Mother of the Believers Hadrat Sayyidah Khadija Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anha

 

Sayyiduna Rasoolullah's (SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam) marriage with Sayyidah Khadija Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha took place about fifteen years before the beginning of the Revelation, he being 25, and she was 40 years old. She was a rich widow and ran a large trade of her own. It was she who offered herself in marriage to the Holy Prophet Muhammad SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam who was associated with her in her trading ventures. From the time of her marriage with the Holy Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam till her death, over a period of twenty years, she gave her husband ease of circumstances, and deep love and devotion.

 

 In spite of conspicuous difference in age, Sayyiduna Rasoolullah's SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam love for Sayyidah Khadija Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha never wavered. When death parted her from the Beloved Nabi SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam after having shared with him for 28 years the toils and trials of life, especially the first ten years of his Ministry of Prophethood, he deeply mourned her death. Once Sayyidah Ayesha Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha asked him if she had been the only woman worthy of his love. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam replied in an honest burst of tender emotion:

"She believed in me when none else did. She embraced Islam when people disbelieved me. And she helped and comforted me when there was none else to lend me a helping hand."

 

In the heart of the Holy Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam grateful and affectionate remembrance of her remained fresh until the very end of his life. The Holy Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam remained true and loyal to Sayyidah Khadija Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha until he was over 50 years old. This had been the case at a time when polygamy was normal among the Arabs. Moreover, since no male offspring of Sayyidah Khadija Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha survived, he had all the necessary justification to marry another woman considering that newborn daughters were customarily buried alive and male offspring alone regarded as rightful heirs.

 

Before Sayyiduna Rasoolullah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam announced his Prophethood he had lived 17 years of married life, and thereafter eleven more years without ever thinking of marriage with another woman. He was kind to all her fellows and occasionally sent them gifts.

"Never was I jealous of any of the Prophet's wives", said Sayyidah Ayesha Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha, "but Khadija, although I never saw her. Her sweet memory never blurred in the Prophet's SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam heart. Once I hurt his feelings on this issue and he replied gravely, 'Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala has blessed me with her love.'"

 

Sayyiduna Khadija Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha bore the Beloved Habeeb SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam seven children, the first born was named Sayyiduna Qaasim Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho, after whom, according to Arab custom, the Holy Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam received the Kunya "Abul Qaasim" or "the father of Qaasim". Then were born Sayyiduna Tayyab Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha and Sayyiduna Taahir Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anhum Ajmaa'een. All of them passed away in their infancy. Amongst the daughters Sayyidah Ruqayya Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha was the eldest, then came Sayyidah Zaynab Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha, Sayyidah Umm Kulthoom Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha and the last and best known of them was Sayyidah Faatima Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha.

 

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Ja'far Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha reported that he heard Sayyiduna Ali Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho saying in Kufa that Allah's Messenger SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam said:

"The best of the women of her time was Mariam Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha, daughter of Imran, and the best of the women of her time was Khadija Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha, daughter of Khuwailid. Abu Kuraib said that Waki' pointed towards the sky and the earth. What this implies is that Mariam Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha and Khadija Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha were best in their respective times not only amongst the creatures of the earth, but of the heaven too."

 

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayra Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha reported that Sayyiduna Jibra'eel Alaihis Salam came to Allah's Messenger SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam and said:

"Allah's Messenger! Khadija is coming to you with a vessel of seasoned food or drink. When she comes to you, offer her greetings from her Lord, the Exalted and Glorious, and on my behalf and give her glad tidings of a palace of jewels in Paradise wherein there is no noise and no toil".

This Hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayra Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha through another chain of transmitters with a slight variation of wordings.

