The 15th of Sha'ban
The month of Sha'ban is one of the most revered months in the Islamic calendar. It is narrated by Usama Bin Zaid (ra) that he once asked the Prophet (saw), "O Messenger of Allah, I have seen you fasting in the month of Sha’ban more often than in any other month." The Prophet (saw) responded, "Sha'ban is the month between Rajab and Ramadan, and many people neglect it. It is the month when the deeds of humanity are presented to the Lord of the Universe, and I wish for my deeds to be presented while I am in a state of fasting" [Abu Dawud].
While the sanctity of the month of Sha'ban is universally recognized, there is some scholarly debate regarding the significance of the 15th night of Sha'ban. Some scholars regard the hadiths concerning this night as good (Hassan), while others consider them weak (Dha’if). However, due to the numerous hadiths, many of which are not severely weak, the virtue of this night is accepted as authentic by most scholars. Ibn Taymiyyah (ra) remarked, "So many hadiths and reports exist regarding the excellence of the 15th night of Sha'ban that one is compelled to accept that this night holds special virtue."
On this night, many Muslims engage in extra prayers and fast the following day, though some argue that this practice is not part of the Sunnah. Nevertheless, since the majority of scholars regard this night as blessed, we’ve compiled information on its virtues and ways to make the most of it.
What are the blessings of the 15th night of Sha’ban?
The main blessing of this night is that Allah (swt) bestows His mercy and forgiveness, from sunset to dawn. Several narrations from the Prophet (saw) highlight the immense mercy of Allah on this night:
The Prophet (saw) also said, “Allah gazes at His creation on the 15th night of Sha’ban and then forgives all His slaves except for two types of people: those who attribute partners unto Allah and those who have rancor for their fellow Muslims” [Ahmad]
Finally, the Prophet (saw) narrated that on this night, from sunset until dawn, Allah asks His servants, “Is there anyone asking forgiveness from Me so that I may forgive him? Is there anyone seeking provision from Me so that I may provide for him? Is there anyone suffering so that I may relieve his suffering?” [Ibn Majah]
From the above hadith, we can see the immense magnitude of Allah’s mercy on us on this night, SubhanAllah!
Tips on how to take advantage of this night:
1. Fast
There is only one weak hadith regarding fasting on the 15th of Sha'ban, but it was the Sunnah of our Nabi (saw) to fast on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of each month. He (saw) said, "If you fast any part of the month, then fast the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth" [Tirmidhi].
Therefore, you should aim to fast on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of Sha'ban to follow this Prophetic Sunnah and gain its rewards.
- Engage in Thikr
Aisha (ra) narrated that one night, the Prophet (saw) remained in Sajdah for such an extended period that she became concerned and touched his foot to check if he was still alive. He (saw) moved his foot and she heard him reciting the following Dua:
Scholars advise that we should frequently recite this Dua on the 15th night of Sha'ban, following the example of our Prophet (saw). It is also encouraged to recite Istighfar abundantly on this night, as it is a night of forgiveness.
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Read Voluntary Prayers
Prepare to engage in worship for a significant part of the night. Perform ghusl, wear clean clothes, and find a quiet space to pray. Offer additional Nawafil prayers like Salat Al-Tasbeeh, Salat As-Shukr, and Tahajjud, as it was the practice of our Prophet (saw) to engage in long prayers during the night. -
Recite the Quran
Take the opportunity to recite the Quran abundantly, as it brings great rewards. The Prophet (saw) said, "Verily, the one who recites the Quran beautifully, smoothly, and precisely, he will be in the company of noble and obedient angels. And as for the one who recites with difficulty and stammering or stumbling through its verses, then he will have twice that reward" [Bukhari]. -
Make Sincere Tawbah
This is the night of forgiveness, so turn to Allah (swt) in Dua, praise Him, and sincerely seek His forgiveness for all past sins. Allah’s mercy is boundless on this night, so make the most of it by making heartfelt Tawbah.
May Allah (swt) grant us the blessings of this night, forgive our sins, increase our provisions, and relieve us of our difficulties. May He bless us in Sha'ban and allow us to reach Ramadan in good health, Inshallah Ameen!
