Saturday 15 October 2011

Salaah Lai’ylathul Nis’f Sha’baan

Salaah Lai’ylathul Nis’f Sha'ban

(Prayers on Sha'ban 15th, the Night of Lights, Shab-e-Baraath)

Shaabaan, the eighth month of the Hijri calendar,  precedes the Holy Month of Ramadan. It has its own merit as the month of Laiylathul Baraath, the Night of Lights and Supplication that occurs on the 14/15th night of themonth.

The Holy Prophet S.A.W.S. observed the optional fast on most days of this month, except on the last two days.  He praised their eminence as “Fasts in honor of Ramadan.” He also said “It is a month in which an account of the deeds (of human beings) is presented before the Lord of the universe, so, I wish that my deeds be presented at a time when I am in a state of fasting."  And he informed  Syedathi Ayesha R.A.A., “Allah prescribes the list of the persons dying this year. Therefore, I like that my death comes when I am in a state of fasting."

It is important to remember that the Ramadan fast is obligatory and the world of Islam waits for it with fond hopes.  We welcome it with all our hearts and and  exult in honoring it by conscientious observance of all the fasts. As such, if some persons feel their stamina could be affected by fasting in the earlier month of Shaabaan also, they may forego these optional days of Sav’m.

Mohammed, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, is reported to have said, "Do not fast after the first half of the month of Sha'ban is gone."
On the night of 15th of Sha'baan, we offer special prayers to Allahu Subhanahu va ta Aalaa. 

This is a very important and auspicious night.  The better and more devout we are to Allah and His Rasool Syedina Mohammed S.A.W.S. in our Salaah’s and our good deeds this night, the more glorious, insha Allah, will be the bounties endowed on us by Allah.

These prayers also commemorate the change, by Allah’s command, of  the Muslim Qib’lah  and its historic sequel that occurred in the Masjid Qiblathai’yn at Madinatul Munawwarah.

To the Muslims the Holy Baiy’thullah, in Makkathul Mukaarramah, has always been the sanctum sanctorum of the earth.

As they stood up for Salaah , facing the Bai’ythul Muqaddas in Jerusalem), as was the custom in those days, they and their leader Syedina Mohammed S.A.W.S. S. wished to Allahu Sub’hanahu va tha Aalaa, that He may kindly accede to the aspirations in their inmost hearts and accord sanction for them to face the Holy Ka’abah instead.

After seventeen months of the Holy Prophet S.A.W.S.’s migration to the Radiant City, the Muslims’Duaa’yaen were accepted by Allahu Sub’hanahu va tha Aalaa. 

When the auspicious news was convyed to this Masjid, whch is about 10 kms. from the Masjid-e-Nabavi, the congregation were in Salaah facing Bai’ythul Muqaddas (Jerusalem).  They turned en bloc and faced the Holy Ka’abah in Makkathul Mukarramah and completed the Salaah. The Masjid came to be known as the Masjid of Both Qib’lah’s!

On this night is written down, by Allah's command, all that is to happen to us in the year following this, the Night of Lights.

The Night of Bara'ah: Prophet Mohammed, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam,  said, "This is the middle Night of Sha'ban. Allah frees in it a large number of the people from Fire, more than the number of the hair growingon the sheep of the tribe, Kalb. But He does not even look at a person who associates partners with Allah, or at a personwho nourishes malice in his heart (against someone), or at a person who cuts off the ties of kinship, or at a man who leaves his clothes dangling below his ankles (in a state of arrogfance), or at a person who disobeys his parents, or at a person who has the drink habit.”

We remain awake in this night as long as we can and pray to Allah with true devotion. Eight rakaah’s and above is the minimum recommended by Islami scholars.  We must recite longer surah’s from the Holy Qur’an if we have memorized them. Otherwise more than one of the short surah’s we remember may be recited.

It is  recommended by scholars that we must recite the Holy Qur’an as much as we can on this nigh tafter performing salaah or at other times.
(c) Dhikr. One should also perform dhikr (recitation of the name of Allah) in this night.

Particularly the following dhikr is very useful:

One should recite Salah (durood) on Prophet Mohammed, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, as many times as he can. The dhikr can also be recited while walking, lying on bed and during other hours of work or leisure.

(d) Dua. The best benefit one can draw from the blessings of this night is prayers and supplications. It is hoped that all the
prayers in this night will be accepted by our Lord, insha-Allah. Prayer itself is an 'Ibadah, and Allah Almighty gives reward
on each prayer along with the fulfillment of the supplicator's need. Even if the purpose prayed for is not achieved, one cannot
be deprived of the reward of the prayer which is sometimes more precious than the mundane benefits one strives for. The
prayers and supplications also strengthen one's relation with Allah Almighty, which is the main purpose of all kinds and forms
of worship.