 

Sayyidah Ayesha Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha reported that Allah's Apostle SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam gave glad tidings to Sayyidah Khadija bint Khuwailid Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha of a palace in Paradise. Sayyidah Ayesha Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha further reported:

"Never did I feel jealous of any woman, as I was jealous of Khadija Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha. She had died three years before the Holy Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam married me. I often heard him praise her, and his Lord, the Exalted and Gracious, had commanded him to give her the glad tidings of a palace of jewels in Paradise, and whenever he slaughtered a sheep he presented its meat to her female companions".

In another Hadith, Sayyidah Ayesha Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha added:

"I annoyed him one day and said, 'It is Khadija Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha only who always prevails upon your mind'. Thereupon, Allah's Messenger SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam said, 'Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala Himself had nurtured Her love in my heart.'"

 

Sayyidah Ayesha Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha reported that Allah's Messenger SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam did not marry any other woman till Sayyidah Khadija's Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha death. The point is why did Allah's Messenger SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam not marry during the lifetime of Sayyidah Khadija Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha but, after her sad demise, he married several wives. The fact is that the Holy Prophet of Islam SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam married all his wives from the point of view of religious necessity.

At the age of twenty-five, he married Sayyidah Khadija Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anha who was forty and she remained with him for the quarter of a century as a great source of strength and consolation to him. During this period the Holy Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam was busy in instilling in the minds of the people the fundamentals of faith, Oneness of Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala, Apostlehood of Muhammad SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam, life after death. He did not feel the necessity of marrying another lady because it was only in the matter of faith and belief that he had to strive hard with mankind.

 

After his migration to Madinatul Munawwara when the Islamic society was established and the Muslims were required to conform their personal and social behaviour to the teaching of Islam, revelations for practical guidance in all walks of life came from Almighty Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala. This had to be explained in various places and in different spheres by the life examples of the Holy Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam. There was not one problem but numerous problems and most of them were social which needed solutions at every step. Thus, it was felt that a group of women should be trained in Islamic ideals and it was done through the wives of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam. It was not an ordinary work, but an important task of vast magnitude, which required the sweat, and labour of so many pious souls and these were the noble wives of the Holy Prophet of Islam SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam.

— — —
Extracted from
Gateway to Heaven (A Concise Manual for Muslim Sisters)
by Sayyid Shah Aal-e-Rasool Nazmi al-Husaini al-Qadiri Barakati Marehrawi

Mahe Ramadan Mubarak 2012

1. Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu reported that the Messenger of Allah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) has said,

إذا دخل رمضان فتحت أبواب السماء (وفي رواية) فتحت أبواب الجنة وغلقت أبواب النار وسلسلت الشياطين (وفي رواية) فتحت أبواب الرحمة
“When Ramadan begins, the doors of heaven are opened.” A version has, “the doors of Paradise are opened and the doors of Hell are closed, and the Satans are tied with chains.” Another version has, “the doors of Mercy are opened.” [Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 1, Page 255 and Sahih al-Muslim, Vol. 1, Page 346]

Hadrat Shaykh ‘Abd al-Haq Muhaddith-e-Dehlwi Alaihir raHmah comments:

The meaning of the “Doors of heaven” being opened is the continuous descending of mercy, and the ascension of good deeds to the Court of the Almighty without any obstacle (preventing it from ascending). It also means the acceptance of (permissible) supplications. The meaning of the “doors of Paradise” being opened is being encouraged and granted the ability to perform good deeds, and the acceptance of these good deeds. The meaning of the “doors of Hell” being closed is the protection of the souls of those who fast, from things which have been forbidden by the Islamic Law, and rescue from the things which provoke a person on doing bad deeds. It also means to break the desire which the heart has of things of lust. The meaning of Satan being tied with chains is the sealing off of all the ways by which evil whispers enter the mind. [Ashi’ah al-Lam’at]

2. Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu reported that the Messenger of Allah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam)  has said,

