shab e barat Urdu/English

Shaban is the month of special blessings. In this month Allah Ta’ala has favoured the Ummah of His last Prophet (Sallalaho Alaihi Wasallam) and has given them means to achieve Blessings, Salvation and Forgiveness. There are many Hadiths about Shab-e-Barat of Prophet (Sallalaho Alaihi Wasallam) in which he described the Virtue and Blessings of this month. Hazrat Abu Huraira has reported Prophet (Sallalaho Alaihi Wasallam) saying, “Rajab is the month of Allah Ta’ala, Shaban is my month and Ramadan is the month of my Ummah. In Shaban sins are forgiven by Allah Ta’ala and in Ramadan my people are completely purified from sins.”

The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) had said that during the nights of the 15th Shabaan, the Almighty takes decisions in the matters of sustenance, life, death and the welfare of the people.

The 15th night of Shabaan is a very blessed night. According to the Hadith Shareef, the name of this Mubarak night is “Nisf Shabaan” which means 15th night of Shabaan. The reason for this special night to attain its name of Laylat al-Bara’ah, meaning the Night of Salvation, Seeking Freedom from Azaab and Calamity, is that in this night the Barkaat and acceptance of repentance may be accomplished. Laylat al-Baraa’ah in Persian, as well as in Urdu, is called Shab-e Bara’at.

It is the special night of seeking forgiveness and repenting to Almighty Allah, remembering our past sins and sincerely settling the mind that one will never commits sins in the future. All the deeds that are against Shari’ah must be totally avoided so that our Du’a and Istighfaar, hopefully, will be accepted. Muslims should check themselves and A’la Hadrat, Imam Ahmad Rida Fadil e-Bareilly (radi Allahu ta’ala anhu) has given a beautiful advise in this regard. This great Imam said: “Verily the auspicious night of Shab-e-Bara’a is drawing near when the deeds of the slave will be presented to the Almighty Allah.

“On this occasion, it should be the duty of all Muslims to forgive one another and to make sure that whatever debts owed to one another is settled. The importance of Huqooq al-Ibaad cannot be over-emphasised as this is among the pre-requisites for proper Ibaadat. I pray that all Muslims humbly remember this night and try as much as possible to perform Ibaadat and other pious deeds so that their Record of Deeds be presented
in all dignity.

Shab-e-Baraat -  Celebrating the night of Deliverance

Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (Salla Allahu alayhi wa Sallam) has stated:

“Verily! Almighty Allah directs His Special Grace on the world on this Night. He forgives my Ummah more than the number of wool that is found on the sheep of the Bani Kalb”.

We should remember that in those days the Bani Kalb possessed the most number of sheep that any other tribe. How great is the Mercy of Almighty Allah on this night that He forgives millions of Muslims. We also realise from this that these numbers can only pertain to the Ahl as-Sunnah Wah Jama’ah collectively, for the righteous
followers of the Hanafi, Shafi’i, Maliki and Hanbali indeed number millions of Muslims.

Hadrat Ayesha Siddiqa (radi Allahu ta’ala anha) reports: “One night, which was the 15th of Shabaan, I did not find the Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu ta’ala alayhi wa Sallam) in the house so I went in search of him. After a long search, I found him in Baqiah (the cemetery of Madinah) offering Du’a for the deceased and praying for their forgiveness”. (Baihaqi)

According to the Hadith Shareef which is narrated by Ibne Habaan (radi Allahu ta’ala anhu) that Rasoolullah (Salla Allahu ta’ala alayhi wa Sallam) said: “When the night of 15th Shabaan arrives spend the night awake and keep fast the next day”.

Hadrat Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu ta’ala anhu) reports that the Most  Beloved (salla Allahu alayhi wa Sallam) of Allah ta’ala said often in his
Khutba (sermon): “O people! Lighten and cleanse your bodies by way of fasting during Shabaan, so that it shall be easy and helpful to you for the fast during Ramadan. Whoso fasts for three days during Shabaan, all his past sins are wiped off”. (Baihaqi) Fasting is also recommended on the 13th, 14th and 15th of Shabaan.