Staying Awake Tonight

                                                        بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Ramai antara kita yang suka tidur lewat kan? Yang muda-muda pulak lagi la...Staying up till late at night sampai 2-3 pagi perkara biasa je sekarang ni...Ada yang sibuk dok layan movie, ada yang keluar enjoy dengan friends dan ada juga yang marathon anime 23 episod. Tak kira la aktiviti apa kita buat, yang penting kita tidak merasa susah, mengantuk mahupun penat. 

Dalam banyak-banyak malam yang kita spend untuk benda-benda yang melalaikan ni...apa kata malam ni, kita cuba ubah selera sikit. Cuba kita stay up untuk beribadat sempena Nisfu Sya'ban. Bukan maksud saya kita ibadat bila ada special occassion je...tapi, dah namanya 'special occassion' kena la kita treat malam ni special jugak kan. Tak kan kita nak biarkan ianya berlalu begitu sahaja..?

Nisfu Sya'ban ni macam pernah dengar je...tapi apa ya...? (saya bertanya)
(Saya jawab sendiri): 'Nisfu' maksudnya 'setengah'. Jadi Nisfu Sya'ban maksudnya hari ke-15 Sya'ban. Ok, saya tak mo explain panjang-panjang, please read on to understand what night of Nisfu Sya'ban is and how virtuous it is.....May Allah bless you all..

Nisfu Sya'ban - 15th Of Sya'ban

Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, ‘This is the night of the half of Sha’ban. Allah Ta’ala looks upon His slaves in this night and forgives those who seek forgiveness and bestows His mercy upon those who pray for mercy but leaves those who have malice (against a Muslim) as they were before, (and does not forgive them unless they free themselves from malice).’(Bayhaqi #3835)

• Hazrat Aisha (Radiyallahu Anha) has reported Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) to have said, ‘This is the middle Night of Sha'ban. Allah emancipates in it a large number of the people from the Fire, more than the number of the hair growing on the sheep of the tribe of Kalb. But He does not cast a glance at a person who associates partners with Him, or at a person who harbours malice in his heart (against someone), or at a person who severs family ties, or at a man who leaves his clothes extending below his ankles, or at a person who disobeys his parents, or at a person who has a habit of drinking wine.’ (Bayhaqi) The tribe of Kalb were a large tribe, the members of which owned many sheep. Therefore, the last sentence of the hadith indicates the large number of people forgiven on this night by Allah Ta’aala.

UNFORTUNATE PEOPLE

It is understood from Ahadith that even on this great night, some unfortunate individuals are deprived of Allah's forgiveness. They are:
1. Idolaters
2. Those who harbour enmity against others
3. Those who consume alcohol
4. Those who disobey their parents
5. Those men who wear their clothes below their ankles
6. Those who commit murder
7. Those who sever family ties.

We can thus gauge the severity of these sins and need to abstain from them at all times.

• The virtue of this night established from these ahadith is that from the very beginning of the night Allah Ta’ala turns with special mercy and attention towards the creation and forgives those who repent and seeks forgiveness. Every Muslim should therefore value this night. Turn towards Allah Ta’ala with sincere regret and shame over sins committed and make a promise never to return to sin again and seek forgiveness from Allah Ta'ala. Seek forgiveness for oneself and all Muslims, living and deceased. Have firm hope and resolution in the heart that Allah Ta’ala will surely show mercy and forgiveness.

In order to achieve the blessings of the Night of Bara’ah, one should remain awake as much as one can. If it is possible, one should spend the whole night in worship. However, if one cannot do so, one can select a considerable portion of the night, preferably the second half of it, and perform the following acts of worship:

• SALAAH: It is the most preferable act to be performed in this night, particularly after midnight in solitude. There is no particular number of raka’aat, but preferably it should not be less than eight. It is also advisable that each part of the salaah like qiyaam, ruku and sajdah should be longer than normal. The longest surahs of the Noble Qur'an one remembers by heart should also be recited.

• TILAAWAH: The recitation of the Noble Qur’an is another form of beneficial worship in this night. After performing Salah, or at any other time, one should recite as much of the Noble Qur’an as one can.
• ZIKR & SALAWAAT(DUROOD): One should also recite as much dhikr (recitation of the name of Allah) as possible in this night, as well Salawaat/durood on our noble master Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam. These can be recited while walking, lying on bed and during other hours of work or leisure.

• DU‘A: The best benefit one can draw from the blessings of this night is by asking Allah in earnest. It is hoped that all our prayers in this night will be accepted by Allah. Du’a itself is an ‘ibadah, and Allah Almighty rewards the reciter for asking, in addition to fulfilling his/her needs. The following Duaa has been reported from Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) on this night:

A’uzu bi afwika min iqabik wa auzu bi ridaka min sakhatik wa auzu bika minka la uhsi thanaa an ‘alayka anta kama athnayta ‘ala nafsik.

Translation: OAllah! I seek protection through Your forgiveness from Your punishment. I seek protection from Your anger by means of Your pleasure. I seek protection in You from You, I cannot truly praise You, as You ought to be praised, You are as You have praised Yourself.

• Fast of the 15th of Shabaan: On the day immediately following the Night of Bara’ah, i.e. the 15th of Shabaan, it is mustahabb (advisable) to fast. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) is reported to have recommended this fast, as well as keeping any fast in the first half of this month in particular. A large number of our pious predecessors of the Ummah have been observing the fast of the 15 of Shabaan. (Sunan ibnu Majah #1388)

May ALLAH TA’ALA grants us forgiveness and accept all our beneficial duas…ameen

And Allah Ta’ala knows best…