Significance of Shab-e-Barat: The night of forgiveness
SHAB-e-Barat occurs in the night between 14th and 15th month of Sha’ban. It is an essential occasion in Islamic history, which is celebrated by doing worship and prayers. It is of utmost importance for Muslims because the Almighty takes big decisions regarding the person’s fate, livelihood, life, and death, etc. So, to get the decision of the Almighty in their favour, people all night worship and offer prayers. As described in Hadiths, it happens in the mid-Sha’ban. The importance of this night becomes evident by the Hadith of Holy Prophet (PBUH), He said, on this beautiful night, the Almighty sends his special favour to the world, He also announce the forgiveness of my nation in countless numbers. In another Hadith, The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: except unbelievers and the spiteful, the Almighty forgives all subordinates as the creature in this night. These Hadiths show the authenticity of this night, mainly working as the opportunity to get the blessings of the Almighty.
In a Hadith, Hazrat Ali (RA) narrated: During the 15 night of Sha’ban, the Muslims should stand at the (Particular) night with the day fast, it is due to the Almighty, who comes in this night on the opening heaven and announces, who wants to be forgiven by me mainly who did sins without any break, is there anyone who finds sustenance, so that I sustain, and those who are in affliction, so that I manifest. This continuation runs till the Morning Prayer.
If this is the actual condition of the blessing of the Almighty, how can one keep him or herself away from such blessings? This Hadith shows that the Almighty wants to shower his prizes over us, but we often become the victim of insincerity. In another Hadith, the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) said that, in the 15th night of Sha’ban, all the Muslims would be forgiven by the Almighty, but the unbeliever and the spiteful will never be the one who would have been overlooked. To error is human, to forgive is divine. As a human, we make thousands of mistakes; even some mistakes are made deliberately. But, the Almighty wants to forgive us. This night is one of the opportunities that God almighty provides us. Moreover, The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) did not only emphasize to worship and pray for himself only. But, he went to the graveyard and offered to pray for the buried people there. By taking such a move, he also told us to include those persons who were with you some time ago but not now.
Hazrat Ayesha (R.A) said, Once upon a time, The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) offered the prayer of Night and in this prayer made a prolong prostration. I was sleeping near the place where The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) was offering prayer. The prostration became so long during which no movement was recorded. I felt that the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) died. Therefore, he did not make any type of movement. At once, I stood from the bed and took myself near him and moved his thumb. After moving thumb, I became assured that he was alive and was offering some words. When I went nearer, I heard,’ I am the applicant of your pleasure than from your annoyance. I cannot make my prayers as you deserve? Then he got up and came near me and said, O Aisha, how can you think that the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) deceived you? I said that I was afraid of thinking about your death. Later, the Last Prophet (PBUH) said, Ayesha, Do you know about this night? I said that the Almighty knows the best. Then, he told me that this is the night of Mid-Sha’ban. The Almighty pays His attention to those who are slaves and also forgives those who made a lot of sins. The Almighty bestows His grace upon those who pray for grace.
As Muslims, we should pay attention to our deeds and actions. And if these actions are not according to Islam, we should pay attention to it because at the end of life; we would be met the day of judgment where no recommendation, capital, and our elders would save us from the Hell Fire. Everyone would get their share according to their deeds.
This night has confirmed the opportunity to get our sins forgiven by the Almighty and the opportunity to get our direction right if the previous one is wrong. But, these prayers are not obligatory. It is up to the person either he or she chooses to offer prayers and spend this night in sleeping. But, who can prevent himself or herself from getting the reward? It is also not necessary to spend the whole night in prayers and recitation. We can select a timetable before the night comes and can easily do whatever we want. It is also not necessary to spend the whole night in Worship.
Prayers and recitation has also been confirmed by the life of Our Holy Prophet (PBUH). These are essential ways to get the will of the Almighty. In fact, we should do it regularly, no matter if we do it in little quantity. Because these are the few crucial ways by which we can save ourselves by the Hell Fire. It can also be done on the occasion of this night. This night is an opportunity to get the assurance of the Almighty regarding our betterment.
