Middle of Month of Sha`bân. Night of 15 Shaaban
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم
Praise be to God the Creator of the world, the One Who exists without beginning, without end, without location , without a “how” and Who does not depend on time. Nothing resembles Him in anyway and He hears and sees everything without organs. Whatever you imagine, God is different from that. May the elevation in degree and preservation of his community of what he fears for it, be granted to our master Muḥammad Al-‘Amin, the Honest One, who called for following Islam, the religion of truth, the religion of all the Prophets: of the First, Adam, to the last Muḥammad.
Cha`bân 15, 1445 corresponds to Sunday, February 25, 2024, it is recommended to fast on this day and to make optional prayers at night.
The month of Sha`bân is the eighth month of the lunar year in the Islamic calendar and the month immediately preceding the month of Ramaḍān. For Muslims all around the world, the month of Sha`bân is a special time in which they try to do more good deeds than usual and fast more optional fasts than they do in other months. The Prophet used to fast a lot during this month. It is the habit of the Muslims to celebrate the 15th night of the month of Sha`bân by praying, reciting Qur'ân, praising Allâh, and making a great deal of supplication to Allâh during that night.
Ibn Majâh narrated that the Prophet ṣalla l-Lâhu `alayhi wa sallam said:
« إذا كانت ليلةُ النصفِ من شعبانَ فقوموا ليلَها وصُوموا نهارها »
(‘idhâ kânat laylatu n-niṣfi min Sha`bân faqūmû laylahâ wa ṣûmû nahârahâ)
which means: « When it is mid-Shaban night, perform acts of obedience during the night and fast during the day »
Imam ach-Châfi`iyy said: « We have been told that it is said that the invocation is answered in five nights: Friday night, Eid al-'Aḍ-ḥā night, Eid al-Fiṭr night, the first night of Rajab and the night of mid-Sha`bân » narrated by al-Bayhaqiyy
The acts of obedience meant in this Hadîth are reciting the Qur'ân, making supplication (du`ā') to Allâh, and praying optional prayers. Although making supplication, in general, is a recommended matter, one needs to be cautious about what he is asking for in his supplication. It must be understood that when one supplicates to Allâh (asks Allâh for things) one is not asking Allâh to change His Will. It is among the essentials of the belief of Muslims that Allâh's Will is eternal and does not change. Rather, one would be asking Allâh to change one’s situation from a difficult situation to an easier one, from a good situation to a better one, or the like. Knowing this, one needs to be cautious of a supplication which some people recite on the night of the 15th day of Sha`bân. This supplication gives a wrong connotation that Allâh changes His Will.
Moreover, it should be noted that this particular supplication was not confirmed from the Prophet nor from `Umar or Ibn Mas`ud (as explicitly clarified by al-Bayhaqiyy in his book, Al-Qadar).
When reciting that supplication, some people erroneously understand that they are asking Allâh to change His Will. This is a dangerous situation. The Will of Allâh does not change. This is among the basics of the beliefs of the Muslims. Change is among the very obvious signs that that thing is a creation. Imam Abu Hanifah said: « Change occurs only in the creations. »
In conclusion, it is rewardable and recommended to recite the Qur'ân, pray, and make supplication during the 15th night of Sha`bân. However, it is blasphemy to make any supplication with the understanding that Allâh changes His Will because of this supplication or with the understanding that it is possible that the Will of Allâh changes.
الحمد لله رب العالمين
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