One can pray for whatever purpose he wishes. But the best supplications are the ones made by Prophet Mohammed,
Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. These are so comprehensive and all-encompassing prayers that all the human needs, of this
world and the Hereafter, are fully covered in the eloquent expressions used in them. Actually, most of the prophetic prayers
are so profound that human imagination can hardly match their greatness.

Several books in various languages are available which provide these prophetic prayers, and one should pray to Allah Almighty in accordance with them, whether by reciting their original Arabic text or by rendering their sense in one's own language.

(e) There are some people who cannot perform any additional Salah or recitations for any reason, like illness or weakness
or being engaged in some other necessary activities. Such people also should not deprive themselves completely of the
blessings of this night. They should observe the following acts:

(i) To perform the Salah of Maghrib, 'Isha' and Fajr with Jama'ah in the mosque, or in their homes in case of their being sick.

(ii) They should keep reciting the dhikr, particularly the one mentioned in para (c) above, in whatever condition they are until they sleep.

(iii) They should pray to Allah for their forgiveness and for their other objectives. One can do so even when he is in his bed.

(f) The women during their periods cannot perform salah, nor can they recite the Qur'an, but they can recite any dhikr, tasbeeh, durood sharif and can pray to Allah for whatever purpose they like in whatever language they wish. They can also recite the Arabic prayers mentioned in the Qur'an or in the hadith with the intention of supplication (and not with the
intention of recitation).

(g) According to a hadith, which is relatively less authentic, Prophet Mohammed, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, went in this night to the graveyard of Baqi' where he prayed for the Muslims buried there. On this basis, some of the fuqaha hold it as mustahabb (advisable) in this night to go to the graveyard of the Muslims and recite Fatihah or any other part of the Qur'an, and pray for the dead. But this act is neither obligatory nor should it be performed as regularly as an obligatory act.

What Should not be Done in This Night

1. As mentioned earlier, the Night of Bara'ah is a night in which special blessings are directed towards the Muslims. Therefore, this night should be spent in total submission to Allah Almighty, and one should refrain from all those activities, which may displease Allah. Although it is always incumbent upon every Muslim to abstain from sins, yet this abstinence
becomes all the more necessary in such nights, because committing sins in this night will amount to responding to divine blessings with disobedience and felony. Such an arrogant attitude can invite nothing but the wrath of Allah. Therefore, one should strictly abstain from all the sins, particularly from those mentioned in the Hadith No. 3 quoted earlier in this article,
because these sins make one devoid of the blessings of this night.
2. In this night some people indulge in some activities which they regard as necessary for the celebration of the Night of Bara'ah, like cooking some special type of meal, or illuminating houses or mosques, or improvised structures. All such activities are not only baseless and innovated in the later days by ignorant people, but in some cases they are pure imitation
of some rituals performed by non-Muslim communities. Such imitation in itself is a sin; performing it in a blessed night like the Night of Bara'ah makes it worse. Muslims should strictly abstain from all such activities.

3. Some people spend this night in holding religious meetings and delivering long speeches. Such activities are also not advisable, because these acts can easily be performed in other nights. This night requires one to devote himself for the pure acts of worship only.

4. The acts of worship like Salah, recitation of the Qur'an and dhikr should be performed in this night individually, not collectively. The Nafl Salah should not be performed in Jama'ah, nor should the Muslims arrange gatherings in the mosques in order to celebrate the night in a collective manner.

On the contrary, this night is meant for worshipping Allah in solitude. It is the time to enjoy the direct contact with the Lord of the Universe, and to devote one's attention to Him and Him alone. These are the precious hours of the night in which nobody should intervene between one and his Lord, and one should turn to Allah with total concentration, not disturbed or
intermitted by any one else.

That is why Prophet Mohammed, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, observed the acts of worship in this night in total seclusion, not accompanied by anyone, not even by his favorite life companion Sayyidah 'Aishah, Radi-Allahu anha, and that is why all forms of the optional worship (Nafl Ibadah), are advised by him to be done in individual, not in collective manner.

Fast of the 15th Sha'ban

On the day immediately following the Night of Bara'ah, i.e. the 15th of Sha'ban, it is mustahabb (advisable) to keep fast. Prophet Mohammed, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, is reported to have recommended this fast emphatically. Although the scholars of hadith have some doubts in the authenticity of this report, yet it is mentioned earlier that the fasts of the first half of Sha'ban have special merits and Prophet Mohammed, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, used to fast most of the days in Sha'ban. Moreover, a large number of the elders (salaf) of the Ummah have been observing the fast of the 15th of Sha'ban. This constant practice indicates that they have accepted the relevant hadith as authentic.

