Allah Ta’ala has, due to his infinite grace and mercy, presented to His bondsmen some special occasions wherein they have a golden opportunity of earning the mercy and forgiveness of Allah. Some explicit examples of these special occasions are the month of Ramadaan and Laylatul Qadr. In the same mould is the fifteenth night of Sha’baan. Several Ahaadith extol the tremendous merit of this occasion. Amongst them is the fact that countless people are forgiven by Allah during this blessed night. It is due to this reason that this night is called “The night of Bara’at” (i.e. the night wherein judgement of saviour from Jahannam and punishment is passed).

Let us take a look at some of the Ahaadith concerning this night.

1. It is reported from Hadhrat Mu’adh bin Jabal (R.A.) that Rasulullah ﷺ said:

“On the fifteenth night of Sha’baan, Allah bestows his special attention on His entire creation. He then pardons His entire creation except an idolater and one who harbours enmity. ” [Tabrani, Ibnu-Hibaan, Baihaqi]

2. It is narrated from Hadhrat Abdullah bin Amr (R.A.) that Rasulullah ﷺ said:

“Allah looks with special attention towards His creation on the fifteenth night of Sha’baan and forgives all his servants except two categories of people; the person who harbours enmity and a murderer.” [Targhib-wat-Tarhib]

3. It is related from Makhool who narrates from Katheer bin Murrah (R) that Nabi ﷺ said:

‘On the fifteenth night of Sha’baan Allah forgives all the inhabitants of the earth except an idolater and one who harbours hatred for others.” [Baihaqi]

4. It is narrated from Makhool who narrates from Abu Tha’labah (R.A.) that Nabi ﷺ said:

“On the fifteenth night of Sha’baan, Allah devotes special attention towards His bondsmen. He then pardons the believers and grants respite to the disbelievers (i.e. he delays their punishment), and he leaves the spiteful ones as well, until they abandon their spite (malice) (i.e. no decision of their mercy and forgiveness is made until they resolve their differences). [Tabrani, Baihaqi]

5. It is reported from Alaa bin Harith (R.A.) that Hazrat Aisha (R.A.) said: ‘One night Rasulullah ﷺ woke up and performed Salaah. He prolonged the Sajdah to such an extent that I wondered whether he had passed away. Seeing this, I got up and shook his foot. Perceiving movement, I felt at ease. When Rasulullah ﷺ lifted his head from Sajdah and completed his Salaah, he said:

“O Humairah! Did you think that the Nabi had deceived you?” I replied in the negative and said: “I swear in the name of Allah, due to the length of your Sajdah I thought that you had passed away.” Nabi ﷺ said: “Do you know what night this is?” I said: “Allah and his Rasul ﷺ know best.” He said: “This is the fifteenth night of Sha’baan. Allah looks at His servants in this night and forgives those who seek forgiveness, shows mercy upon those who seek mercy and delays the decision of those who harbour feelings of hatred for others” [Baihaqi has narrated this Hadith as well and says that this is also an acceptable Mursal].

6. It is narrated from Hadhrat Aisha RA:

The Prophet of Allah ﷺ entered my room. He then removed his clothes (and lay down). Having barely rested, he got up, dressed and left my room. I was overwhelmed by the suspicion that perhaps he had gone to one of his other wives. Hence I followed him and found him at Baqee (the graveyard of Medina) making dua for the forgiveness of the believers.

I thought: “May my parents be sacrificed for you; I am pursuing my suspicion while you are engaged in the matter of your Lord. I returned hurriedly to my room and was thus quite out of breath.

Rasulullah ﷺ soon returned and asked: ‘Why are you breathing so heavily, Aisha?” I related the incident as well as my suspicion to Rasulullah ﷺ.  He then said to me: ‘O Aisha, did you fear that Allah and His Messenger would deal unjustly with you?’ Jibreel AS came to me and said: This is the fifteenth night of Sha’baan. Allah emancipates during this night a multitude of people equivalent to the amount of hair on the goats of the tribe of Kalb. However, Allah does not look on this night at an idolater, a person who harbours enmity in his heart, one who severs family relations, a person who wears his trousers below his ankles, a person who disobeys his parents and the consumer of liquor.’

Rasulullah (S.A.W.) thereafter removed his cloth and asked: ‘O Aisha, do you permit me to spend the night in Salaah?’ I replied: ‘May my parents be sacrificed for thee (indicating agreement).  Rasulullah ﷺ thereafter began performing Salaah.

During the night he made such a lengthy Sajdah that I feared that he had passed away. I therefore got up and felt for him (because there was probably no lamp in the room). My hand touched the sole of Rasulullah (S.A.W.’s) foot, due to which he moved. Having felt this movement. I then felt at ease. During the night I heard him saying,

اعوذ بعفوك من عقابك واعوذ برضاك من سخطك واعوذبك منك جل وجهك لا احصئ ثناءا علىك انت كما اثنىت علئ نفسك

I seek protection in Thy forgiveness from Thy castigation, and I seek shelter in Thy pleasure from Thy wrath, and I seek safety in Thee from Thee. I cannot fully praise Thee as Thou art have praised Thyself.

In the morning, I mentioned this to Rasulullah ﷺ. He advised: ‘Learn these words and teach them to others. Jibreel AS had taught them to me and commanded me to repeat these words during Sajdah.’ [Baihaqi]