15th Night of Shaban or Shab e Barat, as it is known, is one of the blessed nights in the Islamic calendar. There is nothing in Qur’an about the night of 15th Shaban. There is a narration in Tirmidhi, which is considered as Za’eef (weak) according to Imam Tirmidhi. All the narrations regarding glorification of the night are weak. The authentic Hadith inform us about the night blessings. Shias believe that 15th Sha’ban is the birth date of their last and 12th Imam who is invisible and will come back as Imam Medhi.
The weak narrations, stating that fate is written in this night are to be ignored because they contradict the Qur’an. The Qur’an in clear words ascribes this pre-eminence of Shab-e-Qad’r or Lailat-al-Qad’r. It says;
“Verily we have sent it (The Qur’an) down in the night of Al-Qad’r (The Decree)… The night of Decree is better than a thousand months. Therein descend the angels and Ruh (the spirit) by Allah’s permission with all decrees.” (97:1-4)
In another Surah, the same thing has been specified;
“We sent it (The Qur’an) down on a blessed night. Verily we are ever warning. Therein is decreed every matter of ordainment.” (44:3-4)
It is clear from the above verses that the night in which the Lord sets the decree about individuals, races and countries, is Shab-e-Qad’r and not Shab-e-Bara’at. Shab-e-Qad’r lies in one of the odd nights of the last one third of Ramadan.
