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Session Details
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| Guest Name |
Dr. Salah Sultan
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| Profession |
President of the American Center for Islamic Research, Columbus, Ohio, and Member of the European Council for Fatwa and Research
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| Subject |
Fatwas on the 15th Night of Sha`ban
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| Date |
Wednesday,Sep 14 ,2005
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Time |
Makkah
From...
14:00...To...
15:30
GMT
From... 11:00...To...12:30
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| Name |
Host
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| Question |
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| Answer |
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Brothers and sisters, the session has already started. You can submit your questions. Please, make your questions short and clear so as to help us answer all your questions.
Yours,
Islam Online Fatwa Editing Desk.
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| Name |
Rami
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| Question |
What are the lessons that we benefit from the occasion of the 15th of Sha'ban?
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| Answer |
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
We can learn a number of lessons from the occasion of the 15th of Sha'ban, some of which may be outlined as follows:
1. The close relationship between Masjid Al-Haram and Masjid Al-Aqsa. The time between the two occasions of Isra' and the Change of Qiblah was very short and that shows the importance of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Change of the Qiblah did not mean that Muslims would divert their attention from Al-Aqsa, but to focus on Palestine and know that this was their first Qiblah that deserves their appreciation. It is reported in Al-Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Al-Bara' Ibn 'Azib: When the Prophet came to Madinah, he stayed first with his grandfathers or maternal uncles from Ansar. He offered his prayers facing Baitul-Maqdis (Jerusalem) for sixteen or seventeen months, but he wished that he could pray facing the Ka`bah (at Makkah). The first prayer which he offered facing the Ka`bah was the `Asr prayer in the company of some people. Then one of those who had offered that prayer with him came out and passed by some people in a mosque who were bowing during their prayers (facing Jerusalem). He said addressing them, "By Allah, I testify that I have prayed with Allah's prophet facing Makkah (Ka`bah).' Hearing that, those people changed their direction towards the Ka`bah immediately. Jews and the People of the Scriptures used to be pleased to see the Prophet facing Jerusalem in prayers but when he changed his direction towards the Ka`ba, during the prayers, they disapproved of it.
2. The absolute and unwavering obedience to Allah's commands, as learned from the Change of the Qiblah and the Muslims' immediate response against the whispers and the hesitations of the Jews.
3. The role of Jews in sowing anxiety among Muslims as learned from their saying: "Allah's decision is subject to change." Allah responded to them saying in the Qu'an: The Fools among the people will say: "What hath turned them from the Qibla to which they were used?" Say: To Allah belong East and West: He guideth whom He will to a Way that is straight." (Al-Baqarah 2: 142)
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Soha
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| Question |
What are the merits of the 15th night of Shaban?
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| Answer |
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
There are no specific merits learned from authentic sources as to the occasion of the 15th of Sha'ban. The occasion, however, deserves reflection on the lessons learned from the event as well as a study of the Seerah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
You can also read:
Specifying the 15th of Sha`ban with some Acts of Worship
Allah Almighty knows best.
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Muhammad
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| Question |
Can we observe fasting on the 15th of Sha`ban?
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In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
The most frequently repeated hadith as to the specific acts of worship on the 15th of Sha`ban states that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) advised us to fast on the day and pray at night. However, according to the scholars of hadith, this hadith is very weak. It is reported in Sunan Ibn Majah, but the chain of narrators contains Abu Bakr Ibn `Abdullah Ibn Abi Seerah who was accused by Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Ibn Hibban and Al-Hakim, of forging hadith.
Imam Al-Mundhri in Fath Al-Qadir stated the same thing, in addition to, Imam Al-Busary in Zawa'id Ibn Majah stated that the hadith is very weak.
So, there is no authentic reports that we should specify certain acts of worship on the 15th of Shaban.
You can also read:
Specifying the 15th of Sha`ban with some Acts of Worship
Allah Almighty knows best.
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| Name |
Dandy
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| Question |
Dear Scholar of Islam, is it Sunnah to fast on the day 15th of Sha`ban? What about celebrating and preparing special food on that day. Which special salah Prayer should be performed on that night?
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In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
1. There is no specific prayer that can be performed on the 15th of Sha`ban.
2. Celebrating the event of the Change of the Qiblah needs discussion. To put it briefly, if someone does this thinking it is an act of `ibadah that deserves extra good deeds, then it is most likely close to be described as bid'ah. However, if the family gathers together and instead of preparing food they study the event in the books of Seerah as well as the tafsir of the relevant verses in light of Surat Al-Baqarah, that would be praiseworthy.
Allah Almighty knows best.
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Bartholemew
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| Question |
What is the significance of the 15th night of Sha'ban?
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In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
The significance is to test the Muslims in their faith, wean them off their attachment to the idols, and train them to obey and listen to the commands of Allah with convinction.
You can also read:
The Qiblah: From Jerusalem to the Ka`bah
Allah Almighty knows best.
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Samina
- India
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| Profession |
Service
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| Question |
What are the best things one can do in the month of Sha`ban to add to one's good deeds?
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In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Among the many good deeds that a Muslim can do in the month of Sha`ban, the following acts take precedence:
1. Fasting: in order to prepare oneself for Ramadan. According to `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) would fast until people say he would not break the fast and break the fast until the people would think he would not fast.
2. Spiritually preparing oneself to Ramadan. As we pray Sunnah before obligatory prayers, we should train ourselves before observing the obligatory fast of Ramadan.
