Shaban and the Ascension of Deeds

﴿وَلَقَدْ رَآهُ نَزْلَةً أُخْرَىٰ ۝ عِنْدَ سِدْرَةِ الْمُنْتَهَىٰ ۝ عِنْدَهَا جَنَّةُ الْمَأْوَىٰ ۝ إِذْ يَغْشَى السِّدْرَةَ مَا يَغْشَىٰ ۝ مَا زَاغَ الْبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ ۝﴾ (سُورَةُ النَّجْم ٥٣:١٣)

53:13 And he certainly saw him in another descent 14 At the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary - 15 Near it is the Garden of Refuge - 16 When there covered the Lote Tree that which covered ˹it˺. 17 The sight ˹of the Prophet˺ did not swerve, nor did it transgress ˹its limit˺.

Timing of Isra and Miraj

Unauthentic:
- 1st Friday of Rajab, 27th of Rajab,
- 27th of Rabi al-Awwal,
- Dhu al-Qada
Majority: No authentically confirmed month or date

Description of the Sidrah

The Prophet ﷺ reached it during al-Isra wal-Miraj
The highest boundary of creation, beyond which only Allah knows
Located near the Throne, in the upper skies
Near it is Jannat al-Mawa
Vast beyond measure, with enormous leaves and fruits
Final limit of all knowledge, commands, and deeds
Covered by divine manifestations of light, gold, and angels
Transformed into radiant beauty of jewels by Allah’s command
Angels and divine decrees ascend and descend to it
Jibril ᴬˢ was seen there in his true form with six hundred wings

Reception and Elevation of Matters

Absorbed by the Sidrah
Deeds ascend through it and Mercy descends through it

«لَمَّا أُسْرِيَ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ انْتُهِيَ بِهِ إِلَى سِدْرَةِ الْمُنْتَهَى
وَهِيَ فِي السَّمَاءِ السَّادِسَةِ
إِلَيْهَا يَنْتَهِي مَا يُعْرَجُ بِهِ مِنَ الأَرْضِ فَيُقْبَضُ مِنْهَا
وَإِلَيْهَا يَنْتَهِي مَا يُهْبَطُ بِهِ مِنْ فَوْقِهَا فَيُقْبَضُ مِنْهَا» (مسلم ١٧٣ صحيح)

When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was taken on the Night Journey, he was brought to the Sidrat al-Muntaha, which is in the sixth heaven. To it reaches what ascends from the earth, and from it it is received; and to it reaches what descends from above it, and from it it is received.

Reception and elevation of matters

﴿يُدَبِّرُ الْأَمْرَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ
ثُمَّ يَعْرُجُ إِلَيْهِ فِي يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ مِمَّا تَعُدُّونَ ۝
ذَٰلِكَ عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ ۝﴾ (سُورَةُ السَّجدَة ٣٢:٥)

32:5 He arranges ˹each˺ matter from the heaven to the earth; then it will ascend to Him in a Day, the extent of which is a thousand years of those which you count. 6 That is the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, the Exalted in Might, the Merciful,

﴿… يَعْلَمُ مَا يَلِجُ^[1] فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا وَمَا يَنْزِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَمَا يَعْرُجُ فِيهَا ۖ وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنْتُمْ ۚ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ ۝ لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ وَإِلَى اللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ الْأُمُورُ ۝﴾ (سُورَةُ الحَديد ٥٧:٤)

57:4 … He knows what penetrates into the earth and what emerges from it and what descends from the heaven and what ascends therein; and He is with you wherever you are. And Allah, of what you do, is Seeing. 5 His is the dominion of the heavens and earth. And to Allah are returned ˹all˺ matters.

Knowledge of Allah

Names of knowledge

(١) الْعَلِيمُ، (٢) الْخَبِيرُ، (٣) السَّمِيعُ، (٤) الْبَصِيرُ، (٥) الشَّهِيدُ، (٦) الْحَسِيبُ، (٧) الرَّقِيبُ، (٨) الْمُحْصِي، (٩) اللَّطِيفُ، (١٠) الْحَافِظُ

al-Ard on Judgement Day

The smallest of good and evil will be seen

﴿فَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ ۝ وَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ ۝﴾ (سُورَةُ الزلزَلة ٩٩:٧)

99:7 So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it, 8 And whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it.

The Ard
Everyone is accounted in full

﴿إِنْ كُلُّ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ إِلَّا آتِي الرَّحْمَٰنِ عَبْدًا ۝ لَقَدْ أَحْصَاهُمْ وَعَدَّهُمْ عَدًّا ۝ وَكُلُّهُمْ آتِيهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَرْدًا ۝
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ سَيَجْعَلُ لَهُمُ الرَّحْمَٰنُ وُدًّا ۝﴾ (سُورَةُ مَريَم ١٩:٩٣)

19:93 There is no one in the heavens and earth but that he comes to the Most Merciful as a servant. 94 He has enumerated them and counted them a ˹full˺ counting. 95 And all of them are coming to Him on the Day of Resurrection alone. 96 Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - the Most Merciful will appoint for them affection.

What kind of book is this?
It has account for the smallest and biggest of deeds

﴿… وَوُضِعَ الْكِتَابُ فَتَرَى الْمُجْرِمِينَ مُشْفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ:
«يَا وَيْلَتَنَا مَالِ هَٰذَا الْكِتَابِ! لَا يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً إِلَّا أَحْصَاهَا!»
وَوَجَدُوا مَا عَمِلُوا حَاضِرًا ۗ وَلَا يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا۝﴾ سُورَةُ الكهْف 18:47

Angels recording

Secrets are being record

﴿أَمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّا لَا نَسْمَعُ سِرَّهُمْ وَنَجْوَاهُمْ ۚ بَلَىٰ وَرُسُلُنَا لَدَيْهِمْ يَكْتُبُونَ۝﴾ سُورَةُ الزُّخْرُف 43:80

43:80 Or do they think that We hear not their secrets and their private conversations? Yes, ˹We do˺, and Our messengers are with them recording.

Noble scribes recording what we do

﴿وَإِنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ لَحَافِظِينَ۝ كِرَامًا كَاتِبِينَ۝ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ۝﴾ سُورَةُ الإنفِطار 82:10

82:10 And indeed, ˹appointed˺ over you are keepers, 11 Noble and recording; 12 They know whatever you do.

Angels on the left and right always prepared to record

﴿وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِ نَفْسُهُ ۖ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ۝ إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى الْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ۝ مَا يَلْفِظُ مِنْ قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ^[2]۝﴾ سُورَةُ ق 50:16

50:16 And We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than ˹his˺ jugular vein 17 When the two receivers receive, seated on the right and on the left. 18 Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared ˹to record˺.

Summary of Allah's Knowledge

Summary of Allah's Knowledge

Allah's knowledge is all-encompassing with nothing hidden or overlooked.

Every person will be fully counted and every atom’s weight of good or evil being made visible is stated.

Continuous recording by angels on the left and right

Ascension of deeds

Special presentation of good deeds

Pure words and righteous deeds

﴿==مَنْ كَانَ يُرِيدُ الْعِزَّةَ فَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ جَمِيعًا،
إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ (الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ) وَالْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ (يَرْفَعُهُ) ۚ
وَالَّذِينَ يَمْكُرُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ ۖ وَمَكْرُ أُولَٰئِكَ هُوَ يَبُورُ==۝﴾ سُورَةُ فَاطِر 35:10

35:10 Whoever desires honor ˹through power˺ - then to Allah belongs all honor. To Him ascends good speech, and righteous work raises it. But they who plot evil deeds will have a severe punishment, and the plotting of those - it will perish.

