The ruling on specifically designating the night of the middle of Sha'ban for standing in prayer and its day for fasting?

Question:
May Allah reward you and bless you, Honorable Shaykh. This questioner says: What is the ruling on standing in prayer on the night of the middle of Sha'ban? Has anything been reported regarding it?

Answer:
This is a bid'ah (religious innovation), and nothing has been reported regarding standing in prayer at night on the middle of Sha'ban. Nor is there any fasting on the day of the middle of Sha'ban; no valid evidence from the Book or the Sunnah has been reported regarding this, so doing it is a bid'ah. As for one who habitually fasts from Sha'ban and the middle of the month passes during his fasting, there is no harm in that. Likewise, if one who habitually stands in prayer at night stands on the night of the middle of Sha'ban as a continuation of his regular practice, there is no harm in that. However, specifically designating the night of the middle of Sha'ban is a bid'ah. Yes.