بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
“In the name of Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.”
This year the Night of Laylatul Bara’ah – UK- Saturday(after maghrib) 24th February-2024 (Saudi & Morocco followers)
Shaykh Mufti Taqi Usmani hafizahullah states, “Although the chain of narrators of some of these aḥādīth suffer with some minor technical defects, yet when all these aḥadīth are combined together, it becomes clear that this night has some well founded merits, and observing this night as a sacred night is not a baseless concoction as envisaged by some modern scholars who, on the basis of these minor defects, have totally rejected giving any special importance to this night. In fact, some of these aḥadīth have been held by some scholars of ḥadīth as authentic and the defects in the chain of some others have been treated by them as minor technical defects which, according to the science of ḥadīth, are curable by the variety of their ways of narration.
That is why the elders of the Ummah have constantly been observing this night as a night of special merits and have been spending it in worship and prayers.”
VIRTUES OF THIS NIGHT
“Allah looks at His creation on the middle night of Sha’baan (15th) & forgives the entirety of His creation, except for the idolator or someone who’s heart is holding malice”. [Ibn Majah]
“When it is the fifteenth of Sha’baan, then stand (in worship) at night and fast during the day. Because Allah descends in this night at sunset to the first heaven and says: ‘Is there any seeker of forgiveness, that I may forgive him? Is there any seeker of sustenance, that I may sustain him? Is there anyone in affliction, that I may remove his affliction? Is there anyone like this, like that (and so on)’. This continues until Fajr.” [Ibn Majah]
WHO IS DEPRIVED OF ALLAH’S MERCY ON THIS NIGHT?
- Those who associate partners with Allah.
- Those who have hatred in their hearts against others.
- Those who cut of ties. (Do not leave it till after the Maghrib of the blessed night to ask for forgiveness, do it now & prevent inconvenience)
- The men who leave their pants hanging below their ankles.
- Those who disobey their parents.
- Those who commit adultery.
- Those who commit murder.
- The one who has a habit of drinking wine.
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE ON THIS NIGHT?
On this blessed night Allah ﷻ gives us the chance to cleanse ourselves before the holy month of Ramadhan. This night commences after Maghrib.
Below are a few things we can do (the points marked with * are permissible for menstruating women to engage in).
- Muhasabah: Ponder over our life. Make an intention to change.*
- Repent & fix our relationship with Allah.*
- Dua*
- Perform Maghrib & Esha. Make this your turning point to never miss salaah again.
- Astagfaar*
- Engage in Nafl salaah.
- Engage in recitation of the Quran
- Dhikar / Tasbeehats*
- Taleem from Fazaaile Aamaal*
- Recite Durood in abundance*
- Don’t waste time & avoid sins.*
- If one cannot remain in ibadaah for long, go to sleep with wudhu. If we don’t gain anything atleast we don’t lose anything.*
DUA FOR THIS BLESSED NIGHT
Hadhrat Aa’ishah (r.a) says, “I heard Rasulullah ﷺ reading this dua in sajdah on this night. Thereafter he said to me, ‘Learn this dua and teach it to others. Jibra’eel (a.s) taught this dua to me.”
اَعُوْذُ بِعَفْوِكَ مِنْ عِقَابِكَ وَاَعُوْذُ بِرَضَاكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ وَاَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْكَ جَلَّ وَجْهُكَ لَا أُحْصِىْ ثَنَاءً عَلَيْكَ أَنْتَ كَمَا أَثْنَيْتَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ
‘I seek protection in Your forgiveness from Your punishment; and I seek shelter in Your Pleasure from Your Displeasure; and I seek safety in You, from You. Glory be to You. I am unable to fully praise You. You are as you have praised Yourself.” [Al Bayhaqi]
FASTING FOLLOWING THIS BLESSED NIGHT.
It has not been established as a Sunnah of our beloved Nabi ﷺ to fast the following day. The fast of the 15th of Shabaan holds no specific significant virtue according to any hadiths. However it is advised to fast a nafl (optional) fast with the following intentions as it was a practice of our pious predecessors
1) The fasts of the first half of Sha’ban have special merits as can be seen from the practice of the Prophet ﷺ.
2) The Prophet ﷺ would fast on the 13th, 14th & 15th of every month. These days are known as ayaam-al-beedh. These fasts hold great reward & so one may fast on the 13th, 14th & 15th of Sha’baan.
NOTE: If one has qadha fasts, they should keep their qadha fasts before Nafl fasts.
It is permissible to keep nafl fasts before qadha (missed) fasts, however it is recommended & better to make-up for the missed Ramadhan fasts first and then observe the mustahab / sunnah / nafl fasts. This is simply because Qadha fasts are also fardh. Fardh takes a higher rank above the Mustahab / sunnah / nafl fasts. Moreover qadha fasts should not be delayed unecessarily.
One may not combine the intention for mustahab / sunnah / nafl fast & qadha fast. However if one keeps their Qadha fasts on these days, it is hoped from the mercy of Allah that along with the missed fasts being made-up, one will receive the reward of a mustahab / sunnah / nafl fast.
Tayyibah Tree 