Making Particular Worship on The Fifteenth of Sha’baan is Even Incorrect Based on Hanafee Usool

Follow @AhleDhikr

Shaykh 'Abdul-Kareem bin 'Abdullah al-Khudayr [May Allaah Preserve him]

Member of the Committee of Senior Scholars, Saudi Arabia said:

A process known as Istishaab (الاستصحاب) is another way within Shariah which helps us forms rules and rulings.

The point behind Istishaab is to seek to find what is relevant from the original ruling at the time it came down.

In Irshaad al-Fuhool, it gives Istishaab the definition of something that is affirmed in the time of revelation so it must be affirmed in the times that came after it.

Meaning, something was revealed and legislated in the time of revelation and the same ruling can be applied today without any changes occurring to the ruling. 

If a scholar sits down to look at the ruling of something and he finds no evidence to support a particular action, such as the virtues of Rajab or praying during the night of fifteenth Sha’baan…so if one wants to fast or pray during these times and there is no evidence for it, then in origin, the ruling is that they are not legislated.

For example, a person wants to create a sixth prayer during the day and he tries to seek evidence to support this, but he only finds that five prayers during the day are legislated, then in origin, there is no sixth prayer.

Ok, let’s take Salaat al-‘Eid or Salaat al-Witr – some stated that these are Waajib – and they have evidence. So you try and look for evidence, this is the process of Istishaab. Thus in its application it means that nothing is legislated except what Allaah, the Exalted and Glorified, has legislated in worship. So we cannot worship except with evidence.

So if a person says, ‘I want to fast Rajab and this is necessary for me to do so’ or ‘I must stand the fifteenth of Sha’baan in prayer’ we say to him, ‘bring your evidence.’ If you are trying to prove a ruling and you have no evidence then there is no Istishaab for you, so in origin we stop until there is evidence.

The scholars also differed on the following; is Istishaab a proof that we can rely on when there are no textual proofs?

Some said yes, Istishaab can be used as proof and others said no.

The Majority say it can be used as proof, from them are the Hanbalees, the Shafi’ees and the Maalikees as was stated by Ibn Haajib.

Others, like the Hanafees and some of the philosophers, stated that we need textual proof at all times. So if you have textual proof for doing something at the time of revelation then we also need proof to suggest that we can do it on our times today.

So what does this all mean? The Hanafees argue that if something was legislated at the time of the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] then we can’t assume that it can be applied today unless we have evidence to suggest that the ruling can be applied today, this means we can’t do Istishaab.

So for example, praying the fear prayer. The Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] prayed the fear prayer in seven different ways, so we say that we can use this and pray in this way if we are in a similar situation, and these rulings are upheld until the Last Day. This is because they are affirmed in the text, we have evidence for it and the fact the Companions [May Allaah be Pleased with them all] continued with this practice shows that it is still legislated.

However, Muhammad bin Hasan ash-Shaybaanee and Aboo Yoosuf (two senior students of Aboo Haneefah) would say that the rulings connected to fear prayer is specific to the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] and can only be applied today if we have proof.

[Sharh al-Waraqaat Fee Usool al-Fiqh, tape 15]

Shaykh Sa’ood ash Shuraym’s refutation on those think there is virtue in Shab-e-baraat [15th Sha’baan]

Follow @AhleDhikr

Question posed to Shaykh Sa’ood ibn Ibraaheem ash-Shuraym [May Allaah preserve him]
After Salaat al-Fajr in Masjid al-Haram, approx. Rajab 1427
Sharh Nathm al-Habeer fi Usool at-Tafseer, tape 14

Question: This person is asking about the 15^th of Sha’baan [or otherwise known as Shab - e - Beraat] and the virtues of this night and the night be a night of forgiveness for all of the creation of Allaah.

Shaykh Sa’ood: On this issue the scholars have differed, having two views. One group saying there is a virtue in the night based on some of the narrations about this night and others saying there isn’t a virtue because these narrations are not authentic and not correct. Those who say there isn’t a virtue on this is night is the correct position from the aspect of Hadeeth and those scholars who verified and checked Hadeeth. They stated there are no authentic narrations about the virtue of this night and all the narrations narrated about this night are weak. Those who say there is a virtue in the night used various ahaadeeth to try and justify virtue about the night but they use weak hadeeth and we know that weak ahadeeth are not accepted or to be acted upon when comes to Islamic rulings or in any other aspect of Islam. If a narration is weak then it is weak. Those who try to use weak narrations as evidence, especially in the cases of virtues of spirituality and rectifying oneself, and try to attribute its permissibility to Imaam Ahmad ibn Hambal, then this is not correct and is mistaken. This is because in the time of Imaam Ahmad hadeeth was either one of two classifications, authentic or weak. But those scholars that came after created categories in the classification used. They introduced terminologies such as Hasan, Hasan li Ghayrihi, Saheeh li Ghayrihi, Qat, Mu’dal etc to Saheeh and Daeef. So when Imaam Ahmad is talking about accepted Daeef of weak Hadeeth he is actually talking about the permissibility of accepting Ahadeeth that are Hasan li Ghayrihi, not the full grade of Saheeh or authentic but they are acceptable and not Daeef or weak as we understand it today, this has been clarified further by Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, May Allaah have mercy on him.

