The 15th of Shabaan (Shabe Baraat)

The virtue of this night established from Ahadith is that from the very beginning of the night Allah Ta’ ala turns with special mercy and attention towards the creation and forgives those who repent and seeks forgiveness. Every Muslim should therefore value this night. Turn towards Allah Ta’ ala with sincere regret and shame over sins committed and make a promise never to return to sin again and seek forgiveness from Allah Ta’ala. Seek forgiveness for oneself and all Muslims, living and deceased. Have firm hope and resolution in the heart that Allah Ta’ ala will surely show mercy and forgiveness.
It is understood from Ahadith that even on this great night, some unfortunate individuals are deprived of Allah’s forgiveness. They are:
1. Idolaters
2. Those that harbor enmity against others
3. Those who consume alcohol
4. Those that disobey their parents
5. Those who wear their trousers, kurtas, lungis, etc. below their ankles
6. Those who commit murder
7. Those that sever family ties.
We should make note of the fact that wearing our clothes below the ankles is a sin on par with kufr and drinking alcohol. This should be an eye-opener for those of us who are habitual in this sin.
The special virtues of the night of Bara’at are:
1. Contrary to other nights where the last third of the night has special blessings and Allah descends to the lowest Heaven during this section of the night, on the night of Bara’at the special rain of mercy and forgiveness of Allah Ta’ ala begins to shower down right from the beginning of the night and continues until dawn.
2. The sins of countless people are pardoned. As already mentioned, Allah Ta’ala’s descension during this night to the lowest Heaven occurs from the very beginning, unlike other nights. Furthermore, the number of pronouncements seeking forgiveness far supersedes those, which occur on other nights.
Fasting during the month of Sha’baan is Sunnah and clearly established practice of the Shariah. Fasting in the month of Shábaan, without the stipulation of any day, is proven from Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. In fact, he used to fast excessively during this month. A Hadith of Hazrat Aisha (radiyallahu anha) wherein she describes the fast of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) substantiates this. She says that aside from the month of Ramadaan, he never used to fast for an entire month. However, of the remaining months, he would fast in Shábaan the most.


What should be done on this night?
In order to obtain maximum benefit from this auspicious night, one should allocate a specific portion of the night for solitude and close communion with Allah Ta’ala. Fervent dua and repentance should be priority and make the sole intention for Allah Ta’ala’s pleasure and reformation of the inner self. Other observances that may be practiced are:


(a) Salaah – Salaah is one the most preferable acts to be performed during this night. There is no particular number of Rak’ats but preferably it should not be less than eight. It is also advisable that each part of the Salaah like qiyam, rukoo’ and sajdah should be longer than normal. Also try and recite as much qiraat in salaah as possible.


(b) Tilawah – The recitation of the Holy Quran is another form of worship that is very beneficial on this night. After performing Salaah, or at any other time, one should recite as much of the Holy Quran as possible.


(c) Zikr – Engage ones heart in Zikr (remembrance of Allah Ta’ala).
One should also recite abundant durood on Rasulullah, (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). Zikr can also be recited while walking, lying on bed and during other hours of work or leisure.


(d) Dua – The best benefit one can draw from the blessings of this night is prayers and supplications. Dua (supplication) itself is an ‘Ibadah, and Allah Ta’ala gives reward on each prayer along with the fulfillment of the supplicator’s need. Even if the purpose prayed for is not achieved, one cannot be deprived of the reward of the prayer, which is, sometimes more precious than the mundane benefits one strives for. The prayers and supplications also strengthen one’s relation with Allah Ta’ala, which is the main purpose of all kinds and forms of worship.


