Today is Shab-e-barat (15-Shaban-1430)

Regarding Shabaan-ul-Muazzam, The Holy Prophet SAW has said, Shabaan is my month and Ramadhaan is Allah's month. (Al Jamia-us-Sagheer, Hadith No. 4779)
The 15th Night of Shaban is a very auspicious night of the year without doubt (dont worry about those who deny it, they dint have real knowledge)

Many great Friends of Allah and scholars mention that we do the following on this night (besides praying and making zikrullah for the rest of the night and fasting on the Day)

PLEASE READ THE SPECIAL DUAA OF NISF SHABAN:

Read Surah Yaseen three times between Maghrib and Esha on the Laylat al-Nisf (15) min Shaban and after each time, read a special du`a with the following intentions

First Read Yaseen with Niyyah of Long Age with Good Actions.

Second time, read Yaseen for the Niyyah of protection from Calamities.

Third time, read yaseen with the Niyyah of not being in Need on no one but Allah.

Every time you read Yaseen, read the Dua Nisf-Shaban after it.

http://www.islamicacademy.org/html/Dua/Dua_e_Nisf_Shaban.htm
http://www.iqra.net/Dua/shaban.php

The Nabi (saw) said that Surah Yaseen will fulfill any intention it is recited for.

According to an Ayah of the Quran and many Hadith, the 15th Night of Shaban is the night in which many important things are decided about our lives, thats why we read Yaseen with these important Niyyats.

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) related from Allah Most High that He said,
�� And my servant continues to draw closer to me by voluntary actions until I love him��
[Bukhari]
- The Night of the Middle of Shaban

It is related by Ali ibn Abi Talib (Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, "On the night of the middle of Shaban, stand its night in worship, and fast its day, for verily in it Allah (Mighty and Majestic) descends with the setting of the sun unto the sky, saying: 'Is there not a seeker of My forgiveness that I may forgive him, is there not a seeker of My providence that I may provide for him,� until day breaks." [Abd al-Razzaq & Ibin Majah 1388]

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SHABAAN AND THE NIGHT OF 15 TH. ACCORDING TO IHADITH MUBARAKA :

Please make a note that all these Hadith are authentic

1-Rasul Allah (saw) Said:

Allah Looks at His creation in the night of mid-Sha`ban and He forgives all His creation except for a mushrik (idolater) or a mushahin (one bent on
hatred). narrated by ibn Hibban.

2-Rasul Allah (saw) said:

"Allah looks upon His creatures on the night of mid-Sha`ban and He forgives all His servants except two: one intent on hatred, and the killer". narrated by Tirmizi,Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal and al-Bazzar.

3- From Sayyidah `A'isha R.A : She said:

The Prophet stood up in prayer during a part of the night and made his Sajdah so lengthy that I thought his soul had been taken back.
When I saw this I got up and went to move his big toe, whereupon he moved, so I drew back.

When he raised his head from prostration and finished praying, he said: "O `A'isha, O fair little one (humayra')! Did you think that the Prophet had broken his agreement with you?" She replied: "No, by Allah, O Messenger of Allah, but I thought that your soul had been taken back because your stayed in prostration for so long."

He said: "Do you know what night this is?" She said: "Allah and His Prophet know best."

He said: "This is the night of mid-Sha`ban! Verily Allah the Glorious and Majestic LOOKS AT His servants on the Night of mid-Sha`ban, and He Forgives those who Ask forgiveness, and He bestows Mercy on those who ask mercy, and He gives delays the people of Jelousy and Spite in their (bad)state." narrated by al-Bayhaqi.

4. Sayyidatuna Aisha Siddiqa Radiallahu anha says: The Holy Prophet would fast during all of Shabaan-ul-Muazzam. She Radiallahu anha says, I said, Oh Prophet of Allah ! Do you prefer fasting in Shabaan-ul-Muazzam as compared to other months? The Holy Prophet replied, Allah writes the names of all the people who will die in that year and I wish that at the time of me leaving this world, I be in the state of fasting. (Musnad-e-Abu Yalaa, V4, P277, Hadith No. 4890)

5- From `Sayyidah A'isha Radiallahu anha also: "I missed the Prophet one night so I went out to al-Baqi`graveyard (and found him there).

