VISITING THE GRAVEYARD ON THE 15TH NIGHT OF SH’ABAAN

Going to the graveyard on the 15th night of Shabaan.

It is evident that the Prophet (S.A)  made dua for the deceased in Al Baqee when it was the night of the 15th of Shabaan. However, the jurist experts (Fuqaha) and scholars of hadith have stated that going to the grave yard is not from an established act which is to be done on the 15th night of Shabaan. It is also not from the specialities of the 15th night of Shabaan.

Instead, it is evident from the authentic narrations that the Prophet (S.A)  used to visit the graveyard in the last part of the night. In this regard, Aisha (R.A) said, ‘Whenever the Prophet (S.A)  spent the night with me (on my turn), he used to visit the graveyard (Baqee) in the last part of the night, and would say (at the graveyard) ‘Peace be upon you, the home of the believers. Your death has come which you were promised. You are going towards Qiyamah tomorrow. We will also be meeting you. Oh Allah forgive the dwellers of Baqee Al Gharqad (graveyard in Madina) (Sahih Muslim, باب ما يقال عند دخول القبور و الدعاء)

In another narration of Sahih Muslim, Aisha (R.A) described another occasion when the Prophet (S.A) left her on the bed and went to the graveyard to make dua for the deceased. The Prophet (S.A) then informed her that Jibraeel (A.S) came to him and informed him that his lord has ordered him to go to Baqee (the graveyard) and make dua of forgivness for the dwellers of the grave. In this narration of Sahih Muslim, there was no mention of this being on the 15th night of Shabaan. In fact, as mentioned before by Aisha (R.A) whenever it was the night for the Prophet (S.A) to spend with her, he used to visit the graveyard in the last part of the night. (Sahih Muslim, باب ما يقال عند دخول القبور و الدعاء)

While explaining the hadith of Aisha (R.A) narrated by Imam Tirnidhi that the prophet (S.A) visited the graveyard of Baqee Al Gharqad on the 15th night of Shabaan and made dua for the deceased, the scholars of hadith have stated that the narration is weak and hence, does not establish a special practice of visiting the graveyard on the night of the 15th of Shabaan. (Tuhfa Al Ahwazi, Commentry of Jame Tirmidhi, Vol.3, Pgs.501-505, Qadimi Kutub Khana)

In his commentary of Jame Tirnidhi, the great scholar, Mufti Saeed Ahmad (D.B) has stated that, ‘on this night, one can supplicate for himself and the deceased, and there is no need to go to the graveyard.’ He aslo writes, ‘The narration of going to the graveyard is weak. Besides this, the Prophet (S.A) did not encourage the people to go to the graveyard on the night of the 15th of Shabaan. (Tuhfa Al Alma’ee, Commentary of Tirmidhi, Pgs.114-116, Vol.3, Zam Zam Publisher, Karachi)

As stated before, the Prophet’s practice was to visit the graveyard whenever he spent his night with Aisha (R.A) and he will visit at the last part of the night. Scholars have explained that the night of the 15th Shabaan came in when he was at Aisha’s place, and so, in accordance to his established practice, he visited the graveyard in Madina (Baqee Al Gharqad) and made dua for the deceased. This is clearly evident from the authentic narrations of Imam Muslim in his Sahih, and in these traditions, there is no mention of the 15th night of Shabaan.

Hence, seeing that the blessedness of the night is established as mentioned by many scholars, one should worship Allah and make dua for himself and the deceased members of his family and the Ummah. However, there is no established teaching from the ahadith that shows that one must go to the graveyard as a special practice of the 15th night of Shabaan.

Darul Uloom Trinidad and Tobago

Rashaad Ave., Mon Plasir Road, Cunupia. Trinidad, W.I.

Tel: (868) 665-8868 / Fax: (868) 665-1442, Website: www.darululoomtt.org, Email: darululoom@mail.tt