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

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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 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.”

[ad-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 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 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 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. 

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 toMakkah 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 Makkahand 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 Sunnahof 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’eepurpose, 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 Fitnahof 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 ofRizq 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

Word of Advice on Tarbiyyah by Shaykh Muhammad al-‘Uthaymeen

Follow @AhleDhikr Shaykh Muhammad bin Saaleh al-‘Uthaymeen [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said:

A father may say to his son, ‘If you pray, I will give you a gift.’ Is this correct?

The answer is that it is not correct, because we should not teach our children that rewards are connected to the Dunya when it comes to acts of worship. Worldly lessons should not be taught when it comes to acts of worship. But the matter is easy and there is a broad scope, so there are other ways of teaching them. For example he may say, ‘go and buy some eggs and I will give you one.’ What is important to note is that fathers should not teach their children that there are worldly benefits from doing acts of the religion, this reduces the level of sincerity the child will have in future. 

If you are trying to teach your child to do something that is not obligatory and increase in him the zeal to do optional good deeds, then the matter is easier because doing this good deed is not expected from him and its, perhaps, better than him not doing it. But, one should pay attention to it and maybe it would be better for you to give him Tarbiyyah in a better way so he says to his child, ‘Pray Quraan and you will get a great reward and goodness will come from it so that you will benefit’ and the likes.

Likewise, some parents tell their children that they will get a specific reward or prize for doing something good but the children don’t receive it, this is also a problem as it teaches them to lie….

[Taken from Sharh Durrah Yateemeeah, tape 4b, 18-20 mins]

Who Are The People of Hadeeth?

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Imaam ar-Raamaharmazee[1] [may Allaah have Mercy on him] said in describing Ahl as-Sunnah:

There are group of people who are adversaries to the people of Hadeeth and have abhorrence towards them. They concoct allegations against the People of al-Hadeeth and even claim that they are sinners - exceeding all bounds in their accusations against them.

However, Allaah has Honoured the Ahaadeeth (Pl. Hadeeth) and its people and has given them status. They possess the highest of ranking. They are the ones who are able to place a ruling on all issues and the ones who possess the most virtuous of knowledge.

They are raised in their mentioned and they are the guardians of Hadeeth. 

Their understanding of the religion is pure and are beacons of reasoning, so how can anyone not love them for the honour they have been given? How can one not want to be raised in their ranking, just like them?

They are the ones who protect this Ummah from losing their religion. They spread information that has been revealed upon a Prophet. They decipher for them what is abrogating (Naasikh) and what is abrogated (Mansookh). They rule for the Ummah upon what is clear (Muhkam) and clarify what is not (Mutashaabih).

What an acclaim they hold with Allaah, the Glorified and the Exalted, as they are bearers of the Messenger [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him]!?

They transmit His Sharee’ah and uphold its identity. They explain its symbols and establish its proofs.

They proclaim its virtues and respect its people.

They leave behind praiseworthy conducts and their demeanor is that of the Prophets. Their station is that of the pious and they inform us of the martyrs and sincere ones (as-Sideeqoon).

They express in their works every aspect of the life of the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him]; his residence, his travel, every moment of his waking and that of his sleeping nights.

His every movement and every utterance, his louder speech and his silent whispers, his eating and his drinking, his clothes and his transportation, what made him joyous and what angered him, what he rejected and what he accepted, to the extent that the limit of his nail clippings and what he used to cut them with has been clearly recorded.

How he spat and what he spat in, what he used to say when he used to do certain actions, what he did in public and what he did in private – all of this illustrates the respect and status they gave to the Messenger of Allaah [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him].

The recorded everything back to him with chains of transmission. So whoever knows al-Islaam in its true reality and have a true reverence for the Messenger of Allaah, will realize that is it obligatory upon them to honour his status, make high his mention, make clear his message and illuminate his many virtues.

That they must refrain from insulting this party of the Messenger of Allaah, rather they must follow the revelation and preserve the religion by following its narrations and rulings – by the Quraan, that which declares their mentioning as He, the Glorified and the Exalted Said:

{وَالَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ}

“and also those who followed them (i.e. the Companions) exactly (in Faith)” [at-Tawbah 9:100]

So if you want to have a connection with the generation of the Companions, then you will not reach them except through the People of al-Hadeeth, who are the true representatives of them and that you ally yourself with them.

As for any other group other than them, then Allaah Knows Best about them.

[al-Muhadith al-Faasil (1/162)]

---

[1] He was the Imaam, the Haafidh, the Muhaddith - Aboo Muhammad al-Hasan bin ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bij Khallad ar-Raamaharmazee. He was the first one to ever to write about the Sciences of Hadeeth (‘Uloom al-Hadeeth) after he and Imaam az-Zuhree were ordered by the ruler at that time, ‘Umar bin ‘Abdul-‘Azeez to do so and what an amazing book he wrote. He used to say, “The Salafee cannot let his life go to waste.” He passed away around 360AH in city of Raamharmaz in Persia. [Summarised from Siyaar ‘Alaam an-Nubalaa’ (16/73-75)]

Be Steadfast and Not Distracted

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Imaam and Khateeb of the Haram in al-Madeenah, Shaykh Hussayn bin ‘Abdul-‘Azeez aal ash-Shaykh [May Allaah Preserve him] Tweeted:

Take knowledge that will distance you from the misguidance of ignorance, and don't be disappointed by those who don't appreciate the importance you give to Kitaab and the Sunnah.

[@H_alsheikh 11/3/1436 – 3/12/2014]

	د. حسين آل الشيخ (@H_alsheikh)
٣‏/١٢‏/٢٠١٤ ٦:٣١ ‏خذ من العلم ما يخرجك من غمرات الجهل ولاتغتر بمن لايحسن مدارك الكتاب والسنة

The Person is Upon the Same Religion as His Friend...

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Imaam Ahmad [May Allaah have Mercy on him] reported in his Musnad (1288) and Imaam at-Tirmidhee in his Jaami’ (2378) as well as others:

“The person is upon the same religion as his friend, so look carefully to those whom you befriends.”

It was said to Mujaahid bin Jabr [may Allaah have Mercy on him], “There is no good in accompanying someone who does not realise the rights that you have upon them like you recognise the rights they have upon you.”  [Reported by al-Bayhaqee in Shu’bah al-Eemaan (8880)]

Al-Allaamah al-‘Atheem-Baadee said in his book, ‘Awn al-Ma’bood (13/147-148) in explaining the Hadeeth quoted above:

The meaning is that the person is upon the same habits, path and legacy of their friend. So one must ponder on the statement, ‘Who he befriends’. If one is pleased with a persons' religion and manners then they must befriend such a person and if the potential friend lacks in any of these, then one must distance himself from this person. End quote.