(e) There are some people due to circumstances will not be able to carry out any vigorous or lengthy Ibadah. Such people should not deprive themselves completely of the blessings of this night. They should attempt to fulfill the following:
(i) Perform Maghrib, Esha and Fajr with congregation in the Masjid, or at home in case of illness.
(ii) Keep ones tongue wet with Zikr, in whatever condition they are until they sleep.
iii) Plead to Allah Ta’ala for forgiveness and for their other objectives. One can do so even whilst one is lying in bed.
(f) Women during menstruation cannot perform salaah, nor can they recite the Quran, but they can recite any Zikr, tasbeeh, durood sharif and can pray to Allah for whatever purpose they like in whatever language they wish. They can also recite the Arabic prayers mentioned in the Quran or in the Hadith with the intention of supplication (and not with the intention of recitation).
(g) According to a Hadith, Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) visited the graveyard of Baqi’ during this night where he prayed for the Muslims buried there. Hence, some of the fuqaha (jurists) are of the view that it is mustahab (advisable) to visit the graveyard during this night and pray for the dead. However, this act is neither obligatory nor should it be observed regularly as an obligatory act.


Some strange and innovative practices associated with Shabe Bar’aat
The occasion of Shabe Bara’at has become synonymous with some baseless beliefs and practices to mention just a few:

1. a) Burning Bright Lights and Candles: There is no substantiation for these acts, which are pure innovation. The Muslims of India being in close contact with the Hindus probably began imitating them in their practices, thus resulting in imitation of their celebration practices.
2. b) Preparing of Sweetmeats: Some consider this compulsory. Without it there can be no Shabe Bara’at. This is absolutely baseless. Some say that this act gains significance from the fact that on the occasion of Uhud when the blessed tooth of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi Wasallam) became Shaheed, he had some Halwa. Others say that Hazrat Hamza (Radiyallahu Anhu) was martyred on this day and the sweetmeats are in commemoration of him. These are fabricated and concocted theories. How can it ever be possible when it is a known fact that the battle of Uhud in which Hazrat Hamza was martyred took place in Shawwaal and not Sha’baan.
3. c) Souls visit families: Some people firmly believe that the souls of the deceased visit their families’ homes and see whether any food has been prepared in their honour or not. Some people feel that if a person dies before Shabe Bara’at, he is not counted amongst the dead. These are baseless ideologies that clearly contradict Ahadith.
4. d) Distribution of Food: Some feel that it is compulsory to distribute food on this night with the intention of Isale Sawaab. There is no link between this practice and the significance of the night. No special acts of charity, etc. have been prescribed for this night.
5. e) Hadith on Rajab, Shábaan and Ramadaan: Some people quote the following narration in their lectures: ‘Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi Wasallam) said, ‘Rajab is Allah’s month, Shábaan is my month and Ramadaan is the month of my Ummah.’
6. It should be noted that this ‘Hadith’ is a fabrication. (Akhbaare Mowdhoo p. 329)
7. ‘O Allah! Show us Haqq (the truth) and grant us ability to follow it and show us Baatil (falsehood) and grant us courage to refrain from it. May Allah Ta’ala shower His choicest blessings upon the best of His creation, Hazrat Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and upon his descendants and his entire Ummah. Aameen.
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Posted in: The 15th of Shabaan (Shabe Baraat)

EID UL AZHA

The preparation for the Eid day and salaat should begin the day befor Eid. Fasting on the day before Eid (9th Zulhijja) will fetch the reward of Allah removing our sins from the past year and the upcoming year. When maghrib arrives on that night, this represents the night of Eid. The night of Eid is an auspicious night. It says in hadith: “He who keeps alive the nights of both Eids (Eidul-Fitr and Eidul-Azha), convinced of its reward, then his heart will not die when hearts (of other people) will die.”

In another hadith it is stated: “If anyone keeps alive five nights (through zikr and other worship) then he is assured of entry into paradise. (the five nights are) eighth, ninth, and tenth of zul Hijja, the night of Eidul Fitr, and the fifteenth of Shabaan.”

So from these hadith we learn we must not go to sleep or waste our time on these nights but instead use these nights in a profitable manner. If we cannot keep awake the whole night then we must stay in worship as long as we can. If a chokie-dar can stay awoke the whole night for a small salary, then it should not be too difficult for us to do the same while seeking a larger reward from the Lord of All the Worlds. If we fight against our nafs we will be able to do it.


