Q. Is it obligatory to spend the middle night of Shaaban, which is known as Baraat, in worship? Is it obligatory or recommended to fast the day that follows it?
Saba • Riyadh
A. No, it is neither obligatory nor recommended to give any such status to the middle night of Shaaban or to fast on Shaaban 15. Any suggestion to the contrary does not rely on firm evidence.
All that we have concerning this night and its following day is a Hadith which mentions that Aishah, the Prophet’s wife, woke up at night and found that the Prophet had gone out. When he returned, she inquired where he had been. He told her that he went to the graveyard to pray for forgiveness for the dead. He also told her that it was a night when God releases from hell a number equal to the number of cattle a certain tribe had. The Hadith is not highly authentic. However, assuming that it is acceptable, it does not mention that the Prophet encouraged Aishah to do anything on that night, although she was awake and there was time before Fajr. He did not wake her up before he left, nor ordered her to spend the next hour or so in worship. He did not tell his companions the following day to fast or to observe that night with worship the following year. All this makes it clear that no special worship is due on that night or the day following it.
Arab News Islam 4 August 2003
