Celebrating the Laylat al-Nusf min Shabaan (the middle of Shabaan): There is no saheeh marfoo report that speaks

of the virtue of the middle of Shabaan that may be followed, not even in the chapters on al-Fadaail (chapters on virtues in books of hadeeth etc.). Some maqtoo reports (reports whose isnaads do not go back further than the Taabieen) have been narrated from some of the Taabieen, and there are some ahaadeeth, the best of which are mawdoo (fabricated) or daeef jiddan (very weak). Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said about celebrating middle of Shabaan: Celebrating the night of the fifteenth of Shabaan (Laylat al-Nusf min Shabaan) by praying etc, or singling out this day for fasting, is a reprehensible bidah (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 Shabaan. All the ahaadeeth that have been narrated concerning that are mawdoo (fabricated) and daeef (weak), and have no basis. There is nothing special about this night, and no recitation of Quraan 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. (1) These reports became very well known in some countries which were overwhelmed by ignorance; these reports suggest that peoples lifespans are written on that day or that it is decided on that day who is to die in the coming year. On this basis, it is not prescribed to spend this night in prayer or to fast on this day, or to single it out for certain acts of worship. One should not be deceived by the large numbers of ignorant people who do these things. Shaykh Ibn Jibreen said: If a person wants to pray qiyaam on this night as he does on other nights without doing anything extra or singling this night out for anything then that is OK. The same applies if he fasts the day of the fifteenth of Sha baan because it happens to be one of the ayyaam al-beed, along with the fourteenth and thirteenth of the month, or because it happens to be a Monday or Thursday. If the fifteenth (of Shabaan) coincides with a Monday or Thursday, there is nothing wrong with that (fasting on that day), so long as he is not seeking extra reward that has not been proven (in the saheeh texts). (2) Specifying the day of the 15th of Shabaan by supplicating, reciting the Quraan or performing naafilah prayers: Shaykh Uthaymeen said: Fasting the 15th of Shabaan or specifying it with reciting (the Quraan) or making (particular) supplications has no basis. So the day of the 15th of Shabaan is like any other 15th day of other months. So from that which is known is that it has been legislated for a person to fast the 13th, 14th and 15th of every month, however, Shabaan is characterized unlike the other months in that (except for Ramadhaan) the Prophet sall-Allaahu alayhi wa sallam used to fast more in Shabaan than any other month . So he used to either fast all of Shabaan or just a little. Therefore, as long as it does not cause difficulty for a person, it is befitting to increase in fasting during Shabaan in adherence to the example of the Prophet sal-Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam. (3) Standing the night of the 15th of Shabaan in prayer and fasting during its day: Nothing firm and reliable has been established on the authority of the Prophet sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam that he stood in prayer in the night and fasted during the day of the 15th of Shabaan. So the night of the 15th of Shabaan is like any other night, and if someone is a regular worshiper during other nights, then he may stand the night in prayer on this night without assuming anything special (because of it being the night of

the 15th of Shabaan). This is because specifying a time for any act of worship requires a authentic proof, so if there is no authentic proof then the act is regarded as an innovation and all innovations are misguidance.Likewise, regarding specifically fasting during the 15th day of Shabaan, then no (authentic) proof has been established on the authority of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) to indicate the legislation of fasting on that particular day. As for that which is mentioned from the ahaadeeth regarding this subject, then all of it is weak as the people of knowledge have indicated. However, whoever has the habit of fasting the 1th, 14th and 15th (of every month), then he can continue and fast during Shabaan as he fasts during the other months, without assuming anything special about the 15th of Shabaan. Also, the Prophet (sal-Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to increase in fasting during this month (Shabaan), however, he did not particularize the 15th day, rather proceeded as per norm. (4) Giving sadaqah specifically on the night of 15th of Shabaan: To specify the giving of sadaqah on the night of the 15th of Sha baan every year is an innovation. It is befitting to give sadaqah without specifying the night of the 15th of Shabaan, rather do so every year and in whichever month, but without particularizing any one month (on a consistent basis). However, it is permissible to do so in the month of Ramadhaan (for the evidence which indicates so). (5) Does Allaah come down to the first heaven on the night of the fifteenth of Sha baan: This is mentioned in some ahaadeeth, but there is some scholarly difference of opinion as to the soundness of those ahaadeeth. There is no saheeh hadeeth concerning the virtue of the night of the fifteenth of Shabaan. It was narrated from Abu Moosa al-Ashari that the Messenger of Allaah sall-Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said: Allaah looks down on the night of the fifteenth of Shabaan and forgives all his creation except a mushrik or one who harbors hatred against the Muslims. (6) The one who harbors hatred against the Muslims means one who has enmity towards a Muslim brother. In al-Zawaaid it says: Its isnaad is daeef, because Abd-Allaah ibn Laheeah is daeef (weak) and al-Waleed ibn Muslim is mudallis. There is also some idtiraab (weakness) in the hadeeth, as stated by al-Daaraqutni in al-Ilal, 6/50, 51. He said: This hadeeth is not proven. Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali said: Concerning the virtue of the night of the fifteenth of Shabaan there are numerous ahaadeeth, concerning which the scholars differed, but most of them classed them as daeef, and Ibn Hibbaan classed some of them as saheeh. (7) Allaahs descending to the first heaven does not only happen on the night of the fifteenth of Shabaan, rather it is proven in al-Saheehayn and elsewhere that Allaah descends to the first heaven every night, in the last third of the night. The night of the fifteenth of Shabaan is included in this general meaning. Hence, when Abd-Allaah ibn al-Mubaarak was asked about the descent of Allaah on the night of the fifteenth of Shabaan, he said to the one who asked him: O weak one! The night of the fifteenth?! He descends every night! (8) Fasting the 15th of Shabaan even if the hadeeth is daeef (weak): What is narrated concerning the virtue of praying, fasting and worshiping on the 15th of Sha baan does not come under the heading of daeef (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.

Even if we assume that the hadeeth is daeef (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. (9) Is there any importance of 15th night of Shabaan? by Dr. Muhammad Salah (huda tv) http://youtu.be/iMTt_qrzOcw

References: fatwa-online.com & Islamqa.com (1) in Hukm al-Ihtifaal bi Laylat al-Nusf min Shabaan (Ruling on celebrating the fifteenth of Shabaan) http://islamqa.com/en/ref/49675 (2) http://islamqa.com/en/ref/8907 (3). Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen al-Bidu wal-Muhdathaat wa maa laa Asla lahu Page 612 Fataawa Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-Uthaymeen Volume 1, Page 190 (4) Shaykh Ibn Fowzaan al-Bidu wal-Muhdathaat wa maa laa asla lahu Page 614 Noorun alad-Darb Fataawa Shaykh Saalih Ibn Fowzaan Volume 1, Page 87 (5) The Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Fataawa al-Bidu wal-Muhdathaat wa maa laa Asla lahu Page 611 Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa. Fatwa No. 9760 (6) Narrated by Ibn Maajah, 1390. (7) Lataaif al-Maaarif, 261 (8) Narrated by Abu Uthmaan al-Saabooni in Itiqaad Ahl al-Sunnah, no. 92) http://islamqa.com/en/ref/49678 (9) http://islamqa.com/en/ref/49675

http://towardshuda.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/rulings-about-the-15th-of-shabaan/