So the correct view about the virtues of this night, the night of 15^th Sha’baan, is that there is no virtue or anything special about this night and there is nothing specifically prescribed for us to do on this night.   

Some people try to use the hadeeth, “Allah descends on this night and he forgives al of his creation except the Mushrik [the one who is doing Shirk], the Mushaahin [one who has a quarrel with another] or the Mudmin [addict]”. Some of the scholars did say that this hadeeth is Saheeh, but even if it is Saheeh for arguments sake, then the hadeeth doesn’t prescribe for us to do anything special on this night by the way of act of worships. This is because the hadeeth doesn’t encourage us to do any special act of worship or to fast the day or the following day, rather all the hadeeth states is that Allaah will forgive on this night.

A Detailed Discussion on Singling out the Night of the Fifteenth of Sha'baan for Worship

Follow @AhleDhikr

Haafidh Ibn Rajab al-Hanbalee (d.795) [May Allaah have Mercy on him] writes:
Chapter 33: Second Sitting on Mid-Sha'baan

It has been narrated by Imaam Ahmad, Aboo Dawood, at-Tirmidhee, an-Nisaa'ee, ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibbaan and Haakim, on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah [May Allah be Pleased with him] that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said;

"If half of the month of Sha'baan has passed, do not fast."

At-Tirmidhee classed this as Saheeh as did others, such as Ibn Hibbaan, Haakim at-Tahaawee al-Hanafee, Ibn Abdul-Barr. 

Others such as Bin Mahdee, Imaam Ahmad, Aboo Zur'ah ar-Raazee and Athram classed the hadeeth as being weak and rejected.

They also stated that it contradicts another hadeeth; "Do no precede Ramadhaan by fasting a day or two days before it."

Based on the latter, the understanding is that it is permissible to fast after mid-Shab'aan except for a day or two before the commencement of Ramadhaan. Athraam also explained that it goes against other Ahadeeth as well, for instance it is also narrated that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] fasted the whole of Sha'baan to the extent that he combined the month of Sha'baan in fasting with Ramadhaan, so it's not permissible to fast a day or two before Ramadhaan and all the other Ahadeeth are not authentic in this regard.

Imaam at-Tahaawee al-Hanafee says that the Hadeeth is abrogated and stated that there is consensus from the scholars that this Hadeeth must be left however the majority of the scholars acted upon these Ahadeeth. 

Others like Imaam ash-Shaafi'ee and his companions reconciled by stating that it is not permissible to fast voluntary fasts post mid-Sha'baan except for the one who has a habit of fasting voluntarily on a regular basis. Many of the scholars agreed with this explanation.

Despite this, the scholars differed as to the reason behind the prohibition. Some stated that it was to prevent the month of Ramadhaan having extra days or an extension to the month. Others stated that the reason was to prevent any form of weakness during the fasting of Ramadhaan, as was stated by Wakee' and this is how he explained the fact that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] combined the months of Sha'baan and Ramadhaan.

As for singling out the fifteenth day of Sha'baan for worship and fasting, then this is not permissible unless one is fasting the Ayaam al-Beed[1] and that this is his habit to fast these days throughout the year.

It has been narrated in a Hadeeth narrated by Ibn Maajah with a very weak chain of narrators, on the authority of 'Alee [May Allaah be Pleased with him] that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said:

"When you reach mid-Sha'baan, stand the night in prayer and fast during the day because Allaah, the Most High, descends after the sun sets to the first sky and says, 'Is there anyone asking for forgiveness so I may Forgive them? Is there anyone seeking any provision so I may Give it to them? Is there anyone facing any difficulties so I may Relieve them? 'And this continues until the break of dawn."

There are many other Ahaadeeth that discuss the virtues of the 15^th of Sha'baan but the majority of the scholars have said that they are all weak. Ibn Hibbaan, however, stated that some of them are authentic. For example, it has been narrated in his Saheeh, on the authority of A'isahah [May Allaah be Pleased with her] that she said;

"The Messenger of Allaah [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] left to the graveyard of Baq'ee and he then raised his head to the sky and said, 'Are you scared that Allaah and His Messenger are doing something wrong?' I replied, 'Oh Messenger of Allaah! I thought that you were going to another wife.' To which he replied, 'Verily, Allaah, The Exalted and The Most High, Comes Down on the night of mid-Sha'baan to the first sky and He Forgives people more than the number of hairs on a Sheppard's dog.'"

This was also narrated by Imaam Ahamd and at-Tirmidhee. Imaam Ahmad, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajaah and Imaam al-Bukhaaree all classified this Hadeeth as being weak. 

It has been narrated by Ibn Maajah from the Hadeeth of Aboo Moosaa [May Allaah be Pleased with him] that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, "Verily, Allaah descends on the night of the fifteenth of Sha'baan and He Forgives all of His Creation except the Mushrik or the one who has a quarrel with another."

