In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers. There are some special occasions in a year when one’s heart gets softened and one naturally feels more inclined to His obedience. The softness of hearts deepens as well on such occasions, the very environment seems emitting spiritual enjoyment. Shab-e-Barat is one such occasion. This night, known as Shab-e-Barat or Laylat-ul-Baraa, is called Laylatun Nisf min Shaban in Arabic world. The blessed night starts at sunset on the 14th and ends at dawn on the 15th. The Muslims observe Mid-Shaban as a night of worship and salvation. Some spend the whole night awake and some worship half of it. We should not be negligent on this occasion, because people are shown grace on this auspicious night.
According to Islamic scholars, the whole of the month of Shaban is meritorious. Its excellent merit is evident from a tradition narrated by Aisha (r.a), the mother of the faithful: “The Prophet (pbuh) did not fast in any month more than Shaban.” (Sahih Bukhari) Though fasts were not obligatory on him, the Prophet (pbuh), yet he observed them most of the month. A companion of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Usama ibn Zaid (r.a), once asked him, Messenger of Allah, I have seen you fasting in the month of Sha’ban so frequently that I have never seen you fasting in any other month. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) replied: That (Sha’ban) is a month between Rajab and Ramadan which is neglected by many people. And it is a month in which an account of the deeds (of human beings) is presented before the Lord of the universe, so, I wish that my deeds be presented at a time when I am in a state of fasting.
The special merit is attached to Shab-e-Barat. Aisha (r.a), the mother of the faithful, also reported: “The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: ‘On the middle night of Shaban (that is, 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) A third tradition of Hazrat Aisha (r.a), the truthful, states that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) asked: “Do you know what happens this night?” meaning the middle night of Shaban (that is, Shab-e-Barat). She submitted: “O Allah’s Messenger, what happens in it?” He replied: “In it 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 it their provisions are sent down.” (Baihaqi) The pious predecessors of the Muslim nation have always observed this night as a night of special blessings and have spent it in divine service. Often, women who missed fasts in Ramadan make them up in this month. Apart from worshipping on this night, fasting the following day is also recommended. It is reported from Hazrat Ali (R.A) that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) said: “When the middle night of Shaban arrives, spend it in worship and fast during the day. On this night, at sunset, Allah descends to the nearest heaven and announces: ‘Is there no one asking forgiveness that I may forgive him? Is there no one asking provision that I may grant him provision? Is there no one afflicted that I may relieve them? Is there not such and such?’ (He keeps announcing) till the dawn comes.”
The special blessings of Almighty descend during the night. According to Muadh ibn Jabal, Allah’s Messenger said: “Allah Almighty looks upon all those created by Him in the middle night of Shaban and forgives all those created by Him. Excepted is the one who associates partners with Him, or the one who has malice in his heart.” Hadrat Ayesha Siddiqa (radi Allahu ta’ala anha) reports: “One night, which was the 15th of Shabaan, I did not find the Beloved Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alaihi 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) A special point must be made to visit the cemetery during this night and pray for the deceased buried therein, as the Most Beloved Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) is been reported as having visited the cemetery on this night and spending a long time therein, lamenting, reading and praying for the deceased. This night should be spent in worshipping Allah from the depth of heart. It is the time to focus one’s attention to Him alone. It is the time to enjoy the direct contact with Allah, Most Compassionate, Ever-Merciful. Most of all, it is the time for reforming one’s life to come. In most places in the world, people fast on 15th of Shaban, visit graves and commemorate their ancestors on this night. Let us Make dua on this occasion for the welfare of all Humans on this earth who are suffering in one way or the other (Aameen).
(The authors are writing regularly for “Kashmir Horizon”. Their views are personal)
