Shab-e-Barat is the holy night for the believers of Islam. This is the night of forgiveness, repentance, and fortune. ‘Shab’ is a Persian word that translates to “night” and the Arabic word ‘Barat’ means “salvation and forgiveness”.
According to the Islamic calendar or Hijri, Shab-e-Barat is celebrated on the 14th night of the lunar month Sha'aban which is the 28th March of the English calendar this year. Muslims believe that it is the Day of Atonement when Allah forgives sinners.
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What do Muslims believe about this day?
The general belief about his day is that it is the day of asking forgiveness from the Lord. But when looked at from a historical perspective Shia and Sunni beliefs differ here.
Sunni belief
Sunni Muslims believe that it is the historical day when Allah saved Prophet Noah’s ark from the flood that submerged everything on the planet. And that is why they pray the whole night and ask for forgiveness of their sins.
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Shia belief
Shia Muslims’ beliefs differ in the case of Shab-e-Barat. They celebrate this day as the birthday of the Shia’s twelfth Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi. Muhammad al-Mahdi is believed to appear again and be the redeemer for humanity, and he will establish the Divine Kingdom of God.
What are the traditions of Shab-e-Barat?
Shab-e-Barat is the night where Muslims devote themselves to prayer and praise of Allah. They also pray on the grave of their loved ones and ask Allah for mercy upon them. They lit candles and stayed awake the whole night reciting Quran and prayers. They also offer special Namaz for this night of repentance.
Muslims believe that on this night God decides their destiny for the upcoming year based on their past years. Some people also do fasting on this day. Zakat and distributing food on this day is necessary for the believers of Islam.
Food and sweets are made on this occasion and distributed among the family, friends, relatives, and the poor needy people.The historical importance of Shab-e-Barat
Prophet Muhammad went missing this night and his wife Hadrat Ayesha Siddiqa searched for him everywhere. In the end, he was found in the cemetery of Medina praying for the deceased one. He spends a long time asking God for forgiveness and mercy for his deceased loved ones. This act of Prophet Muhammad is believed to lay the tradition of this day.
Hadiths related to Shab-e-Barat
Some hadith related to Shab-e-Barat is:
Conclusion
Shab-e-Barat is an auspicious day, and it should be celebrated peacefully. Keep the COVID-19 norms in your mind while celebrating Shab-e-Barat this year. Try avoiding firecrackers as they are harmful to the environment.
