The

Chishti Nizami Habibi Soofie 

International Sufi Order

Pietermaritzburg

South Africa

The Night of Mid-Shabaan

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Allah Y says in the Holy Qur’aan in the 44^th Sura ad-Dukhaan (Smoke) الدُّخَان in verse 3:

إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِينَ

We sent it down during a blessed night: for We wish to warn

With reference to the ‘Blessed Night’- from the time of the Companions (Sahaba) to the present time, three interpretations are presented i.e.

1.   The Night of Ascension (Meraj) –

2.   The Night of Power  (Qadr) – This is a majority view majority view deduced from a narration by Hazrath Abdullah ibn Abbas t

3.   The Night of Forgiveness (Shabe Baraat) - that is also deduced from a narration by Hazrath Abdullah ibn Abbas t

Very early Hadith books such as the Mussanaf [1]of Al-Muhaddith Abd ar-Razzaq Ibn Humam (126 AH - 211 AH)[2] (Ref: Musannaf Abdur Razzaq 4/317) and the Musnad Ahmad ibn Hamnbal[3]  (164-241 AH) (Ref: Musnad Ahmad 2/176 & 6/238) contain Ahadith relating to the virtues of 15th Sha’ban. 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 also mention that this ‘blessed night’ may be that of mid-Sha’baan (laylat al-bara'a). This view is based on the abundance of ahadith on the great merits of mid-Shabaan. Consequently the Shari’ah has commended observance of that night. Concerning extra worship on the night of mid-Shabaan, Suyuti says in his Haqiqat al-sunna wa al-bid’a:

As for the night of mid-Sha`ban, it has great merit and it is desirable (mustahabb) to spend part of it in supererogatory worship.[4]

Even within the famous Six Books of Hadith (al-Kutub al-Sittah), Tirmidhi ( Ref: Jaami’ Al-Tirmidhi: Kitaab Al-Sawm, Baab “Ma ja’a fi Laylatin Nisfi min Sha.ban” [Darussalam Publication, First Edition November 2007, Volume 2 , P 178/9] and Ibn Majah (Sunan Ibn Majah: Kitab Al-Iqamah, Bab “Ma Ja’a Fi Laylatun Nifsi min Sha’ban” #1388 (Vol. 1 p444) have devoted a special chapter on “The Night of the Middle of Sha’ban” in their Hadith collections. In fact there are over a dozen Ahadith available which establish the significance of the night of the 15th of Sha’ban.

There are many hadith on the merits of this Night and some of them are weak (dai’f).However, it is to be noted that not all of the ‘weak’ Ahadith suffer from major weaknesses and in fact the minor weaknesses in some Ahadith are curable and strengthened by other narrations.

(Wahhabi Scholar Albaani : : Silsilah Al-Ahadith Al Sahihah 3/135)

When all the numerous weak Ahadith are combined together, they reach a level of acceptability among Hadith scholars equivalent to being ‘Hasan’ (good).

‘The Night of Forgiveness’ (Shabe Baraat)- is also called ‘The Night of Prayer’ (Shabe Dua), ‘The Night of Acceptance of Prayer’ (Shabe Qabooliat) and ‘The Night of Spiritual Plenty’ (Shabe Barakah^[5]It is narrated in Hadith that Allah Y believers are granted forgiveness on this Blessed night, except:

1.              Those who commit shirk by attributing a partner to Allah Y,

2.              Those who keep a grudge in their hearts, who severe the relationship with their relatives and friends,

3.              Those that practice sorcery; drink alcohol, who indulges in interest (riba), and who “sell” their honor.

Ad-Daraqutnee (d. 385H)[6] and others related the following from the Holy Prophet Muhammad e:

قال ابن المبارك : سمعت الأوزاعى يفسر المشاحن بكل صاحب بدعة مفارق للجماعة.

وفى رواية عن الأوزاعى : ليس المشاحن الذى لا يكلم الرجل، إنما المشاحن الذى في قلبه شحناء لأصحاب رسول الله – صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم – .

وروى عن عمر بن هانئ : سألت ابن ثوبان عن المشاحن فقال: هو التارك لسنة نبيه – صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم – الطاعن على أمته، السافك دماءهم

On the night of the 15th of Sha’ban, Allah Y   will forgive the believers and delay the punishment of the disbelievers, except the people of spite (hiqd), whom He will leave until they leave it...

Imam Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak said that he heard Imam al-Awza’i explain that the mushaah’in المشاحن (one in whose heart is spite and enmity) as: every person of innovation, who has left the jamaa’a and the Ummah. And Umar ibn Hani’ said: I asked Ibn Thawban about the mushaah’in المشاحن (one in whose heart is spite and enmity), he said:

He is the one who has left the Sunnah of His Holy Prophet e, who speaks ill of his Ummah, and spills their blood.

It is also called The Night of Life (Laylat al-Hayaah) because of the hadith in the collection of al-Mundhiri[7] (581H):

“He who brings to life the nights of the two Eids and the night of mid-Sha’ban, his heart will not die on the day when hearts shall die.”

Meaning: His heart will not be corrupted by love of the dunya so that it keeps him busy from good works and the duties of the religion, as it has been related:

 “Do not sit with the dead”,

meaning: those whose hearts have been corrupted by love of the dunya.

And the meaning of :

“his heart will not be corrupted” (on the day when hearts shall die) :

That it will not be confused when his soul is taken, in the grave, and during the Resurrection.

What connection does this night have with Qadr and Baraat?

On the night of Mid Shabaan the decision for each individual for the whole year is given i.e. happiness, sadness, birth, death, illness etc. is given. On the night of Qadr the angels execute these orders. A Hadith that says that Allah Y will change decisions as long as it is not given to angels to execute supports this. Al-Bayhaqi[8], البيهقي [384 AH/994 CE to 458 AH/1066 CE] relates from Hazrath Aisha Siddiqua y in Shu`ab al-Iman (The Branches of Faith) with his chain of transmission that she said,

The Prophet e 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 `Aisha, O fair little one (humayra')! Did you think that the Prophet had broken his agreement with you?" She replied: “No, by Allah Y, O Messenger of Allah e, 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 Y  and His Prophet know best." He said: "This is the night of mid-Shabaan! Verily Alla>h Y look at His servants on the night of mid-Shabaan, 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."

   Therefore between Baraat and Qadr is the time between DECISION and EXECUTION – Allah Y’s door of Mercy (rahma) is open. One can submit ones appeal by means of Optional Devotion (nafil), Fasting (roza), crying, seeking forgiveness (taubah), vows, etc.  This is similar to a court of law, where one is given leave to appeal and the court reviews the decision. Here Allah is giving us tidings of instant reprieve and he also Allah Y gives us about 1 month and 10 days (+_ 40 days) to appeal to Him to review decisions before they are executed. The review petition should contain vows, tears, prayers, obedient worship (ibadah), remembrance of Alla>h Y  (Zikrullah), tasbih, gifts to the needy (sadaqa and qairaat), etc. which should reach Him by Qadr.  It is The Holy Prophet e’s compassion (sadaqa) that the nights of both EXECUTION and DECISION are told to us. Qadr is the greater night because it is the last time for appeal. Allah Y   in His infinite mercy, through His blessed Rasul e has given us numerous opportunities to repent, may we all take heed.

Today I would like to draw your attention to a collective shirk and bidat committed by this Ummah. Thus this is the time for the Community of Believers (Ummah) to take account of its affairs, recommit collectively to a common purpose and course of action. The degradation of Muslims has occurred due to our lapse in the pursuit of all knowledge (al-ilm) and the eroding of the principle of unity (tauhid). We have become our own worst enemies and the Anglo/American/ Israeli alliance are only capitalizing on a situation that we created. We are concealing our evil ways disguised in a garb of piety. The first step is to be honest to ourselves whether we are really pious and then the ardent desire has to be there to change, both individually and collectively, or else we will never be forgiven. A war is being waged against Islam and an appropriate response is needed.