Imaam Ahmad also narrated from the Hadeeth of Abdullah bin 'Amr [May Allaah be Pleased with him] that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, "Verily, Allaah Descends upon His creation on the night of fifteenth of Sha'baan and He Forgives all of His creation except the one who is worshipping idols, the one has a quarrel with another or the person who commits suicide."

Another narration has been narrated by Ibn Hibbaan on the authority of Mu'aadh [May Allaah be Pleased with him] which states, "When the fifteenth of Sha'baan arrives a caller calls out and says; 'Is there anyone who needs forgiveness so that I may forgive him? Is there anyone who has a need so that I may give it to him? And he will give to everyone except for the adulterer or the Mushrik'."

There are many Ahaadeeth on the virtues of this night but they are all weak. It has been narrated that Nawf al-Bakaalee that 'Alee [May Allaah be Pleased with him] went out on the night of fifteenth of Sha'baan and he looked at the sky and said, "Verily, Dawood - Peace be Upon him - came out on the same night, at about the same time at night and looked at the sky and said, 'Verily, if one calls to Allaah at this hour, He Will Give it to him. There is no one who asks for forgiveness at this time, except He Will Forgive him, as long as they are not involved in immorality or involved in Sihr.'"

Many of the scholars of Makkah and Madeenah have rejected this narration from 'Alee or other similar to it, from them are the likes of 'Ataa and Ibn Abee Mulaykah. In fact, it has been narrated from Abdur-Rahmaan bin Zayd bin Aslam that the Fuqahaa or the scholars of Madeenah rejected it also, from them were the likes of Imaam Maalik's companions and other than them, all stating that holding this night as a night of virtue is an innovation.

The scholars of Shaam differed about this night into two views. Some said that is it recommended for people to gather in the Masjid, this was the view of Khaalid bin Ma'dan and Luqmaan bin 'Aamir and others. They stated that one should wear his finest clothes, we should perfume the Masjid with incense and we should stand in prayer in the Masjid during this night.  Ishaaq bin Raahooyah agreed with them and stated that having a congregational optional prayer during this night in the Masjid is not an innovation, and he narrated this from Harb al-Karmaanee as well. 

The second view from the people of Shaam is that they said it was not permissible to gather in the Masaajid and single this night out, holding prayers during the night, reciting stories, making Dua'aa are all not permissible. However, they did state that a man may stand alone during this night in prayer if he doesn’t single the night out believing there to be special virtue in his praying on this particular night.  This was the view of 'Awzaa'ee, who was the most knowledgeable in Shaam and he was also labeled as Imaam Ahl ash-Shaam, their Faqeeh and their 'Aalim. And this is the correct opinion, Allaah Willing.

It has also been narrated from 'Umar bin 'Abdul-'Azeez that he wrote to his mayor in Basrah, that he should not leave off venerating four nights in the year; the first night of Rajab, the fifteenth night of Sha'baan, the night of 'Eid al-Fitr and the night of 'Eid al-Adhaa. However, this narration is not authentic. 

Imaam ash-Shaafi'ee [May Allaah have Mercy on him] stated about this, "It has reached us that some say we should venerate five nights; the night before Jumu'ah, the nights before the two 'Eids, the first night of Rajab and the night of fifteenth of Sha'baan. They have stated that it is recommended to increase in worship during these nights but I do not know from Imaam Ahmad anything authentic about the night of fifteenth Sha'baan."   

It is also narrated from him that it is recommended or Mustahab to stand the night in prayer, this is one of two views narrated from him. In the view that you are recommended to stand, it states that we should stand the night of ‘Eid in prayer and this night, however it is not recommended to stand the night in congregational prayer, as it has not been narrated from the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] or any of his Companions [May Allaah be Pleased with them]. It is recommended or Mustahab to stand this night in prayer due to the action of Abdur-Rahmaan bin Yazeed bin al-Aswad, who was a Tabi’ee. However, standing the night in prayer, the 15^th night in Sha’baan has not been narrated from the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] or any of his Companions [May Allaah be Pleased with them] or any other of the Tabi’een or any of the scholars of Shaam. 

It has been narrated on the authority of K’ab [May Allaah have Mercy on him] that he said, “Verily, Allaah, the Most High, sends on the night of 15^th Sha’baan  Jibreel [Peace be Upon him] to Jannah and orders him to tell them, ‘Verily, Allaah, the Most High, has freed people from the fire on the night of 15^th Sha’baan which are equivalent to the stars in the sky, equivalent to the number of days and nights in the Dunya, equivalent to the number of leaves on the tress, equivalent to the weight of the mountains and equivalent to every gain of sand.’”

It is also narrated that ‘Ataa [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “There is no night, after the night of Qadr in Ramadhaan, except the night of 15^th Sha’baan. Allaah Descends to the first sky on this night, Honored and He is, and He Forgives everyone except a Mushrik, a person who has a quarrel or someone who is cutting the ties of kinship, the rest He Frees from the fire. ”

Therefore it is incumbent upon the Muslim to remember Allaah, the Most High, on this night, ask Him to forgive you your sins, to cover your mistakes and to get close to Allaah, the Most High, by repenting to Him and gaining close to Him[2].

