Special supererogatory prayers of the 15th night of Shabaan

Special supererogatory prayers of the 15^th night of Sha'abaan

 

Reward of 20 Accepted Hajj and 20 Years of Fasting

 

Translation: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Ibrahim (May Allah be well pleased with him), he said that Hadhrat Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him) said: I saw the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) praying in the 15th night of Sha'aban.  He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) offered 14 Raka’at of Salaat.  Then after the Salaat, He sat and recited the Surah Fatiha 14 times, Surah Ikhlas 14 times, Surah Falaq 14 times, Surah Naas 14 times and Ayatul Kursi once and the last verse of Surah Tauba "La qad Jaa…."

 

When the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) finished His supplication.  I asked the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) about what I had seen.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Whoever does like this the way you have seen, there is a reward of 20 Hajj and 20 years of fasting for that person.  If that person fasts the next day, then there is a reward of 2 years of fasting, the year gone by and the coming year.  (Shu'abul Iman, Hadith No: 3683)

 

The special worship and supplications of this night are mentioned in the Hadith:

 

The author of Ruh al Bayan says:

 

Translation: It is mentioned in the Hadith: Whoever offers 100 Raka’at in this night, Allah Most High sends 100 angels to that person.  30 of them give that person glad tidings of paradise, 30 will remove the fear of hell from that person, 30 will remove the difficulties of this world from that person and 10 will protect that person from the machinations of Satan.  (Ruh al Bayan, Vol. 8, Pg. No. 448)

 

Imam Ghazali (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) writes in Ihya Ul Uloom:

 

Translation: Offer 100 Raka’at in Shab Bara'at.  Offer 2 Raka’at with one Salaam.  In each Raka’at recite Surah Ikhlas 10 times after Surah Fatiha.  (Ihya Ul Uloom, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 373, Ruh al Bayan, Vol. 8, Pg. No. 447)

 

It is mentioned in Ruh al Bayan:

 

If so desired, offer 10 Raka’at.  In every Raka’at recite Surah Ikhlas after the Fatiha.  Like the Salaat of Rajab, this Salaat is also narrated from the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  The Pious Predecessors would offer this Salaat in Shab Bara'at and called it Salaatul Khair.  Sometimes, they would it offer with congregation (without inviting people for it).  (Ruh al Bayan, Vol. 8, Pg. No. 448)

 

Hadhrat Hasan Basri (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) says:

 

Translation: 30 Companions told me that whoever offers this Salaat in that night, Allah Most High  looks at that person with mercy 70 times and with every look fulfils 70 needs of that person and the least among them is the forgiveness of sins. 

 

The King of the Saints of Deccan, Hadhrat Banda Nawaz (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) says in his book Jawami’ Ul Kalim:

 

There is a mention of offering supererogatory prayers in the 15th night of Sha'aban.  Hadhrat Banda Nawaz (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) said: It is written in Qut Al Qulub that in the sacred places of Makkah and Madina 400 to 500 people would gather and offer 100 Raka’at of Shab Bara'at. 

 

And in this night, there is mention of reciting Surah Yaseen as well.  (Jawami Ul Kalim, Pg. No. 169)

 

Salaat Ut Tasbeeh in Shab Bara'at

 

The Hadith describe much excellence of Salaat Ut Tasbeeh.  There is a Hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah:

 

Translation: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with them) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) told Hadhrat ‘Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib (May Allah be well pleased with them): O Abbas!  O my uncle!  Should I not bestow on you?  Should I not honor you?  Should I not treat you with grace?  Should I not tell you those 10 things, which when you perform, Allah Most High will forgive all your sins, whether they are of the past, or of the future, the new or the old, whether they were committed unwittingly or deliberately, whether they are small or big, whether they were done openly or in secret.  Offer 4 Raka’at, then He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) described the manner of offering Salaat Ut Tasbeeh.  (Sunan Ibn Majah, Pg. No. 99)

 

In Jame' Tirmidhi, details about offering Salaat Ut Tasbeeh are mentioned on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin Mubarak. 

 

Translation:  Make the intention of offering 4 Raka’at Salaat Ut Tasbeeh.  After the First Takbeer  recite 15 times:

 

Subhanallah Walhamdulillah Wa Laa Ilaaha Illallahu Wallahu Akbar. 

 

Then recite the Ta'awuz and Tasmiya, then Surah Fatiha and another Surah after it.  Then before going into Ruku’ recite the abovementioned  glorification of Allah Most High 10 times.  Then perform Ruku’ and after the usual glorification of the Ruku’ recite the given glorification 10 times, then get up from the Ruku’ and after saying "Sami'allahu........." recite it 10 times.  Then perform the first prostration.  After the glorification of Allah Most High in the prostration, recite it 10 times.  Then in the sitting between the prostrations, recite it 10 times, then 10 times again in the second prostration.

 

When you stand up for the next Raka’at, before Surah Fatiha, recite it 15 times and continue as said.  In each Raka’at, the aforementioned glorification will be recited 75 times.  Thus, in 4 Raka’at it will come to 300 times.  End the Salaat after 4 Raka’at.