Question Summary:
Fasting and visiting the graveyard on the 15th of Sha’bān

Question Detail:

I read the article of Sha’baan with great interest. I would like to find out if there is anything we need to do. I am told we need to visit the graveyard on this night.
Is there only one fast or one should fast on 13th 14th and 15th.

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
In the Ahādīth it is mentioned that Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam visited the graveyard on the 15^th night of Sha’bān.[1]  However, from another authentic Hadīth, it is proven that Nabī Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam would visit Baqī‘ every night he spent at the home of Aishah Radhiyallāhu Anhā[2], which was once every week.  Hence, visiting the graveyard is not a special characteristic of this night.  Instead, it is a Sunnah to visit the graveyard at least once every week. [3]
Fasting on the fifteenth of Sha‘bān is not proven through any authentic narration.  The Hadīth in which fasting on this day is mentioned is extremely weak. Hence, fasting specifically on the fifteenth of Sha‘bān is not a Sunnah. [4]
However, one should make an effort to fast excessively throughout the month of Sha’bān since it is reported in Sahīh al-Bukhārī that Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam would fast excessively in the month of Sha’bān. The Hadīth is as follows:
وَمَا رَأَيْتُهُ أَكْثَرَ صِيَامًا مِنْهُ فِي شَعْبَانَ (صحيح البخارى، بَابُ صَوْمِ شَعْبَانَ)
Aishah Radhiyallāhu Anhā states, “I have never seen Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam fasting in any other month (besides Ramadhān) more than his fasting in Sha’bān. (Sahīh al-Bukhārī)
One may also fast the 13^th, 14^th, and 15^th of Sha’bān. However, it should be borne in mind that this is a Sunnah for every month and not specific to only Sha’bān. This is clear from the following Hadīth:
 
عَنْ ابْنِ مِلْحَانَ الْقَيْسِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَأْمُرُنَا أَنْ نَصُومَ الْبِيضَ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ، وَأَرْبَعَ عَشْرَةَ، وَخَمْسَ عَشْرَةَ، قَالَ: وَقَالَ «هُنَّ كَهَيْئَةِ الدَّهْرِ» (سنن ابى داود، بَابٌ فِي صَوْمِ الثَّلَاثِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ)
Milhān Radhiyallāhu Anhu states, Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam used to order us to fast the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth (of every month). He used to say, “These fasts are like fasting the entire year (in reward). (Sunan Abī Dāwūd)
For further details, you may refer to “SHABE BARAAT”, a book written on the topic by Sheikh al-Hadīth Moulānā Fazlur Rahman Azmi. The book may be downloaded from the following link:
http://attahawi.com/2009/08/07/shabe-barat-the-fifteenth-of-shabaan-in-the-light-of-the-quran-and-hadeeth-by-shaykh-fazlur-rahman-azmi/
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Abdul Azīm bin Abdur Rahman,
Student Darul Iftaa
U.S.A.
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Husain Kadodia.