Shab-E-Baraat or Laylat al-Baraat is an Islamic festival that is celebrated by Muslims all around the world. The translates to a beautiful night of Fortune and Forgiveness, Shab-e-Barat means the night of forgiveness or atonement and commemorates the day Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) entered the city of Makkah.
Aqa Kareem said, “On the fifteenth night of Sha’ban, Allah Almighty appears in the Heavens and the Earth according to His glory and on this night He forgives everyone except the polytheists and the haters.” The Prophet said, “On the middle night of Shaban, Allah most high descends to the lowest heaven and remits more sins than the hair of the goats of Banu Kalb!”
On the night of Shab-e-Barat, people gather and offer prayers in mosques by waking up at night. The prayer of worshiping Allah in this night is equal to worshiping in a thousand prayers. The night of Shab-e-Baaraat is also called the night of success. That is why it has been said that in this night, the person who is awake, should stay awake and ask for the guilt of their sins.
Madzara Maurya of Madrasa Nuriya Merajul Uloom while making fajit statement. Aslam Raza Khan said, in the month of Shaaban, all Muslims should pray a lot to God. In this month, one should recite the Quran by exercising. On the night of Shab-e-Baaraat, Khuda Mardeon ki kabade mein kabbane. The dead visit their houses to see their families. When families live happily in peace, worshipping Allah, they evoke blessings. Shab-e-Barat is the night of the Eid of the angels. On this night, the angels descend to the ground under the leadership of Hazrat Jibril Alaih Salaam.
The Night of Emancipation, the blessed night starts at sunset on the 14th of Shaban and ends at dawn on the 15th of Shaban. Therefore Shab e Barat 2021 should be observed across the country tonight. Barat or Brat is regarded as a night when an individual’s fortune decides for the coming year and when Allah may forgive sinners. This is the night of blessing when the deeds of the whole human year are presented above when the decisions of life and death are made for the next year.
In many regions, this is also a night when prayers are offered to Allah to forgive one’s deceased ancestors. There are Twelver Shia Muslims who commemorate the birthday of Muhammad al-Mahdi on this date.
Muslims pray for forgiveness of sin, and salvation from hellfire. Allah calls, “Is there anyone who is asking for forgiveness so that I can forgive them, who is in distress that I may relieve his distress, is there anyone who needs food that I may give it to him.’ And this prayer continues till the morning.
People’s hearts need to be clean, stop backbiting, and absolutely hold no hatred towards anyone in order to receive forgiveness and bestowed great blessings from Allah.
Shab-e-Barat, Barat Night, Cheragh e Brat (light), Berat Kandili, or Nisfu Syaaban (in Southeastern Asian Muslims) is celebrated on the 15th night, the night between the 14th and 15th of the month of Sha’ban, the eighth month of the Islamic calendar.
Barat Night is observed simultaneously with the Shia Mid-Sha’ban festival but, the origin of this festival is different from Mid-Sha’ban. Barat festival is commemorated by both Shia and Sunni Islam whereas, Mid-Sha’ban is celebrated only by Shia to observe the anniversary of the birth of the 12th Imam Mahdi. Barat festival has a root in the Persian Mehragan or Cheragh Brat festival to offer tribute to the dead souls.
The Eids of the Angels are at night because they do not sleep. They sleep so their Eids are during the day.
On the occasion of Shab-e-Barat, a message of apology should be sent to the person whom you think you may have harmed, either in honor, life and property so that this person should know you have apologized.
It is a beautiful night of forgiveness, restorations, renewals, and blessings after going through cycles of prayers and worship. According to Imam Malik, “There are four nights in which gates of righteousness are opened, (1) Night before Eid-ul-Fitr, (2) Night before Eid-ul-Adha, (3) Night of Arafat (9th Dhul Hijjah during Hajj) and (5) Night of Nisf Shaban.” ( Shab-e-Barat)