3. Reading the Qur'an frequently so we can get the the shafa`ah of the of the Qur'an on the Day of Judgment.
4. Praying at night so that we can prepare ourselves for taraweeh.
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sofia
- Canada
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| Question |
As-salamu `alaikum. I used to hear that people have to fast on the 15th of Sha`ban becase that is the day that your death and destiny has been decided. It that true? Thanks.
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| Answer |
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
A Muslim is allowed to fast at any day of the year as long as it is not stated as a day of fasting. There is no text to say it is haram to fast on the 15th of Sha'ban, however it is not recorded from the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). So the least that can be said about such fast is that it is contrary to what is deemed awla or the proper view.
As to the destiny and death being decided on that day, I do not know of any Prophetic hadith stating that or attesting to this fact. The general rule is: `Aqeedah is to be based on authentic sources.
You can also read:
Fasting and Extra Worship on the 15th of Sha`ban
Allah Almighty knows best.
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Muslim
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| Question |
I have searched the books on the Prophet’s biography and found only about one line and a half in sirat Ibn Hisham on the occasion of Changing the Qiblah from Jerusalem to Makkah. It seems to me that the Muslim historians did not even care about the incident, while the Jews understood it as a movement of heavenly religions from the progeny of Israel to the progeny of Isma`il. Would you please explain this more extensively?
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| Answer |
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
It is true that the occasion was a transfer of leadership in the Ummah from the progeny of Israel to Ismail, as the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) lead all Prophets of Allah in Jerusalem and that meant the leadership of the Islamic nations to others.
As to the one half and line that you read about the event, that refers to a problem with the books of seerah that I have ever wished to speak about, and al-hamdullilah that I have been given the chance now.
If we look at the books of seerah we will find out that they focus extremely on specific aspects of the society established by Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and the Muslim community in Madinah, but not all aspects. You can easily find elaboration and extensive details about wars, battles, immigration, etc. in the books of seerah, while it is very hard to find the same detailed account about the social, economic, political, spiritual, etc. aspects of the society of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). The latter aspects can be rather learned in detail from the books of Sunnah and Qur'anic exegisis.
For example, we read in the seerah that Abu Bakr and Abdur-Rahman ibn `Awf were rich companions and they contributed a lot to the success of Islam, however where can you find the manners of both of them, their business ethics, the type of their trade, etc. which can have similar if not more impact on the character of the reader.
This shows a pressing need for new studies of the seerah of the Prophet to focus on the comprehensive aspects of the Muslim community led by Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
There are some attempts from several scholars such as Al-Manhaj Al-Harak li As-Seerah by Munir Al-Ghadban, Fiqh of Seerah by Sheikh Al-Ghazali and Bouti, and others. But we still need more books to reflect on the all-inclusive record of the Propehet and the efforts of his companions in conveying the message of Islam.
Back to your questions, you can find more details on the Change of Qiblah in the books of hadith and tafsir, especially in Surat Al-Baqarah.
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Mohsen
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| Question |
You said there is a relationship between Isra' and Mi'raj which happened in Rajab and the occasion of 15th of Shaban. However, Sheikh Qaradawi said that Isra' did not occur in Rajab.
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| Answer |
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
That the occasion of Isra' did not occur in Rajab, we need more verification and detailed study. But in brief, this has become common among Muslims and the significance is to reflect on the responsibility the Muslim nation owes to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa. What is not controversial is that there was an occasion of Isra'. The time is not really a great importance. What matters is what we learn from both incidents.
Allah Almighty knows best.
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| Name |
mohamed
- United States
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business
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| Question |
As-Salamu`Alaykum, is it right to celebrate Prophet Muhammad's birthday? There is always difference of opinion in my community about it.
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Wa`alykum As-Salaamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakaatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Though I don't like answering this type of questions, I can briefly say: If the celebration was free of any un-Islamic or wrong acts, then it cannot be labeled as bid'ah. What is better to make to avoid any controversy is to focus on reviewing some parts of the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) on that day. You can use a book like Riyadu-s-Saleeh for that purpose.
Editor:
You can also read:
Celebrating the Prophet's Birthday
Allah Almighty knows best.
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| Name |
Umar Sami
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| Question |
Ramadan is approaching. So, what are the practical steps that can be taken by Muslims to prepare themselves for this blessed month?
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In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
1. To be sincere in your devotion to Allah, having the pure intention of fasting for His sake, wishing to please Him, and hoping for His reward to eventually win paradise and be saved from hellfire.
2. To strive to read the Qur’an as much as you can.
3. To spend from your wealth and to donate generously to other people to train yourself to give more in Ramadan.
4. To fast and make supplication when breaking your fast.
5. To remember Allah constantly.
6. To reconcile any disputes you may have with any of your family members, friends, or Muslim brothers and sisters before Ramadan in preparation of having no disputes whatsoever in Ramadan.
Editor:
You can also read:
Practical Tips in Preparation for Ramadan
Allah Almighty knows best.
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Editor
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In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Brothers and sisters, we are so sorry for not answering all your questions because the time is over. We apologize for any inconvenience. Do keep in touch. Join us in coming sessions.
Yours,
Islam Online Fatwa Editing Desk
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| All Fatwas published on this website (Islamonline.net) represent the juristic views and opinions of eminent scholars and Muftis. They do not necessarily form a juristic approach upheld by this website. Click here to read Full Disclaimer. |
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