[Q 389] Virtues of Shab-e-Baraat in Hadith

QUESTION:

Is Shab-e-Baraat mentioned in any authentic Hadith, please give references.

ANSWER:

The proofs and virtues of Shab-e-Baraat are abundantly found in the books of Hadith. Our pious predecessors (رحمھم الله المبین) used to remain awake on this night, engaging in abundant worship, supplications, and remembrance of Allah. This has continued to be the practice of Ahlus Sunnah by the grace of Allah (الرحمن الرحیم).

According to the consensus of major Hadith scholars—such as Imam Bukhari, Imam Muslim, Imam Yahya bin Ma’in, Imam Dhahabi, and Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (رحمھم الله الرحیم)—it is an established principle in many books of Hadith that weak (ضعیف) narrations are acceptable for virtues of deeds, manners, ethics, and admonitions. Thus, in the field of virtuous deeds, even weak Hadith are accepted as proof. However, there are also authentic (صحیحہ) and good (حسن) Hadith available regarding the proof and virtues of Shab-e-Baraat.

The scholars of Hadith (Muhadditheen) rely on the following narrations:

1. Hadith of Ummul Mu’minin Aisha رضي الله عنها, A Mursal Hadith regarding the 15th night of Sha’ban is narrated from Sayyidah Aisha رضي الله عنها:
عن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت: “فقدت رسول الله ﷺ ليلة، فخرجت فإذا هو بالبقيع، فقال: أكنت تخافين أن يحيف الله عليك ورسوله؟ قلت: يا رسول الله! ظننت أنك أتيت بعض نسائك، فقال: إن الله – عز وجل – يطلع ليلة النصف من شعبان، فيغفر لأكثر من عدد شعر غنم كلب.”
Translation:
Sayyidah Aisha رضي الله عنها narrates:
“One night, I did not find the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with me, so I went out and saw that he was in Jannat-ul-Baqi. The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘Did you fear that Allah and His Messenger would be unjust to you?’ I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! I thought you had gone to one of your other wives.’ The Prophet ﷺ then said: ‘Indeed, on the night of the 15th of Sha’ban, Allah looks upon His creation and forgives a number of people greater than the hairs on the sheep of the tribe of Kalb.’”
References:
Sunan al-Tirmidhi (Hadith 739, Dar al-Gharb al-Islami, Beirut)
Sunan Ibn Majah (Hadith 1389, Dar al-Ma’arif, Riyadh)
Musnad Ahmad (Hadith 26135, Mu’assasat al-Risalah, Beirut)
Al-Mustadrak lil-Hakim (Hadith 7271, Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut)

2. Hadith of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه, A Mursal Hadith with Mutabi’at (supporting narrations) and Shawahid (corroborative reports):
عن أبي الصديق الأكبر: “يطلع الله إلى جميع خلقه ليلة النصف من شعبان، فيغفر لجميع خلقه إلا المشرك أو مشاحن”
Translation:
Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“On the night of the 15th of Sha’ban, Allah looks upon all His creation and forgives them all, except for a polytheist and one who harbors enmity.”
Sunan Ibn Majah (Hadith 1390, Kitab Iqamat al-Salah, Vol. 1, p. 445)
Al-Tawhid Sharh al-I’tiqad (Vol. 5, Hadith 438)
Al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib (Vol. 7, Hadith 283)

3. Hadith of Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Amr رضي الله عنه, A Mursal Hadith regarding Shab-e-Baraat:

حدثنا عبد الله حدثني أبي ثنا حسن، ثنا ابن لهيعة ثنا حيى بن عبد الله عن عبد الرحمن الحبلي عن عبد الله بن عمرو أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم قال: “يطلع الله عز وجل إلى خلقه ليلة النصف من شعبان فيغفر لعباده إلا لاثنين: مشاحن وقاتل نفس”
Translation:
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr رضي الله عنه narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“On the night of the 15th of Sha’ban, Allah looks upon His creation and forgives all His servants except two: one who harbors enmity and one who has killed a person.”
Musnad Ahmad (Hadith 6604, Vol. 2, p. 368)

4. Hadith of Sayyiduna Uthman bin Abi al-As رضي الله عنه, A Mursal Hadith regarding Shab-e-Baraat:
إذا كان ليلة النصف من شعبان نادى منادٍ: هل من مستغفر فأغفر له؟ هل من سائل فأعطيه؟ فلا يسأل أحد إلا أعطي، إلا زانية بفرجها أو مشرك.”
Translation:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“When the night of the 15th of Sha’ban arrives, a caller announces: ‘Is there anyone seeking forgiveness that I may forgive him? Is there anyone asking that I may grant him?’ So whoever asks is granted, except a woman who committed fornication and a polytheist.”
Shu’ab al-Iman (Vol. 3, p. 383)

*Important Clarifications* :
Mursal Hadith refers to a narration where a Tabi’i (Successor) directly attributes a Hadith to the Prophet ﷺ without mentioning a Sahabi (Companion).
For the first two centuries, it was agreed upon among the Tabi’in that Mursal Hadith are valid proofs. Imam Jalaluddin al-Suyuti رحمه الله mentioned in Tadrib al-Rawi that Imam al-Tabari رحمه الله stated:
“The Tabi’un had consensus that the Mursal Hadith of the Tabi’un are authoritative, and for two hundred years, the scholars of Hadith accepted them.”

Final Verdict by Imam al-Bayhaqi رحمه الله stated:
قال البيهقي: أكثر ما يُحَدَّث في ليلة النصف من شعبان فيه ضعف، وإن كان يُروى من وجه تقوِّي بعضها بعضاً.”
Translation:
“Most of what is narrated about the 15th night of Sha’ban is weak, but these narrations come from multiple chains, strengthening one another.”
Shu’ab al-Iman (Vol. 5, p. 266, Hadith 3550, Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah)

Further, he mentioned:
وقد ورد في فضلها آثار متعددة، اختلفت درجتها من حيث القبول والضعف، ومجموعها يدل على أن لها أصلاً.”
Translation:
“There are multiple reports about its virtue, with variations in their authenticity. However, their collective transmission indicates that this night has a basis in Islam.”
Shu’ab al-Iman (Hadith 3835, Maktabah al-Rushd, Riyadh)

And Allah knows best.

Answered by: Qazi Muteeb Attari
Translated Answer