It is also important that the Muslim leaves off sinning on this night, lest he be prevented from attaining the Forgiveness and Mercy of Allaah, lest he may find his Dua’aa rejected on this night. 

It has been narrated that the worst of sins that one can commit are Shirk, committing suicide and fornicating/adultery as it has been narrated from the hadeeth of Ibn Ma’sood [May Allaah be Pleased with him] which is Agree Upon on its authenticity that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “Do you know what is the worst of sins? It is to make a partner or equal to Allaah when He Created you…to kill your children fearing poverty…to fornicate/commit adultery with the wife of your neighbor.”

Allaah, the Most High, Descends on this night, so think about the saying;

“And those who invoke not any other ilah (god) along with Allah, nor kill such life as Allah has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse and whoever does this shall receive the punishment.” [Furqaan 25:68]

Also from the sins that could prevent one from attaining Mercy and Forgiveness is to be in a state of argumentation with another Muslim. Having enmity, hatred and spreading rumors about him are also causes for one to be prevented from having Mercy and Forgiveness upon him. This is not exclusive to this night, rather this prevention of Mercy and Forgiveness applies to the quarrelsome person every night, as it has been narrated on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah [May Allaah be Pleased with him] that has been narrated by Saheeh Muslim that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “The doors of Jannah are opened every Monday and Thursday, so Allaah forgives all His Slaves except for the one who is involved in doing Shirk, two Muslim brothers who have a quarrel with each other and they. So it said, ‘Let them be until they reconcile’”

Al-‘Awzaa’ee [May Allaah have Mercy on him] explained the meaning of this by stating that the one who is argumentative or quarrelsome is the one who harbors ill-thought and hatred towards another Muslim.  There is no doubt that this type of sin is worse than mere argument or disagreements that may occur between two people, just like the people of Bid’ah split the Ummah.

Ibn Thawbaan [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said that the argumentative person here in this Hadeeth refers to the one who leaves following the Sunnah of the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him].

Therefore this argumentative person, I mean the person of Bid’ah, includes everyone who splits the Ummah, he splits them in their religion, their wealth and their honor just like the Khwaarij and the Rawaafid, they insult the Jama’ah of the Muslims and even make Halaal their blood and the likes.

So from the best of actions is that one is clean and pure in his heart, free from having any quarrels or grudges, unlike those who follow their desires or Bid’ah, that which insults the Salaf of this Ummah and those who came after them, sharing in their ‘Aqeedah and their enmity to the people of innovation. Branching off from this, if one is clean in his heart and his thoughts of people, it will lead to him being sincere to the general Muslims, wanting good for them and giving them sincere advice. The one who is clean and free from grudges wants for others that which he would want for himself. 

Allaah, the Most High, has given the believer this special characteristic, as He States:

“And those who came after them say: "Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in Faith, and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed full of kindness, Most Merciful.” [al-Hashr 59:10]

The Salaf would see the best deed one can do is to have a clean heart, rectifying himself and being sincere to the Ummah. Because of the virtue of having a clean heart, goodness has spread throughout the land, even more so than the ones who are heavy in praying and fasting. 

My brothers! Leave off everything that will make the Mercy and Forgiveness of Allaah abandoned from you. The slave is the slave of a Mawlaa who is al-Ghafaar, Forgiving especially in this season, a season of Mercy, Repentance and Forgiveness. As for the Mushrik, then Allaah says;

“Verily, whosoever sets up partners in worship with Allah, then Allah has forbidden Paradise for him, and the Fire will be his abode . And for the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers) there are no helpers.” [Maaidah 5:72]

If one commits the sin of murder, had the heavens and the earth’s and all its inhabitants were to gather to help this person, then he will not be saved from the fire.

As for the one who commits fornication or adultery, then he should beware of the Anger of al-Jabbaar. All of the creation are slaves to Allaah, there is no one more jealous than Allaah when a slave commits fornication/adultery, thus because of this He has Prohibited His slaves from committing any lewd act and Has Ordered us to lower our gaze.   

“Consider not that Allah is unaware of that which the Zalimun(polytheists, wrong-doers, etc.) do, but He gives them respite up to a Day when the eyes will stare in horror.”

[Ibraaheem 14: 42]

This is all sufficient for us to be prohibited from attaining the Forgiveness of Allaah.
It has also been narrated about this night from ‘Ikrimah and others from the scholars of Tafseer about the Aayah

“We sent it (this Qur'an) down on a blessed night [(i.e. night ofQadr, Surah No: 97) in the month of Ramadan,, the 9th month of the Islamic calendar]. Verily, We are ever warning [mankind that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of Lordship and in Our Oneness of worship]. Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments.” [Dukhaan 44:3-4]

That this refers to the 15^th of Sha’baan. However, the majority of the scholars, and this is the correct opinion, they stated that this Aayah refers to Laylah al-Qadr in Ramadhaan. 

