Laylatu –Bara’ah (The Night of the 15^th Sha’ban)

The Prophet (saw) said: “Allah looks at His creation in the night of mid Sha’ban and He forgives all His creation except for a mushrik (idolater) or a mutating (one bent or hatred).”

From ‘A’isha (rad): She said: The Prophet (saw) stood up in prayer during part of the night and made his prostration so lengthy that I thought his soul had been taken back. When I saw this I got up and went to move his big toe, whereupon he moved, so I drew back. When he raised his head from prostration and finished praying, he said: “O ‘A’isha, O fair little one (humayra’)! Did you think that the Prophet had broken his agreement with you?” She replied: “no, by Allah, O emissary of Allah, but I thought that your soul had been taken back because you stayed in prostration for so long.” He said: “Do you know what night this is?” She said: “Allah and His Prophet know best. “ He said; “This is the night of mid-Sha’ban! Verily Allah the Glorious and Majestic look at His servants on the night of mid-Sha’ban, and He forgives those who ask forgiveness, and He bestows mercy on those who ask mercy, and He gives a delay to the people of envy and spite in their state.” 

This is the night before the 15^th when your provision for the coming year is determined and a night of forgiveness.

Although the majority of the commentators consider the “blessed night” in the above verses to refer to the Night of Decree (laylat al-qadr) which is considered to be in the month of Ramadan, yet the commentaries al mention that this “blessed night” may be that of mid-Sha’ban (laylat al Bara’ah). Consequently the Shari’ah has commended observance of the night. Imam Suyuti says; “As for the night of Mid-Sha’ban, it has great merit and it is desirable (mustahab) to spend part of it in supererogatory worship.”

One may do this between Maghrib and ‘Isha prayer: 

Read Surah Ya-Sin 3 times: 

1)      the first to be read with the intention of raising one’s madam , or station.

2)      The second with the intention of asking for rizq, or provision.

3)      The third with the intention of protection from enemies. 

After ‘Isha one should read either: 

a)      300 Ikhlas Sharif

Or

b)       1,000 Ikhlas Sharif 

In any number of raka’at needed to complete the above, e.g. for bi) 40 raka’at in which 25 Ikhlas Sharif are read in each raka’at. 

A way, which does come from Hadith and is mentioned, for example, in the book “Al-Ghunyatu li-Taalibiyi l-Haqq”, a work ascribed to Shaykh ‘Abdul Qadir al-Jilani (or Guyana as Mawlana prefers to pronounce it), consists of 100 raka’at. Best of all is to pray this 2-2-2 etc, though it would be acceptable to combine them into four, six or eight raka’at with one salaam.

The venerable Khwaja  prays two- two- two, etc. In each raka’at you pray Suratu l-Fatihah and then ten times Surat l-Ikhlas.