Reading 6 rak’aat after Maghrib tonight?

by Asma bint Shameem 

Ok so tonight is the night of the fifteenth of Sha’baan. 

But is tonight really a ‘Special’ night?

Is tonight a ‘Blessed Night’ when our “fates” will be decided?

They tell us to read 6 rak’aat after maghrib.

2 Rak’aat for increasing lifespan

2 Rak’aat for increasing provision

2 Rak’aat for protection

But should we read those 6 rak’aat after Maghrib with these intentions?

Is this what the Prophet ﷺ said or did?

Is it really proven from the Sharee’ah to read six separate rak’aat specifically for these reasons?

Is our lifespan and provision and protection from harm decided tonight?

The answer to all of the above questions is NO!

The Qur’aan does NOT say that!

Yes there’s an Aayah that some people refer to.

But that Aayah is NOT referring to the night of the fifteenth of Sha’baan.

🍃Allaah says:

‎إِنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَـٰهُ فِى لَيۡلَةٍ۬ مُّبَـٰرَكَةٍ‌ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِينَ فِيہَا يُفۡرَقُ كُلُّ أَمۡرٍ حَكِيمٍ- أَمۡرً۬ا مِّنۡ عِندِنَآ

“Verily, We Sent it down on a Blessed Night.

Verily, We are ever warning.

Therein is decreed every matter of ordainments. As a Command from Us.”

(Surah ad-Dukhaan:3-5)

But this ‘Blessed Night’ is NOT the fifteenth of Sha’baan where “every matter of ordainments” is decreed.

How can I say that?

The Aayah before this one gives us the answer. 

🍃Allaah says: 

“Verily, We Sent it down on a Blessed Night”

THINK about this Aayah and its meaning. 

What is ‘IT’ that Allaah sent down on a Blessed Night’?

Surely that’s the Qur’aan that Allaah is talking about. 

Allaah is telling us that He sent down the Qur’aan on a Blessed Night. 

And that ‘Blessed Night’ is in Ramadhaan; NOT Sha’baan.

How do we know?

🍃Allaah tells us:

‎شَہۡرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانُ

“The month of Ramadhaan in which was revealed the Qur’aan.”

🍃And Allaah says:

‎إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ

“Verily! We have sent it (this Qur’aan) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree)” (Surah al-Qadr:1)

Laylatul Qadr is in Ramadhaan; NOT in Sha’baan. Correct?

So the Qur’aan PROVES to us that the ‘Blessed Night’ when whatever’s written for us will come to pass, is the Night of Qadr in ‘RAMADHAAN’, and NOT the fifteenth of Sha’baan.

📌Questions to ask yourself:

So if the night of the fifteenth of Sha’baan is not when our fates will be decreed, then why are we praying the six rak’aat after Maghrib?

Why are we doing acts of ibaadah that are NOT proven from the Sharee’ah?

🔺FACT:

There’s no Aayah in the Qur’aan that tells us that ibaadah on the night of the fifteenth of Sha’baan is special. 

🔺FACT:

The Prophet ﷺ never prayed such rak’aat. 

🔺FACT:

The Sahaabah never prayed such rak’aat. 

Well then?

Why should WE be praying these rak’aat then?

What’s the purpose of such rak’aat if it’s not proven from the authentic Sharee’ah?

The night of the fifteenth of Sha’baan is NOT the night when your fate is decided. 

The six rak’aat after Maghrib are NOT legislated in the Sharee’ah. 

Similarly, there’s no proof of reading Surah Yaseen, or Surah al-Ikhlaas a certain number of times or other specific surahs or praying any special prayers either such as Salaat Alfiyyah etc. 

In fact all this is an ADDITION to the pure Deen that our beloved Prophet ﷺ brought. 

And therefore this action is NOT accepted by Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala. 

🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever does any action that is not in accordance with this matter of ours (i.e., Islaam), will have it rejected.” (Muslim)

🍃 Ibn Dihyah said: 

“The hadeeths about the prayer on Laylat al-Baraa’ah are fabricated and one has an interruption in the isnaad.

Anyone who acts upon a report which is known to be false is a servant of the Shaytaan.”

(Tadhkirat al-Mawdoo‘aat)

🔺Conclusion:

The ‘Blessed Night’ that Surah Dukhaan is talking about is no other than Laylatul Qadr of Ramadhaan. 

It is “Laylatul Qadr” in Ramadhaan when angels descend and taqdeer is sent down... and NOT on the night of 15th of Sha’baan. 

And Allaah knows best.