It's the dhikr of Allah

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبّاسٍ في قَوْلِهِ: ﴿إلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ﴾ قالَ: ذِكْرُ اللَّهِ، ﴿والعَمَلُ الصّالِحُ يَرْفَعُهُ﴾ قالَ: أداءُ الفَرائِضِ،
فَمَن ذَكَرَ اللَّهَ في أداءِ فَرائِضِهِ حَمَلَ عَمَلُهُ ذِكْرَ اللَّهِ فَصَعِدَ بِهِ إلى اللَّهِ

Ibn Abbas said: 'pure word' it is the dhikr of Allah, and the good deeds are offering the obligatory acts. Whoever does the dhikr of Allah during the obligatory acts, his deeds carry the dhikr of Allah and it is raised up to Allah.

The Pure Word

Tawhid, Dhikr
la ilaha illa Allah
Open meaning
Sincerity (no shirk)

Only pure deeds for the sake of Allah are accepted

«أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ طَيِّبٌ، لاَ يَقْبَلُ إِلاَّ طَيِّبًا۔
وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ أَمَرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِمَا أَمَرَ بِهِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ» فَقَالَ «{ يَا أَيُّهَا الرُّسُلُ كُلُوا مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَاعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا إِنِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ }» وَقَالَ «{ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِنْ طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ }»
ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ الرَّجُلَ يُطِيلُ السَّفَرَ أَشْعَثَ أَغْبَرَ، يَمُدُّ يَدَيْهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ يَا رَبِّ! يَا رَبِّ! «وَمَطْعَمُهُ حَرَامٌ، وَمَشْرَبُهُ حَرَامٌ، وَمَلْبَسُهُ حَرَامٌ، وَغُذِيَ بِالْحَرَامِ، فَأَنَّى يُسْتَجَابُ لِذَلِكَ؟»» (مسلم ١٠١٥ صحيح)

O people, Allah is Good and He therefore, accepts only that which is good. And Allah commanded the believers as He commanded the Messengers by saying: "O Messengers, eat of the good things, and do good deeds; verily I am aware of what you do" (xxiii. 51). And He said: "O those who believe, eat of the good things that We gave you" (ii. 172). He then made a mention of a person who travels widely, his hair disheveled and covered with dust. He lifts his hand towards the sky (and thus makes the supplication): "O Lord, O Lord," whereas his diet is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, and his clothes are unlawful and his nourishment is unlawful. How can then his supplication be accepted?

Pure deeds free of ulterior motives is what is encouraged

﴿… فَمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا ۝﴾ (سُورَةُ الكهْف ١٨:١١٠)

18:110 … So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone."

Who/what raises the deeds

1 Allah raises all righteous deeds

Opinion of: Qatadah, Ibn Ashur

2 Good word raises righteous deeds

If "the good word" is understood as Tawhid, then no deed is accepted without monotheism.
Opinion of: Muqatil, al-Kalbi, Abu Salih, Shahr ibn Hawshab

3 Majority: Righteous deeds raise the good word

Majority of: Ibn Abbas, al-Hasan, Ikrimah, Said b. Jubayr, Mujahid, Dahhak, Suddi
al-Hasan: (sincerity) if one’s statement matches one’s deeds, the statement is accepted; otherwise, it is rejected.

Summary of the Pure Word

Summary of the Purse Word

Pure deeds elevate sincerity

Acceptance is restricted to what is pure and sincerely for Allah

Special moments of ascension

Expose yourself to moments of blessings
So you don't feel distress later

«إِنَّ لِرَبِّكُمْ فِي أَيَّامِ دَهْرِكُمْ نَفَحَاتٌ، فَتَعَرَّضُوا لَهُ،
لَعَلَّهُ أَنْ يُصِيبَكُمْ نَفْحَةٌ مِنْهَا فَلَا تَشْقَوْنَ بَعْدَهَا أَبَدًا» (الطبراني ١٦٦٣٠ ضعيف)

"Your Lord has in the days of your lifetime nafaḥāt (fragrances, breezes, moments of joy), so expose yourselves to them so that you may be touched by one of the ˹moment of joy˺ and thus never feel distress/misery/unhappiness thereafter."

Any time

Tasbih, Tahmid, Tahlil, and Takbir
Carried by the angels, they seek forgiveness as they are taken up to Allah

«إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا قَالَ: (سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَتَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ) قَبَضَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مَلَكٌ فَضَمَّهُنَّ تَحْتَ جَنَاحِهِ وَصَعِدَ بِهِنَّ۔
لَا يَمُرُّ بِهِنَّ عَلَى جَمْعٍ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ إِلَّا اسْتَغْفَرُوا لِقَائِلِهِنَّ حَتَّى يَجِيءَ بِهِنَّ وَجْهَ الرَّحْمَنِ۔» (الحاكم ٣٥٨٩ صحيح)

Verily, when the servant says, 'Subhan Allah', 'Alhamdulillah', 'La ilaha illa Allah', 'Allahu Akbar', and 'Tabarak Allah', a angel takes hold of them, gathers them under his wing, and ascends with them until he does not pass by any gathering of angels except that they seek forgiveness for the one who said them until he is taken to the presence of the Most Merciful. Then Abdullah (the Prophet) recited, 'To Him ascends good speech, and righteous work raises it' (35:10)."

30 odd angels: Hadith of Rifaah
Version 1 (raising after ruku) ; Version 2 (after sneezing)

«كُنَّا يَوْمًا نُصَلِّي وَرَاءَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَلَمَّا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرَّكْعَةِ قَالَ: سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
قَالَ رَجُلٌ وَرَاءَهُ رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ حَمْدًا كَثِيرًا طَيِّبًا مُبَارَكًا فِيهِ
فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ قَالَ مَنِ الْمُتَكَلِّمُ قَالَ أَنَا قَالَ رَأَيْتُ بِضْعَةً وَثَلاَثِينَ مَلَكًا يَبْتَدِرُونَهَا أَيُّهُمْ يَكْتُبُهَا أَوَّلُ» (البخاري ٧٩٩ صحيح)

One day we were praying behind the Prophet. When he raised his head from bowing, he said, "Samiʿa l-lahu liman hamidah." A man behind him said, "Rabbana wa laka l-hamdu, hamdan kathiran taiyiban mubarakan fihi" (O our Lord! All the praises are for You, many good and blessed praises). When the Prophet completed the prayer, he asked, "Who has said these words?" The man replied, "I." The Prophet said, "I saw over thirty angels competing to write it first." Prophet rose (from bowing) and stood straight till all the vertebrae of his spinal column came to a natural position.

«صَلَّيْتُ خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَعَطَسْتُ فَقُلْتُ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ حَمْدًا كَثِيرًا طَيِّبًا مُبَارَكًا فِيهِ مُبَارَكًا عَلَيْهِ كَمَا يُحِبُّ رَبُّنَا وَيَرْضَى
فَلَمَّا صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ انْصَرَفَ فَقَالَ مَنِ الْمُتَكَلِّمُ فِي الصَّلاَةِ؟ فَلَمْ يَتَكَلَّمْ أَحَدٌ ثُمَّ قَالَهَا الثَّانِيَةَ مَنِ الْمُتَكَلِّمُ فِي الصَّلاَةِ؟ فَلَمْ يَتَكَلَّمْ أَحَدٌ ثُمَّ قَالَهَا الثَّالِثَةَ مَنِ الْمُتَكَلِّمُ فِي الصَّلاَةِ؟ فَقَالَ رِفَاعَةُ بْنُ رَافِعِ ابْنِ عَفْرَاءَ أَنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ كَيْفَ قُلْتَ قَالَ قُلْتُ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ حَمْدًا كَثِيرًا طَيِّبًا مُبَارَكًا فِيهِ مُبَارَكًا عَلَيْهِ كَمَا يُحِبُّ رَبُّنَا وَيَرْضَى فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَقَدِ ابْتَدَرَهَا بِضْعَةٌ وَثَلاَثُونَ مَلَكًا أَيُّهُمْ يَصْعَدُ بِهَا » (الترمذي ٤٠٤ حسن)

