Should he fast on the fifteenth of Sha’baan even if the hadeeth is da\'eef?

 

Is it permissible, even after finding out that a hadeeth is da’eef (weak), to follow it, by way of doing righteous deeds? The hadeeth says: “When it is halfway through Sha’baan, spend that night in prayer and fast on that day.” The fast is observed as a voluntary act of devotion to Allaah, as is spending that night in prayer (qiyaam al-layl).

Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly:

What is narrated concerning the virtue of praying, fasting
and worshipping on the fifteenth of Sha’baan (al-nusf min Sha’baan) does not
come under the heading of da’eef (weak), rather it comes under the heading
of mawdoo’ (fabricated) and baatil (false). So it is not permissible to
follow it or to act upon it, whether that is in doing righteous deeds or
otherwise.

A number of scholars ruled that the reports concerning that
were false, such as Ibn al-Jawzi in his book al-Mawdoo’aat,
2/440-445; Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah in al-Manaar al-Muneef, no. 174-
177; Abu Shaamah al-Shaafa’i in al-Baa’ith ‘ala Inkaar al-Bida’
wa’l-Hawaadith, 124-137; al-‘Iraaqi in Takhreej Ihyaa’ ‘Uloom il-Deen,
no. 582. Shaykh al-Islam [Ibn Taymiyah] narrated that there was consensus on
the fact that they are false, in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 28/138.

Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in
Hukm al-Ihtifaal bi Laylat al-Nusf min Sha’baan (Ruling on celebrating
the fifteenth of Sha’baan):

Celebrating the night of
the fifteenth of Sha’baan (Laylat al-Nusf min Sha’baan) by praying etc, or
singling out this day for fasting, is a reprehensible bid’ah (innovation)
according to the majority of scholars, and there is no basis for this in
sharee’ah.

And he (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

There is no saheeh
hadeeth concerning the night of the fifteenth of Sha’baan (Laylat al-Nusf
min Sha’baan). All the ahaadeeth that have been narrated concerning that are
mawdoo’ (fabricated) and da’eef (weak), and have no basis. There is nothing
special about this night, and no recitation of Qur’aan or prayer, whether
alone or in congregation, is specified for this night. What some of the
scholars have said about it being special is a weak opinion. It is not
permissible to single it out for any special actions. This is the correct
view. And Allaah is the Source of strength.

Fataawa Islamiyyah, 4/511.

See also question no.
8907.

Secondly:

Even if we assume that the hadeeth is da’eef (weak) and not
mawdoo’ (fabricated), the correct scholarly view is that weak ahaadeeth
should not be followed at all, even if they speak of righteous deeds or of
targheeb and tarheeb (promises and warnings). The saheeh reports are
sufficient and the Muslim has no need to follow the da’eef reports. Nothing
is known in Islam to suggest that this night or day is special, either from
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or from his
companions.

The scholar Ahmad Shaakir said: There is no difference
between rulings or righteous deeds; we do not take any of them from da’eef
reports, rather no one hast he right to use any report as evidence unless it
is proven to be soundly narrated from the Messenger of Allaah (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in a saheeh or hasan hadeeth.

Al-Baa’ith al-Hatheeth, 1/278.

For more information, see: al-Qawl al-Muneef fi Hukm
al-‘Aml bi’l-Hadeeth al-Da’eef.

See also the answer to question no.
44877.

And Allaah knows best.