Specifying 15th of Sha'baan for fasting, reciting Quran, Givingsadaqah (charity) and Standing the night performing naafil [supererogatory] Prayers.

[Abu.Mariyah.Junaid]

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ


يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَلَا تُبْطِلُوا أَعْمَالَكُمْ

O you who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger(Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and render not vain your deeds. 47:33

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Specifying 15th of Sha'baan for fasting, reciting Quran, Givingsadaqah (charity) and Standing the night performing naafil [supererogatory] Prayers.

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Q : We see somepeople specifying the 15th of Sha'baan with particular supplications andreciting the Quran and performing naafilah prayers. So what is the correctposition concerning this, and may Allaah reward you with good?

A : Thatwhich is correct is that fasting the 15th of Sha'baan or specifying it withreciting (the Quran) or making (particular) supplications has nobasis. So the day of the 15th of Sha'baan is like any other 15th day ofother months. So from that which is known is that it has been legislated for aperson to fast the 13th, 14th and 15th of every month, however, Sha'baan is characterizedunlike the other months in that (except for Ramadhaan) the Prophet (sallallaahu`alayhe wa sallam), used to fast more in Sha'baan than any other month . Sohe used to either fast all of Sha'baan or just a little. Therefore, as long asit does not cause difficulty for a person, it is befitting to increase infasting during Sha'baan in adherence to the example of the Prophet (sallallaahu`alayhe wa sallam).

refer : al-Bid'u wal-Muhdathaat wa maa laaAsla lahu - Page 612 and Fataawa Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalihal-'Uthaymeen - Volume 1, Page 190

Q : Is standingthe night of the 15th of Sha'baan in prayer and fasting during its daylegislated?

A : Nothingfirm and reliable has been established on the authority of the Prophet (sallallaahu`alayhe wa sallam) that he stood in prayer in the night and fasted duringthe day of the 15th of Sha'baan. So the night of the 15th of Sha'baan is likeany 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 becausespecifying a time for any act of worship requires a authentic proof, so ifthere is no authentic proof then the act is regarded as an innovation and allinnovations are misguidance. Likewise, regarding specifically fastingduring the 15th day of Sha'baan, then no (authentic) proof has beenestablished on the authority of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhe wasallam) to indicate the legislation of fasting on that particular day.

As for thatwhich is mentioned from the ahaadeeth regarding this subject, then all of it isweak as the people of knowledge have indicated. However,whoever has the habit of fasting the 13th, 14th and 15th (of every month), thenhe 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(sallallaahu `alayhe wa sallam) used to increase in fasting during thismonth (Sha'baan), however, he did not particularize the 15th day, ratherproceeded as per norm.

refer : al-Bid'uwal-Muhdathaat wa maa laa asla lahu - Page 614 and Noorun alad-DarbFataawa Shaykh Saalih Ibn Fowzaan - Volume 1, Page 87

Q : When myfather was alive, he entrusted me to give sadaqah (charity) according to mymeans on the 15th of Sha'baan every year, and likewise I have been doing thisever since. However, some people have admonished me for doing so saying it isnot permissible. So is giving sadaqah on the night of the 15th of Sha'baanpermissible according to the willment of my father or not? Kindly advise us andmay Allaah reward you with good.

A : Tospecify the giving of sadaqah (charity) on the night of the 15th ofSha'baan every year is an innovation, and despite your father havingentrusted you with that, it is not permissible. It is befitting you give thissadaqah without specifying the night of the 15th of Sha'baan, rather do soevery year and in whichever month, but without particularising any one month(on a consistent basis). However, it is permissible to do so in the month ofRamadhaan (for the evidence which indicates so). And with Allaahlies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sallallaahu`alayhe wa sallam) and his family and his companions.

refer : al-Bid'uwal-Muhdathaat wa maa laa Asla lahu - Page 611 and Fataawa al-Lajnahad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa (The Permanent Committee forIslaamic Research and Fataawa) - Fatwa No. 9760

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Baarak-Allaahu Feekum, wa sal-Allaahu wa sallam 'alaa Nabiyyinaa Muhammad was-Salaam 'Alaykum wa-Rahmatullaahe wa Barakaatuhu.

وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ الرَّسُولَ مِن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصْلِهِ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَسَاءَتْ مَصِيرًا

“And whosoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follow other than the believers way, We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in the hell-what and evil destination (Surah An Nisaa :115)


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