I prayed behind the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and I sneezed, so I said: “Praise be to Allah—much, good, and blessed praise, blessed in it and upon it, as our Lord loves and is pleased with.” When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ finished the prayer, he turned and said: “Who was the one speaking during the prayer?” No one spoke. Then he said it a second time: “Who was the one speaking during the prayer?” No one spoke. Then he said it a third time: “Who was the one speaking during the prayer?” Rifā‘ah ibn Rāfi‘ ibn ‘Afrā’ said: “It was I, O Messenger of Allah.” He said: “What did you say?” He replied: “I said: ‘Praise be to Allah—much, good, and blessed praise, blessed in it and upon it, as our Lord loves and is pleased with.’” The Prophet ﷺ said: “By the One in Whose hand is my soul, indeed thirty-some angels rushed to it, each of them seeking to be the one to take it up.”

Packaged with istighfar
White vs black scrolls without istighfar

بَكْرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْمُزْنِيُّ: إِنَّ أَعْمَالَ بَنِي آدَمَ تُرْفَعُ، فَإِذَا رُفِعَتْ صَحِيفَةٌ فِيهَا اسْتِغْفَارٌ رُفِعَتْ بَيْضَاءُ، وَإِذَا رُفِعَتْ صَحِيفَةٌ لَيْسَ فِيهَا اسْتِغْفَارٌ رُفِعَتْ سَوْدَاءُ۔ (ابن رجب)

Bakr b. Abdullah al-Muzani narrates: Deeds of the sons of Adam are raised up. If the scrolls of deeds that is raised up has istighfar in it, it is raised up as bright white, and when the raised up scroll does not have istighfar, is it raised up black.

Daily: During the day and night

Deeds of the night raised up before those of the day

«إِنَّ اللَّهَ ﷻ لاَ يَنَامُ وَلاَ يَنْبَغِي لَهُ أَنْ يَنَامَ، يَخْفِضُ الْقِسْطَ وَيَرْفَعُهُ
يُرْفَعُ إِلَيْهِ عَمَلُ اللَّيْلِ قَبْلَ عَمَلِ النَّهَارِ، وَعَمَلُ النَّهَارِ قَبْلَ عَمَلِ اللَّيْلِ» (مسلم ١٧٩a صحيح)

Verily the Exalted and Mighty God does not sleep, and it does not befit Him to sleep. He lowers the scale and lifts it. The deeds in the night are taken up to Him before the deeds of the day, and the deeds of the day before the deeds of the night. His veil is the light. In the hadith narrated by Abu Bakr (instead of the word "light" ) it is fire. If he withdraws it (the veil), the splendour of His countenance would consume His creation so far as His sight reaches.

Daily: Fajr and Asr

Two armies of angels come during Fajr and the during the Asr
They tell Allah that we were praying

«يَتَعَاقَبُونَ فِيكُمْ مَلاَئِكَةٌ بِاللَّيْلِ وَمَلاَئِكَةٌ بِالنَّهَارِ وَيَجْتَمِعُونَ فِي صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ وَصَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ
ثُمَّ يَعْرُجُ الَّذِينَ بَاتُوا فِيكُمْ فَيَسْأَلُهُمْ وَهْوَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ كَيْفَ تَرَكْتُمْ عِبَادِي؟ فَيَقُولُونَ تَرَكْنَاهُمْ وَهُمْ يُصَلُّونَ وَأَتَيْنَاهُمْ وَهُمْ يُصَلُّونَ» (البخاري ٥٥٥ متفق عليه)

Angels come to you in succession by night and day and all of them get together at the time of the Fajr and ʿAsr prayers. Those who have passed the night with you (or stayed with you) ascend (to the Heaven) and Allah asks them, though He knows everything about you, well, "In what state did you leave my slaves?" The angels reply: "When we left them they were praying and when we reached them, they were praying."

Daily: At Zuhr time

The gates of the sky open up at this time

«أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا بَعْدَ أَنْ تَزُولَ الشَّمْسُ قَبْلَ الظُّهْرِ
وَقَالَ إِنَّهَا سَاعَةٌ تُفْتَحُ فِيهَا أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ وَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يَصْعَدَ لِي فِيهَا عَمَلٌ صَالِحٌ» (الترمذي ٤٧٨ صحيح)

Messenger of Allah would pray four (Rak'ah) after the Zawal of the sun before Az-Zuhr. He said: 'It is an hour in which the gates of the heavens are opened, and I love that a righteous deed should be raised up for me in it.'

Weekly: Monday and Thursday

Also said, he was born on a Monday
And the Quran was revealed that day

~~«سُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ الاِثْنَيْنِ فَقَالَ فِيهِ وُلِدْتُ وَفِيهِ أُنْزِلَ عَلَىَّ» مسلم 1162e~~

He was asked about his fasting on Mondays so he said: It is (the day) when I was born and revelation was sent down to me.

Deeds raised on Thursdays
Fasting elevates the deeds

«تُعْرَضُ الأَعْمَالُ يَوْمَ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَالْخَمِيسِ، فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يُعْرَضَ عَمَلِي وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ» (الترمذي ٧٤٧ حسن)

Deeds are presented on Monday and Thursday, and I love that my deeds be presented while I am fasting.

Forgiveness Monday, Thursday
Gates of Jannah are open; Allah forgives all expect a mushrik or a mushahin

«تُفْتَحُ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ يَوْمَ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَيَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ،
فَيُغْفَرُ لِكُلِّ عَبْدٍ لاَ يُشْرِكُ بِاللَّهِ شَيْئًا إِلاَّ رَجُلاً كَانَتْ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ أَخِيهِ شَحْنَاءُ فَيُقَالُ أَنْظِرُوا هَذَيْنِ حَتَّى يَصْطَلِحَا أَنْظِرُوا هَذَيْنِ حَتَّى يَصْطَلِحَا أَنْظِرُوا هَذَيْنِ حَتَّى يَصْطَلِحَا» (مسلم ٢٥٦٥a صحيح)

The gates of Paradise are not opened but on two days, Monday and Thursday. and then every servant (of Allah) is granted pardon who does not associate anything with Allah except the person in whose (heart) there is rancour against his brother. And it would be said: Look towards both of them until there is reconciliation; look toward both of them until there is reconciliation; look towards both of them until there is reconciliation.

Unaccepted deeds
Deeds raised up on Thursday except for the one who breaks family ties

«إِنَّ أَعْمَالَ بَنِي آدَمَ تُعْرَضُ كُلَّ خَمِيسٍ لَيْلَةَ الْجُمُعَةِ، فَلَا يُقْبَلُ عَمَلُ قَاطِعِ رَحِمٍ» (أحمد ١٠٢٧٢ إسناده حسن)

Verily, the deeds of the children of Adam are presented every Thursday night before the Friday, and a deed of a person maintaining good ties of kinship is not accepted."

al-Nakai and his wife both cried on Thursdays

قال ابنُ رجب: (وكانَ إبراهيمُ النَّخَعِيُّ يَبكي إلى امرأتهِ يومَ الخميسِ وتبكي إليهِ ويَقولُ: ‌اليومَ ‌تُعْرَضُ ‌أعمالُنا على اللهِ عزَّ وجلَّ)
Ibn Rajab said: that Ibrahim al-Nakhai cried to his wife on Thursday and she cried to him. He cried saying: "Today our deeds will be presented to Allah."

