15 Shaban: Special Significance or Celebrations?

Brother sent this question: “As-salamu `alaykum. I would like to know if the 15th night of Sha`ban has a special significance and if the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) celebrated it. I would like also to know if there are special prayers or specific invocations recommended during this night.”

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

In this fatwa:

1. There is no authentic hadith reported about the 15th night of Shaban.
2. The hadiths reported about that night are classified by some scholars as hasan (a hadith which has one reporter in the chain of narrators whose identity is not well known, yet he is not accused of committing great mistakes or lying). Some other scholars have refused these hadiths, calling them unauthentic.
3. The hadiths considered as hasan are to the effect that it is recommendable to supplicate Almighty Allah during this night and ask Him for forgiveness.
4. There is no specific supplication reported to be said on this night. Hence, the supplications that some print and distribute among people in some Muslim countries as being recommendable on this night are not correct and have no basis in the Shariah.
5. There is nothing wrong in commemorating this special event so long as there is nothing wrong committed in this regard and it is done for Almighty Allah’s sake.

There are three points to be discussed in handling the question in hand:

The first point has to do with whether the 15th night of Shaban has a special significance; the second concentrates on whether the Prophet (peace be upon him) celebrated this night; the third tackles whether there are special acts to celebrate this night or special supplications to invoke Almighty Allah with.

When this was circulated in the Muslim world, controversy aroused concerning the correctness of such a deed. The majority of scholars in Makkah and Madinah then, including `Ata’, Ibn Abi Mulaykah, the followers of Malik, and others, disapproved of such a deed, considering it an innovation in religion.

However, some contemporary scholars see that the reason for celebrating the 15th night of Shaban is mainly to commemorate the change of the direction of prayer from Jerusalem to Makkah, not any other reason. But the date of this change is not certain to be Shaban 15; the exact date of this event is also controversial among scholars.

Anyway, commemorating events also has the legal rulings pertaining to it. I see that there is nothing wrong in commemorating this special event so long as there is nothing wrong committed in this regard and it is done for Almighty Allah’s sake.

Anyway, whatever supplication one offers, it should not contradict the beliefs and rulings we are ordered to abide by.

Does 15th night of Shaban have a special significance?

First, there are some hadiths indicating that the 15th night of Shaban is significant. Some scholars classified some of these hadiths as authentic. On the other hand, some other scholars considered them as daif (weak), yet they hold that these hadiths may be acted upon by him who seeks to get closer to Almighty Allah with additional acts of worship.

Of these hadiths is one that is reported by Imam Ahmad and At-Tabarani to the effect that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Angel sent by Allah descends to the lowest Heaven on the 15th night of Shaban and forgives such number of people that is more than the number of the hairs of the sheep of Banu Kalb (a tribe that has a great number of sheep).” But At-Tirmidhi said that Imam Al-Bukhari classified this hadith as weak.

It was also reported on this subject that Aishah, Mother of the Believers, said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) offered the night vigil Prayer some night, and while he was praying, he prostrated so long that I thought he had passed away, but he lifted his head and finished the Prayer. Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “O Aishah (or O Humaira [as he would call her]), have you thought that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would not give you your right?” I said, “No, by Allah, Allah’s Messenger. But when you stayed prostrating so long, I thought you had passed away.” The Prophet then said, “Do you know what night this is?” I said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “This is the 15th night of Shaban. Almighty Allah forgives those who ask for His forgiveness, grants mercy to those who ask for it, and delays (punishing or bringing to account) the evil people.”

This hadith was reported by Al-Baihaqi on the authority of Al-Ala ibn Al-Harith, one of the successors (At-Tabi`un), which means that this hadith is mursal (reported by a successor immediately on the authority of Mother of the Believers or the Prophet himself without having a Companion in between in the chain of reporters). Al-Baihaqi said this is a good mursal hadith.

Based on these hadiths and others, it may be said that the 15th night of Shaban has a special significance. In fact, there is no religious text that stands against this, especially that the merit of the month of Shaban as a whole is established.

Did Prophet Muhammad celebrate 15 Shaban?

The second point to be dealt with is whether he (peace and blessings be upon him) celebrated this night. In this regard, it was established that the way he (peace and blessings be upon him) celebrated this month was by fasting during it.

As to whether the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) observed night vigil Prayer on this night, he (peace and blessings be upon him) would regularly observe night vigil Prayers during nights, and observing night vigil Prayer on this night is like doing so during the other nights.

Hence, observing night vigil Prayer on the 15th of Shaban may be recommended, as supported by the hadiths reported above, especially the one in which he (peace and blessings be upon him) advised his Companions to observe night vigil Prayer on it and the one reported by Aishah to the effect that he (peace and blessings be upon him) observed night vigil Prayer on it. Though these Hadiths are weak, they are dependable in seeking to get close to Almighty Allah with additional acts of worship.

This indicates that he (peace and blessings be upon him) celebrated that night in this way individually, not in the congregation with his Companions. Neither he (peace and blessings be upon him) nor his Companions (may Allah be pleased with all of them) would offer celebrations on this night as people do nowadays.

Any duaa to be offered on 15 Shaban?

The third point to be discussed here has to do with whether there are special supplications to be offered on this night and whether it is lawful to observe the night vigil Prayer then with the intention of concentrating on asking Almighty Allah to prolong one’s life and enrich one.

There is a supplication that circulates nowadays as recommendable to be offered on this night is which is not correct and has nothing to do with Shariah which says: “O Allah, Who has favors unto His servants and no one is to have favor unto Him! O Allah, the Owner of majesty and honor. O Allah, the Owner of wealth and enrichment. There is no god but You, the Supporter of the refugees, the Helper of those who appeal for help, and Granter of security for panic-stricken. O Allah, if You had destined in the Preserved Tablet that I be unhappy, or deprived, or expelled, or poor, I beg Your Pardon, O Allah, to remove with Your grace my unhappiness or deprivation, or expulsion, or poverty.”