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Sha’ban al-Muazzam is the eighth month of the Islamic calendar. It is a very blessed month. Our beloved Prophet, peace be upon him, used to fast during this holy month more than any other after Ramadan. It was in this month that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said that it was his month; “Ramadan is Allah’s month and Sha’ban is my month. Sha’ban is the purifier and Ramadan is the forgiver” (Kanz al-Ummal, hadith 23485).
The most important event in Sha’ban is Shab-e-bra’at. Shab-e-bra’at is a night in the middle of Sha’ban that begins immediately after sunset on the 14th of Sha’ban. The name is a combination of two words; shab, which is a Persian word and means night, and bara’at, which means acquittal and forgiveness. There is nothing explicitly stated in the Quran about this night except at the beginning of chapter 44:
”Ha Mim, by the clear Book. We have revealed it on a blessed night. We are always sending warnings. On this night, all matters of wisdom are determined” (44:1-4).
There are two different opinions about what is meant by “a blessed night” in these verses. Ikramah and some other scholars believe it is Shab-e-bra’at, while the vast majority of sahabah and other scholars agree that “a blessed night” in these verses refers to Lailatul qadr (the Night of Power in Ramadan). The latter view appears to be the most correct, as there are several other verses in the Quran that confirm that the Quran was revealed in Ramadan (1:185), and on Lailatul qadr (97:1).
However, there are several hadiths that mention the importance of and benefits of this night. I will limit myself here to only two of them.
It is narrated by Sayyida Aisha, mother of the believers, (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “Do you know what is so special about this night of the 15th of Sha’ban?” Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “Allah’s Messenger! What is so special about it?” He, peace be upon him, replied: “On this night, it is decided about all those who will be born in the coming year, and about all those who will pass away. It is on this night that people’s deeds are taken up (to Allah Ta’ala) and their livelihoods are distributed” (Mishkat).
In another hadith narrated by Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet, peace be upon him, says: “Stand (in prayer) on the night of the middle of Sha’ban and fast the following day. Verily, Allah, the Exalted, descends to the world’s heaven after sunset on this night and says: “Is there anyone who asks for forgiveness, so I may forgive him? Is there anyone who asks me for sustenance, so I may give it to him? Is there anyone who is painfully exposed to hardships, so I may improve his condition?” Allah continues to call out like this until dawn (Sunan Ibn Majah).
The Prophet’s, peace be upon him, traditions about Shab-e-bra’at are narrated by at least ten different companions (sahabah). Their names are as follows: Abu Bakr, Ali, Aisha, Muadh ibn Jabal, Abu Huraira, Auf ibn Malik, Abu Musa al-Asj’ari, Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As, Abu Sa’lba and Usman ibn abi As, may Allah be pleased with them all. In light of these traditions, there is no doubt that this night is very special and blessed, and should be celebrated by worshipping Allah Ta’ala a little extra.
(Prepared from an article in ”Zia-e-Haram”, September 2005, pp. 27-36)
