Is there any report regarding the virtue of the middle of Sha'ban?
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The questioner : Is there anything reported regarding the virtue of the middle of Sha'ban?
The Shaykh : If the intention behind the report is merely the narration, then the answer is yes. But if the intention is whether it is authentic—as it appears to me—then it is not authentic. Everything that has come regarding this is a hadith narrated by Ibn Majah in his Sunan with a very weak chain:. This is a very weak hadith; it is not permissible to cite it as evidence, nor to derive a legal ruling from it. This is especially so because it has been authentically established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) what contradicts such a hadith, where he said (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan Ibn Majah 1651Sahih (Darussalam). Most people who specifically aim to stand in prayer during the middle of Sha'ban do not fast except for the middle. The Messenger said: Sunan Ibn Majah 1651Sahih (Darussalam). Therefore, it is not prescribed for a Muslim to specifically aim to fast the middle of Sha'ban, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited it.
The questioner : The hadith: "He used to fast all of Sha'ban" ... .
The Shaykh : How?
The questioner : He used to fast all of Sha'ban.
The Shaykh : Yes, he used to fast all of Sha'ban. He used to fast Sha'ban except for a little. So fasting Sha'ban, or fasting the middle of Sha'ban, is permissible for one who has a habit of fasting; for example, he used to fast one day and break the fast the next, and the day of the middle came on a fasting day; this is permissible. Or if he intends to fast all of Sha'ban, he also has the right to fast the middle. But to specifically aim to fast the middle; this is not a prescribed matter.
Another questioner : The hadith:.
The Shaykh : This is an authentic hadith, and nothing is authentic regarding the night of the middle except this:. The meaning of "descent" is the meaning of descent; there are mass-transmitted hadiths regarding this, meaning: Our Lord (Mighty and Majestic) descends every night, but His descent (Blessed and Exalted is He) on the night of the middle is coupled with His saying at the end of the hadith: .
Another questioner : Does He look down or does He not descend?
The Shaykh : Yes?
Another questioner : Does He look down or does He not descend?
The Shaykh : Yes, this is a good question. The hadith being asked about is in the wording I mentioned: . Well done, and may Allah reward you with good.
Another questioner : And may Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : If the intention behind the report is merely the narration, then the answer is yes. But if the intention is whether it is authentic—as it appears to me—then it is not authentic. Everything that has come regarding this is a hadith narrated by Ibn Majah in his Sunan with a very weak chain:
If it is the middle of Sha'ban, then stand in prayer during its night and fast during its day; for Allah (Mighty and Majestic) descends on the night of the middle of Sha'ban to the lowest heaven, and He forgives more [people] than the number of the wool of the sheep of the Banu Kalb.
إذا كان النصف من شعبان ؛ فقوموا ليلها ، وصوموا نهارها ؛ فإن الله - عز وجل - ينزل ليلة النصف من شعبان إلى السماء الدنيا ، فيغفر لأكثر من شعر غنم بني كلبWhen it is the middle of Sha’ban, do not fast until Ramadan comes.
إذا كان النصف من شعبان ؛ فلا صومَ حتى رمضانWhen it is the middle of Sha’ban, do not fast until Ramadan comes.
إذا كان النصف من شعبان ؛ فلا صومَ حتى رمضانThe questioner : The hadith: "He used to fast all of Sha'ban" ... .
The Shaykh : How?
The questioner : He used to fast all of Sha'ban.
The Shaykh : Yes, he used to fast all of Sha'ban. He used to fast Sha'ban except for a little. So fasting Sha'ban, or fasting the middle of Sha'ban, is permissible for one who has a habit of fasting; for example, he used to fast one day and break the fast the next, and the day of the middle came on a fasting day; this is permissible. Or if he intends to fast all of Sha'ban, he also has the right to fast the middle. But to specifically aim to fast the middle; this is not a prescribed matter.
Another questioner : The hadith:
Allah looked down upon all His creation on the night of the middle of Sha'ban.
اطَّلع الله على جميع خلقه ليلة النصف من شعبانThe Shaykh : This is an authentic hadith, and nothing is authentic regarding the night of the middle except this:
He forgives every Muslim except for a polytheist or one who holds a grudge.
فيغفر لكل مسلم إلا لمشرك أو لمشاحنHe forgives every Muslim except for a polytheist or one who holds a grudge.
فيغفر لكل مسلم إلا لمشرك أو مشاحنAnother questioner : Does He look down or does He not descend?
The Shaykh : Yes?
Another questioner : Does He look down or does He not descend?
The Shaykh : Yes, this is a good question.
Look down
يطَّلعAllah looked down upon His servants on the night of the middle of Sha'ban and forgives every Muslim except for a polytheist or one who holds a grudge.
يطَّلع الله ليلة النصف من شعبان إلى عباده فيغفر لكل مسلم إلا لمشرك أو مشاحنAnother questioner : And may Allah reward you.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.