من صام رمضان إيمانا واحتسابا غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه ومن قام رمضان إيمانا واحتسابا غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه ومن قام ليلة القدر إيمانا واحتسابا غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه
“Whoever fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward (from AllahSubHanuhu wa Ta'ala) all his past sins will be forgiven. Whoever prays during the night in Ramadan with faith seeking his reward (from Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala) all his past sins will be forgiven. And whoever passes Lailat-ul-Qadr in prayer with faith and seeking his reward (from Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala) all his past sins will be forgiven.” [Sahih al-Bukhari Vol. 1, Page 255 and Sahih al-Muslim, Vol. 1, Page 259]

3. Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu reported that the Messenger of Allah(SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) has said,

إذا كان أول ليلة من شهر رمضان صفدت الشياطين ومردة الجن وغلقت أبواب النار فلم يفتح منها باب وفتحت أبواب الجنة فلم يغلق منها باب وينادى مناد يا باغى الخير أقبل ويا باغى الشر أقصر ولله عتقاء من النار وذلك كل ليلة
“When the first night of Ramadan comes, the satans and the rebellious Jinn are chained, the doors of hell are closed and not one of them is opened (during the entire the month of Ramadan); the doors of Paradise are opened and none of them are closed (for the entire month of Ramadan); and a crier calls, ‘Those who desire what is good, come forward, and those who desire evil refrain from it’, and many people are freed from Hell by Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala, and that happens every night.” [Tirmidhi, Vol. 1, Page 153 and Ibn Maajah, Vol. 1, Page 118]

4. Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu reported that the Messenger of Allah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) has said,

أتاكم رمضان شهر مبارك فرض الله عز وجل عليكم صيامه تفتح فيه أبواب السماء وتغلق فيه أبواب الجحيم وتغل فيه مردة الشياطين لله فيه ليلة خير من ألف شهر من حرم خيرها فقد حرم
“Ramadan, a blessed month, has come to you during which Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala has made it obligatory for you to fast. In it the doors of Heaven are opened, the doors of Hell are closed, and the rebellious satans are chained. In it there is a night (worshiping in it) which is better than (worshiping for) a thousand months. Whoever is deprived of its good (and blessing) has indeed been deprived of all good.” [Nasa’i, Vol. 1, Page 299 and Mishkat, Vol. 1, Page 173]

5. Hadrat Salman al-Farisi Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu reported that on the last day of Sha’ban the Messenger of Allah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) delivered a sermon. He (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said,

يا أيها الناس قد أظلكم شهر عظيم ، شهر مبارك ، شهر فيه ليلة خير من ألف شهر ، جعل الله صيامه فريضة ، وقيام ليله تطوعا ، من تقرب فيه بخصلة من الخير كان كمن أدى فريضة فيما سواه ، ومن أدى فريضة فيه كان كمن أدى سبعين فريضة فيما سواه ، وهو شهر الصبر ، والصبر ثوابه الجنة ، وشهر المواساة ، وشهر يزاد في رزق المؤمن ، من فطر فيه صائما كان له مغفرة لذنوبه ، وعتق رقبته من النار ، وكان له مثل أجره من غير أن ينقص من أجره شيء
“O people, a great month, a blessed month, a month wherein there is a night which is better than a thousand months has come to you. Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala has made the observance of fasting during it as obligatory, and the standing (in prayer) in its nights as voluntary. Whoever draws near to Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala during it with some good (voluntary, optional) act he is like the one who fulfils an obligatory duty in another month, and whoever fulfils an obligatory duty in it is like the one who fulfils seventy obligatory duties in another month. It is the month of endurance and the reward of endurance is Paradise. It is the month of sharing with others, and a month in which the believer’s provision is increased. Whoever gives one who has been fasting something with which to break his fast it shall result in the forgiveness of his sins and it shall save him from Hell, and he will have a reward equal to his without his reward being diminished in any respect.”

We said,

يا رسول الله ، ليس كلنا يجد ما يفطر الصائم
“O Messenger of Allah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam), none from among us has the means to give one who is fasting something with which to break his fast.