Therefore, it is advisable to fast the 15th of Sha'ban as an optional (nafl) fast. One can also keep a fast of qada on this day and it is hoped that he can also benefit from the merits of this fast. Let us pray to Allahu Sub’hanahu va tha Aalaa to kindly bless us and our dear ones with the best of health, happiness and prosperity, and grant us high achievement in our noble careers.

Let us beg Allah for our country’s economic, scientific and all round progress and for Islam to lead us to a glorious future. Let us also pray to Our Glorious Creator that, by His Grace, all disputes and conflicts may be resolved and peace, security and harmony prevail in our land and all over the world.

We commence the Salaah’s from Salaathul Magh’rib onwards and continue them through the night as we do in the Lai’ylathul Qad'r (night of Ramadan 27th) and on the Shab-e-Meiraaj (night of 27th Rajjab). 

We may perform for Allahu Subhnahu va tha Aalaa as many Naf’l Salaah’s of two rakaah’s each, as we can.

The special Du’aa for the Lai’ylathul Nis’f Sha'ban is:

ALLAHUMMA YAA ZAL MANNI VA LAA YUMANNU ALAIHI. YAA ZAL JALAALI VAL IKRAAM, YA ZATH THAW'LI VAL IN'AAM.  LAA ILAAHA ILLA ANTHA ZAH'RUL LAAJEEN VA JAARUL MUSTHAJIREEN, VA AMAANUL KHAA'YIFEEN.

ALLAHUMMA IN KUNTHA KATHAB'THANEE INDAKA FEE UMMIL KITHAABI SHAQEEYAN AV MAHROOMAN AV MATHROODAN'V VA MUKHATH'THARAN ALAI'YA FIR RIZKHI FAM'HU.

ALLAHUMMA BI FAD’LIKA SHAKHAA’VATHEE VA HIRMAANEE VA THAR'DEE VAKH’THI'THAARA RIZKHEEVA ATH'BITH'NEE INDAKA FEE UMMIL KITHAABI SAYEEDAM MARZOOQAN MUVAFFAQAN LIL KHAI'YRATHI. FA INNAKA QULTA VAQOOLUKAL HAQQU, FEE KITABIKAL MUNAZZALI, ALAA LISAANI NABEE’YIKAL MURSALI YAM'HULLAHU MAA YASHAA'O VA YUSBITHU VA INDAHOO UMMUL KITABI.

ILAAHEE BITH'THAJALLIYIL AAZAMI, FEE LAILATHIN NISFI MIN SHAH'RI SHA'BAANAL MUKARRAM, ALLATHEE YUFRAKHU FEEHAA KULLU AMRIN HAKEEMIN VA YUBRAMU.  AN THAKSHIFA ANNAA MINAL BALAAYI VAL BAL'VAAYI MAA NA'ALAMU VA MAALAA NA'ALAMU, VA ANTHA BIHEE AA'LAMU INNAKA ANTHAL A'OZZUL AK'RAM, VA SALLALLAHUTHA AALAA ALA SYEDINA MOHAMMEDIN’V VA ALAA AALIHEE VA AS'HAABIHEE VA SALLAM VAL HAM’DU LILLAHI RABBIL A'ALAMEEN.

 To be Done in this Night?

In order to observe the Night of Bara'ah, one should remain awakened in this night as much as he can. If someone has better opportunities, he should spend the whole night in worship and prayer. However, if one cannot do so for one reason or another, he can select a considerable portion of the night, preferably of the second half of it for this purpose, and should perform the following acts of worship:

(a) Salah. Salah is the most preferable act to be performed in this night. There is no particular number of Rak'at but preferably it should not be less than eight. It is also advisable that each part of the Salah like qiyam, rukoo' and sajdah should be longer than normal. The longest surahs of the Holy Qur'an one remembers by heart should be recited in the Salah of this night. If someone does not remember the long surahs, he can also recite several short surahs in one rak'ah.

(b) Tilawa. The recitation of the Holy Qur'an is another form of worship, very beneficent in this night. After performing Salah, or at any other time, one should recite as much of the Holy Qur'an as he can.

(c) Dhikr. One should also perform dhikr (recitation of the name of Allah) in this night. Particularly the following dhikr is
very useful:

One should recite Salah (durood) on Prophet Mohammed, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, as many times as he can. The dhikr can also be recited while walking, lying on bed and during other hours of work or leisure.

(d) Dua. The best benefit one can draw from the blessings of this night is prayers and supplications. It is hoped that all the prayers in this night will be accepted by our Lord, insha-Allah. Prayer itself is an 'Ibadah, and Allah Almighty gives reward on each prayer along with the fulfillment of the supplicator's need. Even if the purpose prayed for is not achieved, one cannot be deprived of the reward of the prayer which is sometimes more precious than the mundane benefits one strives for. The prayers and supplications also strengthen one's relation with Allah Almighty, which is the main purpose of all kinds and forms
of worship.