Issues and Questions

Wudu, Shab-e-Barat and Observance of Ramadan

By Dr Muzammil H. Siddiqi

Q 1. If you are making wudu in a sink with a toilet right next to it, does that change what dhikr you can make? Would it restrict you from making the Sunnah Du’a in that place?
A 1. The toilet used to be a dirty place. One would see the filth around and it was a smelly place. It was not proper to take the name of Allah and make Du’a in such a place. Allah’s name is venerable and it must be respected. Thus the rule was that in such a place the name of Allah should not be mentioned. Those who keep their toilets dirty and smelly they should still abide by this rule. But most people now keep their toilets very clean. If you keep your bathroom clean, then the rule will be that do not say the name of Allah when you are on the toilet seat. But when you finish from there and use the flush, then the area is for wudu; and there you can mention any adhkar of wudu that you wish to say.
Q 2. If you forget a part of wudu and you remember at the end of wudu that you forgot a part, should you perform that part and following steps, or simply perform that part that you skipped?
A 2. It should be all right if you wash the part that was skipped. It is a Sunnah in wudu to follow the right order (tartib) and all parts of the body that are supposed to be washed should be washed one after another (tawali) without any interruption. Thus it is Sunnah to wash the hands, then rinse the mouth, then clean the nose, then wash the face, then hands up to the elbows. Wash right hand first and then left hand. Then make Masah and then wash the feet right foots first and then the left. Except for Masah every part should be washed three times and this should be done without any interruption. It is not right to wash the face and then start talking or go somewhere and then make the Masah and then later come back and wash the feet, etc.
However, if one forgets and changes the order or interrupts one’s wudu for some emergency, the wudu is valid, as long as all the required parts of the body are washed and nothing that breaks the wudu occurred in between.
Q 3. When a person is traveling, he/she is allowed not to fast. My question is that if I travel with my wife during Ramadan, would I be allowed to have sexual relations with her during my travels during the daytime?
A 3. Ramadan should be honored and respected by all Muslims. Travelers are allowed not to fast during Ramadan because fasting may cause hardship on them. Not eating during the journey may cause inconvenience and hardship, but sex is not such a necessity that one cannot wait for a few hours. Do that during the night but respect the days of Ramadan. However, if a couple in their journey does that, there is no Kaffarah (penalty) on him.
Q 4. What is Shab-e-barat? What is the significance of the night of 15th of Sha’ban? Why is the Arab world not aware of this night? When did we start celebrating this religious festival and where? Is there any mention of this night in our Holy Qur’an? Is there any authentic book where something is mentioned about this night? In Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, some people celebrate this night and mix it up with the greatest night “Laylatul Qadr” of the month of Ramadan.
A 4. The month of Sha’ban is the eighth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The fifteenth night of this month is known as Laylatul Bara’ah or Laylatun Nisfe min Sha’ban in the Arab world. In India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Afghanistan, etc., it is known as Shab-e-barat.
Some people believe that in Surah al-Dukhan (44:3-4) there is a reference to this night as Allah says, “We sent it (the Qur’an) down during a blessed night. We are truly warners. In that night is made distinct every affair of wisdom…” But the night referred to here cannot be a Sha’ban night, because it is said here clearly that the Qur’an was revealed in this night. We know from the Surah al-Qadr (97) that the Qur’an was revealed in the night of Qadr and we also know from the Qur’an (al-Baqarah 2:185) that the Qur’an was revealed in the month of Ramadan, so it is obvious that the night of the revelation of the Qur’an was in Ramadan, not Sha’ban, and that it was Laylatul Qadr not Shab-e-barat (or the Sha’ban night).
Some people also say that in the second year of Hijrah, the direction of Qiblah was changed from Jerusalem to Ka’bah (Makkah) on the 15th day of Sha’ban. This report is also not confirmed by authentic Ahadith.
According to most scholars of Tafsir, the Qur’an has not mentioned anything about this night. There are some Ahadith that speak about the Middle of Sha’ban and its night. However, the scholars of Hadith say that most of the Ahadith concerning this night are not sound. They are weak (da’if) according to the criteria of the Muhaddithin. Imam al-Mundhiri (died in 656 A. H.) in his famous book Al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib (vol. 2, pp. 116-120) has reported fourteen Ahadith on the subject of this night. The following points can be summarized from those Ahadith:
1. The month of Sha’ban is a great month.
2. In this month Allah takes the account of His creation.
3. Because this month occurs between two other important months, viz. Rajab and Ramadan, many people do not pay enough attention to it.
4. The Prophet - peace be upon him - loved to fast during this month. He used to fast most of the month of Sha’ban.
5. After sunset during this night, Allah in His great mercy and kindness turns towards His creation and asks, “Is there anyone who would seek My forgiveness and I forgive him/her? Is there anyone who is in need to ask Me and I provide for his/her needs. Is there anyone who in pain and seek My help and I help him/her. Is there… Is there… until the time of Fajr.”
6. The Prophet - peace be upon him - is said to have recommended prayers during this night and fasting during the following day.
7. It reported that the Prophet - peace be upon him - used to visit the Muslim cemetery on this evening and he used to pray for the deceased Muslims.
These are the things that learn from some Ahadith about the significance of this night. However, there are many practices and customs common in some Muslim countries, such as making a sweet dish (Halwa), doing fireworks (atish baazi), etc., have no meaning and no reference in Ahadith. There are also some superstitious beliefs about this night. For example, some people believe that the spirits (arwah) of the deceased visit their relatives during this night. There is a special Tree in the heaven upon whose leaves are the names of all human beings, and whatever leaves drop during this night, those people are destined to die in this year. The decisions about the life and death of people are made during this night. All these beliefs and superstitions do not belong to the authentic teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah.
We must try to follow the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah of the blessed Prophet - peace be upon him. It is our duty as Muslims to take advantage of all good occasions to revive our faith, to purify our souls and to increase our love and devotion to Allah subhanhu wa ta’ala, but we must follow the Sunnah of the Prophet - peace be upon him. We must not do anything in our celebrations that is against his teachings.
- DrSiddiqi@aol.com

Editor: Akhtar M. Faruqui
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