shab-e-barat

Wa 'alaikum as-salaam wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu,

Praise be to Allaah

Excellent question.

You correctly mentioned that the so-called shab-e-barat is not mentioned in the Qur'aan. It is not even hinted at in the Book of Allaah (subhaanhu wa taa'ala). However, you will see and hear some people mentioning the verses in the Qur'aan (interpretation of the meaning):

We sent it (this Qur'aan) down on a blessed night. Verily, We are ever warning. (Soorah Ad-Dukhaan: 3)

Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments. (Ad-Dukhaan: 4)

As a Command from Us. Verily, We are ever sending (the Messengers). (Ad-Dukhaan: 5)

as referring to the night in the middle of Sha'baan. However, the night mentioned, in which the Qur'aan was sent down in this verse can only refer to a night in Ramadaan because Allaah says, the interpretation of the meaning of which is:

The month of Ramadaan, in which was revealed the Qur'aan................ (soorah Al-Baqarah:185)

And the Qur'aan, as is well known, explains the Qur'aan.

Actually, the night mentioned in soorah Ad-Dukhaan
is the night of Qadr (laylatul Qadr), because Allaah says (the interpretation of the meaning of which is):

Verily, We have sent it (this Qur'aan) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree). (soorah Al-Qadr:1)

Furthermore Ibn 'Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him and his father) said about this verse:

"Allaah sent the Qur'aan down all at one time from the Preserved Tablet (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfooz) to the House of Might (Baytul-`Izzah), which is in the heaven of this world. Then it came down in parts to the Messenger of Allaah based upon the incidents that occurred over a period of twenty-three years.'' (see Tafseer ibn Katheer/tafseer soorah Al-Qadr)

And the status and virtues of the night of laylatul Qadr are well known.

As for the Sunnah, then read this fatwa from Islam Q&A:

Is it permissible, even after finding out that a hadeeth is da’eef (weak), to follow it, by way of doing righteous deeds? The hadeeth says: “When it is halfway through Sha’baan, spend that night in prayer and fast on that day.” The fast is observed as a voluntary act of devotion to Allaah, as is spending that night in prayer (qiyaam al-layl).

Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly:

What is narrated concerning the virtue of praying, fasting and worshipping on the fifteenth of Sha’baan (al-nusf min Sha’baan) does not come under the heading of da’eef (weak), rather it comes under the heading of mawdoo’ (fabricated) and baatil (false). So it is not permissible to follow it or to act upon it, whether that is in doing righteous deeds or otherwise.

A number of scholars ruled that the reports concerning that were false, such as Ibn al-Jawzi in his book al-Mawdoo’aat, 2/440-445; Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah in al-Manaar al-Muneef, no. 174- 177; Abu Shaamah al-Shaafa’i in al-Baa’ith ‘ala Inkaar al-Bida’ wa’l-Hawaadith, 124-137; al-‘Iraaqi in Takhreej Ihyaa’ ‘Uloom il-Deen, no. 582. Shaykh al-Islam [Ibn Taymiyah] narrated that there was consensus on the fact that they are false, in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 28/138.

Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Hukm al-Ihtifaal bi Laylat al-Nusf min Sha’baan (Ruling on celebrating the fifteenth of Sha’baan):

Celebrating the night of the fifteenth of Sha’baan (Laylat al-Nusf min Sha’baan) by praying etc, or singling out this day for fasting, is a reprehensible bid’ah (innovation) according to the majority of scholars, and there is no basis for this in sharee’ah.

And he (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

There is no saheeh hadeeth concerning the night of the fifteenth of Sha’baan (Laylat al-Nusf min Sha’baan). All the ahaadeeth that have been narrated concerning that are mawdoo’ (fabricated) and da’eef (weak), and have no basis. There is nothing special about this night, and no recitation of Qur’aan or prayer, whether alone or in congregation, is specified for this night. What some of the scholars have said about it being special is a weak opinion. It is not permissible to single it out for any special actions. This is the correct view. And Allaah is the Source of strength.

Fataawa Islamiyyah, 4/511.

See also question no. 8907.

Secondly:

Even if we assume that the hadeeth is da’eef (weak) and not mawdoo’ (fabricated), the correct scholarly view is that weak ahaadeeth should not be followed at all, even if they speak of righteous deeds or of targheeb and tarheeb (promises and warnings). The saheeh reports are sufficient and the Muslim has no need to follow the da’eef reports. Nothing is known in Islam to suggest that this night or day is special, either from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or from his companions.

The scholar Ahmad Shaakir said: There is no difference between rulings or righteous deeds; we do not take any of them from da’eef reports, rather no one hast he right to use any report as evidence unless it is proven to be soundly narrated from the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in a saheeh or hasan hadeeth.

Al-Baa’ith al-Hatheeth, 1/278.

For more information, see: al-Qawl al-Muneef fi Hukm al-‘Aml bi’l-Hadeeth al-Da’eef.

See also the answer to question no. 44877.

And Allaah knows best. (end of fatwa)

Praying qiyaam al-layl on the fifteenth night is like praying on any other night. However, singling out the fifteenth thinking that it has special virtue is an innovation (bid'ah).

Also, singling out the 15th for naafil fasting is a bid'ah. However, if the 15th coincides with fasting approved in the sunnah, such as fasting a lot in Sha'baan, fasting Mondays and Thursdays, the fast of Dawood ('alaihissalaam) or fasting the 13th, 14th, and 15th of each month, then there is no problem in this.

And Allaah Knows best.

Whatever I said correctly, then that is from Allaah. Wherever I've made mistakes, then it is from me and the whisperings of ash-shaytaan.

May Allaah guide me and you to the straight path.

May Allaah send his Peace and Blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad, his family, his companions and all those who follow them in goodness till the day of judgement.