The modern nation-states of Islam, in the absence of the Caliphate, which was abolished on March 3, 1924 / Rajab 27, 1342, is the biggest shirk of this age. Islam’s essential characteristic is that the sovereignty of Allah Y must be upheld and the State and all its institutions must submit to Allah Y's laws. This supremacy of Islam over the State and over public life was symbolized by the institution of Caliphate.  The destruction of the Sunni Uthmania Empire (Ottoman Empire) put into effect in the First World War resulted in the emergence of the secular State of Turkey, under Mustafa Kamal (Ataturk). This had paved the way for the heartland of Islam, under Abd al-Aziz ibn Saud, to be transformed into the State of Saudi Arabia. The creation of the State of Israel in 1948 confirms that ‘Y’ajuj and M’ajuj are released and we are living in the age of mischief ‘fitan’. Those who should be waging a jihad against an interest-centered economy and a caliph-less Muslim world have waged an obnoxious jihad against the belief system of Islam. When belief erodes, Imaan is weakened and only lifeless rituals remain. It is these Muslims who have accepted the Saudi-Wahabbi alliance that no longer recognizes Allah Y as sovereign, but have vested this sovereignty in the hands of kings and presidents. This is the biggest collective shirk, the greatest of all sins, the modern Islamic Community is guilty of.

Many scholars, like Imran Nazar Hosein and many others, have realized this and are at least, speaking and writing against this state of affairs.  The ‘so-called’ kings and presidents have flooded so-called Islamic movements with money and have effectively curtailed criticism except for a few murmurs here and there. Makkah the Ennobled and Madinah the Illumined and the surrounding sacred precincts are the province of Hijaaz, part of Dar al-Islam, which according to the Shariah every Muslim has a right of entry and residence into, without a visa or residence permit. Muslims have a right to participate in the political process of this area. The huge oil wealth of Arabia belongs to the world of Islam. The handing over of the effective control of this oil wealth to the Americans is an act of treason.

Growing Jewish influence over (Middle East) foreign policy in these governments, and over decision-making in these international organizations, and the perception of a long-term Islamic threat to Israel, to western capitalism and democracy and to the secular model of society, which was designed to sustain them, lie at the very heart of that pressure which Muslim governments now face. The capacity of Muslim governments to resist such pressures becomes weaker and weaker as political and strategic vulnerability and the economic stranglehold of riba (usury) increase. Indeed the supreme game in the games of dominance, which constitute the New World Order, is political and strategic blackmail and economic and financial imperialism. The Holy Prophet e had prayed for Syria and Yemen and had predicted the Saudi/ Wahabbi menace to come from Najd. It is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim wherein Ibn Umar t narrates that The Holy Prophet e said:

عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رضي اﷲ عنهما أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُوْلَ اﷲِ صلي الله عليه وآله وسلم وَهُوَ مُسْتَقْبِلُ الْمَشْرِقِ يَقُوْلُ : أَ لَا إِنَّ الْفِتْنَةَ هَاهُنَا مِنْ حَيْثُ يَطْلُعُ قَرْنُ الشَّيْطَانِ. مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ

Hazrath Abdullah bin Umar t narrates; ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah Y say whilst looking with his blessed face to the East (of Madinah towards the Province of Najd)): “Be extremely cautious for the Qarn (horn or era) of Satan will emerge from there.

Agreed upon by both Bukhari and Muslim

الحديث رقم 16 : أخرجه البخاري في الصحيح، کتاب : الفتن، باب : قول النبي صلي الله عليه وآله وسلم : الفتنة من قبل المشرق، 6 / 2598، الرقم : 6680، ومسلم في الصحيح، کتاب : الفتن وأشراط الساعة، باب : الفتنة من المشرق من حيث يطلع قرنا الشيطان، 4 / 2228، الرقم : 2905، وأحمد بن حنبل في المسند، 2 / 91، الرقم : 5659، والطبراني في المعجم الأوسط، 1 / 122، الرقم : 387، والمقرئ في السنن الواردة، 1 / 246، الرقم : 43.

