Is Shab e Baraat a Bid'ah (Scholars' Viewpoint)

Islam is a very simple and straightforward religion. Those who follow Qur'an and Sunnah in the right perspective will never go astray and will always be on Sirat e Mustaqeem - the straight path.

However, over the years many innovations (Bidah) have crept in our way of life and we have started to digress from the path shown to us by Allah and demonstrated by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. One of the innovations is the celebration of 15th of Shaban as the night of forgiveness, commonly known as Shab e Barat. Allah has shown us the light to repent and ask for forgiveness if we faulter and sin and for this no date or time has been fixed. Whenever one feels he has wronged himself by following something that is not desired by Allah, one should immediately re3pent his sin and ask for forgiveness of Allah. Thus restricting one self to one night in the whole year seems rather out of place and teachings of Islam.

Thus as for celebrating Shab e Barat as a ritual, it Is the Absolute Unanimous Opinion of All the Good Jurists and Scholars in Islam That There Is to Be No Special Commemoration or Celebration of the So-called Shabe-baraat Night; and if Anyone Offers or Ordains Any Special Prayers for the Commemoration of This Night, It Would Be Against the Guidance and Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH). It Is Indeed Unfortunate That Many Amongst the Ummah Have Started Celebrating and Commemorating This Night With Special Gatherings and Prayers, Something Which Was Neither Performed by the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) Nor Endorsed by Him; and Any Act of Worship Which Was Not Endorsed by the Noble Prophet (PBUH) Can Be Nothing but an Innovation (Bid'ah), and Every Innovation in the Deen of Islam Is a Grave Error. 

In fact there Is Absolutely No Evidence in the Authentic Sunnah Whereby the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) or His Noble Companions or Family Ever Celebrated or Commemorated the Night of Shabe-baraat, Nor Did He (PBUH) Ever Offer Any Special Prayers on This Night, Nor Did He (PBUH) Ever commanded his companions to do anything Special on this night!

Interestingly this concept of night of 15th of Shahban is only found in the Indian sub continent who interpret some weak hadiths and prove their view point, which of course is not viewpoint of scholars from around the world.

Please watch the video below on the issue which contains view point of so many eminent Muslim scholars of the world who view celebrating Shahb e Barat as an innovation:

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the video above are that of the concerned scholar . We have shared these view as added information in better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the view owing to their own perception. If any one differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

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Posted in: Scholars Viewpoint,Shab e Barat