[Lataa'if al-Ma'aarif (Pg. 102-107)]

---

[1] Literally meaning the 'White Day's', these are the days when there is a full moon and it is Sunnah to fast during these days or any three days of a given month. See: Sharh al-Mumti' 6/373 [TN]

[2] Assuming that some of the Ahaadeeth are authentic, there is nothing narrated from the Sunnah that states we should gather in the Masaajid or pray Salaah or supplicate in congregation or to fast the day of the 15^th Sha’baan. As Shaykh Sa’ood ash-Shuraym [May Allaah Preserve him] pointed out, “So the correct view about the virtues of this night, the night of 15^th Sha’baan, is that there is no virtue or anything special about this night and there is nothing specifically prescribed for us to do on this night. Some people try to use the hadeeth, “Allah descends on this night and he forgives al of his creation except the Mushrik [the one who is doing Shirk], the Mushaahin [one who has a quarrel with another] or the Mudmin [addict]”. Some of the scholars did say that this hadeeth is Saheeh, but even if it is Saheeh for arguments sake, then the hadeeth doesn’t prescribe for us to do anything special on this night by the way of act of worships. This is because the hadeeth doesn’t encourage us to do any special act of worship or to fast the day or the following day, rather all the hadeeth states is that Allaah will forgive on this night.” [Sharh Nathm al-Habeer fi Usool at-Tafseer, tape 14]

Sunan at-Tirmidhee, Chapter 39: What has Come in Relation to the Virtues of the Fifteenth of Sha’baan

Follow @AhleDhikr

Imaam Aboo ‘Eesaa at-Tirmidhi said in his Sunnan (3/116):

Chapter 39: What has Come in Relation to the Virtues of the Fifteenth of Sha’baan

Hadeeth 739:

It is narrated that A’aishah [May Allaah be Pleased with her and her father] that she said, “The Messenger of Allaah [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] left me one night and he headed towards to the graveyard of Baqee’ and I followed him.” The Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] turned and asked me, “Do you fear that Allaah and His Messenger will betray you?” I said, “No, Oh Messenger of Allaah! I thought you were going to another one of your wives.” So he said, “Verily, Allaah, the Exalted and the Glorified, comes down on the night of fifteenth Sha’baan to the first heavens and He Forgives as much as the hair found on cattle.”

It says in Tuhfah al-Awadee, which is a famous explanation of Sunnan at-Tirmidhee, by Shaykh Muhammad bin ‘Abdur-Rahmaan al-Mubaarakfooree [May Allaah have Mercy on him] (3/366-369):

The Hadeeth mentioned here is weak as it is discontinued in its chain of narration, so we cannot depend on this Hadeeth as proof for the virtues of this night…In fact, if we look at the Ahaadeeth used by those who condone taking this night as a virtuous night then we will see that none of the Ahadeeth are affirmed in the slightest, and Allaah, the Most High, Knows Best.

Note:

Know! That the meaning of the Ayaah in which Allaah, the Most High, says:

“We sent it (this Qur'an) down on a blessed night [(i.e. night of Qadr, Surah No: 97) in the month of Ramadan,, the 9th month of the Islamic calendar]. Verily, We are ever warning [mankind that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of Lordship and in Our Oneness of worship]. Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments.”

[Dukhaan 44:3-4]

This night refers to Layla al-Qadr or the Night of Power in Ramadhaan. Some said it refers to the fifteenth of Sha’baan however the majority say this Ayaah applies to the Night of Power in Ramadhaan and this is the truth.

Haafidh Ibn Katheer [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “Saying that this night in the Aayah refers to the fifteenth of Sha’baan is far from the truth. Rather, the textual proofs from the Quraan prove that it refers to the night in Ramadhaan.” End Quote

In the Sharh of Mishkaat, it is stated that a number of the Salaf held that the opinion that the Ayaat above refer to the fifteenth of Sha’baan however what it is apparent is that the Quraan itself refutes this view. The Quraan clearly states that it was revealed in the month of Ramadhaan, in further detailed, it also states that the Quraan was revealed on the Night of Power and no scholars differed on this fact. Once this is established it becomes apparent that the Night of Decrees cannot be in the night of the fifteenth of Sha’baan.

Another Note:

Mulla ‘Alee Qaaree al-Hanafee in his Sharh of Mishkaat writes:

Know! It is mentioned that on the night of fifteenth Sha’baan that it is recommended to pray one hundred Rak’aat of prayer, reciting Surah Ikhlaas ten times in each Rak’ah thus making each Rak’ah long. The virtues of this night and this prayer are fabricated and cannot be relied upon as was stated by ad-Daylamee and others.

In other treatise it states that ‘Alee bin Ibraaheem [d.329] said, “Another newly invented matter is holding the night of fifteenth Sha’baan with virtue, praying one thousand Rak’aat and reciting Surah al-Ikhlaas tens and tens of times in congregation. I am worried because the number of people congregating on this night is increasing, although they are unable to bring any proof or narration to support what they are doing, except by the way of presenting weak or fabricated ones, and do not be deceived by the authors of certain books who present them.”

