Fasting on the 15th of Shabaan
Question:-
What is the ruling in regards to fasting on 15th of Shaban? Is it considered as Sunnah?
Answer:-
It is Mustahab to fast on the 15th of Shabaan. The fast of the 15th is proven from the Ahadith even though the Hadith may be categorized as a weak narration. It is permissible to act on a weak narration on the basis of attaining the virtue (Fadhaail) mentioned therein, as long as it is not regarded as Sunnat.
عن علي بن أبي طالب، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ” إذا كانت ليلة النصف من شعبان، فقوموا ليلها وصوموا نهارها، فإن الله ينزل فيها لغروب الشمس إلى سماء الدنيا، فيقول: ألا من مستغفر لي فأغفر له ألا مسترزق فأرزقه ألا مبتلى فأعافيه ألا كذا ألا كذا، حتى يطلع الفجر ” (سنن ابن ماجة ص99)
From all the Kitaabs there is only one narration in regards to fasting of the 15th of Shabaan. The commentators of Ahadith have extensively discussed the authenticity of the narration. Some have even written independent booklets on it. However, although there has been so much of discussion on the matter amongst the scholars, the narration cannot be classified as fabricated.
Hadrat Maulana Habib-ur-Rahman Azmi Rahimahullah states, “The narration that is recorded in Ibn Majah in regards to the 15th of Shabaan is not a fabricated narration. No expert of Hadith has ever classified it as a fabricated narration. To utilize the text of Tuhfatul Ahwazi to prove that the narration is fabricated is ignorance. Abu Bakr Bin Abi Subra is definitely one of the narrators of the Hadith and is known to fabricate Hadith. However, this does not prove that the Hadith under discussion is fabricated. It is not permissible to classify a narration as a fabrication on the basis that one of the narrators is known to be a fabricator of Hadith. All that can be proven from this is that the narration is weak due to the chain of narrators.[Re:- Al Ma’aathir Pg. 69-70 – 1995]
Fataawa Hindiyya states that there are number of fasts that are desired; and amongst them is the fast of Shabaan.
(المرغوبات من الصيام أنواع) أولها صوم المحرم والثاني صوم رجب والثالث صوم شعبان وصوم عاشوراء، وهو اليوم العاشر من المحرم عند عامة العلماء والصحابة – رضي الله تعالى عنهم – كذا في الظهيرية المسنون أن يصوم عاشوراء مع التاسع كذا في فتح القدير. ويكره صوم عاشوراء مفردا كذا في محيط السرخسي. وصوم أيام الصيف لطولها وحرها أدب كذا في الظهيرية. (الفتاوي الهندية ص202 ج1)
It is recorded in Islaami Fiqh that fasting on the 15th of Shabaan and the 6 fasts of Shawwal is Sunnat. The fasting on the 15th of Shabaan, spending the 15th night in the Ibaadat of Allah Ta’ala and going to the Qabrastaan and making Dua for the deceased, is also recorded in the Hadith. [Re:- Islaami Fiqh Pg.417 Vol.1]
Mufti Taqi Uthmaani Saheb Daamat Barakaatuhum states that it is clearly stated by the Ulama that it is Mustahab to fast on the 15th of Shabaan.
Hakim-ul-Ummat Hadrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi Rahimahullah states that it is Mustahab to fast on the 15th of Shabaan. [Re:- Zawaal-us-Sunnah Pg.10]
The grand Mufti of Pakistan, Mufti Muhammad Shafi Saheb Rahimahullah also counted fasting on the day of the 15th of Shabaan as a Mustahab act.
Allama Qutbud Deen Muhaddith Dehlawi Rahimahullah has listed the fasting of the 15th of Shabaan under the chapter of optional fasts in Mazaahir-e-Haq, which is a commentary of Mishkaat Sharif. [Page.364 Vol.2]
Sheikh Dardeer Maaliki (a Maaliki scholar) has recorded the fasting of the 15th of Shabaan as Mustahab.
وندب صوم يوم النصف من شعبان (كذا في شرح الصغير علي اقرب المسالك للشيخ الدردير المالكي (ص 692 ج1)
Ibn Rajab Hanbali has also written that fasting on the 15th of Shabaan has been mentioned with particular reference. [Taken from the booklet titled Shab-e-Baraat Ki Haqeeqat Pg. 74 -77 Mufti Taqi Uthmani Saheb D.B]
Fasting on the 13th, 14th and 15th of every month is proven from Saheeh (authentic) narrations. (Based on this, if a person keeps all three fast then the fasting of the 15th will be considered as Mustahab).
[Re:- Fataawa Darul Uloom Zakariyya Pg.323 – 325 Vol.3]
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 03 Rajab 1443 / 05 March 2022