Jewish Traditions for Mondays and Thursdays

Preparation for Shabbat – The Talmud^[3] (Shabbat 117b) discusses how the righteous prepare for Shabbat in advance starting Thursday night.
Fasting on Thursdays – The Talmud (Taanit 10a) mentions that some pious individuals fast on Mondays and Thursdays. This is partly based on the idea that Moses ascended Mount Sinai to receive the second set of tablets on a Thursday and descended on a Monday.
Divine Decrees – In some Midrashic^[4] sources, Thursday night is associated with the idea that divine decrees for the world begin to take shape in preparation for Shabbat.

Annual: Day of Arafah

Allah boasts to the angels and asks what is it that they want?

«إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ: «مَا مِنْ يَوْمٍ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَنْ يُعْتِقَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ عَبْدًا مِنَ النَّارِ مِنْ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ، وَإِنَّهُ لَيَدْنُو ثُمَّ يُبَاهِي بِهِمُ الْمَلاَئِكَةَ فَيَقُولُ: (مَا أَرَادَ هَؤُلاَءِ؟)»» (مسلم ١٣٤٨ صحيح)

There is no day when Allah grants salvation to more servants from the Hellfire than the Day of ʿArafah. He draws near, then boasts about them to the angels, saying: 'What do these people desire (and He may grant them)?'

Annual: Month of Shaban

Shaban a forgotten month where deeds are raised up

عن أسامة بن زيد: قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَمْ أَرَكَ تَصُومُ شَهْرًا مِنَ الشُّهُورِ مَا تَصُومُ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ؟ قَالَ:
«==ذَلِكَ شَهْرٌ يَغْفُلُ النَّاسُ عَنْهُ بَيْنَ رَجَبٍ وَرَمَضَانَ
وَهُوَ شَهْرٌ تُرْفَعُ فِيهِ الأَعْمَالُ إِلَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ==
فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يُرْفَعَ عَمَلِي وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ» (النسائي ٢٣٥٧ حسن)

==هو في «مصنف ابن أبي شيبة»== (٩٧٦٥) . ويأتي بنفس الإسناد (٣١٤٥) وأخرجه أحمد (٥/ ٢٠١)، والنسائي (٢٣٥٧) من طريق ثابت بن قيس، عن أبي سعيد المقبري، عن أسامة، ليس في إسناده أبو هريرة.
"I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting any month as much as Shaban.' He said: 'That is a month to which people do not pay much attention, between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which the deeds are taken up to the Lord of the worlds, and I like that my deeds be taken up when I am fasting."'

Summary of times of ascension of deeds

Summary of Times of Ascension of Deeds

Taking advantage of special moments of blessing throughout life

Sincere deeds at any time are elevated by angels with special honor, especially when paired with istighfar.

Deeds are raised to Allah in daily, weekly, and annual cycles.

Key moments include night and day transitions, Fajr and Asr, Zuhr time, Mondays and Thursdays, the Day of Arafah, and the month of Shaban.

The state of the heart matters when deeds are presented. Fasting increases their elevation, while grudges, severed family ties, and lack of repentance can delay forgiveness or acceptance.

Merits of the Month of Shaban

Fasting during Shaban

Month most fasted by the Prophet
Prophet fasted the whole month
Allah is not bored of good deeds until you are
Best deeds are the consistent ones

«لَمْ يَكُنِ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَصُومُ شَهْرًا أَكْثَرَ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ يَصُومُ شَعْبَانَ كُلَّهُ
وَكَانَ يَقُولُ «خُذُوا مِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَمَلُّ^[5] حَتَّى تَمَلُّوا»
وَأَحَبُّ الصَّلاَةِ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ مَا دُووِمَ^[6] عَلَيْهِ وَإِنْ قَلَّتْ
وَكَانَ إِذَا صَلَّى صَلاَةً دَاوَمَ عَلَيْهَا» (البخاري ١٩٧٠ متفق عليه)

The Prophet ﷺ never fasted in any month more than in the month of Sha'ban. He used to say, "Do those deeds which you can do easily, as Allah will not get tired (of giving rewards) till you get bored and tired (of performing religious deeds)." The most beloved prayer to the Prophet ﷺ was the one that was done regularly (throughout the life) even if it were little. And whenever the Prophet ﷺ offered a prayer he used to offer it regularly.

Shaban is a month of preparation
Rajab is sowing, Shaban is watering, Ramadan is harvesting

قال أبو بكر البلخي: (شهر رجب شهر الزرع، وشهر شعبان شهر سقي الزرع، وشهر رمضان شهر حصاد الزرع).
وقال أيضًا: (مثل شهر رجب كالريح، ومثل شعبان مثل الغيم، ومثل رمضان مثل المطر)
Abu Bakr al-Balkhi said: Rajab is the month of planting, Sha‘ban is the month of watering the crops, and Ramadan is the month of harvesting the crops.

He also said: The likeness of Rajab is like the wind, the likeness of Sha‘ban is like the clouds, and the likeness of Ramadan is like the rain.

Prohibition to fast a day or two before Ramadan

«لاَ يَتَقَدَّمَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ رَمَضَانَ بِصَوْمِ يَوْمٍ أَوْ يَوْمَيْنِ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ رَجُلٌ كَانَ يَصُومُ صَوْمَهُ فَلْيَصُمْ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ۔»» (البخاري ١٩١٤ متفق عليه)

None of you should fast ˹a voluntary fast˺ a day or two before the month of Ramadan unless he has the habit of fasting ˹such days voluntarily˺ then he may fast that day.

~~«إِذَا بَقِيَ نِصْفٌ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَلاَ تَصُومُوا۔»» (الترمذي ٧٣٨ صحيح)~~

the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "When one half of ˹the month of˺ Shaʿbān remains then do not ˹continue to˺ fast."

Summary of the Significance of Shaban

Good deeds ascend to Allah in Shaban

the Prophet fasted excessively:

to strengthen presentment of his deeds to Allah

to prepare for Ramadan

to give an opportunity for his wives to make-up their fasts

Not to fast a few days before Ramadan

Nisf Shaban

Different names for the night

Nisf Shaban (Prophetic usage)
Laylat al-Mubarakah
Laylat al-Rahmah
Laylat al-Baraah^[7] / Shab Barat
Layalt al-Sak^[8]

Setting of the Qadr on Nisf Shaban

Does the Quran speak about a night in Shaban?

﴿حم۝ وَالْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ۝ إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُبَارَكَةٍ ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنْذِرِينَ۝﴾ سُورَةُ الدُّخان 44:1

قال ابن الجوزي: (أحَدُهُما: أنَّها لَيْلَةُ القَدْرِ، ... والثّانِي: أنَّها لَيْلَةُ النِّصْفِ مِن شَعْبانَ، قالَهُ عِكْرِمَةُ)
Ibn al-Jawzi said: One of the two views is that:

it is Laylat al-Qadr, and

it is the night of the middle of Sha‘ban, as stated by Ikrimah.

