The Blessings of the 15th of Shaban (Shabe Barat)

One of the unique benefits of traditional Islamic spirituality is the observance of numerous holy days and nights throughout the Islamic calendar year in which spiritual seekers can take advantage of rare blessings and opportunities for spiritual growth and awakening.

One of the holiest and most significant nights of the Islamic calendar is the night of the 15th of Shaban, also known as Shabe Barat. It is on the night of the 15th of Shaban that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saws) taught is the beginning of the new year in the spiritual realm, and that on Shabe Barat, the 15th of Shaban, the affairs of human beings are arranged in the Divine Presence for the coming twelve months.

It is for this reason that it has traditionally been recorded and advised to fast the three days in the middle of the month, the 14th, 15th and 16th of Shaban, so as to end the previous cycle and begin the new in a state of fasting, which liberates from dependance upon the world of form and increases one’s connection with the the Source of all that is, the Divine Almighty.

Blessings of the 15th of the Month of Shaban (Shabe Barat)

There are numerous traditions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saws) in which he relates the unique blessings of the 15th of Shaban, Shabe Barat.

Prophet Muhammad Quotes on the Blessings of the 15th of Shaban, #1

The Prophet Muhammad (saws) said that, “Whoever fasts three days in the month of Shaban and at the time of breaking fast recites salawat three times upon me, his sins will be forgiven and his provisions will be amplified, and on the Day of Judgment he will enter Paradise riding on a heavenly mount.”

Prophet Muhammad Quotes on the Blessings of the 15th of Shaban, #2

Recorded in Nuzhat al-Majalis, Sayyidina Anas (ra) related that he heard from the Prophet Muhammad (saws) that Jesus (as) once passed by a mountain and there he saw a white stone. He stared upon it with awe. God revealed to His messenger, “Shall I disclose for you a thing stranger than this?” “Surely!” Jesus answered.

The stone split and from it emerged an old man with a green walking stick in his hand, and pointing to a grape vine he said, “I get my sustenance from here.” Jesus (as) asked him, “How long have you been busy worshipping God in this stone?” The man replied, “For four hundred years.” Jesus (as) said to God, “Certainly there is no one else that can worship as he does.” God revealed, “Two cycles (raka’) of prayer by one from the nation of My Beloved Prophet (saws) on the 15th night of the month of Shaban are better than this four hundred years of worship.”

Prophet Muhammad Quotes on the Blessings of the 15th of Shaban, #3

Recorded in Tirmidhi, Mother of the Believers, Sayyidatuna Aisha (ra) related that she heard from the Prophet Muhammad (saws), “God, Glorious and Exalted, descends to the nearest heaven on the night of the 15th of the month of Shaban, and He forgives more people than the number of hair on the hides of the flocks and herds of sheep of the tribe of Kalb.”
Adab (Spiritual Practices) of the 15th of Shaban

To obtain the maximum benefit from the holy night of the 15th of the month of Shaban, there are specific spiritual practices (adab) that one can perform.
Fasting

Fast the 14th, 15th and 16th days of the month of Shaban. Alternatively, one may fast just the 15th, the Day of Shabe Barat.
Welcome Shabe Barat

1. Take a shower (ghusl) before the Maghrib prayer on the evening of the night of the 15th of the month of Shaban with the intention of welcoming Shabe Barat.
2. Pray the Maghrib prayer.
3. Recite Surah Ya Seen three times, each time with the following respective intention:
For long life and health.
For protection from calamities.
For provision directly from the Divine Presence and to be free from need of others.
4. Pray the Isha prayer.

Salatul Khair (The Prayer of Goodness)

Throughout the night of Shabe Barat, pray one hundred cycles, or raka, of Salatul Khair, in each cycle reciting Surah Fatiha and ten times Surah Ikhlas (Chapter 112 of the Holy Qur’an), ultimately making a total of one thousand recitations of Surah Ikhlas.
After praying Salatul Khair, you may then pray Salatul Witr.
Notes on the Spiritual Practices of the 15th of Shaban

Needless to say, these nawafil (not required, but beneficial) practices of the night of the 15th of Shaban, Shabe Barat, are intensive. Do not overburden yourself beyond your capacity. Simply do your best with the right intention, and you will receive divine blessings.
The purpose of worship (‘ibadah) is to ultimately liberate a human being from the external world of form, to cement one’s connection to the Divine Presence and to develop spiritual presence. This leads to divine peace and purpose, and to a life of goodness and grace.

The virtues of Shaban

Praise be to Allah who has created the place and time. And peace be upon Muhammad who observed more fasting in Shaban And peace be upon his family, companions and upon all those who adhered to the Glorious Quran. The virtues of Shaban are a gift from Allah the Bountiful, the Bestower. 

Osama son of Zaid –May Allah be pleased with them- said: I said O messenger of Allah: I didn’t see, you Fasting in any month as saw you do in Shaban? 

He -peace and blessings be upon him- said: “That’s a month the people neglect it between Rajab and Ramadan, and in that month- Shaban- the people deeds are raised to the Lord of mankind, so I love to be fasting, while my deeds are raised.” 

«يا رسول الله! لم ارك تصوم شهرا من الشهور ما تصوم من شعبان؟! قال: ذلك شهر  يغفل الناس عنه، بين رجب ورمضان، وهو شهر ترفع فيه الأعمال إلى رب العالمين، فأحب أن يرفع عمل، وأنا صائم»

 Why it is called Shaban?

 Shaban is a name of a month (one of the lunar months), it was called with this name because the Arabs were scattering in it searching for water or scattering in wars or because it appears between Rajab and Ramadan (two lunar months). 

