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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