Fifteenth Night of Shaban

Text and Translation

This night is extraordinarily honorable. Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (a) narrates that when Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a) was asked about the merits of the fifteenth night of Shaban, he said: "It is the most favorable night after the Night of Decree. On it, Almighty Allah bestows His favors upon His servants and grants pardon out of His own bounty; so exert every effort to seek nearness to Him this night, for He — Majestic and Honorable — has decided not to turn away any asker so long as he does not ask for an act of disobedience. Allah has chosen this night for us, the Ahl al-Bayt, just as He chose the Night of Decree for our Prophet — peace be upon him and his Household. So pray and give thanks diligently."

One of the marvelous blessings of this night is that it is the birth night of the Patron of the Age, Imam al-Mahdi (a) — may Allah accept our souls as ransom for him. He was born in Surra-man-ra'a (Samarra) just before daybreak in 255 AH, which only increases the merit of this honorable night. Narrations record many recommended rites for this night:

First: it is highly recommended to bathe, for this act lessens the punishment for one's sins.

Second: it is highly recommended to imitate Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn, Zayn al-Abidin (a), who used to spend this whole night in worship, prayer, supplication, and seeking forgiveness. A tradition confirms that whoever spends this whole night in worship, his heart will not die when other hearts die.

Third: it is highly recommended to visit the tomb of Imam al-Husayn (a) — the most favorable act of this night, bringing forgiveness of one's sins; whoever desires that 124,000 Prophets shake his hand may visit the holy tomb of Imam al-Husayn (a) this night. The least form of this Ziyarah is to stand on elevated ground, look right and left, raise the head to the sky, and say:

اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَاۤ اَبَا عَبْدِ اللّٰهِ اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ

ASSALAAMU A'LAYKA YAA ABAA A'BDIL LAAH ASSALAAMU A'LAYKA WA RAHMATUL LAAHI WA BARAKAATUH

Peace be upon you, O Abu Abdillah; peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings.

Whoever performs even this form of Ziyarah is expected to win the reward of a Hajj and an Umrah.

Fourth: it is recommended to say the following, which stands as a form of Ziyarah for Imam al-Mahdi (a), mentioned by both Sayyid Ibn Tawus and Shaykh al-Tusi:

اَللّٰهُمَّ بِحَقِّ لَيْلَتِنَا هٰذِهِ وَ مَوْلُوْدِهَا وَ حُجَّتِكَ وَ مَوْعُوْدِهَا الَّتِيْ قَرَنْتَ اِلٰى فَضْلِهَا فَضْلًا فَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَتُكَ صِدْقًا وَ عَدْلًا لَا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِكَ وَ لَا مُعَقِّبَ لِاٰيَاتِكَ

ALLAAHUMMA BI-HAQQI LAYLATINAA HAAZIHI WA MAWLOODIHAA WA HUJJATIKA WA MAW-U'WDIHAA-LLATEE QARANTA ILAA FADLIHAA FADLAA, FATAMMAT KALIMATUKA SIDQAW WA A'DLAA, LAA MUBADDILA LI-KALIMAATIK WA LAA MU-A'QQIBA LI-AAYAATIK

O Allah, by the right of this night of ours, and its Newborn, and Your Proof and its Promised One — the night to whose merit You have joined further merit, so Your Word was fulfilled in truth and justice; none can alter Your words, and none can pursue Your signs;

نُوْرُكَ الْمُتَاَلِّقُ وَ ضِيَاۤؤُكَ الْمُشْرِقُ وَ الْعَلَمُ النُّوْرُ فِيْ طَخْيَاۤءِ الدَّيْجُوْرِ الْغَاۤئِبُ الْمَسْتُوْرُ

NOORUKAL MUTA-ALLIQ WA DIYAAA-UKAL MUSHRIQ WAL A'LAMUN NOORU FEE TAKHYAAA-ID DAYJOOR AL-GHAAA-IBUL MASTOOR

he is Your radiant light, Your shining brightness, the luminous banner amid the pitch darkness — the hidden, the veiled one,

جَلَّ مَوْلِدُهُ وَ كَرُمَ مَحْتِدُهُ وَ الْمَلَاۤئِكَةُ شُهَّدُهُ وَ اللّٰهُ نَاصِرُهُ وَ مُؤَيِّدُهُ اِذَا اٰنَ مِيْعَادُهُ وَ الْمَلَاۤئِكَةُ اَمْدَادُهُ

JALLA MAWLIDUHU WA KARUMA MAHTIDUH, WAL MALAAA-IKATU SHUHHADUH, WALLAAHO NAASIRUHU WA MU-AYYIDUH, IZAA AANA MEE-A'ADUHU WAL MALAAA-IKATU AMDAADUH

lofty is his birth and noble his lineage, the angels are his witnesses, and Allah is his helper and supporter; when his appointed time arrives, the angels shall be his reinforcements,

سَيْفُ اللّٰهِ الَّذِيْ لَا يَنْبُوْ وَ نُوْرُهُ الَّذِيْ لَا يَخْبُوْ وَ ذُوْ الْحِلْمِ الَّذِيْ لَا يَصْبُوْ

SAYFUL LAAHIL LAZEE LAA YANBOO WA NOORUHUL LAZEE LAA YAKHBOO WA ZUL HILMIL LAZEE LAA YASBOO

he is the sword of Allah that never fails, His light that never dims, and the possessor of forbearance who never inclines to folly,

مَدَارُ الدَّهْرِ وَ نَوَامِيْسُ الْعَصْرِ وَ وُلَاةُ الْاَمْرِ وَ الْمُنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمْ مَا يَتَنَزَّلُ فِيْ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ

MADAARUD DAHRI WA NAWAAMEESUL A'SRI WA WULAATUL AMRI WAL MUNAZZALU A'LAYHIM MAA YATANAZZALU FEE LAYLATIL QADR

the pivot of time, the laws of the age, the holders of authority, upon whom descends what is sent down on the Night of Decree,

وَ اَصْحَابُ الْحَشْرِ وَ النَّشْرِ تَرَاجِمَةُ وَحْيِهِ وَ وُلَاةُ اَمْرِهِ وَ نَهْيِهِ

WA ASHAABUL HASHRI WAN NASHRI TARAAJIMATU WAHYIH WA WULAATU AMRIHI WA NAHYIH

and the masters of the Gathering and the Resurrection, the interpreters of His revelation and the executors of His command and His prohibition.

اَللّٰهُمَّ فَصَلِّ عَلٰى خَاتِمِهِمْ وَ قَاۤئِمِهِمُ الْمَسْتُوْرِ عَنْ عَوَالِمِهِمْ

ALLAAHUMMA FASALLI A'LAA KHAATIMIHIM WA QAAA-IMIHIMUL MASTOORI A'N A'WAALIMIHIM

O Allah, so bless their seal and their Riser, hidden from their worlds,

اَللّٰهُمَّ وَ اَدْرِكْ بِنَاۤ اَيَّامَهُ وَ ظُهُوْرَهُ وَ قِيَامَهُ وَ اجْعَلْنَا مِنْ اَنْصَارِهِ وَ اقْرِنْ ثَارَنَا بِثَارِهِ

ALLAAHUMMA WA ADRIK BINAAA AYYAAMAHU WA ZUHOORAHU WA QIYAAMAH, WAJ-A'LNAA MIN ANSAARIH, WAQRIN THAARANAA BI-THAARIH

O Allah, let us reach his days, his manifestation, and his rising; make us among his supporters; join our claim for retribution with his,

وَ اكْتُبْنَا فِيْۤ اَعْوَانِهِ وَ خُلَصَاۤئِهِ وَ اَحْيِنَا فِيْ دَوْلَتِهِ نَاعِمِيْنَ وَ بِصُحْبَتِهِ غَانِمِيْنَ وَ بِحَقِّهِ قَاۤئِمِيْنَ وَ مِنَ السُّوْۤءِ سَالِمِيْنَ

WAKTUBNAA FEE A'WAANIHI WA KHULASAAA-IH, WA AHYINAA FEE DAWLATIHI NAA-I'MEEN, WA BI-SUHBATIHI GHAANIMEEN, WA BI-HAQQIHI QAAA-IMEEN, WA MINAS SOOO-I SAALIMEEN

and record us among his helpers and his intimates; let us live in his rule in bliss, gaining through his company, upholding his right, and safe from all harm — O Most Merciful of the merciful.

وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ وَ صَلَوَاتُهُ عَلٰى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ خَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّيْنَ وَ الْمُرْسَلِيْنَ وَ عَلٰى اَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ الصَّادِقِيْنَ وَ عِتْرَتِهِ النَّاطِقِيْنَ وَ الْعَنْ جَمِيْعَ الظَّالِمِيْنَ وَ احْكُمْ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَهُمْ يَاۤ اَحْكَمَ الْحَاكِمِيْنَ

WAL HAMDU LILLAAHI RABBIL A'ALAMEEN, WA SALAWAATUHU A'LAA SAYYIDINAA MUHAMMADIN KHAATAMIN NABIYYEENA WAL MURSALEEN, WA A'LAA AHLI BAYTIHIS SAADIQEEN WA I'TRATIHIN NAATIQEEN, WAL A'N JAMEE-A'Z ZAALIMEEN, WAHKUM BAYNANAA WA BAYNAHUM YAA AHKAMAL HAAKIMEEN

And praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and His blessings upon our master Muhammad, the seal of the Prophets and Messengers, and upon his truthful Household and his eloquent progeny; and curse all wrongdoers, and judge between us and them, O Most Just of judges.