The prophet’s fast in Shaban: whereas Shaban is considered as a preparation for Ramadan, it’s preferable for Muslim to fast some days in it. 

Narrated Aisha: “Allah Apostle used to fast till one would say that: he would never stop fasting! And he would abandon fasting till one would say that: he would never fast! I never saw Allah’s Apostle fasting for a whole month except the month of Ramadan and didn’t see him fasting in any month more than in the month of Shaban”[Bukhari] 

«كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يصوم حتى نقول لا يفطر، ويفطر حتى نقول لا يصوم، فما رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم استكمل صيام شهر إلا رمضان، وما رأيته أكثر صياما منه في شعبان»

 She also narrated “Shaban was the most beloved month to Allah’s Prophet to fast in it till the beginning of Ramadan” [Declared Authentic by Al-Albani]

«كان أحب الشهور إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أن صومه شعبان ثم يصله برمضان»

 Ibn Hajar said that: “this Hadith indicates the virtue of fasting in Shaban.” [belogh el maram] 

Imam Ibn Rajab (one of Muslims scholars) said: “as to the prophet’s fasting during the year, he used to fast in Shaban more than any other month” [lata’ef el ma’aref] 

Imam AlSanany said: “this hadith proves that the prophet -peace and blessings be upon him- was fasting in Shaban more than any other month” [sobol el salam] 
The wisdom of the prophet’s much fast in Shaban: 

Osama son of Zaid – may Allah be blessed with them – narrated “I said:...O Messenger of Allah why don’t I see you fast on other months like your fasting in Shaban?!” 

The Prophet said “that is a month (Shaban) which people neglect between Rajab and Ramadan. In that month the people deeds are being raised to the Lord of Mankind, so I love that that my deeds are being raised while I’m fasting” [Declared as Hasan by Al-Albani] 

«يا رسول الله! لم ارك تصوم شهرا من الشهور ما تصوم من شعبان؟! قال: ذلك شهر  يغفل الناس عنه، بين رجب ورمضان، وهو شهر ترفع فيه الأعمال إلى رب العالمين، فأحب أن يرفع عملي، وأنا صائم»

 A diagram shows the priority of months as to fasting: 

The best Fasting after Ramadan is on the days of the sacred month (Muharram). 
Prophet -peace and blessings be upon him- used to fast on Shaban more than any other month. 

Regarding fasting, the rest of months are equal except some days which we were recommended to fast them like Arafah, Ashura and six days of Shawal,…etc) 

Imam Ibn Rajab -May Allah bestows him his mercy- said about the wisdom of Shaban fasting “as the prophet Muhammad mentioned, whereas Shaban comes between two great months, Rajab (one of sacred months) and Ramadan (fasting month), the people occupied themselves with them and neglected Shaban. Also a lot of people think that fasting reward in Rajab which is a sacred month is better than Shaban fasting, but this isn’t true) [lata’ef-alma’arf book] 

The scientific signs in Shaban Fasting 

It was scientifically proved that the human body in the first Fasting days began to consume its stored reserves of fats, Proteins and others, to compensate the shortage resulting from reducing food. As a result, some poisons (adrenalin hormone) flow in blood before the body throws them out with the leftovers. That is why the fasting man feels some symptoms like headache, weakness, quick-tempered, bad temper and he may abuses others and that obliges him, sometimes to break his fast. 

After few days of fasting, these symptoms disappear when the hormones ratio in blood return to their nature, with Allah’s will. 

The voluntary Shaban fasting is considered as training on the obligatory fasting of Ramadan and to remove the fasting hardship in the beginning of Ramadan…Almighty Allah has the best knowledge…. 

Fasting at the end of Shaban 

Narrated Abu Hurira-may Allah be pleased with him- the Prophet -peace and blessings be upon him- said “none of you should fast a day or two before the month of Ramadan unless he has the habit of fasting (voluntary) (and if his fasting coincides with that day ) then he can fast that day” [Declared Authentic by Albani & Tirmizi] 

«لا تقدموا شهر رمضان بصيام قبله بيوم أو يومين، إلا أن يكون رجل كان يصوم صوما فليصمه»

An example of that is the one who has a habit of fasting on Monday and Thursday, so he can fast them even at the end of Shaban. 

The prophet -peace and blessings be upon him- also prohibited fasting on the (day of doubt) thirtieth of Shaban unless it was coinciding with his habit of fasting. 

The innovations of the fifteenth night of Shaban: 

1-   All kinds of celebrations at that night whether meeting for religious observances, recitation of poems or feeding people and to consider that these deeds are a stated Sunnah while they aren’t.

2-   Praying Alalfia or Albarae prayer at that night.
3-   Also praying fourteen, twelve or six Rakat at that night.

4-   To specify Ishah (night) prayer, at that night, with recitation of Surah YaSin or certain number of surah Al-Ekhlaas or specifying that night with a certain invocation; called (the fifteenth of shaban night invocation, they may also stipulate praying two Rakat or reciting surah Ya-Sin (one chapter of the holy Quran) before this invocation to be accepted. Among the innovations of this night also, is to specify its day with fasting or charity or to believe that the fifteenth night of Shaban is better than the night of Al-Qadr (Decree). 

The juristic ruling of celebrating at the 15th night of Shaban 
Sheikh Abdul-Aziz son of Baz –may Allah bestow his mercy upon him- was asked about the 15th night of Shaban and if it has a special prayer? 

He answered: (there is no sound hadith indicating the virtue of this night and all the reported a hadith in its virtue are weak or fabricated. It’s an ordinary night and has no special recitation, prayer or meeting and the saying of its specialty is a weak opinion.