Long Hadith about "Should I not be a grateful slave?" (weak)
Speak to who will be born this year, who dies, deeds are raised up, and destinies are set

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ: «لَمَّا كَانَتْ لَيْلَةُ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ انْسَلَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ مِرْطِي، ثُمَّ قَالَتْ: وَاللَّهِ مَا كَانَ مِرْطُنَا مِنْ خَزٍّ، وَلَا قَزٍّ، وَلَا، كُرْسُفٍ، وَلَا كَتَّانٍ، وَلَا صُوفٍ فَقُلْنا: سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ فَمِنْ أَيِّ شَيْءٍ؟ قَالَتْ: إِنْ كَانَ سَدَاهُ لَشَعْرٌ، وَإِنْ كَانَتْ لُحْمَتُهُ لَمِنْ وَبَرِ الْإِبِلِ، قَالَتْ: فَخَشِيتُ أَنْ يَكُونَ أَتَى بَعْضَ نِسَائِهِ، فَقُمْتُ أَلْتَمِسُهُ فِي الْبَيْتِ فَتقَعُ قَدَمِي عَلَى قَدَمَيْهِ وَهُوَ سَاجِدٌ، فَحَفِظْتُ مِنْ قَوْلِهِ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ:
[الدعاء] سَجَدَ لَكَ سَوَادِي وَخَيَالِي، وَآمَنَ لَكَ فُؤَادِي، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِالنِّعَمِ، وَأَعْتَرِفُ بِالذُّنُوبِ الْعَظِيمَةِ، ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي إِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، أَعُوذُ بِعَفْوِكَ مِنْ عُقُوبَتِكَ، وَأَعُوذُ بِرَحْمَتِكَ مِنْ نِقْمَتِكَ، وَأَعُوذُ بِرِضَاكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْكَ لَا أُحْصِي ثَنَاءً عَلَيْكَ أَنْتَ كَمَا أَثْنَيْتَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ)
قَالَتْ: فَمَا زَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي قَائِمًا وَقَاعِدًا حَتَّى أَصْبَحَ، فَأَصْبَحَ وَقَدِ اضْمَغَدَتْ قَدَمَاهُ، فَإِنِّي لَأَغْمِزُهَا وأقول: بِأَبِي أَنْت وَأُمِّي، أَتْعَبْتَ نَفْسَكَ، أَلَيْسَ قَدْ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَكَ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ؟ أَلَيْسَ قَدْ فَعَلَ اللَّهُ بِكَ؟ أَلَيْسَ أَلَيْسَ؟ فَقَالَ: يَا عَائِشَةُ، أَفَلَا أَكُونُ عَبْدًا شَكُورًا؟
هَلْ تَدْرِينَ مَا فِي هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ؟ قَالَتْ: مَا فِيهَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟ فَقَالَ: فِيهَا أَنْ يُكْتَبَ كُلُّ مَوْلُودٍ مِنْ مولود بَنِي آدَمَ فِي هَذِهِ السَّنَةِ، وَفِيهَا أَنْ يُكْتَبَ كُلُّ هَالِكٍ مِنْ بَنِي آدَمَ فِي هَذِهِ السَّنَةِ، وَفِيهَا تُرْفَعُ أَعْمَالُهُمْ، وَفِيهَا تَنْزِلُ أَرْزَاقُهُمْ،
فَقَالَتْ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ: مَا من أَحَدٌ يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ إِلَّا بِرَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: مَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ إِلَّا بِرَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ قُلْتُ: وَلَا أَنْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟ فَوَضَعَ يَدَهُ عَلَى هَامَتِهِ فَقَالَ: وَلَا أَنَا إِلَّا أَنْ يَتَغَمَّدَنِيَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ، يَقُولُهَا ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ» (البيهقي في دعوات البير)

On the night of mid-Shaban, the Prophet quietly left Aishah’s cloak. She feared he had gone to another wife and went to look for him.

She discovered him in prostration, where she overheard his supplication, praising Allah, confessing sins, and seeking forgiveness.

He continued praying, standing and sitting, until morning, resulting in swelling of his feet.

She expressed concern, reminding him that Allah had already forgiven all his past and future sins.

His response emphasized "Shall I not be a grateful servant" despite the assurance of forgiveness.

He informed her that during this night:
1. All those who will be born in the coming year are recorded.
2. All who will die in the coming year are recorded.
3. People’s deeds are raised up.
4. Provisions are sent down.

Aishah asked if anyone could enter Paradise without Allah’s mercy, and the Prophet reiterated that no one—himself included—enters Paradise except by Allah’s mercy.

Majority of scholars consider the night mentioned in the Quran to be Laylat al-Qadr, not Nisf Shaban
Mubarakpuri, Hafiz Ibn Kathir, Shawkani, and other majority

قال المبارفوري: ذهب الجمهور إلى أن المراد من (ليلة مباركة) هي ليلة القدر لا ليلة نصف من شعبان. وقولهم هو الحق والصواب.
قال الحافظ ابن كثير: من قال إنها ليلة من النصف من شعبان فقد أبعد، فإن نص القرآن أنها رمضان-
وقال العلامة الشوكاني في فتح القدير والحق ما ذهب إليه الجمهور من أن هذه الليلة المباركة هي ليلة القدر لا ليلة النصف من شعبان؛ لأن الله سبحانه أجملها ههنا وبينها في سورة البقرة بقوله: ﴿شهر رمضان الذي أنزل فيه القرآن﴾، وبقوله في سورة القدر: ﴿إنا أنزلناه في ليلة القدر﴾ فلم يبق بعد هذا لبيان الواضح ما يوجب الخلاف، ولا ما يقتضي الاشتباه۔ (مرعاة المفاتيح)

Mubarakfuri: The majority of scholars hold that what is meant by the ‘blessed night’ is Laylat al-Qadr, not the night of the middle of Sha‘ban. Their view is the truth and the correct position.

Ibn Kathir: Whoever says that it is a night from the middle of Shaban has gone far astray, for the explicit text of the Quran states that it is in Ramadan.

Shawkani: The truth is what the majority have held, that this blessed night is Laylat al-Qadr, not the night of the middle of Sha‘ban. This is because Allah ﷻ mentioned it here in a general way, then clarified it in Surat al-Baqarah by His saying, “The month of Ramadan in which the Quran was revealed,” and in Surat al-Qadr by His saying, “Indeed, We sent it down on Laylat al-Qadr.” After this clear clarification, nothing remains that would justify disagreement or give rise to confusion. (Mir‘at al-Mafatih)

Summary about Shaban in the Quran
The Quran does not speak about Nisf Shaban

Forgiveness in Nisf Shaban

Allah audits the creation and forgives

Three main hadiths on Allah's audit and forgiveness

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو: «يَطَّلِعُ اللهُ ﷻ إِلَى خَلْقِهِ لَيْلَةَ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَيَغْفِرُ لِعِبَادِهِ إِلَّا لِاثْنَيْنِ مُشَاحِنٍ وَقَاتِلِ نَفْسٍ» (صحيح للأرناؤوط) أحمد 6642

Allah ˹audits˺ his creation during the night of the middle of ˹the month of ˺ Shaʿbān then He forgives all His servants, except for the one filled with hate or a murderer."

عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيِّ: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَيَطَّلِعُ فِي لَيْلَةِ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَيَغْفِرُ لِجَمِيعِ خَلْقِهِ إِلاَّ لِمُشْرِكٍ أَوْ مُشَاحِنٍ» (حسن بشواهده للأرناؤوط) ابن ماجة 1390

Allah ˹audits˺ during the night of the middle of ˹the month of˺ Shaʿbān and then He forgives all His creation except for the one who associates partners with him and the one filled with hate."

عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ: «يَطْلُعُ اللَّهُ إِلَى خَلْقِهِ فِي لَيْلَةِ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَيَغْفِرُ لِجَمِيعِ خَلْقِهِ إِلَّا لِمُشْرِكٍ أَوْ مُشَاحِنٍ» (حسن للأرناؤوط) ابن حبّان 5665

Allah ˹audits˺ His creation on the middle night of Shaʿbān and He forgives all of His creation, except for an idolater or one filled with malice."