Fifth: Shaykh Isma'il ibn Fadl al-Hashimi reports that Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (a) instructed him to say this on the fifteenth night of Shaban:

اَللّٰهُمَّ اَنْتَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّوْمُ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيْمُ الْخَالِقُ الرَّازِقُ الْمُحْيِيْ الْمُمِيْتُ الْبَدِيْۤءُ الْبَدِيْعُ

ALLAAHUMMA ANTAL HAYYUL QAYYOOM, AL-A'LIYYUL A'ZEEM, AL-KHAALIQUR RAAZIQ, AL-MUHYIL MUMEET, AL-BADEE-O'L BADEE'

O Allah, You are the Ever-living, the Self-subsisting, the Most High, the All-magnificent, the Creator, the Sustainer, the Giver of life, the Bringer of death, the Beginner, the Innovator;

لَكَ الْجَلَالُ وَ لَكَ الْفَضْلُ وَ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ وَ لَكَ الْمَنُّ وَ لَكَ الْجُوْدُ وَ لَكَ الْكَرَمُ وَ لَكَ الْاَمْرُ وَ لَكَ الْمَجْدُ وَ لَكَ الشُّكْرُ وَحْدَكَ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَكَ

LAKAL JALAAL, WA LAKAL FADL, WA LAKAL HAMD, WA LAKAL MANN, WA LAKAL JOOD, WA LAKAL KARAM, WA LAKAL AMR, WA LAKAL MAJD, WA LAKASH SHUKR, WAHDAKA LAA SHAREEKA LAK

Yours is the majesty, Yours the bounty, Yours the praise, Yours the favor, Yours the generosity, Yours the nobility, Yours the command, Yours the glory, and Yours the thanks, alone, with no partner unto You;

يَا وَاحِدُ يَا اَحَدُ يَا صَمَدُ يَا مَنْ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَ لَمْ يُوْلَدْ وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا اَحَدٌ

YAA WAAHIDO YAA AHADO YAA SAMADO YAA MAL LAM YALID WA LAM YOOLAD WA LAM YAKUL LAHU KUFUWAN AHAD

O One, O Only, O Self-sufficient, O He Who has not begotten and was not begotten, and there is none comparable to Him.

صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اغْفِرْ لِيْ وَ ارْحَمْنِيْ وَ اكْفِنِيْ مَاۤ اَهَمَّنِيْ وَ اقْضِ دَيْنِيْ وَ وَسِّعْ عَلَيَّ فِيْ رِزْقِيْ

SALLI A'LAA MUHAMMADIW WA AALI MUHAMMAD, WAGH FIR LEE WARHAMNEE WAKFINEE MAAA AHAMMANEE, WAQDI DAYNEE, WA WASSI' A'LAYYA FEE RIZQEE

Bless Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad, forgive me, have mercy on me, spare me what worries me, settle my debt, and expand my sustenance for me,

فَاِنَّكَ فِيْ هٰذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ كُلَّ اَمْرٍ حَكِيْمٍ تَفْرُقُ وَ مَنْ تَشَاۤءُ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ تَرْزُقُ فَارْزُقْنِيْ وَ اَنْتَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِيْنَ

FA-INNAKA FEE HAAZIHIL LAYLATI KULLA AMRIN HAKEEMIN TAFRUQ, WA MAN TASHAAA-O MIN KHALQIKA TARZUQ, FARZUQNEE WA ANTA KHAYRUR RAAZIQEEN

for on this night You distinguish every wise matter, and You provide for whomever You will among Your creatures; so provide for me, for You are the Best of providers.

