Shab e Barat – 15th night of Shabaan
Another Chance
This is an opportunity that everyone needs to take advantage of. We do not know Shabe Bara’at if our names will be written on the list given to the Angel of Death this year, and whether we will have the opportunity of experiencing this blessed night again. We must make Tauba (repent) for our sins and ask for Allah Ta’ala’s Forgiveness. We are such wretched sinners but the Mercy of Allah Ta’ala is boundless. No matter how sinful we are, it is never too late to fall down in prostration before our Lord and to cry in shame for our insolent behaviour in disobeying His commands.
Allah Ta’ala’s Mercy overcomes His anger therefore we should not lose hope in His Mercy, no matter how wretched we might be. Allah Ta’ala just wants an excuse to forgive us but it is we who are too lazy to humble ourselves before Him to ask for His Mercy.
On this night when Allah Ta’ala calls out, “Who is there who seeks forgiveness so that I may forgive Him?” the whole night, let us respond to that call by crying in the Court of Allah Ta’ala and saying, “Ya Allah, this wretched sinner seeks Your forgiveness. I am present in Your Court and I humble myself in shame before You. Through the Sadaqah and Wasilah of Your Beloved Messenger, Muhammad Mustafa (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) please forgive me.”
Nothing is stopping us besides our nafs and Shaitaan. Remember that Allah Ta’ala loves those who cry in His Court out of shame and repent for their sins, so do not let this blessed night go by in vain. May Allah Ta’ala grant us the Taufeeq to take full advantage of the blessings of Shab-e-Baraat, to repent from our sins and to make as much Ibaadat as possible on this blessed night, Ameen.
Shab-e-Baraat is the Night of Absolution and is a vessel for Mercy, Blessing, Benefit, Pardon & Forgiveness that descends upon the people of the earth. On this great night, Allah Ta’ala reveals a special Divine Revelation to the first heaven & proclaims,
“Is there anyone who seeks forgiveness so that I may forgive him? Is there anyone who seeks sustenance so that I may grant him sustenance? Is there anyone who seeks freedom from his problems so that I may remove his problems?”
This announcement continues until the break of dawn.
Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has said, “On the night of the middle of Shabaan, Allah Ta’ala reveals a special Divine Revelation to the sky of this lower world and forgives every Muslim, except a Mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah Ta’ala), the bearer of malice, the breaker of family ties, the adulterer, the miser, the one who is disobedient to his parents and the one who consumes alcohol.”
Prophet SalAllahu Alaihe Wasallam has stated that; “During this night Allah Ta’ala opens 300 doors of Mercy unto His servants & that the slaves of Allah Ta’ala are emancipated from the fire of hell, as many as the hairs on the flocks of the tribe of Bani Kalb.”
Allah Ta’ala states in the Holy Qur’an, “Therein all matters of wisdom are sorted out for Decree.” [Surah 44, Verse 4].
This Aayat refers to Shab-e-Baraat and it is stated that on this great night, the entire year’s programme of sustenance, death, life, honour and disgrace, in short, every affair of man is listed from the Divine Tablet and handed over to the angels of each area on the earth in the form of a book. For example, the Angel of Death is given a list of the names of those who would be dying in the coming year. [Tafseer Noorul Irfaan]
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Hazrat Aisha Siddiqah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) reports that once on Shab-e-Baraat Rasoolullah SaAllahu Alaihi Wasallam went into prostration for a long time and she watched him until she thought that Allah Ta’ala had taken His Messenger SalAllahu Alaihe Wasallam from this world. After a long time had elapsed, she got close enough to touch the soles of his feet. He stirred, and she heard him say in his prostration,
“I take refuge with Your pardon from Your punishment. I take refuge with Your approval from Your displeasure. I take refuge in You from You. Glory be to You. I cannot fully praise You, as You have praised Yourself.”
After this incident Hazrat Aisha Siddiqah Radi Allahu Anh asked Rasoolullah SalAllahu Alaihe Wasallam;
“O Messenger of Allah SalAllahu Alaihe Wasallam, tonight I have heard you utter something during your prostration that I never heard you mention before.” Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam then asked, “Have you learnt it?” When she said yes, he replied, “Study those words and teach them, for Hazrat Jibra’eel Alaihis Salam asked me to repeat them in prostration.” [Ghunyalit Taalibi Tariqal Haq]
This Dua is given below in Arabic & we must try to recite it as much as possible.
