish for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven." (vol. 3, the book of tarawih prayers, hadith #231, pg. 129.)

Also from Sahih Al-Bukhari:
Narrated Aisha(ARA): Allah's Apostle(SAAW) said: "Search for the Night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadhan." (vol. 3, the book of tarawih prayers, hadith #234, pg. 131.)

Narrated Ibn Abbas(ARA): The Prophet(SAAW) said: "Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadhan on the night when nine or seven or five nights remain out of the last ten nights of Ramadhan (i.e.: 21, 23, 25, respectively)." (vol. 3, the book of tarawih prayers, hadith #238, pg. 132)

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There are many more similar ahadith on this, but I think that will suffice. I would suggest that you include your source if you wish to make any claim on a lesson to be learned, and in particular if it is in reference to anything the prophet(SAAW) has said or directed us towards.

Be mindful that the source should be a sound 'sahih' source in order for all to believe.

Thankyou.

Om Mohammed.

[peacepro]

Thnx For Reminding Shaaban