Other wordings on who else is not forgiven on other weaker hadiths

~~«فَيَغْفِرُ لِعِبَادِهِ إِلَّا لِاثْنَيْنِ مُشَاحِنٍ وَقَاتِلِ نَفْسٍ»~~
~~«فَيغْفرُ لِكُلِّ مؤمنٍ إِلَّا العَاقَّ والمُشَاحِنَ»~~
~~«فَيَغْفِرُ لِلمُسْتَغْفِرِينَ، وَيرْحَمُ المُسْتَرْحِمينَ، وَيُؤَخِّرُ أهْلَ الحِقْدِ كَما هُم»~~
«فَيَغْفِرُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَيُمْهِلُ الْكَافِرِينَ وَيَدَعُ أَهْلَ الْحِقْدِ بِحِقْدِهِمْ حَتَّى يَدْعُوهُ»
«فَيَغْفِرُ لِلْمُسْتَغْفِرِينَ ويَتُوبُ عَلى التّائِبِينَ ويَدَعُ أهْلَ الحِقْدِ بِحِقْدِهِمْ، فَيَغْفِرُ إلّا لِمُشْرِكٍ أوْ مُشاحِنٍ»

Those excluded from forgiveness:

Harborer of enmity or rancor (المُشَاحِن / أهل الحِقد)

Murderer (قاتِل النَّفْس)

Disobedient to parents (العَاقّ لوالديه)

Polytheist (المُشْرِك)

Disbeliever (الكافر)

Did you know? Allah descends every single night

«يَنْزِلُ رَبُّنَا تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا
حِينَ يَبْقَى ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ الآخِرُ
يَقُولُ: مَنْ يَدْعُونِي فَأَسْتَجِيبَ لَهُ؟ مَنْ يَسْأَلُنِي فَأُعْطِيَهُ؟ مَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُنِي فَأَغْفِرَ لَهُ؟» البخاري 1145

Summary of Forgiveness on Nisf Shaban

Summary of Forgiveness during the Night of Nisf Shaban

Allah's forgiveness is generally accepted by most scholars

Diseases of the heart are to be generally cleansed throughout the year

Most other ahadith on this subject or any action are either very weak or fabricated

No special practices are known to be authentically practiced such as:

visiting graves

making specific duas or dhkir

giving away of sweets or food

Allah's mercy is available the last third of every night throughout the year

Practices of Nisf Shaban

Visiting of graves

On visiting the graves (Weak)
And forgiving more than the number of hair on the sheep of the tribe of Banu Kalb

«فَقَدْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَيْلَةً فَخَرَجْتُ فَإِذَا هُوَ بِالْبَقِيعِ فَقَالَ: «أَكُنْتِ تَخَافِينَ أَنْ يَحِيفَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكِ وَرَسُولُهُ؟» قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّكَ أَتَيْتَ بَعْضَ نِسَائِكَ۔
فَقَالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ ﷻ يَنْزِلُ لَيْلَةَ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَيَغْفِرُ لأَكْثَرَ مِنْ عَدَدِ شَعْرِ غَنَمِ كَلْبٍ» (ضعيف للترمذي) الترمذي 739

Tirmidhi weakened this hadith
I could not find the Messenger of Allah ﷺ one night, so I left ˹looking for him˺ and found him at the Baqīʿ ˹cemetery˺. He said, "Were you afraid that you had been wronged by Allah and His Messenger?" I said: O Messenger of Allah! I thought that you had come to some of your wives. So he said: "Allah ﷻ descends to the lowest sky during the night of the middle of ˹the month of˺ Shaʿbān and then forgives ˹people˺ more than the number of hair on the sheep of ˹the tribe of Banū˺ Kalb."

Long Hadith about visiting graves al-Baqi (weak)

«قالَتْ عائِشَةُ: دَخَلَ عَلَيَّ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فَوَضَعَ عَنْهُ ثَوْبَيْهِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَسْتَتِمَّ أنْ قامَ فَلَبِسَهُما۔ فَأخَذَتْنِي غَيْرَةٌ شَدِيدَةٌ ظَنَنْتُ أنَّهُ يَأْتِي بَعْضَ صُوَيْحِباتِي۔ فَخَرَجْتُ أتْبَعَهُ فَأدْرَكْتُهُ بِالبَقِيعِ بَقِيعِ الغَرْقَدِ يَسْتَغْفِرُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ والمُؤْمِناتِ والشُّهَداءِ، فَقُلْتُ: بِأبِي وأُمِّي أنْتَ فِي حاجَةِ رَبِّكَ، وأنا فِي حاجَةِ الدُّنْيا فانْصَرَفْتُ، فَدَخَلْتُ حُجْرَتِي ولِي نَفَسٌ عالٍ۔
ولَحِقَنِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ، فَقالَ: «ما هَذا النَّفَسُ يا عائِشَةُ؟»، فَقُلْتُ: بِأبِي وأُمِّي أتَيْتَنِي فَوَضَعْتَ عَنْكَ ثَوْبَيْكَ ثُمَّ لَمْ تَسْتَتِمَّ أنْ قُمْتَ فَلَبِسْتَهُما فَأخَذَتْنِي غَيْرَةٌ شَدِيدَةٌ، ظَنَنْتُ أنَّكَ تَأْتِي بَعْضَ صُوَيْحِباتِي حَتّى رَأيْتُكَ بِالبَقِيعِ تَصْنَعُ ما تَصْنَعُ۔
قالَ: «يا عائِشَةُ أكُنْتِ تَخافِينَ أنْ يَحِيفَ اللهُ عَلَيْكِ ورَسُولُهُ، بَلْ أتانِي جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، فَقالَ: هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةُ لَيْلَةُ النِّصْفِ مِن شَعْبانَ ولِلَّهِ فِيها عُتَقاءُ مِنَ النّارِ بِعَدَدِ شُعُورِ غَنَمِ كَلْبٍ، لا يَنْظُرُ اللهُ فِيها (١) إلى مُشْرِكٍ، (٢) ولا إلى مُشاحِنٍ، (٣) ولا إلى قاطِعِ رَحِمٍ، (٤) ولا إلى مُسْبِلٍ، (٥) ولا إلى عاقٍّ لِوالِدَيْهِ، (٦) ولا إلى مُدْمِنِ خَمْرٍ»
قالَ: ثُمَّ وضْعَ عَنْهُ ثَوْبَيْهِ، فَقالَ لِي: «يا عائِشَةُ تَأْذَنِينَ لِي فِي قِيامِ هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ؟»، فَقُلْتُ: نَعَمْ بِأبِي وأُمِّي، فَقامَ فَسَجَدَ لَيْلًا طَوِيلًا حَتّى ظَنَنْتُ أنَّهُ قُبِضَ فَقُمْتُ ألْتَمِسْهُ، ووَضَعْتُ يَدِي عَلى باطِنِ قَدَمَيْهِ فَتَحَرَّكَ فَفَرِحْتُ۔
وسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ فِي سُجُودِهِ: «أعُوذُ بِعَفْوِكَ مِن عِقابِكَ، وأعُوذُ بِرِضاكَ مِن سَخَطِكَ، وأعُوذُ بِكَ مِنكَ، جَلَّ وجْهُكَ، لا أُحْصِي ثَناءً عَلَيْكَ أنْتَ كَما أثْنَيْتَ عَلى نَفْسِكَ»
فَلَمّا أصْبَحَ ذَكَرْتُهُنَّ لَهُ فَقالَ: «يا عائِشَةُ تَعَلَّمْتِهُنَّ؟»، فَقُلْتُ: نَعَمْ، فَقالَ: «تَعَلَّمِيهِنَّ وعَلِّمِيهِنَّ، فَإنَّ جِبْرِيلَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ عَلَّمَنِيهِنَّ وأمَرَنِي أنْ أُرَدِّدَهُنَّ فِي السُّجُودِ»،» السيوطي 27324a

The Prophet enters Aishah’s room, then suddenly gets up causing Aishah to feel strong jealousy (she thinks he may visit another wife).