فَاِنَّكَ قُلْتَ وَ اَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْقَاۤئِلِيْنَ وَالنَّاطِقِيْنَ وَ اسْئَلُوْا اللّٰهَ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ فَمِنْ فَضْلِكَ اَسْاَلُ

FA-INNAKA QULTA WA ANTA KHAYRUL QAAA-ILEENA WAN NAATIQEEN, WAS-ALUL LAAHA MIN FADLIH, FAMIN FADLIKA AS-AL

For You have said — and You are the Best of speakers — "Ask Allah of His bounty"; so of Your bounty I ask,

وَ اِيَّاكَ قَصَدْتُ وَ ابْنَ نَبِيِّكَ اعْتَمَدْتُ وَ لَكَ رَجَوْتُ فَارْحَمْنِيْ يَاۤ اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِيْنَ

WA IYYAAKA QASADT, WABNA NABIYYIKA A'TAMADT, WA LAKA RAJAWT, FARHAMNEE YAA ARHAMAR RAAHIMEEN

and toward You I have directed myself, and upon the son of Your Prophet I have relied, and in You I have hoped; so have mercy on me, O Most Merciful of the merciful.

Sixth: it is recommended to say this, which the Holy Prophet (s) used to say on this night — one of the perfect, comprehensive prayers said at all times, per the book Awali al-La'ali:

اَللّٰهُمَّ اقْسِمْ لَنَا مِنْ خَشْيَتِكَ مَا يَحُوْلُ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَ مَعْصِيَتِكَ وَ مِنْ طَاعَتِكَ مَا تُبَلِّغُنَا بِهِ رِضْوَانَكَ وَ مِنَ الْيَقِيْنِ مَا يَهُوْنُ عَلَيْنَا بِهِ مُصِيْبَاتُ الدُّنْيَا

ALLAAHUMMAQ SIM LANAA MIN KHASHYATIKA MAA YAHOOLU BAYNANAA WA BAYNA MA'SIYATIK, WA MIN TAA-A'TIKA MAA TUBALLIGHUNAA BIHI RIDWAANAK, WA MINAL YAQEENI MAA YAHOONU A'LAYNAA BIHI MUSEEBAATUD DUNYAA

O Allah, apportion for us of Your fear that which comes between us and disobedience to You, and of Your obedience that which brings us to Your good pleasure, and of certainty that which makes the calamities of this world light upon us,

اَللّٰهُمَّ اَمْتِعْنَا بِاَسْمَاعِنَا وَ اَبْصَارِنَا وَ قُوَّتِنَا مَاۤ اَحْيَيْتَنَا وَ اجْعَلْهُ الْوَارِثَ مِنَّا

ALLAAHUMMA AMTI-A'NAA BI-ASMAA-A'NAA WA ABSAARINAA WA QUWWATINAA MAA AHYAYTANAA, WAJ-A'LHUL WAARISA MINNAA

O Allah, let us enjoy our hearing, our sight, and our strength for as long as You keep us alive, and make them what outlasts us,

وَ اجْعَلْ ثَارَنَا عَلٰى مَنْ ظَلَمَنَا وَ انْصُرْنَا عَلٰى مَنْ عَادَانَا وَ لَا تَجْعَلْ مُصِيْبَتَنَا فِيْ دِيْنِنَا

WAJ-A'L THAARANAA A'LAA MAN ZALAMANAA, WANSURNAA A'LAA MAN A'ADAANAA, WA LAA TAJ-A'L MUSEEBATANAA FEE DEENINAA

grant us retribution against whoever wrongs us, give us victory over whoever is hostile to us, and do not let our affliction be in our religion,

وَ لَا تَجْعَلِ الدُّنْيَا اَكْبَرَ هَمِّنَا وَ لَا مَبْلَغَ عِلْمِنَا وَ لَا تُسَلِّطْ عَلَيْنَا مَنْ لَا يَرْحَمُنَا بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَاۤ اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِيْنَ

WA LAA TAJ-A'LID DUNYAA AKBARA HAMMINAA WA LAA MABLAGHA I'LMINAA, WA LAA TUSALLIT A'LAYNAA MAL LAA YARHAMUNAA, BI-RAHMATIKA YAA ARHAMAR RAAHIMEEN

and do not make the world our greatest concern nor the sum of our knowledge, and do not let anyone rule over us who has no mercy on us — by Your mercy, O Most Merciful of the merciful.

Seventh: it is recommended to say the prayers dedicated to midday, mentioned earlier in this book, which begin "O Allah, bless Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad, the tree of Prophethood and the place of the Message..." (the source record available here ends at this opening line).

Eighth: it is recommended to say the famous [Dua Kumayl](E31), which narrations especially recommend for this night.

Ninth: it is recommended to repeat the following litany a hundred times, so that past disobedience is forgiven and worldly and religious needs are granted:

سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ وَ اللهُ اَكْبَرُ وَ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللهُ

SUBHAANAL LAAHI WAL HAMDU LILLAAHI WALLAAHO AKBAR WA LAA ILAAHA ILLAL LAAH