He said: "Were you afraid that Allah would wrong you and that His Prophet would wrong you?"

I said: "O Messenger of Allah, I thought that you might have gone to visit one of your (other)wives."

He said: "Allah Glorious and Exalted descends to the nearest heaven on the night of mid-Sha`ban and He forgives more people than the number of hairs on the skin of the sheep of the tribes of Kalb. narrated by Tirmizi, Ahmad bin Hanbal,and ibn Majah.

6. Hazrate Sayyiduna Ali Radiallahu anhu narrates that The Holy Prophet said, When the night of the fifteenth arrives, stay standing (in worship) and fast during the day because from sunset, Allah looks down at the earth from the sky and says: Is there anyone thats seeks my forgiveness so that I may forgive him! Is there anyone that seeks my sustenance so that I may provide it to him! Is there anyone with problems so that I may remove them! Is there anyone like this! Is there anyone like this! And He says this until sunrise. (Sunan ibn-e-majah, V2, P160, Hadith No. 1388)

Sayiddina Ali said "on the night of the 15th Sha`ban stay up all night in worshipping Allah ( s.w.t) and fast its day."

The famous Tabieen scholar, Ka`b al-Ahbar (ra) said:

"Allah sent the night of 15th of Shaban with Jibreel to Paradise and he ordered the Paradise to decorate itself and he announced in Paradise that Allah on that night has freed from hellfire as many persons as the
number of stars in the universe."

Allah Taala Himself says in the Blessed Quran:

"inna anzalnahu fi laylatin mubarakatin inna kunna mundhirin-Fiha yufraqu kullu Amrin Hakeem".

Lo! We revealed it on a BLESSED NIGHT -- Lo! We are ever warning -- Whereupon every wise command is made clear (44:3-6)

Although the majority of the Quran commentators consider the BLESSED NIGHT in this Ayat to be the 27 th Night of Ramadan (Laylatul Qadr), many scholars, like Imam al-Suyuti, SAY that it COULD BE THE MIDDLE THE
NIGHT OF SHABAN ALSO!

This is because of all the Hadith that show the greatness of that Night.

It is because of this Ayah that it is believed that Allah T'ala reveals our Destinies(Taqdeer) for the whole year to the Angels On this Night.

People make Ibadat on this night because if we are in a state of Ibadat, then it may be that Allah will change some of his Taqdeer regarding us to better.

Islamic Scholars from all groups, such as Imam al-Suyuti and Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah also said that the Night of 15th Shaban is one of the holiest nights in the Islamic Year.

O Muslims! The blessings of the Middle Night of Sha`ban is related to us through many sources.

It is good to pray as many Rakats Nawafil as you can on that Blessed Night, and fast on the next Day.

And it is very necessary that just as others observe it, that you observe it.

Make an invitation for people to feed people on that night to remember Allah ( s.w.t) and to remember His Prophet (s.a.w), and to fast its day and pray its night, will be rewarded for that night and for whoever observes it.

SO WE LEARN FROM ALL THIS THAT:

1-IT IS SUNNAH TO MAKE LOT OF IBADAT ON THE 15th NIGHT
OF SHABAN, AS IT IS THE NIGHT OF FORGIVENESS.

SO ONE SHOULD PRAY A LOT ON THAT NIGHT . NO SLEEP.

Imagine, if Rasul Allah (saw) Prayed for the Whole Night, how can we Sinners Neglect it?

2-IT IS SUNNAH TO VISIT GRAVEYARD ON THAT NIGHT.

SO PLEASE VISIT THE GRAVEYARDS NEAR TO YOU.

ESPECIALLY IF THERE ARE ANY GRAVES OF HOLY PEOPLE-AWLIYA, THEN PLEASE VISIT THEM FOR GREATER BENEFIT.

YOU CAN MAKE IBADAT THERE ALSO, BUT THE MASJID IF THE
FIRST PREFERENCE.

3-PLEASE FAST-ROZA ON THE DAY OF 15th SHABAN.

FASTING IS VERY MUCH LOVED BY ALLAH.

4-PLEASE AT LEAST ONE WHOLE JUZ-SIPARA OF THE QURAN ON THAT NIGHT.

READING THE HOLY QURAN IS ONE OF THE GREATEST IBADAT.