The first ones to perform these acts of worship occurred 448AH in al-Quds. Their ignorance led them to performing prayers in congregation on this night and the likes. With Praise to Allaah, the guided scholars stood up against this all and they refuted these invented practices and its refutation spread to the lands of Egypt and ash-Shaam. 

From those who refuted and rejected these practices that began to occur on this night was Tartoosee. He talked about those who gathered on the fifteenth of Sha’baan, gathering to pray Taraaweeh and hold talks from the Mimbar, he explained that all these acts are all innovated.

Another point to note:

There is nothing narrated in the Ahadeeth that state that one should fast on the day of the fifteenth of Sha’baan (or the day after). There are narrations that state that one should pray during the night and fast on the fifteenth of Sha’baan as was narrated by Ibn Maajah, but these narrations are extremely weak.

Extremism and Terrorism are forms of Hypocrisy in al-Islaam

Follow @AhleDhikr

It was narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh (1063) on the authority of Jaabir bin ‘Abdullah [May Allaah be Pleased with him] that the Messenger of Allaah [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] was at Ja’raanah handing out the war booty after the battle of al-Hunayn. He rewarded Bilaal [May Allaah be Pleased with him] with some silver and the kept some for himself. A man (his name was Dhoo Khuwaysarah at-Tameemee) came and said, “Oh Muhammad! Be fair!” So he [May Allaah be Pleased with him] replied, “Woe to you! Who is just if I am not just? Everything will be lost and destroyed if I wasn’t being fair.” So ’Umar bin a-Khattaab [May Allaah be Pleased with him] said, “Permit me, Oh Messenger of Allaah! I will kill this hypocrite.” So he [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “Allaah forbid, people will go around saying that I kill my own Companions. This person and his companions all recite the Quraan but it doesn’t go below their throats (i.e. it doesn’t affect their piety) and they take people out of al-Islaam just as spears that are thrown in battle.”

Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Tamiyyah [May Allaah be Pleased with him] explained that the Khwaarij (a deviant sect that have views similar to extremists today) believe:

“The blood of those who are from Ahl al-Qiblah (i.e. Muslims, whether they are deviated in their sects or not) are apostates (i.e. disbelievers and no longer Muslim), because of their (false) beliefs and therefore their blood is lawful, even more so than that of the Kuffaar, because their crime of apostasy is worse than those who are disbelievers.” [Majmoo’ al-Fataawaa (28/497)]

He also said in describing them:

“From the essence of their deviation is that they hold that the scholars and the leaders of the Muslims, as well the Muslim community, are unjust and as a result, they are misguided. They have taken this idea, to leave the Sunnis and to oppose them, from the Rawaafidah (i.e. the Shi’ah). Added to this, they believe that those who sin are oppressors, and those who oppress are Kuffaar. As a consequence, they have applied Kufr to people and invented innovated principles in applying them and labelling people with Kufr. In every aspect of their belief they have left some fundamental aspects which make the basis of al-Islaam, until they are come to the position (that those who oppose them have left al-Islaam), exiting people like spears (when thrown during a battle) from al-Islaam.”

Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Tamiyyah [May Allaah be Pleased with him] then expanded upon the Hadeeth above in describing this man as a hyrpocrite, he said:

This man has been described as a hypocrite, with the texts of the Quraan, by His Statement:

“And of them are some who accuse you (O Muhammad) in the matter of (the distribution of) the alms.” [at-Tawbah 9:58]

Meaning, if you don’t give to them then they will insult you. Just like the man who said to the Messenger of Allaah [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him], “Oh Muhammad! Be fair!” This is because he wasn’t given a share and accused the Messenger of Allaah [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] of favouritism and that he didn’t fear Allaah! So he responded by saying, “Is there no one on the earth that fears Allaah more than me? Are you accusing me whilst I am entrusted from the Heavens?” 

There is no doubt, if one was to utter such statements today then he deserves to be killed, however the Prophet didn’t punish this man because he was apparently a Muslim and that he was one who would establish the prayer, but his hypocrisy was in causing Prophet harm.

[as-Sareem ar-Rasool (Pg. 228-229)]
 

How to Spend Your Summer Holidays

Follow @AhleDhikr

Shaykh Muhammad bin Saaleh al-‘Uthaymeen [May Allaah have Mercy on him him]

Oh People! Fear Allaah, the Most High, and know that there was a time where humans were a thing not even to be mentioned, as Allaah, the Most High, says:

“Has there not been over man a period of time, when he was nothing to be mentioned?” [al-Insaan 76:1]

And this Aayah includes every son Aadam, so if every one of us was once something that didn’t even exist and no one would even mention about, then Allaah, the Most High, Creating you to live in this world, is a world in which you are instructed to do good deeds for a short period of time compared to the Hereafter. Here we have months and years, days and hours, minutes and moments, all of that will be concluded with death.

Therefore; it is absolutely necessary for us to act and busy ourselves with this opportunity we have received in being in the Dunya. We do good deeds to get closer to Allaah, the Glorified and the Exalted. We envelope our time with what will benefit us in our religion and Dunya, because time, my brothers, is the storage of deeds.

