A Reminder and Guidance Regarding the Night of Mid-Sha‘ban
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
It is incumbent upon the Muslim to worship Allah with knowledge, to adhere to what has been established from the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions, and to abandon whatever lacks proof, out of love for Allah and His Messenger and in following the path of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them all.
1. No Evidence for Designating this Night for Worship
There is no evidence that the Prophet ﷺ or the Companions reserved the night of mid-Sha‘ban for prayer, fasting, or celebration. Had it been virtuous, they would have preceded us in it.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever introduces into our matter that which is not from it, it is rejected." (Agreed upon)
2. Fabrication & Weakness of the Hadiths Regarding its Virtue
All hadiths specifying acts of worship on this night, such as particular prayers or special supplications, are either weak or fabricated and cannot be relied upon for devotional acts.
Ibn Rajab (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Nothing is proven about the Prophet ﷺ or his Companions performing prayer on the night of mid-Sha‘ban."
3. The Danger of Innovations (Bid‘ah)
Innovations are considered equal in weight to the Law and can lead to abandoning the Sunnah. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Beware of newly-invented matters, for every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance leads to the Fire." (Abu Dawood, al-Tirmidhi; authenticated by al-Albani)
4. Common Innovations on the Night and Day of Mid-Sha‘ban and Responses:
1. Performing specific prayers on the night of mid-Sha‘ban
Bid’ah: Performing prayers with a fixed number of units and specific recitations, such as the so-called “Thousand-Rakat Prayer.”
Response: Nothing authentic supports dedicating this night for such prayer; all hadiths are weak or fabricated. "Whoever does an action not upon our command, it is rejected." (Muslim)
2. Fasting on the day of mid-Sha‘ban
Bid’ah: Believing that fasting on the 15th of Sha‘ban has special virtue.
Response: No authentic evidence exists. Acts of worship tied to a time or number without evidence are innovations. Fasting as part of one’s habitual or Sha‘ban fasting is permissible.
3. Holding gatherings or celebrations
Bid’ah: Meeting in mosques or homes to celebrate or collectively remember this night.
Response: Nothing is reported from the Companions; had it been virtuous, they would have done it. Collective acts require explicit evidence.
4. Reciting or distributing special supplications for this night
Bid’ah: Adhering to particular prayers or supplications believed to have special virtue.
Response: Assigning a supplication to a specific time requires evidence; nothing authentic exists. Supplication is valid at all times without invented restrictions.
5. Belief that destinies or sustenance are written on this night
Bid’ah: Asserting that decrees are specifically written on this night.
Response: Decrees are established on the Night of Qadr, as Allah says: "On that night every wise matter is decreed." [Quran 44:4]
6. Visiting graves specifically on this night
Bid’ah: Visiting graves for special virtue on this night.
Response: Visiting graves is generally permissible, but assigning a special time without evidence is an innovation.
7. Encouraging forgiveness specifically on this night
Bid’ah: Claiming that one who does not forgive others on this night will be deprived of Allah’s forgiveness.
Response: Forgiveness and reconciliation are always recommended, not limited to this night. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Deeds are presented every Monday and Thursday, and every servant who does not associate partners with Allah is forgiven, except a man who holds enmity with his brother." (Muslim)
This shows that letting go of grudges is a reason for forgiveness throughout the year, not specific to mid-Sha‘ban.
The error is not in encouraging forgiveness itself, but in assigning it to a specific time for worship without evidence.
8. The Belief That the Night of the Middle of Sha‘ban Is Called "The Night of Bar’ah"
Bid’ah: Claiming that the night of the middle of Sha‘ban is called "The Night of Bar’ah (Release)."
Response: There is nothing in the Qur’an, the Sunnah, nor in the sayings of the Companions or the scholars that establishes this name for the night of the middle of Sha‘ban. This designation is not proven from the Prophet ﷺ nor from the noble Companions, may Allah be pleased with them all.
5. Allah’s Descent is Not Specific to this Night
Allah’s descent to the lowest heaven is not exclusive to mid-Sha‘ban. Authentic narrations from Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه and others, reported by more than 28 Companions according to Ibn al-Qayyim, confirm that Allah descends every night during the last third of the night, which includes the night of mid-Sha‘ban.
When ‘Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak was asked about Allah’s descent on this night, he replied: "Oh weak one! The night of mid-Sha‘ban? He descends every night." (Abu ‘Uthman al-Sabuni, ‘Aqeedat Ahl al-Sunnah, no. 92)
Therefore, fear Allah, protect your religion from innovations, sincerely devote worship to Him, and adhere firmly to the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. Beware of newly-invented matters—they are misguidance. Do not be deceived by those who follow desires, for they stray from the path of Allah.
Everything not proven from the Prophet ﷺ or the Companions regarding the night or day of mid-Sha‘ban is rejected. Following the Sunnah is obligatory, and innovations must be avoided.
Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Whoever introduces an innovation in Islam, thinking it is good, has claimed that Muhammad ﷺ betrayed the message."
We ask Allah to grant us adherence to the Sunnah and to protect us from innovations.
Monday, 14th of Sha‘ban, 1447 AH