اللَّهُمَّ اَعُوْذُ بِعَفْوِكَ مِنْ عِقَابِكَ وَاَعُوْذُ بِرَضَاكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ وَاَعُوْذُ بِک
مِنْكَ جَلَّ وَجُهُكَ لَا أُحْصِي ثَنَاءَ عَلَيْكَ اَنْتَ كَمَا اثْنَيْتَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ
Allahumma Aoozu bi Afwika Min Iqaabika Wa Aoozu Biradaaka Min Sakhatika Wa AoozuBika Minka Jalla Wajhuka Laa Uhsi Sana’an Alayka Anta Kama Asnaita Ala Nafsik
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Preparations for Shab-e-Bara’at
One should perform fresh Ghusal & Wudhu & perform the two Rakaat of Tahhiyatul Wudhu On the 14th of Shaban before sunset, one should pray Durud Sharif & Istighfaar and Tasbeeh as much as possible.
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا وَ مَوْلَانَا مُحَمَّدٍ
مَّعْدِنِ الْجُودِ وَ الْكَرَمِ وَالِهِ وَبَارِک وَسَلّمْ
Allahumma Salli’ala Sayyedena Wa Mawlana Muhammadim Ma’adanil Judi Wal’karami Wa Aalihi Wabarik Wasallim.
After Asr Salaah the following should be recited 70 times
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ وَآتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ
Astaghfirullahalladhi Laailaha Ella Huwal Hayyul Qayyumu Wa Atubo Elayh. Read the following Tasbih before sunset on 14th Shaban. Whosoever reads this 40 times Almighty Allah forgives 40 years of minor sins.
لا حَوْلَ قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللهِ الْعَلِي الْعَظِيم
Laa Hawla Wala Quwwata Ella Billahil Aliyyil Azeem.
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What to pray?
After Maghrib Salaah 6 rakaats of Nafl
Salaah should be read as three sets of two rakaats.
- – First two Rakhaat with the intention to receive a long life through the barkat.
- second two Rakaat with the intention to be saved from all types of problems
- – Last two Rakaats with the intention for Allah Ta’ala not to make you needy of anyone besides Him. After each set of rakaats, recite Surah Yaseen once and thereafter Dua-eNisfe Shabaan.
اللَّهُمَّ يَا ذَا الْمَنِّ وَلَا يُمَنُّ عَلَيْهِ ، يَا ذَا الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ يَا ذَا الطَّوْلِ وَالْإِنْعَامِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ ظَهْرُ اللَّا جِيْنَ، وَجَارُ الْمُسْتَجِيْرِينَ، وَأَمَانُ الخَائِفِينَ، اَللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ كَتَبْتَنِي عِنْدَكَ فِي أُمّ الْكِتَبِ شَقِيًّا أَوْ مَحْرُوْمًا أَوْ مَطْرُوْدًا أَوْ مُقَتَّرًا عَلَيَّ فِي الرِّزْقِ فَامْحُ ، اَللَّهُمَّ بِفَضْلِكَ شَقَاوَتِی وَ حِرْمَانِی وَ طَرْدِئُ وَاقْتِتَارَ رِزْقِيْ، وَأَثْبِتُنِي عِنْدَكَ فِي أُمِّ الْكِتَبِ سَعِيْدًا مَّرْزُوقًا مُوَفَقَا لِلْخَيْرَاتِ، فَإِنَّكَ قُلْتَ وَقَوْلُكَ الْحَقُّ فِي كِتَابِكَ الْمُنَزَّلِ، عَلَى لِسَانِ نَبِيِّكَ الْمُرْسَلِ، يَمْحُوا اللَّهُ مَا يَشَآئُ وَيُثْبِتُ وَ عِنْدَهُ أُمُّ الْكِتَبِ الْبِى بِالتَجَلَّى الْأَعْظَم، فِي لَيْلَةِ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَهْرِ شَعْبَانَ الْمُكَرَمِ الَّتِي يُفْرَقُ فِيهَا حَكِيمٍ وَيُبْرَمُ، أَنْ تَكْشِفَ عَنَّا مِنَ الْبَلَاءِ وَالْبَلْوَآئِ مَا نَعْلَمُ وَمَا لَا نَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ بِهِ أَعْلَمُ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْأَعَزُّ الْأَكْرَمُ، وَصَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلَى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ
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One should also try to fast on the 15th of Shaban as this is the Sunnah of RasuAllah SalAllahu Alaihe Wasalam. It is also better to fast both on the 14th & 15th (if possible) so that one would enter the blessed night of Shab-e-Barat in a state of fasting.
One should also try to visit the graveyard to make Dua of Maghfirat (Forgiveness) for the deceased, as this is the Sunnah of our beloved Rasool SalAllahu Alaihe Wasalalm.