Ibn Rajab on the 15th of Sha’ban Options

[Muslimah]

http://www.islam21c.com/islamic-law/915-ib...-15th-of-shaban

Sha`ban is a month to which people do not pay (sufficient) attention, between Rajab and Ramadan, and it is a month in which deeds are lifted up to the Lord of the Worlds...




The erudite scholar, jurist, and traditionalist, the learned Zain ad-Din Abu al-Faraj 'Abd ar-Rahman ibn Ahmad ibn 'Abd ar-Rahman ibn al-Hasan ibn Muhammad ibn Abi al-Barakah Mas'ud al-Sulami al-Baghdadi al-Hanbali, also known as Al Hafidh Ibn Rajab Al Hanbali stated the following in Lataa'if Al-Ma'arif:

'Some of the tabi’een (followers of the prophetic companions) based in Shaam such as Khalid ibn Ma'dan, Mak’hul, and Luqman ibn ‘Amir would revere the 15th of Sha'ban by offering supererogatory prayers during the night - it is said that they were influenced by isra’eeliyyat (Judaic traditions). Gradually, this custom spread to many areas of the Muslim empire creating misunderstandings and differences of opinion amongst the people. Some accepted it, among whom were devout worshippers from Basra, but most of the scholars of the Hijaz rejected and condemned it such as 'Ataa’ and lbn Abi Mulaika, as well as the scholars of Madinah such as Abd Al Rahman ibn Zayd and the Maliki school of law, all agreeing to it being an innovation.

The scholars of Shaam differed as to how the 15th of Sha'ban should be distinguished. The first set preferred spending the night in the mosque collectively as being recommended. Amongst those who opined thus were Khalid ibn Ma'dan, Luqman ibn 'Amir et al, all who would adorn themselves with special apparel for the occasion and hasten to the mosque where they would remain in worship throughout the night. Is’haq bin Rahaway’h endorsed such a practice and said that celebrating this night collectively in the mosque is not to be considered an innovation.

The other set of scholars regarded marking the 15th of Sha’ban by collective prayer, story-telling and supplication as being disliked. However, Al Awza'i, the Imam, jurist and scholar of Syria opined that and it is not disliked for a person to pray at home individually, and this is nearest to the truth.'

Ibn Rajab later states in that there exists no evidence from the sunnah of the Prophet or his Companions that the 15th of Sha'ban should be singled out for worship or good acts, but as he quite clearly elucidates, the practice originated from the tabi'een and scholars of Shaam. Furthermore, Ibn Rajab’s final comment regarding Imam Al Awza’i’s view (as being ‘nearest to the truth’) seems somewhat dubious given that he establishes it has no prophetic source. However, it may be understood (in context with the rest of his discourse on the matter) that it is not disliked for a person to pray at home (individually) given that the night of the 15th is to be considered as any other night of Sha’ban, which, as the Prophet directed, should be spent in as much worship as possible. Indeed, the Prophet said about Sha’ban,
“It is a month to which people do not pay (sufficient) attention, between Rajab and Ramadan, and it is a month in which deeds are lifted up to the Lord of the Worlds...”[1]