Shab- e- Baraat, the night of amends or reparation for guilt and wrongdoings
Dr. Sheikh Arshid
Shab-e- Baraat, the 14th night of the month of Sha’aban of the eighth month of the Islamic calendar is observed as the night of atonement and reparation of wrongdoings in previous life. It commemorates the entry of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) into the city of Mecca. This night is treated without guile or deception, on this night Allah said: ` “who wants forgiveness, I will forgive you. Who wants food, I will provide food”. Allah said this over again and again until Fajr (morning prayers).
The Shab-e-Barat is observed with pomp and enthusiasm by Muslims all over the world and they believe that on this night Almighty Allah writes the destinies of all men for the coming year by taking into account the deeds committed by them in the past. It is considered one of the holiest nights on the Islamic Calendar. These are other names of this night as ‘the night of records’, ‘the night of assignment’ and ‘the night of deliverance’. The observance involves a festive nightlong vigil with prayers; in some regions, this is also a night when one’s deceased ancestors are commemorated. Other names for the observance include “Night of Innocence”.
Muslims observe Mid-Sha’ban as a night of worship and salvation. Various Hadiths have been in this regard, some weak and others graded Hassan or Sahih. Scholars including Imam Shafii, Imam Nawawi, Imam Ghazzali and Imam Suyuti have declared praying on the night of mid Shaban as acceptable.
Aisha (RA) is reported to have said that Prophet Muhammad( SAW) said, “This is the middle night of Sha’ban. Allah frees in it a large number of the people from Hellfire, more than the number of the hair growing on the sheep of the tribe, Kalb.
But He (SWT) does not even look at a person who associates partners with Allah, or at a person who nourishes malice in his heart (against another Muslim), or at a person who cuts off the ties of womb-relations, or at a man who leaves his clothes extending beyond his ankles (as a sign of pride), or at a person who disobeys his parents, or at a person who has a habit of drinking wine.”
According to Imam Al-Shafi’ee(RA): “There are five nights when the supplications (Duas) are accepted by Allah. These are (1) Friday night, (2) Night before Eid-ul-Fitr, (3) Night before Eid-ul-Adha, (4) First night of Rajab and (5) Night of Nisf Shaban.”
According to Imam Malik(RA): “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.”
Doubtlessly, Allah surrounds everything on the fifteenth night of Shaban with his mercy. He forgives all of His creatures except mushriks (polytheists) and those whose hearts are full of hatred or enmity of others. Allah, the Exalted, forgives all Muslims on that night except soothsayers, magicians, people who are full of hatred, alcoholics, people who harm their parents and those who insist on committing fornication.
Is there no one asking forgiveness that I may forgive them? Is there no one asking sustenance that I may grant them sustenance? Is there no one under trial that I may relieve them? It goes on like that until dawn rises. Allah continues this saying upto opening of dawn and wants every muslim should come on his door so that he will forgive all sins committed in previous life.
Muslims all over the world do communal Zikr in mosques followed by a lecture led by an Imam or Khateeb and religious followers make duas to Almighty Allah seeking forgiveness and atonement to all sins. This night is called as “night of freedom” because Allah frees His sinful servants who were destined for Hell. A person’s life in the coming year, his sustenance, and his life activities shall be decided on this night. The names of the souls of all those who are born and of all those who are to depart from this world are determined. One’s actions are raised and sustenance sent down.
According to scholars it is said that on this night the Doors of Mercy and Forgiveness are opened wide, but not for those who create disunity among two Muslims and the person who unjustly takes away the right and property of another Muslim and has not yet rectified himself, these persons are not shown Mercy on this auspicious Night.
The core essence of celebrating Shab-e-Bar’at can be summed up in that people do Ibaadat Worshipping to Almighty Allah, connecting all sorts of broken bonds in the kinship and aim to do righteousness. On this night all Muslims pass the night as sleepless and spent in various forms of worship, giving in charity, helping the needy, sending sweets to friends and relatives, inviting others to the feasts and things.
This is the effective way to connect neighbors and other members of kinship and attain righteousness. These are the clear objectives of observing Shab-e-Bar’at as intended by millions of all Muslims.
Unfortunately during the deadly COVID-19, the administration has been forced to issue an advisory to the Muslim community not to venture out of their houses on the forthcoming occasion of Shab-e-Barat in view of the coronavirus lockdown in the country.
Lockdown is in force even on the congregation prayers held in mosques and visiting graves of their departed loved ones.
Adhering to the advisory of administration all Muslims across Kashmir should stay inside and observe the Shabi Baraat without attending any congregational prayers. It is the best time to repent to Almighty Allah amid huge crises to ask for remedial and preventive features of this deadly disease.
So, you may spend this night by doing good deeds such as asking Duas for yourself and for all the Muslims around the world, recitation of Al-Quran and any other act to get Allah’s attention and blessings as these deeds are Sunnah of Prophet (SAW). May Allah (SWT) shower upon us his mercy and blessings in the crucial time of deadly disease.
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