Shab a Barat night, also known as the Night of Forgiveness, is a prominent Islamic holiday that is observed on the fifteenth of Shaban. Muslims around the world beg Allah, who is infinitely forgiving, to pardon their sins during this time. The night can also be utilised to beg mercy for sick and deceased family members. During this night, it is thought that Allah determines the fate and future of all living things on earth. Muslims around the world observe the night in various ways depending on regional customs and cultural variety.
Meaning of Shab-e-Barat
The night of Atonement is the literal translation of Shab e Barat. It goes by many names depending on the various civilizations around the world, as Cheragh e Barat, Barat Night, Berat Kandili, or Nisfu Syaaban.
It is regarded as one of the holiest nights in Islam because of the merits of the night. People use this time to make up for their ancestors’ sins and spare them from hellfire.
Shaban Month
The eighth month in the Islamic calendar, Shaban, is extremely important. Muslims fast voluntarily in the month of Shaban or consume a healthy diet to get in shape and prepare for the holy month of Ramadan. The month commemorates the birth of Abbas Ibn Ali, the changing of the Qibla, and the 15th of Shaban. The month is utilized by people to perform good deeds and increase the benefits of Ramadan.
Date of Shab e Barat 2023
The 15th of Shaban will occur on March 7th, 2023. The Islamic date for Shab e Barat is 15 Shaban 1444 AH.
History of Shab e Barat
Muhammad al Mahdi, the 12th Imam of Muslims, was born on the 15th of Shaban. The community has since recognized that day as his birth day. Many Muslims think Lord protected Prophet Nuh’s arch from the deadly flood on the 15th Shaban. According to a hadith, on the fifteenth of Shaban, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was seen going to Jannatul Baqi. In the graveyard that evening, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) prayed for the deceased members of his family. Following the act, Muslims would visit their loved ones’ graves and ask for forgiveness for the dead.
Importance of Shab e Barat
In addition to history Shab e Barat, scholars claim that during the night, Allah considers past actions of a person and consequently charts a person’s future. Experts advise against performing shab e barat prayers at night unless you regularly pray at night as a ritual. If not, it would be seen as a Bidah (religious innovation), which is strongly against Islam’s teachings and a serious sin.
About the 15th of Shaban, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) spoke to Hazrat Ayesha:
“In it, the record is made of every human being who will be born, and of every human being who will pass away this year. In it, their deeds are taken up to heaven and in their provisions are sent down.”
– (Baihaqi)
What to do on Shab e Barat
Here, we want to emphasize that there are no stringent requirements for the type of worship that must be performed because intensified worship and remembrance of Allah on this Night of Deliverance are not required. These are merely suggestions made by our esteemed scholars to ensure that we get the most out of our genuine worship and supplications. Who are we to stop any slave from practicing virtue if he desires to focus on any form of worship?
Since Allah, the Supreme, loves all of these, one may perform as much of them as one like.
1. Ask Allah for forgiveness and repent of your sins.
2. Practice Remembering Allah (Zikr)
3. Read the Holy Qur’an.
4. Convey salutations to the Holy Prophet
5. Expand your understanding by reading Tafseer books, etc.
6. Apologize to Allah and ask for whatever you need for this life and the next.
7. Pray in congregation in the Maghrib, Isha, and Fajr obligatory prayers. The high reward for doing this is spending the entire night in worship.
8. Attend the gathering of religious scholars, listen to their speech, and attempt to learn some holy knowledge that will be of use. Spending the entire night in worship is one of the top rewards for doing this.
9. Say the missing mandatory “Qada” prayers and make a commitment to never let them go behind again.
10. Pray the Nawafil.
11. Provide greater alms to the poor, orphans, and indigent.
12. Serving the parents
13. Pay a visit to the cemetery, particularly the graves of your parents.
14. Do the Kaabah’s Tawaaf or any other righteous deed, etc.
15. Avoid playing and mindless activities.
Namaz of Shab e Barat
The daily namaz and the namaz on the fifteenth of Shaban are the same. The 15th of Shaban namaz should be performed by Muslims both before and after the Isha. They can combine surah fatah with surah ikhlas, surah qadar, etc. For maximum benefits, one should do as many rakats as they can, with at least 12 rakats. Every four rakats, reciting tasbih tahlil, raises the rewards even more. Together with voluntary fasting, the Shab-e-Barat nawafil on the fifteenth of Shaban is the best.
Duas and the Shab e Barat prayer
One may make duas to Allah, the All Forgiving, on the 15th of Shaban, the night of atonement for sins.
Salatul Tasbih, or the prayer for those asking mercy, is one of the most often recited prayers during the night. Nafil is presented with 100 rakaats. After the Maghrib prayer, one might make duas and recite the Dua-e-nisf-e-Shabaan-al-Muazzam to ask Allah for protection of one’s imaan, success in life, and a life filled with piety and mercy. Muslims are free to supplement Shaban’s prayer with their own supplications.
Shab e Barat mention In the Quran
The holy book of the Quran may not have specific passages addressing the advantages of the 15th of Shaban. Yet, some verses are cited by experts as evidence that the night was mentioned in the holy book.
“Surely, We have sent it down in the blessed Night. Surely, We are the Warner. In this (Night) judgment is given on all matters of wisdom (separately) by Our Command.”
– (Al-Quran, 44:3-5)
Celebrating Shab e Barat
The 15th of Shaban is the night to ask for forgiveness for one’s misdeeds and for the souls of the deceased. As a result, Muslims around the world keep themselves up at night reciting words from the revered Quran. In conclusion, a lot of places celebrate public holidays the night before the next day. Also, people pay respects to the graves of their ancestors while reading verses from the holy Quran and making amends for their sins. Many observe voluntary fasts and engage in nighttime prayer because it is so gratifying.
Hadith of Shab e Barat
There are numerous hadiths that speak to the significance and value of the 15th of Shaban. According to one of these hadiths, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
“When it is the fifteenth of Shaban, then stand (in worship) at Night and fast during the day. Because Allah descends in this Night at sunset to the first heaven and says: ‘Is there any seeker of forgiveness, that I may forgive him? Is there any seeker of sustenance that I may sustain him? Are there anyone in affliction, that I may remove his affliction? Is there anyone like this, like that (and so on)’. This continues until Fajr.”
– Ibn Majah
On the night of forgiveness, Shab e Barat, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), prayed for his loved ones. Since Allah records the fate of all Muslims worldwide throughout this night, people also choose to perform good deeds on this day. Thus, Muslims use the night to ask for forgiveness and start the next day with good fortune.
FAQs on Shab e Barat
Q. What should I read at mid-Shaban?
Ans. On Shaban 15, Muslims may recite verses from the Quran.
Q. What should one do on Shaban 15th?
Ans. On Shab e Barat, people are allowed to observe voluntary fasts and perform voluntary prayers.
Q. What took place on Shaban 15th?
Ans. The Prophet Nuh’s arch was saved by Allah on the night of mercy.
Q. What should I recite on Shaban 15th?
Ans. Individuals might read Surah-e-Fatiah, Surah Yaseen, Surah Ikhlas, Surah e Naas, and Dua-e-Nisf-e-Shabaan on 15th of Shaban.
Q. How do you celebrate Shaban 15th?
Ans. Muslims might visit friends and family to wish them Shab e Barat Mubarak.
Q. What is the meaning of Shab E Barat?
Ans. Shab-e-Barat, also known as Laylat al-Barat or the Night of Forgiveness, is a special night observed by Muslims on the 15th night of the Islamic month of Shaban.
Q. What different names are used for the fifteenth of Shaban?
Ans. Other names for the night are Cheragh e Barat, Nisfu Syaaban, Barat Night, and Berat Kandili.
Q. Why is Shab Barat observed?
Ans. The birth of Muhammad al Mahdi, the 12th Imam of Muslims, is commemorated on the 15th of Shaban.
Q. How many rakats are in the 15th of 15th of Shaban?
Ans. Muslims must perform at least 12 rakats of namaz on the fifteenth of Shaban.
Q. What significance does Shab Barat have?
Ans. The night is very lucrative for Muslims as they perform night prayers to ask for forgiveness for themselves and their departed loved ones.
Q. What are the steps for doing the Shab-e-Barat-Namaz?
Ans. Muslims are allowed to do the namaz in the same way as every other namaz, with at least 12 rakats of prayer.
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