Bid'ah alert for 15th of Shaban : Shab-e-Baraat

 

Specifying the day of the 15^th of Sha’baan by fasting or reciting the Qur’aan or performing naafilah prayers

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen رحمه الله

Question 1: We see some people specifying the 15th of Sha’baan with particular supplications and reciting the Qur’aan and performing naafilah prayers. So what is the correct position concerning this, and may Allaah reward you with good?

Question 2: Is standing the night of the 15th of Sha’baan in prayer & fasting during its day legislated?

Response 1: That which is correct is that fasting the 15th of Sha’baan or specifying it with reciting (the Qur’aan) or making (particular) supplications has NO basis. So the day of the 15th of Sha’baan is like any other 15^th 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, Sha’baan is characterized unlike the other months in that (except for Ramadhaan) the Prophet (صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم) used to fast more in Sha’baan than any other month . So he used to either fast all of Sha’baan or just a little. Therefore, as long as it does not cause difficulty for a person, it is befitting to increase in fasting during Sha’baan in adherence to the example of the Prophet (صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم).

al-Bid’u wal-Muhdathaat wa maa laa Asla lahu – Page 612
Fataawa Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-’Uthaymeen – Volume 1, Page 190

Response 2: Nothing firm and reliable has been established on the authority of the Prophet (صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم) that he stood in prayer in the night and fasted during the day of the 15th of Sha’baan. So the night of the 15th of Sha’baan is like any other night, and if someone is a regular worshipper 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 Sha’baan). 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. Like wsie, regarding specifically fasting during the 15th day of Sha’baan, then no (authentic) proof has been established on the authority of the Prophet (صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم) to indicate the legislation of fasting on that particular day.

As for that which is mentioned from the ahadeeth regarding this subject, then all of it is weak as the people of knowledge have indicated. However, whoever has the habit of fasting the 13th, 14th and 15th (of every month), then he can continue and fast during Sha’baan as he fasts during the other months, without assuming anything special about the 15th of Sha’baan. Also, the Prophet (صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم) used to increase in fasting during this month (Sha’baan), however, he did not particularize the 15th day, rather proceeded as per norm.

al-Bid’u wal-Muhdathaat wa maa laa asla lahu – Page 614
Noorun alad-Darb Fataawa Shaykh Saalih Ibn Fawzaan – Volume 1, Page 87