Fatwa ID: 05725
Answered by: Maulana Mohammed Dilwar Hussain
Question:
Assalamualaykum, if one was to fast with the sole purpose of fasting on the 15th of Shabaan, however, they then realise that it is incorrect (because the hadith is a fabrication), is it permissible to change their intention whilst fasting to be fasting because of Ayām Bīdh, if the fasting period has ended, will it be necessary to make up the fast? Jazakallah
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Intentions for Nafl fasts can be made upto midday as long as no food or drink has been consumed and marital relations have not been enacted. Midday is the halfway point from Fajr start time until Maghrib, not 12pm noon.
In regards to the 15th of Sha’baan;
Allah says: ‘Ha Meem! By the book that makes things clear, we sent it down during a blessed night, for we ever wish to warn against evil. In that night is made distinct every affair of wisdom. By command from us, for we are ever sending Messengers’ [Surah ad Dukhaan; 44:1-5] [1]. In regards to the above, some of the Mufasireen and others state that it refers to the night of Lailatul Barat (15th Sha’ban). However, the usual opinion of the Mufariseen is that these verses refer to Lailatul Qadr.
The narration which you are referring to is, “I could not find the Messenger of Allah one night. So, I left and found him at Al-Baqi. He said: ‘Did you fear that you had been wronged by Allah and His Messenger?’ I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! I thought that you had gone to one of your wives.’ So, he said: ‘Indeed Allah, Mighty and Sublime is He, descends to the lowest Heavens during the night of the middle of Sha’ban, to grant forgiveness to more than the number of hairs on the sheep of (Banu) Kalb.'” [Sunan at Tirmizi; Hadith 739, Sunan Ibn Majah; Hadith 1308, 1388, 1389]
Due to these narrations, there is continuous respect and reverence found for this night from the time of the Prophet ﷺ to the present day. There are also many narrations that relate to the actions of the Sahabah and Tabi’een in this night. They would stay awake at night and busy themselves in those deeds found to be from the practice of the Prophet ﷺ and supplicate for their forgiveness and that of the deceased Muslims. It is also proven from the actions of the Salafus-Saliheen that they would prepare for this night a long time beforehand.
The fast itself would be considered Mustahab whereas the fasting of the 13th, 14th and 15th of every Islamic lunar month is Sunnah. One could combine the intentions and do both simultaneously.
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Maulana Mohammed Dilwar Hussain
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
}[1]حمۤ. وَٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ ٱلۡمُبِینِ. إِنَّاۤ أَنزَلۡنَـٰهُ فِی لَیۡلَةࣲ مُّبَـٰرَكَةٍۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِینَ. فِیهَا یُفۡرَقُ كُلُّ أَمۡرٍ حَكِیمٍ. أَمۡرࣰا مِّنۡ عِندِنَاۤۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُرۡسِلِینَ{
[2]حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مَنِيعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، أَخْبَرَنَا الْحَجَّاجُ بْنُ أَرْطَاةَ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ فَقَدْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَيْلَةً فَخَرَجْتُ فَإِذَا هُوَ بِالْبَقِيعِ فَقَالَ ” أَكُنْتِ تَخَافِينَ أَنْ يَحِيفَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكِ وَرَسُولُهُ ” . قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّكَ أَتَيْتَ بَعْضَ نِسَائِكَ . فَقَالَ ” إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَنْزِلُ لَيْلَةَ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَيَغْفِرُ لأَكْثَرَ مِنْ عَدَدِ شَعْرِ غَنَمِ كَلْبٍ ” . وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقِ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ عَائِشَةَ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ مِنْ حَدِيثِ الْحَجَّاجِ . وَسَمِعْتُ مُحَمَّدًا يُضَعِّفُ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ وَقَالَ يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ لَمْ يَسْمَعْ مِنْ عُرْوَةَ وَالْحَجَّاجُ بْنُ أَرْطَاةَ لَمْ يَسْمَعْ مِنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ .
