Knowing about Shab e Barat in Islam

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Tuesday, May 7, 2019 / 0 Comment(s)

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Shab e Barat is observed by the Muslims in the month of Shaban. Muslims offer nawafil at this night in order to get rewards and seek forgiveness from Allah. Shab e Barat is also a religious ritual of the Muslims on which they also ask for forgiveness from others.

Meaning of Shab e Barat:

The literal meaning of Shab e Barat is the night of freedom from the fire of hell or night of salvation. It is observed in the mid of Shaban on 14^th and 15^th dates of this month. Shab e Barat is called Laylatun Nisf min Shaban in the Arabic language.

The mention of Shab e Barat in Holy Quran:

Following is the verse of Quran in which there is a mention of Shab e Barat;

“Surely, We have sent it (the Holy Qur’an) down in a blessed night. Surely, We are the Warner. In this (night) judgment is given on all matters of wisdom (separately) by Our Command.” (Sura ad-Dukhan, 44:3-5)

According to Imam Qurtubi and Imam Jalal-ud-Din Suyuti, the above mentioned verse of Holy Quran is about Shab e Barat.

Night when decisions of death and life are made:

Moreover, Shab e Barat is the night at which Allah decides the fate of people. It is determined by Allah at that night that who will live and who will die in the coming year.

Hazrat Ayesha (RA) said that the Holy Prophet (SAWW) asked: “Do you know what happens this night?” meaning the mid night of Shaban (i.e., Shab-e-Barat). She (RA) asked: “O Allah’s Messenger, what happens in it?” He (SAWW) replied: “In it record is made of every human who will be born, and of every human who will pass away this year. In it their deeds are taken up to heaven and in it their provisions are sent down.” (Baihaqi)

Importance of Shab e Barat:

There is a great importance of Shab e Barat and the month of Shaban in Islam. The significance of Shab e Barat is clearly shown in following ahadiths;

• Hazrat Ayesha (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAWW) said, “On the mid night of Shaban (i.e., Shab e Barat), Allah most high descends to the lowest heaven and remits more sins than the hair of the goats of Banu Kalb.” (Jami Tirmidhi)
• It was narrated by Hazrat Ali (RA) that the Prophet (SAWW) 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? Is 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)
• Prophet Muhammad (SAWW) stated, “In the fifteenth night of Shaban, Allah manifests and forgives all His creation except for the Mushrik (idolater) and the spiteful.” (Ibn Majah)

All the above mentioned ahadiths show that there is great significance of Shab e Barat in Islam. The sins are forgiven at this night, the decisions of life and death are made and Allah descends to the lowest heavens to ask that if there is anyone who wants to ask for forgiveness, sustenance and so on.

Thus, Muslims around the world must pray a lot and keep fast on 15^th of Shaban in order to seek for forgiveness and any other good thing they want.

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