What is the ruling on preparing food on the middle of Sha'ban?
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The questioner : Some women, on the night of the middle of Sha'ban every year, prepare food and give it in charity, believing that it has a special merit and virtue?
The Shaykh : Yes, some people on the middle of Sha'ban prepare food and give it in charity to the poor, thinking that this day has a special merit in charity. That is not the case. In reality, this is a religious innovation (bid'ah). The middle of Ramadan has no special merit, and the middle of Sha'ban has no special merit; it is like the other middles of the months. There is nothing in it except that if one fasts the white days, he fasts the middle if he is fasting the white days, he fasts the middle only. As for specifying the night of the middle with standing in prayer, or the day of the middle with fasting, there is no basis for it, and nothing has been established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding that.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : She must comply and not give charity if she knows that this is a religious innovation (bid'ah) and is not established. She must refrain from giving charity.
The questioner : And if she does not refrain?
The Shaykh : Glory be to Allah. If the innovator does not refrain from his innovation, what can we do? If we have explained it to the people, then it is only our duty to convey the message. Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, some people on the middle of Sha'ban prepare food and give it in charity to the poor, thinking that this day has a special merit in charity. That is not the case. In reality, this is a religious innovation (bid'ah). The middle of Ramadan has no special merit, and the middle of Sha'ban has no special merit; it is like the other middles of the months. There is nothing in it except that if one fasts the white days, he fasts the middle if he is fasting the white days, he fasts the middle only. As for specifying the night of the middle with standing in prayer, or the day of the middle with fasting, there is no basis for it, and nothing has been established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding that.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : She must comply and not give charity if she knows that this is a religious innovation (bid'ah) and is not established. She must refrain from giving charity.
The questioner : And if she does not refrain?
The Shaykh : Glory be to Allah. If the innovator does not refrain from his innovation, what can we do? If we have explained it to the people, then it is only our duty to convey the message. Yes.