Oh Muslims! Teachers and students amongst us have their holidays approaching during these days, and I don’t say this is a period of recess or break, because the life of humans doesn’t have a break, it continues. Humans are constantly ploughing their deeds, however we call this period a holiday from work, in order to do some other kind of work. This is break from teaching and studying academically however it is not a holiday from doing other deeds. So the question arises, how do we spend this holiday (to do these deeds)?

Verily, humans have are inclined and face doing various deeds in their daily lives. Some people spend their holidays in their homes and others travel but they travel in order to make their Dunya better. Some travel in order to improve their Deen such as those who go to study but this is not something harmful.

So my lecture is targeted at those who want to build, to use these holidays to good deeds which will help their Dunya and the Deen.  These people busy themselves with studying or spending time in the libraries, seeking knowledge, or they do things which will benefit their Dunya such as taking their family away for a break.

However, some people travel but where do they go? Some of them go abroad to spend their holidays, so that they can grind away his filthy desires and fall into what is Haraam, and this, by Allaah, is a great loss! He loses the Dunya and Deen. When they travel to these places to fulfil their desires and come back, they are faced with regret, but this regret doesn’t benefit them. Some of them go and they may never come back! He may even die there, in a far-away land, far-away from al-Islaam. Or it may be that he does come back but his intellect and his ideas have changed, I ask Allaah to Protect us from this.

My brothers! These are the two types of people who spend their holidays; those who stay behind and others who travel for the sake of doing good deeds but I want to make a few points to these people:

Firstly, when travelling one must travel with those who similar in age with him, because this instils friendship, a type of friendship that can’t be attained if there was a big generation gap. If one travels with those who are a lot younger or older than him, then their intellects and opinions will differ and likewise their physical capabilities will differ too, this is all results in a preservation of manners that one must have.

Secondly, travellers must be wary in performing what is obligatory upon them from the Sahree’ah, such as having water for purification and praying as-Salaah in congregation in its proper times.

Thirdly, one must pay attention in displaying the correct Shar’ee manners, such as when he ascends and descends when he travels, or when he eats or drinks. If he descends in a place and stays there, he should supplicate:

«أعوذ بكلمات الله التامات من شر ما خلق»

“I seek refuge in the Perfect Words of Allaah from the Evil in which He has Created”

The one who says this supplication, ‘will not be harmed by anything as long as he is there’ (as it occurs in the Hadeeth).

He should mention the name of Allaah when eating and drinking, Praising Him when he finishes from it and he should not be ungrateful and act displeasing towards food or drink, as they are both from the favours of Allaah and belittling them is the act of those who have no sense.

Fourthly, one must gather the mannerisms that the religion encourages us to have. So he doesn’t listen to music which is Haraam, he doesn’t use foul speech when talking, he doesn’t walk or move in a way which is not befitting a believer to move with, a believer who is someone who has intellect. There is no harm if one wants to socialise with his friends like playing games or racing each other sometimes and the likes, on the condition that it doesn’t distract them from what is obligatory upon them. Such as their ‘Awrah (i.e. the navel to the knee for the man and the whole of the body of the woman in front of foreign men) not being exposed and that one doesn’t end up using insulting or foul speech as a result of such games.

Fifthly, when travelling one must appoint an Ameer (i.e. a leader for the group) so that he can make decisions that will protect them in their religious duties, their understanding and their intellect, this is Ameer will help establish organisation in their affairs. The Ameer must also be someone who has a strong personality so that no one else can overcome his decisions. Some people are pious and they have intellect but they have a weak personality so people end up walking over them. However, there is no harm if a person has a poor personality but is pious and intellectual is appointed as a leader, if he has assistance with those around him in order to assist and reinforce his decisions. With this, the community then will become secure and strong, and the best ones who are elected are those are strong and trustworthy.

Abridged from Here:

http://www.ibnothaimeen.com/all/khotab/article_80.shtml

Preserving your Summer Holidays/Summer Vacation

Follow @AhleDhikr

Shaykh Muhammad bin Saaleh al-‘Uthaymeen
[May Allaah have Mercy on him him]

Oh People! Fear Allaah, the Most High and know that the time has been proportioned and it is a storage for you deeds, so meet time with good deeds before it disappears from you. Verily, every day, rather every hour, rather minute, rather every moment that passes, escapes from you and it will never come back. Every day, every hour, every minute, every moment that passes you shortens your life and hastens you to towards your end.

So pay attention, Oh Slave of Allaah to this reality! It is nothing but hours and moments, then before you know it, it will turn into death and regret because of the fact that you missed the opportunity to do good deeds in the time that you had been favoured and blessed with, wishing you had occupied your time with righteousness. This is the reality that most people are negligent of, so pay attention to this point!

Oh people! Teachers and students amongst us have their holidays approaching during these days, which the end of the academic year and the beginning of the summer holidays. So we should look and see how we should prepare to spend our holidays?  

There are some people who spend it in their countries (i.e. Muslim countries), they don’t leave nor travel however they use their time wisely during this period.

