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The gist of the above quoted Ahadlth is
that the Holy Prophet (SAW) himself used to fast most of
the month of Sha'ban, because he had no apprehension of
weakness or weariness before the commencement of Ramadan.
As for others, he ordered them not to fast after the 15th
of Sha'ban for the fear that they would lose their
strength and freshness before Ramadan starts, and would
not be able to welcome the month of Ramadan with
enthusiasm,
The Night of Bara'ah...
Another peculiar feature of the month of
Sha'ban is that it consists of a night which is termed in
Shari'ah as "Laylatul-Bara'ah" (The night of freedom from
Fire). This is the night occuring between 14th and 15th
day of Sha'ban. There are certain traditions of the Holy
Prophet (SAW) to prove that it is a meritorious night in
which the people of the earth are attended by special
divine mercy, some of these traditions are quoted as
follows:
1. Ummul-Mu'mineen Aishah (RA) is reported
to have said, "Once the Holy Prophet (SAW) performed the
salah of the night (Tahajjud) and made a very long Sajdah
until I feared that he has passed away. When I saw this,
I rose (from my bed) and moved his thumb (to ascertain
whether he is alive). The thumb moved, and I returned (to
my place). Then I heard him saying in Sajdah: "I seek
refuge of Your forgiveness from Your punishment, and I
seek refuge of Your pleasure from Your annoyance, and I
seek Your refuge from Yourself. I cannot praise You as
fully as You deserve. You are exactly as You have defined
Yourself."
Thereafter, when he raised his head from
Sajdah and finished his salah, he said to me: '"Aishah,
did you think that the Prophet has betrayed you?" I said,
"No, O prophet of Allah, but I apprehended that your soul
has been taken away because your Sajdah was very long."
He asked me. "Do you know which night is this?" I said,
"Allah and His Messenger know best. He said, "This is the
night of the half of Sha'ban. Allah Almightly looks upon
His slaves in this night and forgives those who seek
forgivenes and bestows His mercy upon those who pray for
mercy but keeps those who have malice (against a Muslim)
as they were before, "and does not forgive them unless
they relieve themselves from maliice.)
2. In another Tradition Sayyidah Aishah
(RA) has reported that the Holy Prophet jg has said,
"Allah Almighty descends (in a manner He best knows it)
in the night occuring in the middle of Sha'ban and
forgiven a large number of people more than the number of
the fibres on the sheep of the tribe, 'Kalb.'
Kalb was a big tribe the members of which
had a very large number of sheep. Therefore, the last
sentence of the Hadith indicates the big number of the
people who are forgiven in this night by Allah
Almighty.
3. In yet another Tradition, she has
reported the Holy Propet (SAW) to have said, "This is the
middle Night of Sha'ban. Allah frees in it a large number
of the people from Fire, more than the number of the hair
growing on the sheep of the tribe of Kalb. But He does
not even look at a person who associates partners with
Allah, or at a person who nourishes malice in his heart
(against someone), or at a person who cuts off the ties
of womb relations, or at a man who leaves his clothes
extending beyond his ankles(as a sign of pride), or at a
person who disobeys his parents, or at a person who has a
habit of drinking wine."
4. Sayyidna Mu'adh ibn Jabal (RA) reports
hat the Holy Prophet (SAW) has said: "Allah Almighty
looks upon all those created by him in the middle Night
of Sha'ban and forgives all those created by Him, except
the one who associates partners with Him or the one who
has malice in his heart (against a Muslim)".
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