THE NIGHT OF EID IS UNDER ESTIMATED

Instead of worshipping the night of eid we spend our time:
1. Playing games like chess, dice, ludo, etc.
2. Spend the entire night glued to the television set. To watch TV in general is a major sin, and it is compounded on this auspicious night.
3. Some people spend the night shopping. The market places or bazaars are the worst and most cursed places on earth. They are centers of sin.
4. Some people waste a large amount of time in restaurants gossiping and backbiting and talking about other sinful matters.
5. Some businessmen understand that this is an auspicious night so they feel it would be better to conduct their business matters on this night to get more blessings. They spend so much time and effort in their business pursuits that they don’t have enough strength to come to fajr prayers the morning of Eid.


WHAT TO DO ON THE DAY OF EID?

The following are the sunnats for the day of Eid:

1. to perform ghusl
2. to use miswak
3. to dress within the rulings of the Shariah
4. to apply ittar (halaal non-alcoholic perfume)
5. not to eat anything before the Eid Namaz
6. to go to the eid gaah as early as possible
7. to perform the eid namaz at the eid gaah
8. to choose a different route when returning from the eid gaah
9. to go to the eid gaah walking
10. to recite the takbeer while walking to the eid gaah

SOME THINGS WE SHOULD NOT DO ON THE DAY OF EID?

There are some unislamic customs which have crept into our eid day celebrations nowadays. We must be on guard against them so they do not spoil the reward we hope to obtain on this occasion. For example:

1. Eid cards. The custom of sending eid cards is not prevalent in our society.

There are many sinful things that go along with sending eid cards, and a few are highlighted below:

A. many cards have pictures living things like animals and it is forbidden to snap animate beings, draw them, see them, like them and send them to each other.

B. some also carry nude or semi-naked pictures of women. It is a sin to see them, draw them, or make them and print them.

C. people compete with each other in sending a greeting card better than the other’s. They vie with each other in this way to be spoken of and this conduct is nothing but ostentation. Competition in sinful activities makes the sin graver.

D. if someone sends cheap eid cards then he is looked down upon and subject to taunts. Taunting anyone in itself is a sin and to compel or incite him to do a sinful thing is a more grave sin.

2.  Some people convey their greetings by telephone or telegram, email, sms,etc. this has nothing to do with religion but is  mere custom. No one should think that this is a sunnat or a part of the deen.

3. Many people embrace each other after the Eid salaat and think that it is sunnat or wajib to do so. This is incorrect, instead of it being a sunnat, it is in fact a bidat that must be avoided.

The fatwa of Mufti Muhammad Shafi (ra) the late mufti azam of Pakistan is:

To shake hands and embrace one another on eid day is a bidah and a symbol of the rawafid (shia). It must be given up.

The fatwa of Mufti Muhammad Taqi Uthmani:

Handshake at the time of meeting of two Muslims is masnoon. Also, to embrace one who returns from a journey is sunnah apart from these two occasions it is not sunnat. However, if anyone does not regard it as sunnat but does so incidentally then it is not a sin. If he considers it a sunnat and does it then it is a bidat. Since in our times the handshake after fard salaat and embrace after eid salah are considered as sunnat though they are not known from the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) or the sahabah, so the ulema have declared them as bidat and urged that they should be shunned.

4. Mubarak (Congratulations)

There are several opinions on whether it is permissible to greet one another with the words “Eid Mubarak” or other expressions like this on the day of eid.  Some say it is allowed because it is a dua and a good expression.

Some say it is makrooh because it is a Jewish practice.

Some say it is advisable because it is dua and it is mustahab to make dua for your brother.

Some say one should not greet but if someone else greets first he should repeat what the first person said.

In short, greetings on Eid are not known from any hadith and opinions differ about it from early times. Ulema proclaim it to be mubah (permissible) provided it is not accompanied by any factor which transforms it into Makrooh and Bid’ah. In our day, this expression is bid’ah because it has developed into a grounded custom. People believe that it is among the Mustahabbat of Eid. The younger generation grows up with this custom.

But if it is free from all disallowed things then it will be allowed. The disallowed things being: to consider it as sunnat, to regard it as necessary like fard or wajib, to treat it as fard or wajib, not to condemn one who did not practice it, to say it not before but after the masnoon salaam on meeting and then say eid mubarak or similar words.

