Significance of the 15th of Shaban
Imam Ahmad narrates that the Messenger (PBUH) said:
''Allah, the Exalted and Glorious looks down at His creation in the middle night of Sha’ban and forgives all His creation except two people, the mushahin (the one who holds a grudge and enmity towards others) and the murderer.''
This was authenticated by Ibn Hibban in his Sahih (5665).
Things to do:
- Seek forgiveness from Allah SWT, spend your time in prayer, asking Allah SWT for all your desires in this world, and especially in the Aakhirah.
- Seek forgiveness from family and friends and resolve any problems or disagreements.
- Forgive people who you have argued with.
- Give in Sadaqah.
- Prepare for Ramadhan and incorporate as many of the Sunnah practices of our beloved Messenger (PBUH) during this time.
What to pray on the 15th Shaban
Pray as many nafls as you can, with long rukus and sajdahs
Recite this dua:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
'O Allah, you are the Forgiver, You love to forgive, so forgive me.'
Memorise and recite this dua in Sajdah, Jibril (AS) taught it to the Prophet (PBUH):
اللَّهُمَّ أَعُوذُ بِرِضَاكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ وَبِمُعَافَاتِكَ مِنْ عُقُوبَتِكَ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْكَ لاَ أُحْصِي ثَنَاءً عَلَيْكَ أَنْتَ كَمَا أَثْنَيْتَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ
“O Allah, I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your anger and in Your forgiveness from Your punishment, and I seek refuge in You from You. I cannot fully praise You, for You are as You have praised Yourself.”
Fasting on 15th Shaban
Fasting in the month of Shaban is Sunnah. Apart from the month of Ramadhan, the Prophet (PBUH) would fast most in this month except for the last two days of it.
‘Aisha (RA) reported, “The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) would fast until we said he will never break his fast, and he did not fast until we said he would never fast. I did not see the Prophet complete an entire month of fasting except for Ramadan, and I did not see him complete more voluntary fasts than in the month of Shaban.” (Bukhari)
However, the hadith that explicitly references the fast of the 15th Shaban is extremely weak.
The desirability is fasting in the month of Shaban, like the Prophet (PBUH). But if someone fasted on the 15th of Shaban, InshaAllah it will be rewarded as fasting in the month of Shaban is Sunnah as well as fasting on the 13th, 14th and 15th of every month, like Mondays and Thursdays.
Allah SWT knows best.
Peace and Prayers,
Shaykh Muhammad Karim.
