The Merciful Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, the companions of the Holy Rasool and friends of Allah Almighty used to arrange special acts of worship in the month of Sha’ban, especially on its 15th night.
Practices of the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
The mother of believers, Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا states: I did not see the Noble Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم observing Sawm (fast) more in any other month than the holy month of Sha’ban.’ (Tirmizi, vol. 2, pp. 182, Hadees 736)
She رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا further states: One night, I did not see the Noble Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. I went out in his صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم search, and found him in Jannat-ul-Baqi’. The Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: No doubt, on the 15th night of Sha’ban, Allah Almighty reveals a special Divine Manifestation on the sky above the earth. Hence, He عَزَّوَجَلَّ forgives more people than the number of the hairs on the goats of the tribe of Bani Kalb. (Tirmizi, vol. 2, pp. 183, Hadees 739)
Now we come to know that on the night of Bara`at, it is Sunnah to perform the acts of worship and visit the graveyard. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 2, pp. 290)
Practices of the blessed companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم of Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
The grandson of the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, Sayyiduna Imam Hasan Mujtaba رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ states: ‘I divide this night into three parts. In one part, I recite Salat-‘Alan-Nabi upon my grandfather, the Merciful Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم; in the second part, I repent and perform Istighfar in the court of Allah Almighty; and in the last part, I perform Ruku’ and Sujood [i.e. worship].’
(He رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ further states): I heard my father (i.e. Sayyiduna ‘Ali-ul-Murtada کَـرَّمَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی وَجۡـھَـهُ الۡـکَـرِیۡم) saying that the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘The one who enlivens the 15th night of Sha’ban (i.e. worships in that night) will be written among Muqarrabeen[1]. (Al-Qaul-ul-Badi’, pp. 396)
Practices of the pious saints of Islam
Pious saints of Islam also used to spend this sacred night while worshipping Allah Almighty. Sayyiduna Khalid Bin Ma’dan, Sayyiduna Luqman Bin ‘Aamir and other pious saints of Islam رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی used to wear nice clothes, perfume and kohl on the 15th night of Sha’ban and (would gather and) spend this night in Masjid while worshipping. (Maaza fi Sha’ban, pp. 75)
The leader of the believers, Sayyiduna ‘Umar Bin ‘Abdul ‘Azeez رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ also used to remain busy in worship during the night of Bara`at. (Tafseer Ruh-ul-Bayan, part 25, Ad-Dukhan, Taht-al-Ayah: 8, vol. 3, pp. 402)
Practices of the people of Makkah
Pious saint of the third Hijri, Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad Bin Ishaaq Faakihi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه states: Till toady, people of Makkah have a routine. On the night of Bara`at, they come in Masjid-ul-Haraam and offer prayer, perform Tawaf, and remain busy in worshipping and in the recitation of Holy Quran all night. Among them, some people offer 100 Nawafil in such a way that they recite Surah Al-Ikhlas ten times after Surah Al-Fatihah in each Rak’at, drink Zam Zam Shareef, take a bath with it and save this water for their patients. Moreover, they gather lots of blessings during this night by the virtue of all these acts. (Akhbar-e-Makkah, part 3, vol. 2, pp. 84)
اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي رَجَبٍ وَشَعْبَانَ، وَبَارِكْ لَنَا فِي رَمَضَانَ
Translation: O Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! Grant us blessings in Rajab and Sha’ban; and grant us blessings in Ramadan.
(Musnad Imam Ahmad, vol. 1, pp. 557, Hadees 2346)
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