This lecture is targeted at those people, those who seek to who wish to seek to build, those who want a beneficial holiday, a holiday that will bring about benefit in their lives and their religion, either by them revising issues of knowledge, or that they gather to attend lectures, or that they spend their time in the libraries to increase in knowledge, or that they spend their time doing something that will benefit their Dunya, such as being with their families and the likes.

And there are others who spend their holidays travelling, going to Makkah or al-Madeenah, and how a wonderful journey that is. They go to Makkah or al-Madeenah, either to perform ‘Umrah or to perform as-Salaah in these places, visiting the grave of the Messenger [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] after he has prayed in the Masjid (i.e. his intention is to travel to al-Madeenah for the Masjid and not to solely visit the grave), then these are from the most virtuous of deeds. He has spent but he has built something with it. From an ‘Umrah to an ‘Umrah is a expiation of sins, praying in Masjid al-Haram is the best place to pray (in the world) and it is a place that has been singled out with great virtue.

I want to deliver my message to those who want to go to Makkah and al-Madeenah, sincerely for Allaah, the Glorified and the Exalted. Those who wish to perform these deeds being eager to do it with conformity with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] and following his guidance.  This is because acts of worship cannot be considered as being correct unless if they meet two fundamental principles; 1) Ikhlaas, that one is sincere in doing it for Allaah, the Glorified and the Exalted, Alone and 2) that it conforms with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him].

Those going must make sure that they are eager to pray as-Salaah on its proper time, shortening when they leave their cities until they reach their destination, except if they pray behind an Imaam during their travels who prays in full then they must also pray in full.  Upon reaching the destination, one must pray with the congregation but if they miss the congregation then they may shorten, the Salaat which are usually four Rak’aat are shortened to two Rak’aat.

So there are two types of people during the summer holidays, those who travel and those who stay in their home cities.

As for those who travel, then there is one type of travellers who travel for a particular place such as Makkah or al-Madeenah.

The second type of traveller is one who travels for a Shar’ee purpose, such as one who travels to seal ties of kinship or to seek knowledge or visit a poor person or even to spread good amongst people.

The third type is one who goes to preach to people about their religion.

The fourth types of people are those who travel because Allaah has made it easy for them (i.e. not for the sake of worship); and these are two types of people; those who travel for the sake of relaxation. This is a favour from Allaah that the person has taken, so this is permissible, in fact this person is helping the country’s economy by travelling domestically, so this person helps the citizens of the country by helping circulating money domestically. However, this person must be advised to Fear Allaah and remember to fulfil what is obligatory upon him and to stay away from sins, and to stay away from things that will immature and that will deteriorate his intellect.

As for the other type of people who travel (i.e. not for the sake of worship) then they are who fall into a really dangerous area; to travel abroad to the lands of the non-Muslims. Lands which have been ruined with Kufr, insanity, lewdness, the intoxication of intellect, the corruption of hearts, places where you don’t hear the Athaan or the Salaah is not held in congregation, instead, you see the symbols of the Jews and the Christians so this person comes back with his opinions polluted because of this journey. His Eemaan has weakened, he has wasted his wealth and his intellect has been snatched away from him because of the Fitnah of what he has witnessed there, because of desire in seeking the splendour of this life of the Dunya.

This person is like one who changes the favour of Allaah upon him (i.e. being in a Muslim land) for something that is less (i.e. travelling to a non-Muslim land)! He took the favour of Allaah of Rizq and he used his wealth and his health to disobey Him! So this person is a loser in the Dunyaa and in his Deen! Not only this, those who go there strengthen their economy and they enter into their countries seeking to have a good time, whilst their countries (i.e. Muslim countries) are suffering from illnesses, entrapped by those over them.

So the one who has intellect must take caution and not to be from these people!

And know! Those who travel to those lands, even though their bodies find enjoyment because of what they do there, their souls are being shattered in the process, their wellbeing is being taken away from them because of the tiredness they face from their distorted opinion and intellect (that has resulted from them travelling there). They even face worries and depression when they are forced to go back to their countries!

It may even be that they return with their minds stained and tarnished by what they hear and from the lewd manners they have witnessed’. There is no doubt, that going to such places and seeing these things will have an effect on the hearts of the children that travel with them, because children have a characteristic of not forgetting what they see and hear.

So they need to Fear Allaah and command themselves! Fear Allaah in your families! Fear Allaah in your communities! Verily, these types of pollution and contamination will affect others when they come back to their countries, their other family members, their neighbours and others they meet. So it upon us all to do what we can to stay in our country so that it doesn’t get polluted with the likes that those people bring from the lewd manners that they end up promoting.

My brothers! Be cautious against this! Warn your brothers! Stay in your communities, there is a great form of protection by doing this. By Allaah! This is a huge disease and even though you may not know it now, this pollution that these people bring will have an impact, if it’s not in a year then in two years but there will be an impact!

I end my speech with what Allaah, the Most High, has commanded His Believing Servants, where he said:

“O you who believe (in the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism)! Eat of the lawful things that We have provided you with, and be grateful to Allah, if it is indeed He Whom you worship”

[al-Baqarah 2:172]

Abridged from Here:

http://www.ibnothaimeen.com/all/khotab/article_188.shtml