There are at least two or three authentic Ahadith, classified as Sahih
or Hasan by the Traditionalists, which establish the virtue of the night
of 15th Sha'ban (17). The Companion Muadh b. Jabal (May Allaah be
Pleased with Him) relates that the Prophet (Sallalahu Alaihi Was )
said: "Allaah Ta'ala looks at his creation during the night of the 15th
of Sha'ban and He forgives all his creation except a polytheist
(mushrik) or one intent on hatred (mushahnin)"(18). Ibn Hibban (May
Allaah have mercy on him) considered this Hadith to be Sahih, (19) and
Ibn Hajr Al-Haytami (May Allaah have mercy on him) said: "This Hadith is
related by Al-Tabarani (May Allaah have mercy on him) in Al-Mu'jam
Al-Kabir and Al-Awsat and the narrators of both are trustworthy"
(thiqat) (20).
Shuayb Al-Arna'uat and Nasiruddin Al-Albani, (May Allaah
have mercy on them), two prominent contemporary Hadith scholars, have
also considered this Hadith as 'Sahih'(21).