He said,

يعطي الله هذا الثواب من فطر صائما على مذقة لبن أو تمرة أو شربة من ماء ، ومن أشبع صائما سقاه الله من حوضي شربة لا يظمأ حتى يدخل الجنة ، وهو شهر أوله رحمة ، وأوسطه مغفرة ، وآخره عتق من النار من خفف عن مملوكه فيه غفر الله له وأعتقه من النار
“Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala gives this reward to him who gives one who is fasting some milk, or a date, or a drink of water with which to break his fast; and whoever gives a full meal to one who is fasting Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala will give him the drink from my Pond (fountain – Kauthar) and he will not feel the thirst till he enters Paradise. It is a month whose beginning is Mercy, whose middle is Forgiveness, and whose end is Freedom from Hell. Whoever makes things easy for his slave during it, Allah will forgive him and free him from Hell.” [Shau'ab al-Imam lil Bayhaqi, Vol. 8, Page 120 and Mishkat, Page 173]

6. Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu reported that the Holy Prophet (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) has said,

أنه يغفر لأمته في آخر ليلة من رمضان ، قيل : يا رسول الله أهي ليلة القدر ؟ قال : لا ، ولكن العامل إنما يوفى أجره إذا قضى عمله
“My Ummah is granted forgiveness in the last night of Ramadan. It was asked, “O Messenger of Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala, is it Lailatul Qadr?” He said, “No, but a workman (slave of Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala) is paid wages in full when he finishes work.” [Musnad Imam Ahmad, Vol. 2, Page 567]

7. Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu reported that the Messenger of Allah(SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) has said,

من ذرعه القىء فليس عليه قضاء ومن استقاء عمدا فليقض
“It is not necessary to fast again (do qaza) for a person who naturally vomited. Those who vomit on purpose, then it is necessary on them to fast again.” [Tirmidhi, Vol. 1, Page 153 and Sunan Abi Dawud, Vol. 1, Page 324]

8. Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu reported that the Messenger of Allah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) has said,

من لم يدع قول الزور والعمل به فليس لله حاجة فى أن يدع طعامه وشرابه
“If one (who is fasting) does not give up falsehood and action according to it, AllahSubHanuhu wa Ta'ala has no need that he should give up his food and his drink.” [Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 1, Page 255]

Shaykh ‘Abd Al-Haq Muhaddith-e-Dehlwi Alaihir raHmah comments:This means that his fast shall not be accepted, as the main purpose of fast being made obligatory on a Muslim is not that one stays hungry and thirsty; but in fact the main purpose is to break the desire for lust, and to cool the fire of selfishness, so that the soul instead of being inclined towards the desires of lust, it becomes obedient towards the commands of The Almighty. [Ashi’ah al-Lam’at, Vol. 2, Page 85]
9. Hadrat Salmah ibn Muhabbaq Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anha reported that the Messenger of Allah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) has said,

من كانت له حمولة تأوى إلى شبع فليصم رمضان حيث أدركه
“Whoever has a riding animal (conveyance) which carries him to where he can get sufficient food, he should observe the fast of Ramadan wherever he is, when it comes.”[Sunan Abi Dawud, Vol. 1, Page 327]

10. Hadrat Anas ibn Malik al-Ka’bi Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu reported that the Messenger of Allah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) has said,

إن الله تعالى وضع عن المسافر شطر الصلاة والصوم عن المسافر وعن المرضع أو الحبلى
“Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala has remitted half the prayer to the traveller ; and fasting to the traveller, the woman who is suckling an infant and the woman who is pregnant.”[Tirmidhi, Vol. 1, Page 152 and Sunan Abi Dawud, Vol. 1, Page 327]

Hadrat Shaykh ‘Abd al-Haq Muhaddith-e-Dehlwi Alaihir raHmah comments:

