The excellence of the 15th night of Shabaan

For all the Muslims who spend their lives in the shade of Islam, every year there are a few blessed nights.  Each of them has separate blessings and every night has different characteristics.  The Holy Quran especially mentions 3 nights:

 

1.  Shab Meraj, in which the Lord and His worshipper met.  The verse of Surah Isra:

 

Holy (free of any imperfection, weakness and insufficiency) is He Who took His (most beloved and intimate) Servant in a small portion of a night from the Sacred Mosque to the al-Aqsa Mosque, whose surroundings We have blessed, in order that We might show him (the Perfect Servant) Our Signs. Surely He is the One Who is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.  Surah Isra (17:1)

 

Here "the night" mentioned is by consensus Shab Meraj. 

 

2.  Shab Qadr, which is the night of the revelation of the Holy Quran, in which angels descend and on this night, the worshippers of the Lord are given the reward of more than 1000 months of worship.  The following verse of the Holy Quran mentions Shab Qadr:

 

The Night of Destiny is better than a thousand months (in merit of excellence, blessings, reward and recompense).  Surah Qadr (97:3)

 

3.  Shab Baraat: This is the night in which the glad tidings of forgiveness and pardon are given to the worshippers of Allah Most High.  This night is mentioned in the following verses of the Holy Quran:

 

Ha, Mim. (Only Allah and the Messenger [blessings and peace be upon him] know the real meaning.)  

 

By this Light-Giving Book,

 

Surely We have sent it down in a blessed night. Surely We are the Warner.

 

In this (night) judgment is given on all matters of wisdom (separately).  Surah Dukhan (44:1-4)

 

A group of the exegetes and the scholars interpret this “Lailatul Mubarakah” as the 15^th night of Sha’abaan, which is called as Lailatul Baraat.

 

“Lailatul Mubarakah” in the light of the Tafseer

 

The excellence of Shab Baraat is mentioned in many Hadith.  The “Lailatul Mubarakah” mentioned in the Holy Quran is clarified by the scholars to be Shab Baraat. 

 

Imam Shaykh Ahmed Bin Muhammad Saavi (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) writes in his book Haashiya As Saavi Alal Jalalain under the above mentioned verse in Vol. 4, Pg No: 57, Tafseer Kabeer, Surah Dukhan:

 

Translation: Lailatul Mubarakah means the 15th night of Sha’abaan.  This is the opinion of Hadhrat ‘Akrama and a group (of scholars) and this is acceptable because of some reasons.  One among them is that the 15th of Sha’abaan has 4 names:

 

1.    The blessed night.

2.    The night of deliverance.

3.    The night of mercy.

4.    The night of reward.

 

Hadhrat ‘Allama Syed Mahmood Alusi (May Allah shower His mercy on him) writes in Ruh Al Ma'ani:

 

Translation: Hadhrat ‘Akrama and one group said that this is the 15th night of Sha’abaan and this night is also called as the night of mercy, the blessed night, and night of reward and the night of freedom.

 

The author of Ruh Al Bayan (D. 1127 Hijri) writes:

 

Translation: Lailatul Mubarak means the night of Sha’abaan.  (Ruh Al Bayan, Vol. 8, Pg No: 448)

 

The King of the saints, Hadhrat Ghawth ul A’adham (May Allah be well pleased with him) in the Tafseer of Lailatul Mubarakah:

 

Translation: That is the 15^th night of Sha’abaan and it is Shab Baraat.  (Ghuniya Lit Talibi Tariqil Haqqi Vol. 1, Pg No: 189)

 

The Holy Quran says about the Lailatul Mubarakah:

 

In this (night) judgment is given on all matters of wisdom (separately).  Surah Dukhan (44:4)

 

This verse shows that Lailatul Mubarakah is the night of decisions and it is mentioned in the Hadith about the 15^th night of Sha’abaan that all the affairs of the coming year are decided this night.  This way the aforementioned Hadith become the details of Lailatul Mubarakah, as mentioned in the narration of Hadhrat Abdullah bin Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with them) in Ruh Al Ma'ani, Vol. 4, Pg No: 174:

 

Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Ibn Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with them) that the decisions of all the matters are taken on the 15^th night of Sha’abaan. 

 

One Final Explanation

 

What does Lailatul Mubarakah mean:

 

In this connection, the exegetes have related 2 opinions.  One that Lailatul Mubarakah means Shab Baraat and the other that it means Shab Qadr.  We will reconcile these 2 interpretations.  The Holy Quran says about Lailatul Mubarakah, it is said:

 

In this (night) judgment is given on all matters of wisdom (separately).  Surah Dukhan (44:4)

 

This shows that in this blessed night decisions are taken and it is mentioned in the Hadith that decisions are taken on the 15^th night of Sha’abaan and they are given to the respective angels in Lailatul Qadr.  Thus, if Lailatul Mubarakah is interpreted as Shab Qadr, it means that the angels are given the orders on that night and if Shab Baraat is taken, then it means taking the decisions.

 

It is given in Hashiya Al Jaml ‘Alal Jalalain, Vol. 4, Pg No: 100 and in Ma'alim Ut Tanzeel:

 

Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abdullah bin Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with them): Verily! Allah Most High makes the decisions in Shab Baraat and passes them on to those who are responsible in Shab Qadr.