VIRTUES OF THIS NIGHT
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللّٰهِ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ هٰذِهِ لَيْلَةُ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَطَّلِعُ عَلٰى عِبَادِهِ فِيْ لَيْلَةِ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَيَغْفِرُ لِلْمُسْتَغْفِرِيْنَ وَيَرْحَمُ الْمُسْتَرْحِمِيْنَ وَيُؤَخِّرُ اَهْلَ الْحِقْدِ كَمَا هُمْ (الترغيب للمنذري # 1549)
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) has said, ‘This is the middle night of Sha’baan. Allah Ta’ala looks upon His slaves in this night and forgives those who seek forgiveness and bestows His mercy upon those who make dua for mercy but leaves out those who have hatred (against a Muslim) as they were before, (and does not forgive them unless they clean their hearts from malice).
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا اَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللّٰهُ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ اَتَانِيْ جِبْرَائِيْلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَقَالَ هٰذِه لَيْلَةُ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ وَلِلّٰهِ فِيْهَا عُتَقَاءُ مِنَ النَّارِ بِعَدَدِ شُعُوْرِ غَنَمِ كَلْبٍ
(الترغيب للمنذري # 1547)
Hadhrat Aaishah (radiyallahu anha) has reported that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, “Hadhrat Jibraeel Alayis salaam came to me and said, “This is the middle night of Sha’baan. Allah Ta’ala frees a large number of people from the fire on this night, more than the number of hair growing on the sheep of the tribe of Kalb.”
The tribe of Kalb was a large tribe in Madinah, who owned many sheep. Therefore, the last sentence of the Hadith indicates the large number of people forgiven on this night by Allah Ta’ala.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ اَبِيْ طَالِبٍ رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اِذَا كَانَتْ لَيْلَةُ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَقُوْمُوْا لَيْلَهَا وَصُوْمُوْا نَهَارَهَا فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَنْزِلُ فِيْهَا لِغُرُوْبِ الشَّمْسِ اِلٰى سَمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَيَقُوْلُ اَلَا مِنْ مُسْتَغْفِرٍ لِيْ فَاَغْفِرَ لَهُ اَلَا مُسْتَرْزِقٌ فَاَرْزُقَهُ اَلَا مُبْتَلًى فَاُعَافِيَهُ اَلَا كَذَا اَلَا كَذَا حَتّٰى يَطْلُعَ الْفَجْرُ (ابن ماجه # 1388)
Hadhrat Ali Bin Abi Taalib (radiyallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, “When it is the night of the middle of Sha’ban, then spend the night in [Salaah/’ibaadah] and fast the [next] day. For Allah Ta’ala descends to the first sky at sunset and announces, “Is there anyone seeking my forgiveness that I may forgive him? Is there anyone seeking sustenance that I may grant it to him? Is there anyone in any difficulty that I may relieve him?” Many other similar announcements are made. These continue till the time of Fajar.”
THOSE WHO ARE DEPRIVED
لَا يَنْظُرُ اللّٰهُ فِيْهَا (اَيْ لَيْلَةِ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ) اِلٰى مُشْرِكٍ وَلَا اِلٰى مُشَاحِنٍ وَلَا اِلٰى قَاطِعِ رَحِمٍ وَلَا اِلٰى مُسْبِلٍ وَلَا اِلٰى عَاقٍّ لِوَالِدَيْهِ وَلَا اِلٰى مُدْمِنِ خَمْرٍ (شعب الايمان # 3556)
(On this night) Allah Ta’ala will not even look towards the following people (with mercy), 1. Mushrik, 2. One who harbours ill feelings in his heart towards others, 3. One who cuts off ties with family members, 4. One who allows his pants to flow below the ankles, 5. One who is disobedient to his parents, 6. One who is an alcoholic.