The Islamic Law allowing the omission of fast for the breast-feeding and the pregnant woman is only in the situation when fasting shall harm or damage herself or the child (otherwise there is no permission not to fast). [Ashi’ah al-Lam’ah, Vol. 2 Page 94]

11. Hadrat Abu Ayyub al-Ansari Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anhu reported that the Messenger of Allah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) has said,

من صام رمضان ثم أتبعه ستا من شوال كان كصيام الدهر
“Whoever fasts during Ramadan then follows it with six days in Shawwal, it will be like a perpetual fast .” [Sahih al-Muslim, Vol. 1, Page 369]

12. Hadrat Abu Qatada Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu reported that the Messenger of Allah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) has said,

صيام يوم عرفة أحتسب على الله أن يكفر السنة التى قبله والسنة التى بعده
“I seek from Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala that fasting on the day of ‘Arafah may atone for the sins of the preceding and the coming year.” [Sahih al-Muslim, Vol. 1, Page 367]

It is disliked for a Haji, who is in the plain of ‘Arafah on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, to fast on that day [so that he can perform worship and engage himself in the remembrance of Allah to his maximum).

13. Hadrat Hafsah Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anha reported,

أربع لم يكن يدعهن النبى -صلى الله عليه وسلم- صيام عاشوراء والعشر وثلاثة أيام من كل شهر وركعتين قبل الفجر
“There were four things which the Holy Prophet (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) never omitted: fasting on ‘Ashurah (10th of Muharram), the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah and three days (13th, 14th and 15th) every (Islamic) month and praying two rak’ats before the Fard prayers of Fajr.” [Nasa’i, Vol. 1, Page 328]

14. Hadrat Abu Dhar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu reported that the Messenger of Allah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) has said,

يا أبا ذر إذا صمت من الشهر ثلاثة أيام فصم ثلاث عشرة وأربع عشرة وخمس عشرة
“O Abu Dhar (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu)! When you intend to fast three days in a month, fast on the thirteenth, fourteenth and the fifteenth.” [Nasa’i, Vol. 1, Page 328 and Tirmidhi, Vol. 1, Page 159]

Ramadan Doc

LAYLATUL BARAA'AH (NIGHT OF SALVATION) SHAB-E-BARAAT

Bismillah hirrahman nirraheem

Nahmadahu va nusalli ala rasoolahil kareem

Assalamualikum va rahmatullahi va barakatahu

Most beloved fasts of the Prophet (pbuh) is fasting in the month of Shaban

Narrated Hazrat Aishah(ra);

I asked himself Prophet (pbuh):

“You fast most on the month of Shaban.”

He commanded:

O Aishah! This month is such a month that the names of all people who are going to die in the coming year are given to Azrail (The Angel of Death). I wish, if my name given, I must be in a state of fasting. (Bukhari)

In another narration Hazrat Aishah(ra):

“Shaban was the most beloved month to Allah’s Prophet to fast in it. And he used to fast and connected it with Ramadan.”

(Nasai, Ahmad Bin Hanbal, Bayhaqi, Abu Dawud)

LAYLATUL BARAA'AH - NIGHT OF SALVATION 

The 15th night of Shabaan is a very blessed night. According to the Hadith Shareef, the name of this Mubarak night is "Nisf Shabaan"which means 15th night of Shabaan. The reason for this special night to attain its name of Laylatul Baraa'ah, meaning the Night of Salvation, Seeking Freedom from Azaab and Calamity, is that in this night the Barkaat and acceptance of repentance may be accomplished. Laylatul Baraa'ah in Persian, as well as in Urdu, is called Shabbe Baraat.

Deeds are lifted up to the Lord of the Worlds

Usama (ra) said:

“O Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting in any other month like you fast in Shaban.”

Prophet (pbuh):

“That is a month of which people do not pay attention, between Rajab and Ramadan. In this month deeds are and lifted up and presented to the Lord of the Worlds. I wish my deeds to be lifted up when I am fasting.” (Nasai, Ahmad Bin Hanbal)

Allah (swt) will forgive past sins of him who fasts on Shaban

“When the night of the middle of Shabaan (the night of Baraat) comes, spend the night in pray and spend the day fasting, Allah descends to the lowest Heaven and says, “Is there anyone begging for forgiveness that I might forgive him? Is there anyone begging for sustenance that I may feed him? Is there any such and such?” This goes on until the break of dawn” (Ibn Majah)

HOW TO WELCOME THIS NIGHT 
On this auspicious night, you should perform fresh Ghusal and Wudhu and perform the two Rakaat of Tahhiyatul Wudhu. In every Rakaat, after the Suratul Fatiha, you should read Ayatul Kursi once and Surah Ahad three times. Also perform eight Rakaats of Salaah with four Salaams. In each Rakaat after the Surah Fatiha, you should read the Ayatul Kursi (once) and Surah Ahad fifty times. 

WHAT TO RECITE IMMEDIATELY AFTER SUNSET 
After sunset, you should recite "La Hawla walaa Quwwata illa Billahil-aliyil Azeem" forty times with three times Durood Shareef before and after. It is mentioned that by reciting this, Almighty Allah will forgive forty years of your sins and forty Hoors will await to serve you in Jannatul Firdous. 

COUNTLESS MERCIES 
Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has stated: "Verily! Almighty Allah directs His Special Grace on the world on this Night. He forgives my Ummah more than the number of wool that is found on the sheep of the Bani Kalb". We should remember that in those days the Bani Kalb possessed the most number of sheep that any other tribe. 

How great is the Mercy of Almighty Allah on this night that He forgives millions of Muslims. We also realise from this that these numbers can only pertain to the Ahle Sunnah Wa Jamaah collectively, for the righteous followers of the Hanafi, Shaafi'i, Maaliki and Hambali indeed number millions of Muslims. 

THE VISITORS OF THIS NIGHT 
It is narrated that the departed souls (Arwaah) of the Muslims visit the houses of their friends and relatives on this night and proclaim: "O people of the house! You stay in our houses and enjoy the wealth that we have left behind. You use our children and take work from them, please perform our Esaale Sawaab. Verily our deeds have become complete, while your record of deeds is still spread". 

If the people of the house perform the Esaale Sawaab and Khatam Shareef on this night, then the Arwaah depart will the Sawaab extremely happy and overjoyed all the time making Du'a for the people. 

VISIT TO THE CEMETERY 
Hazrat Ayesha Siddiqa (radi Allahu anha) reports: "One night, which was the 15th of Shabaan, I did not find the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) in the house so I went in search of him. After a long search, I found him in Baqiah (the cemetery of Madinah) offering Du'a for the deceased and praying for their forgiveness". (Baihaqi) 

A special point must be made to visit the cemetery during this night and pray for the deceased buried therein, as the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) is been reported as having visited the cemetery on this night and spending a long time therein, lamenting, reading and praying for the deceased. 

TO KEEP FAST 
According to the Hadith Shareef which is narrated by Ibne Habaan (radi Allahu anhu) that Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: "When the night of 15th Shabaan arrives spend the night awake and keep fast the next day". 

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) reports that the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said often in his Khutba (sermon): "O people! Lighten and cleanse your bodies by way of fasting during Shabaan, so that it shall be easy and helpful to you for the fast during Ramadaan. Whoso fasts for three days during Shabaan, all his past sins are wiped off". (Baihaqi) Fasting is also recommended on the 13th, 14th and 15th of Shabaan. 

HOW TO SPEND THE NIGHT 
On this night, perform Nawaafil, recite the Quran Shareef, recite abundant Durood Shareef, Istighfaar and Kalima Tayyibah. It is also mentioned that if one reads Surah Dukhaan seven times on this night, Almighty Allah will reward you with 70 worldly needs and 70 deeds for the Hereafter.