As the blessed month of Ramadan approaches, Sha’ban serves as an important period of spiritual preparation. It’s a time to increase our worship, seek forgiveness, and strengthen our connection with Allah. Among its significant moments is the 15th night of Sha’ban, also known as Laylatul Nisf Sha’ban (the Night of Forgiveness).

Many Muslims take this night as an opportunity to turn back to Allah, seeking His mercy and clearing their hearts of past grievances. But what do we actually know about this night? What makes it significant, and how should we approach it?

The Significance of the 15th Night of Sha’ban

The Prophet ﷺ spoke about Sha’ban as a whole, emphasising that it’s a month in which our deeds are presented to Allah. He ﷺ said:
“It is a month that people neglect between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which the deeds are raised to the Lord of the worlds, and I love for my deeds to be raised while I am fasting.”
(An-Nasa’i and Ahmad)

This hadith highlights the importance of using Sha’ban as a time of cleansing—not just physically through fasting, but spiritually through repentance and increased acts of worship.

Forgiveness on This Night

One of the narrations often mentioned regarding this night states:
“When it is the 15th night of Sha’ban, Allah looks at His creation and forgives everyone—except the one who associates partners with Him and the one who harbours hatred in their heart.”
(Ibn Hibban, Ibn Majah)

This hadith aligns with the broader teachings of Islam, which encourage purifying the heart from grudges and animosity. Holding onto bitterness or resentment can become a barrier between us and Allah’s mercy. Just as we seek His forgiveness, we should also strive to forgive others, freeing ourselves from the weight of negativity before entering Ramadan.

Are There Special Acts of Worship for This Night?

There is no authentic evidence suggesting that the Prophet ﷺ prescribed specific prayers or rituals for the 15th night of Sha’ban. However, that doesn’t mean the night should be overlooked.

What Can Be Done?

Instead of focusing on practices with no strong foundation, we can approach this night in the way the Prophet ﷺ encouraged us to engage in worship regularly:
✅ Seeking forgiveness (istighfar) – Take time to reflect on past mistakes and sincerely ask Allah for forgiveness.
✅ Making du’a – Use this night to ask for ease in the coming Ramadan and strength in acts of worship.
✅ Maintaining relationships – If there’s anyone we’ve had conflicts with, now is the time to let go of resentment.
✅ Reading and reflecting on the Qur’an – Increase your connection with the words of Allah as a lead-up to Ramadan.
​​✅ Giving charity – The Prophet ﷺ said, “Charity extinguishes sin as water extinguishes fire” (Tirmidhi). Give to those in need, whether it’s a meal, a water well, or aid for struggling families.
✅ Fasting on the 15th of Sha’ban – The Prophet ﷺ encouraged fasting on the white days (13th, 14th, and 15th of every month), so this day is already an established Sunnah.

What This Night Teaches Us

Whether or not one observes the 15th night of Sha’ban in a particular way, its core message remains clear:

• Forgiveness is key—from Allah and among ourselves.
• Preparing for Ramadan starts now—through worship, repentance, and softening our hearts.
• The best worship is consistent worship—not restricted to one night, but a lifestyle we carry forward.

May Allah grant us the ability to enter Ramadan with pure hearts, renewed intentions, and the strength to seek His pleasure in all that we do.

Ameen.