The world of Islam is today without power. The caliphate has to be restored for power to be restored. Without power, there will be more Bosnia’s, Kashmir’s, Chechnya’s, Palestine’s, Afghanistan’s and Iraq’s. If the Ummah is ever to succeed in restoring the supremacy of Islam, it is imperative that Muslims be taught the history of the collapse of the Caliphate and its replacement in the heartland of Islam, by the secular Saudi-Wahhabi nation state. This was an act of supreme betrayal of Islam.

This message is contained in the verse of the Holy Qur’aan the 7^th Sura, al-A‘raaf (the Heights) الْأَعْرَاف, Verse157:

فَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ بِهِ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَاتَّبَعُواْ النُّورَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ مَعَهُ أُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ

So it is those who believe in him (the Holy Prophet Muhammad e ), honour him, help him, and follow the Light which is sent down with him, it is they who will prosper."

O Community of the Holy Prophet e, people of Imaan, if you desire success, victory, world dominance, to reach your goal, be released from oppression and injustice, and to take your rightful place in society by fighting and defeating the unholy grip on the Ummah, then reestablish your link with the Holy Prophet e. Establish not an enforced legal link but a link of extreme love and respect (ishq-o-adab). We should attempt to synchronize our external portrayal of Islam with our interior fervor. Four conditions have been prescribed by Allah Y for the success of this ummah. This is the manifesto of the Holy Qur'aan, the formula for success. Only those will succeed who simultaneously fulfill these four conditions. Those that believe (a’manu) in the Holy Prophet Muhammad e: A belief based on love, for this portion of the Holy Qur'aan is being addressed to people of iman. So what kind of belief should believers hold? That level is being demanded here, that was said by the Holy Prophet e:

صحيح بخاري / ‏كِتَاب ‏ ‏الْإِيمَانِ ‏

‏ ‏بَاب ‏ ‏حُبُّ الرَّسُولِ ‏ ‏صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ‏ ‏مِنْ الْإِيمَانِ ‏

‏ ‏حَدَّثَنَا ‏ ‏يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ‏ ‏قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ‏ ‏ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ ‏ ‏عَنْ ‏ ‏عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ بْنِ صُهَيْبٍ ‏ ‏عَنْ ‏ ‏أَنَسٍ ‏ ‏عَنْ النَّبِيِّ ‏ ‏صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ‏ ‏ح ‏ ‏و حَدَّثَنَا ‏ ‏آدَمُ ‏ ‏قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ‏ ‏شُعْبَةُ ‏ ‏عَنْ ‏ ‏قَتَادَةَ ‏ ‏عَنْ ‏ ‏أَنَسٍ ‏ ‏قَالَ ‏

‏قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ‏ ‏صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ‏ ‏لَا يُؤْمِنُ ‏ ‏أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى أَكُونَ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ وَالِدِهِ وَوَلَدِهِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ ‏

Narrated Anas t: None of you will have faith till he loves me more than his father, his children and all mankind[9]

[Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1; Darussalam Publications, The Book of Faith; Chapter 8; page 61; Hadith no 15]

This is the first condition, the second being wa azzaruhu i.e. an infinite respect and reverence for the Holy Prophet e (hud se bar kar adab-o-tazeem) and thirdly wattabahu to i.e. follow and imitate the Holy Prophet Muhammad e i.e. to practice his teachings, to actualize the teachings of the Holy Qur'aan and through action become reflectors of the personality of the Holy Prophet e.  Imbue ourselves with the personality of the Holy Prophet e. The fourth condition being nusrat e deen e Mustafa or to make the way of life (deen) of the Holy Prophet e  the dominant way of life, that ushers in truth,  thereby canceling all false and oppressive lifestyles, by sacrificing everything i.e. possessions, intellectual stumbling blocks and life to assist (nusrat) the deen.

