A night for asking forgiveness
I have been on and off from blog (since I’m not good at it, pfftt~), I don’t quite remember how to do this whole thing anymore, but today I decided to share about one of sacred month for Muslims. Allah is truly so merciful to blessed me with the opportunity to seek forgiveness and blessings from Him for Syaaban 1441H. Alhamdulillah! For the past years I have continuously missed this night (well you know what happen to women every month;- period).
Syaaban is often seen as the month of preparation for the upcoming fasting month (Ramadhan). Nisfu Syaaban falls on the night between 14th and 15th of Syaaban (middle night of Syaaban). It is considered to be one of the greatest nights in the Islamic calendar. Here are several matan hadiths related to the advantages of the night of nisfu Sya’ban:
From Aisyah RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
إنَّ اللهَ تعالى يَنْزِلُ ليلةَ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ إِلَى سَمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا ، فيَغْفِرُ لِأَكْثَرَ مِنْ عَدَدِ شَعْرِ غَنَمِ كلبٍ
“Allah descends on the night of the middle of Sha’ban to the lowest heaven, and He forgives more than the numbers of hairs on the sheep of Banu Kalb.”
From Abdullah bin Amr RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
يَطَّلِعُ اللهُ عزَّ وجلَّ إلى خَلْقِهِ ليلَةَ النِّصفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ ، فيَغْفِرُ لِعبادِهِ إِلَّا لِاثْنَيْنِ مُشَاحِنٍ ، وقَاتِلِ نَفْسٍ
“Allah SWT looks on the night of nisfu Sya’ban, then forgives His slaves except two (groups of people), those who are enemies with each other and those who commit suicide.”
Musnad Ahmad (6353) [Ibn Hajar said the sanad of this hadith is layyin (one of the characteristics of a dhaif hadith)] (See al-Zawajir ‘an Iqtiraf al-Kabair, 2:43) While Ahmad Syakir said the sanad is sahih [See Musnad Ahmad, 10:127]
From Mu’az bin Jabal RA, the prophet PBUH said:
يَطَّلِعُ اللهُ إِلَى خَلْقِهِ فِيْ لَيْلَةِ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَيَغْفِرُ لِجَمِيْعِ خَلْقِه إِلَّا لِمُشْرِكٍ أَوْ مُشَاحِنٍ
“Allah SWT looks upon His creations on the night of nisfu Sya’ban then forgives all His creations except the people who commit shirk and people who are hateful towards each other.”
From Abu Hurairah RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
إِذَا كَانَ لَيْلَةُ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ يَغْفِرُ اللهُ لِعِبَادِهِ إِلَّا لمُشْرِكٍ أَوْ مُشَاحِنٍ
“When the night of nisfu Sya’ban arrives, Allah SWT forgives His slaves except those who commit shirk and holds enmity in their hearts.”
[Majma’ al-Zawaid, 8:68] Imam al-Sakhawi said none of the narrators is disputed. [See al-Ajwibah al-Mardhiyyah, 1:325]
From Abu Bakar RA, the Prophet PBUH:
يَنْزِلُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَيْلَةَ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَيَغْفِرُ لِكُلِّ نَفْسٍ إِلَّا إِنْسَانًا فِيْ قَلْبِهِ شَحْنَاء أَوِ المُشْرِكَ بِاللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ
“Allah SWT descends on the night of nisfu Sya’ban then forgives the sin of every living creature except those whose heart contains enmity and those who commit shirk.” Imam al-Bukhari said it should be analysed (nazhar), while Ibn ‘Adiy said the sanad is munkar. (See Lisan al-Mizan, 5:269)
However, there are difference of opinions among scholars regarding the status of the hadith. Some of them stated that the hadiths are sahih while others said otherwise. (All hadith source-Mufti Wilayah Persekutuan)
What Muslims do to honour this night?
Muslims would stay up all night to offer voluntary prayers and dzikir as a way to seek forgiveness for any past sins on this night. The following day on 15 Syaaban, Muslims would often fast for the day. It is hoped that all the prayers in this night will be accepted by Allahu Rabbi. Prayer itself is an ‘Ibadah, and Allah may reward each prayer along with the fulfillment of the supplicator need. Moreover, it’s a great month to practice the Sunnah. The Prophet PBUH was believed to have fasted voluntarily during Syaaban more than any other months.
Let’s together, we increase our worship as much as we can this month and be consistent so that we well prepare to welcome Ramadhan. May Allah grant us to meet Ramadhan Mubarak, a month full of blessings. Aamiin.
May peace be upon you. Love, v.
