Naming the eve of mid-Sha‘ban “The ...

Egypt's Dar Al-Ifta

Naming the eve of mid-Sha‘ban “The Night of Bara`ah”

Question

What is the ruling on naming the eve of mid-Sha‘ban “The Night of Bara`ah”?

Answer

There is no legal objection to calling the night of mid-Sha‘ban “The Night of Bara`ah” (Night of Innocence), “The Night of Forgiveness,” or “The Night of Decree.” What is meant by these names is that it is a night in which goodness and provision are decreed and sins are forgiven. This meaning is correct according to Islamic law and is consistent with what has been transmitted in the noble Sunnah. ‘A’isha, the Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that she said,
“I could not find the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) one night, so I went out looking for him and found him in al-Baqie‘ with his head raised towards the sky. He said, ‘O ‘A’isha, did you fear that Allah and His Messenger would wrong you?’ I replied, ‘It is not that, but I thought you might have gone to one of your wives.’ He said, ‘Indeed, Allah Almighty descends on the night of mid-Sha‘ban to the lowest heaven and forgives more people than the number of hairs on the sheep of Kalb’”
(recorded by al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and Ahmad). Kalb is the name of a well-known tribe.

 ‘Ali Ibn Abu Taleb (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said,
“When the eve of mid-Sha‘ban comes, observe it with prayer and fast during its day, for Allah Almighty descends at sunset to the lowest heaven and says, ‘Is there anyone seeking forgiveness so that I may forgive them? Is there anyone asking for provision so that I may provide for them? Is there anyone afflicted so that I may grant them well-being, and so forth, until the break of dawn’” (recorded by Ibn Majah).

And Allah Almighty knows best.

 

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