Question
What is the status of this narration?
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: إذا كانت ليلة النصف من شعبان فقوموا ليلها وصوموا نهارها
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “When it is the night of the middle of Sha’ban then spend the night in [Salah/’ibadah] and fast the [next] day.”
Answer
Imam Ibn Majah (rahimahullah) has recorded this as part of a longer Hadith on the authority of Sayyiduna ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (radiyallahu ‘anhu).
(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 1388)
The chain is very weak.
(Refer: Mizanul I’tidal, vol. 5 pg. 223, number: 9442. Also see: Taqribut Tahdhib: 7973)
However, there are other substantiations from Hadith regarding fasting on this day. See a detailed article here.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar