Fatwa No : 6814
What is the difference between Shab e Bara'ath and Shab e Qadr?

What is the difference between Shab e Bara'ath and Shab e Qadr?

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmathullahi wa Barakathuhu
What is the difference between Shab e Bara'ath and Shab e Qadr? Also inform the importance of Shab e Bara'ath (15th Sha'ban)?
Does the destiny of all the living beings are decided in this night or no? Or this decision is made on Shab e Qadr? There are many
misconcepts found with regard to this night (15th Sha'ban) and please correct us.
Awaiting your reply. Faizan Rizvi Jazakallah

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

A major and clear difference between Shab e Qadr and Shab e Bara'ath is with regard to the months. Shab e Qadr is one of the un-identified nights in the last ten days of Ramadhan while the fifteenth night of the month of Sha'ban is called as Shab e Bara'ath. Secondly the complete Qur'an e Kareem was descended to the worldly heaven from Lauhul Mahfoozh on Shab e Qadr and not in Shab e Bara'ath. According to the saying of Hadhrath Ibn Abbas Radhiyallahu Anhu all the important matters that are to happen pertaining to the creations such as sustenance, birth, death etc. till the next Shab e Qadr are decided in this night. These are the views of Qatada, Mujahid and Hasan Rahimahumullah as well. Since the same, with regard to sustenance, life, death etc is mentioned about the Shab e Bara'ath too, some commentators of Qur'an have explained the view that, overall decision is made on Shab e Bara'ath i.e the 15th night of Sha'ban and the detailed decision is made on Shab e Qadr.
As for the virtues regarding Shab e Bara'ath, although the Ahadees e Mubaraka in this connection are weak with respect to the chain of narrators, yet, due to frequency of narrations and miscellaneous avenues of recordings, they possess some sort of a strength. Therefore, Ulemas have agreed upon the virtues of this night. Hence it is encouraged in Ahadees too to engage in more Nawafil and Ibadath in this night compared to other nights and to observe fasting in the day but there is no proof whatsoever for making gatherings and adhering to perform collective Ibadatah, decorating the Masjid with illuminations and distribution of sweet dishes etc. Therefore it is necessary to refrain from such practice.