She follows him and finds him at al-Baqi praying for forgiveness for believing men, believing women, and martyrs.

He explains that [[Jibril]] came to inform him that it is the night of mid-Shaban, a night on which Allah grants forgiveness to many but does not extend mercy to certain types of sinners:
1. who associates partners with Him,
2. who harbors hatred toward others,
3. who cuts ties of kinship,
4. who lowers his garments ˹in arrogance˺,
5. disobedient to parents, or
6. habitual wine-drinker.

He asks her permission to spend the night in prayer. She agrees, and he prays a long sajdah with specific phrases seeking refuge in Allah’s pardon, pleasure, and from His wrath.

In the morning, the he tells her to memorize and teach those words of supplication, saying Jibril taught them to him and instructed him to repeat them in sajdah.

Qiyam and night prayer

Fast, and do Qiyam (~={red}Fabricated=~)
Do qiyam and fast because Allah descends asking who is seeking forgiveness

«إِذَا كَانَتْ لَيْلَةُ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ:
فَقُومُوا لَيْلَهَا، وَصُومُوا يَوْمَهَا
فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَنْزِلُ فِيهَا لِغُرُوبِ الشَّمْسِ إِلَى سَمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَيَقُولُ: (أَلاَ مِنْ مُسْتَغْفِرٍ فَأَغْفِرَ لَهُ؟ أَلاَ مُسْتَرْزِقٌ فَأَرْزُقَهُ؟ أَلاَ مُبْتَلًى فَأُعَافِيَهُ؟ أَلاَ كَذَا؟ أَلاَ كَذَا؟ حَتَّى يَطْلُعَ الْفَجْرُ۔» (موضوع للألباني) ابن ماجة 1388

When it is the night of the middle of Sha’ban, spend its night in prayer and observe a fast on that day. For Allah descends at sunset on that night to the lowest heaven and says: ‘Is there no one who will ask Me for forgiveness, that I may forgive him? Is there no one who will ask Me for provision, that I may provide for him? Is there no one who is afflicted by trouble, that I may relieve him?’ And so on, until dawn comes.’”

Method of qiyam / 14 rakas (~={red}Fabricated=~)

عَنْ عَلىٍّ: «رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ الله ﷺ لَيْلة النِّصْفِ من شَعْبَانَ قامَ
فَصَلَّى أربَع عشرة رَكْعَةً،
ثُمَّ جَلَس بَعْدَ الْفَرَاغ
فَقَرأَ بِأُمِّ الْقُرآنِ أربعَ عشرةَ مَرَّةً،
وَ{قُلْ هُوَ الله أَحَدٌ} أَرْبَعَ عَشْرَة مَرَّةً،
وَ{قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ} أَرْبَعَ عَشْرَةَ مَرَّةً،
وَ{قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ} أَرْبَعَ عَشْرَةَ مَرَّةً،
وآيَةَ الكُرْسِى مَرَّةً،
وَ{لَقَدْ جَاءَكُم رسُولٌ مِنْ أَنْفُسكُمْ}. الآيَةَ [التوبة 9:128]،
فَلمَّا فَرغَ مِنْ صَلاَتِهِ سَألتُهُ عَمَّا رَأَيْتُ مِنْ صَنِيعِهِ، قالَ: «مَنْ صَنَعَ مِثْلَ الذى رَأَيْتَ كانَ لَهُ: (١) كعِشْرِينَ حَجَّةً مَبْرُورَةً، (٢) وَصِيَامِ عِشْرِينَ سَنَةً مَقْبُولَةً، (٣) فَإنْ أَصْبَحَ في ذَلكَ الْيَوْمِ صَائِمًا كانَ لهُ كَصِيامِ سَنَتَيْنِ سَنَةٍ مَاضِية وَسَنة مُسْتَقبلَةٍ۔» (موضوع لابن الجوزي) البيهقى في شعب

Prayed 14 rakahs,

then sat down, and recited

14 Fatihah,

14 Ikhlas,

14 Falaq,

14 Nas,

Ayat al-Kursi,

then an 9:128 ~~... لَقَدْ جَاءَكُم رسُولٌ مِنْ أَنْفُسكُمْ~~

Rewarded for

20 accepted hajj

20 years of accepted fasting

if fasted, 2 years of prior fasting for 1 for future fasting

Did you know? Qiyam should be done every night: Witr is Qiyam!

«مَنْ خَافَ أَنْ لاَ يَقُومَ مِنْ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ فَلْيُوتِرْ أَوَّلَهُ
وَمَنْ طَمِعَ أَنْ يَقُومَ آخِرَهُ فَلْيُوتِرْ آخِرَ اللَّيْلِ
فَإِنَّ صَلاَةَ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ مَشْهُودَةٌ وَذَلِكَ أَفْضَلُ وَقَالَ أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ مَحْضُورَةٌ» مسلم 755a

The best prayer after fard is the night prayer

«أَفْضَلُ الصَّلاَةِ بَعْدَ الصَّلاَةِ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ الصَّلاَةُ فِي جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ
وَأَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ صِيَامُ شَهْرِ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمِ» مسلم 1163b

Summary of Special Qiyam or Special Fasting

Fabricated narration to fast during the day after

Fabricated narration on a specific qiyam on this night

We are encouraged to do qiyam every night and fast every Monday and Thursday, and the white days.

Takeways on Nisf Shaban

Ibn Taymiyyah

ليلة النصف من شعبان، فقد روى في فضلها من الأحاديث المرفوعة والآثار ما يقتضي أنها ليلة مفضلة وأن من السلف من كان يخصها بالصلاة فيها، وصوم شهر شعبان قد جاءت فيه أحاديث صحيحة. ومن العلماء: من السلف من أهل المدينة، وغيرهم من الخلف، من أنكر فضلها، وطعن في الأحاديث الواردة فيها، كحديث: «إن الله يغفر فيها لأكثر من عدد شعر غنم كلب». وقال: لا فرق بينها وبين غيرها. لكن الذي عليه كثير من أهل العلم، أو أكثرهم، من أصحابنا وغيرهم -على تفضيلها، وعليه يدل نص أحمد، لتعدد الأحاديث الواردة فيها، وما يصدق ذلك من الآثار السلفية، وقد روي بعض فضائلها في المسانيد والسنن. وإن كان قد وضع فيها أشياء أخر.
فأما صوم يوم النصف مفردًا فلا أصل له، بل إفراده مكروه، وكذلك اتخاذه موسمًا تصنع فيه الأطعمة، وتظهر فيه الزينة، هو من المواسم المحدثة المبتدعة، التي لا أصل لها. وكذلك ما قد أحدث في ليلة النصف، من الاجتماع العام للصلاة الألفية (٢) في المساجد الجامعة، ومساجد الأحياء والدروب (٣) والأسواق. فإن هذا الاجتماع لصلاة نافلة مقيدة بزمان وعدد، وقدر من القراءة لم يشرع، مكروه. فإن الحديث الوارد في الصلاة الألفية (٤) موضوع باتفاق أهل العلم بالحديث، وما كان هكذا لا يجوز استحباب صلاة بناء عليه، وإذا لم يستحب فالعمل المقتضي لاستحبابها مكروه. (اقتضاء الصراط المستقيم لابن تيمية)
The night of mid-Shaban has been reported in Prophetic traditions and other narrations to be a night of merit, and some of the early generations (salaf) would dedicate it to prayer. There are also authentic hadiths about fasting in the month of Shaban.

However, some scholars—from the early generations in Madinah and others who came after—rejected its virtue and criticized the hadiths narrated about it, such as the hadith stating: ‘Verily, Allah forgives (on this night) more than the number of hairs on the sheep of the tribe of Kalb,’ and they claimed there is no difference between this night and others.

==Merit of the Night: But what many, or most, scholars—among our own school and others—uphold is its merit. This is indicated by Ahmad’s explicit statement, due to the numerous hadiths regarding it, supported by reports from the early generations.== Some of its virtues have been mentioned in the Musnads and Sunan, even though some other narrations about it are fabricated.

Fasting the Next Day: As for fasting on the fifteenth day alone, there is no basis for that, and singling it out is disliked. Likewise, making that day into a festival—preparing special foods and displaying decorations—is one of the newly invented practices that has no foundation.

Innovations: Similarly, the innovation of large public gatherings for the so-called ‘thousand-unit prayer’ on the night of mid-Shaban in congregational mosques, neighborhood mosques, or marketplaces is disliked ... An act based on a fabricated narration cannot be deemed recommended, and when it is not recommended, doing something to imply that it is recommended is itself disliked.”

Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali

فيَنْبَغي للمؤمنِ أنْ يَتَفرَّغَ في تلكَ الليلةِ لذكرِ اللهِ تَعالى ودعائِهِ بغفرانِ الذُّنوبِ وسترِ العيوبِ وتفريجِ الكروبِ، وأنْ يُقَدَّمَ على ذلكَ التَّوبةَ؛ فإنَّ الله يَتوبُ فيها على مَن يَتوبُ. ويَتَعَيَّنُ على المسلمِ أنْ يَتَجَنَّبَ الذُّنوبَ التي تَمْنَعُ مِن المغفرةِ وقبولِ الدُّعاءِ في تلكَ الليلةِ. وقد رُوِيَ أنَّها: الشِّركُ، وقتلُ النَّفسِ، والزِّنى (٥) وهذهِ الثَّلاثةُ أعظمُ الذُّنوبِ عندَ اللهِ (لطائف المعارف لابن رجب)
It is appropriate for the believer to:

devote that night to the remembrance of Allah, and

to make dua to Him for the forgiveness of sins, the concealing of faults, and the removal of afflictions,

preceding all of this with repentance, for Allah grants repentance on that night to those who turn to Him in repentance.

avoid sins that prevent forgiveness and the acceptance of duas on that night.

Imam al-Shafii

وَبَلَغَنَا أَنَّهُ كَانَ يُقَالُ: إنَّ الدُّعَاءَ يُسْتَجَابُ فِي خَمْسِ لَيَالٍ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْجُمُعَةِ، وَلَيْلَةِ الْأَضْحَى، وَلَيْلَةِ الْفِطْرِ، وَأَوَّلِ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْ رَجَبٍ، وَلَيْلَةِ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ أَخْبَرَنَا الرَّبِيعُ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا الشَّافِعِيُّ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا إبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ قَالَ رَأَيْت مَشْيَخَةً مِنْ خِيَارِ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ يَظْهَرُونَ عَلَى مَسْجِدِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ لَيْلَةَ الْعِيدِ فَيَدْعُونَ وَيَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ حَتَّى تَمْضِيَ سَاعَةٌ مِنْ اللَّيْلِ، وَبَلَغْنَا أَنَّ ابْنَ عُمَرَ كَانَ يُحْيِي لَيْلَةَ جُمَعٍ، وَلَيْلَةُ جُمَعٍ هِيَ لَيْلَةُ الْعِيدِ لِأَنَّ صَبِيحَتَهَا النَّحْرُ (قَالَ الشَّافِعِيُّ): وَأَنَا أَسْتَحِبُّ كُلَّ مَا حُكِيَتْ فِي هَذِهِ اللَّيَالِيِ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَكُونَ فَرْضًا (الأم للشافعي)

It has been conveyed to us that it used to be said: Dua is answered on five nights—on the night of Jumuah, the night of Eid al-Adha, the night of Eid al-Fitr, the first night of Rajab, and the night of mid-Shaban.

... Ibrahim b. Muhammad informed us: ‘I witnessed a group of the most virtuous elders of the people of Madinah going to the Prophet’s Mosque on the night of Eid, where they would make dua and remember Allah until some portion of the night had passed. We have also been informed that Ibn Umar used to observe worship on the night of Juma, and Juma night here refers to the night of Eid, because its morning is the day of sacrifice.

I consider everything reported regarding these nights to be recommended, though it is not obligatory.

Finding an excuse to be close to Allah

Recommended to fast or do qiyam any night. No one should stop you.

Avoid makruh days, like (Fridays)

Recommended to ask for forgiveness every day and every night

Recommended to cleanse your heart every day and night

Doing excessive celebrations or specific dhikr is not from the Sunnah

Danger

Danger in excessiveness / ghulu. It's not from Islam

Safest to stick with the authentic sunnah

Avoid grey areas and conflicts

There is plenty we can do to become better muslims by what is available in the authentic sunnah

Conclusion

Dua is not accepted by those who consume haram (prohibited)
Allah is Pure: The dusty man making a dua

~~«أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ طَيِّبٌ، لاَ يَقْبَلُ إِلاَّ طَيِّبًا» مسلم 1015~~

Reception of pure deeds such as charity
Allah accepts Pure deeds with His Right and multiplies it as big as a mountain

«مَنْ تَصَدَّقَ بِعَدْلِ تَمْرَةٍ مِنْ كَسْبٍ طَيِّبٍ
وَلاَ يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ الطَّيِّبَ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَتَقَبَّلُهَا بِيَمِينِهِ
ثُمَّ يُرَبِّيهَا لِصَاحِبِهِ كَمَا يُرَبِّي أَحَدُكُمْ فَلُوَّهُ حَتَّى تَكُونَ مِثْلَ الْجَبَلِ» البخاري 1410

If one give in charity what equals one date-fruit from the honestly earned money and Allah accepts only the honestly earned money --Allah takes it in His right (hand) and then enlarges its reward for that person (who has given it), as anyone of you brings up his baby horse, so much s that it becomes as big as a mountain

When Allah loves

«إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى إِذَا أَحَبَّ عَبْدًا
نَادَى جِبْرِيلَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَحَبَّ فُلاَنًا فَأَحِبَّهُ،
فَيُحِبُّهُ جِبْرِيلُ
ثُمَّ يُنَادِي جِبْرِيلُ فِي السَّمَاءِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَحَبَّ فُلاَنًا فَأَحِبُّوهُ
فَيُحِبُّهُ أَهْلُ السَّمَاءِ وَيُوضَعُ لَهُ الْقَبُولُ فِي أَهْلِ الأَرْضِ» البخاري 7485

If Allah loves a person:

He calls Gabriel, saying, 'Allah loves so and so, O Gabriel love him'

So Gabriel would love him and then

would make an announcement in the Heavens: 'Allah has loved so and-so therefore you should love him also.'

So all the dwellers of the Heavens would love him, and

then he is granted the pleasure of the people on the earth.

﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ سَيَجْعَلُ لَهُمُ الرَّحْمَٰنُ وُدًّا ۝ فَإِنَّمَا يَسَّرْنَاهُ بِلِسَانِكَ لِتُبَشِّرَ بِهِ الْمُتَّقِينَ وَتُنْذِرَ بِهِ قَوْمًا لُدًّا ۝﴾ (سُورَةُ مَريَم ١٩:٩٦)

19:96 Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - the Most Merciful will appoint for them affection. 97 So, ˹O Muhammad˺, We have only made Qur'an easy in the Arabic language that you may give good tidings thereby to the righteous and warn thereby a hostile people.

Footnotes

penetrates ↩︎
prepared ˹to record˺ ↩︎
compilation of oral laws ↩︎
Rabbinic commentaries on the Torah ↩︎
doesn't get bored ↩︎
most regular ↩︎
absolution, innocence ↩︎
contract, cheque, seal ↩︎