If we don’t fulfill these four conditions simultaneously the Holy Qur'aan has stated nothing can be attained. Keeping the pleasure of Allah Y and His Beloved Holy Prophet Muhammad e in mind and not caring who in creation amongst the predatory, capitalist elite or scholars aligned to them frown I have to state very frankly, that historical circumstances and tactical manipulation by the materialists have divided the deen of Unity (Tauhid) into pieces. Those that are aligned and maintain correct aqaa’id and a proper relationship (ta’alluq) with the Holy Prophet e have also been divided by self-centered personalities, that want to claim leadership yet they profess to believe that our leader, the Holy Prophet Muhammad e is a living prophet. Indeed he is a functioning and living Prophet! Each group is now propagating Islam through publications, lectures, tours etc. but none are achieving the goal. The condition of the ummah is not changing, darkness is not being dispelled and light is not being received. These four conditions have to be fulfilled simultaneously. Those who fulfill two and neglect the other two will fail. We see groups in our society. One group has taken the first two conditions and neglected the other two whilst another have taken wattabahu to i.e. follow and imitate the Holy Prophet Muhammad e with an external following and neglected the first two. Another group has taken wattabahu to i.e. follow and imitate the Holy Prophet Muhammad e externally together with nusrat e deen e Mustafa or to make the way of life (deen) of the Holy Prophet e the dominant way of life. Unfortunately they have become so hard hearted and devoid of love that they have made people run away from Islam.  I am not naming the groups, but you can figure them out. One group has taken the first and second being Extreme Love of the Holy Prophet e or muhabbat-e-Rasul and Extreme Respect and Reverence of the Holy Prophet e   adab aur tazeem-e-Rasul.  They have not rejected the other two, obeying and lovingly imitating the Holy Prophet e or ita’at aur itteba-e-Rasul, and assisting the deen of the Holy Prophet e or nusrat-e-deen-e-Rasul  but the majority, among them,  have neglected it. Who are these people? It is us. Only wanting to hear about love but partially neglecting the Sunnah. We have not neglected the sunnah and jihad but we have laidback in practicing it as we have practiced acts of love. The other group has stated there is no need to express love through words or a deed, for this is like, Allah Y forbid, Romeo and Juliet. They claim that their external concept of obedience and imitation of the Holy Prophet e is their love and following and also that their concept of tabligh, and going out in groups is the assistance of the deen. The Extreme Love of the Holy Prophet e or muhabbat-e-Rasul and Extreme Respect and Reverence of the Holy Prophet e   adab aur tazeem-e-Rasul is the root of the tree of Imaan. The cutting of the root kills the branches, leaves and fruit. Religious actions (A’mal) is the branch of the tree, following and imitation (itteba) are the leaves that make the tree of Imaan beneficial in giving shade, so that people may come close to this tree and be comforted. The loss of the root kills the entire tree. If they have doubted the status of the Master of The Holy Qur'aan (sahib-e-Qur’aan) via whose blessed heart we received the Holy Qur'aan then what remains except delusion. They say we should not call the Holy Prophet e beloved. If he is not the beloved then there is no love in the universe. All love, including creation is due to him. The universe is enlightened by the rays of Allah Y’s love for him. The deen is his love, Imaan is his love. Protect your Imaan by establishing an unswerving bond with the Holy Prophet Muhammad e. When we speak frankly then both parties get offended.

Zahide tung nazar ne mujhe kaafir jaana

Aur kaafir ye samajhta heh ke musalmaan hu me

The short sighted worshipper brands me as disbeliever

Whilst the disbeliever, fears me, knowing I am a true Muslim

Group acceptance is not what we should aim for. If all groups reject us for speaking the truth then, so be it. We only desire that the Holy Prophet Muhammad e, the chosen one counts us as one of his lowly servants or a dog in his alley. Those scholars of Islam who are graduates of well-funded Islamic Universities, who are engaged in a gigantic fitna either to restore what they zealously proclaim to be true, authentic, original, Salafi Islam, or to foist upon Muslims a new modernist version of Islam, should pause for one Iman-saving moment and demonstrate at least a grain of integrity in denouncing the colossal betrayal of Islam in the establishment of the Saudi-Wahhabi nation state on the ruins of the Caliphate.

Irshad Soofi Siddiqui

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Shabaan      12, 1432