Only when all of these factors are in place can it be said that giving eid greetings are permissible.

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What is Zakat?

Lexically, the word Zakah covers two meanings.
1. Purification
2. Growth and increase
In the terminology of the Quran and Sunnah, Zakah is the portion of asset that is made mandatory to be spent in the ways specified by Allah Ta’ala.

Benefits of Zakah
Zakah has two straightforward benefits.
Firstly, the payer himself gets purified from inner germs of the spiritual diseases.
Secondly, Zakah helps those who are not able to fulfill their needs independently. For e.g. orphans, widows, handicaps, poor people etc.

Allah Ta’ala says in Surah Taubah:
Take sadaqah (obligatory alms) out of their wealth through which you may cleanse and purify them, and pray for them. Indeed, your prayer is a source of peace for them. And Allah is (All-) Hearing, (All-) Knowing. (103)

At-Taubah 9:103
This verse has explicitly mentioned the first benefit i.e. purification of inner self. The second benefit is not mentioned in this verse. It points to the fact that the real purpose and objective of paying Zakah is the purification of one’s own self, though the second benefit exists in its inference. (Ma’ariful Quran)
Retribution for not giving Zakah

Allah Ta’ala says in the Quran:
“As for those who accumulate gold and silver and do not spend it in the way of Allah, give them the ‘good’ news of a painful punishment” (34) on the day it (the wealth) will be heated up in the fire of jahannam, then their foreheads and their sides and their backs shall be branded with it: “this is what you had accumulated for yourselves. So, taste what you have been accumulating.”(35)

At-Tawbah 9:34-35
The holy prophet (PBUH) said:
Every nation that does not give Zakah, Allah Ta’ala will afflict them with a drought.

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said,
“The person whom Allah has bestowed with wealth, yet does not give its Zakah, on the Day of Judgment, his wealth will be turned into venomous bald serpent with two black spots over the eyes (or two poisonous glands in its mouth) which will wind around his neck and bite his jaws and say: ‘I am your wealth, I am your treasure.’ “Then the Prophet (PBUH) recited the holy Verse: “Let not those who covetously withhold….” (to the end of the Verse).

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DUA FOR FINDING A SUITABLE SPOUSE

 Subhana allathee khalaqa alazwaja kullaha mimma tunbitu alardu wamin anfusihim wamimma la yaAAlamoona

“Glory to Allah, Who created in pairs all things that the earth produces, as well as their own (human) kind and (other) things of which they have no knowledge”. (Qur’aan: 36:36)

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DUA FOR PARENTS

 Rabbana ighfir lee waliwalidayya walilmumineena yawma yaqoomu alhisabu

“O our Lord! Forgive me and my parents, and (all) Believers, on the Day that the Reckoning will be established!” (Qur’aan: 14:41)

This is a dua made by Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh). He had offered this dua for protection from Hellfire. This is an extraordinary dua where Ibrahim (pbuh) is not only asking for him and his parents, but for all the believers. This should be an example for us to include other believers in our duas so that Allah (SWT) grants His mercy to all Muslims.
 Rabbi irhamhuma kama rabbayanee sagheeran“My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was young.” (Qur’aan: 17:24)
 Rabbi awziAAnee an ashkura niAAmataka allatee anAAamta AAalayya waAAala walidayya waan aAAmala salihan tardahu waaslih lee fee thurriyyatee innee tubtu ilayka wainnee mina al(Muslimeena“O My Lord! grant me that I should be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed on me and my parents, and that I should do good such as You are pleased and do good to me in respect of my offspring; surely I turn to You, and truly I submit (toYou) in Islam.” (Qur’aan: 46:15)
 Rabbi ighfir lee waliwalidayya waliman dakhala baytiya muminan walilmumineena waalmuminati wala tazidi alththalimeena illa tabaran“O my Lord! Forgive me, my parents, all who enter my home as a believer, and (all) believing men and believing women: and to the wrong-doers grant You no increase but destruction!” (Qur’aan: 71:28)

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