SHABE BARAAT
BASIC INFORMATION
All Praise be to Allaah (SWT) who has blessed us with a Deen wherein small actions reap tremendous rewards as expounded by His Beloved Rasul, Hadhrat Muhammad (SAW), and by the blessed Sahaabah (RA) who spent everything for the upliftment of the Deen.
Several Ahaadith extol the tremendous merits of this occasion. Amongst them is the fact that countless people are forgiven by Allaah (SWT) during this blessed night. It is due to this reason that it is called “The night of Baraat” (i.e. the night wherein judgement of exemption from Jahannum and punishment is passed).
However, it should be borne in mind that a vast majority of narrations describing the benefits and virtues of this night are in fact quite weak.
The foundations of the Shariah are the Quraan, the Sunnat and the lives of the Sahaabah (RA)
Moulana Yusuf Binouri (R.A) says: “I have not come across any Sahih, Marfoo and Musnad Hadith regarding the excellence of the night.” (Ma’aarifus Sunna, Vol 5, Page 419)
Some of the pious predecessors used to specially devote this night for Salaat (Faydhul Qadeer Vol 2 Page 317).
UNFORTUNATE PEOPLE
It is understood from Ahaadith that even on this night, some are deprived of Allaah’s forgiveness.They are:
1. Idolaters
2. Those who harbour enmity against others
3. Those who consume alcohol
4. Those who disobey their parents
5. Those who wear their trousers, kurtas, lungis etc, below their ankles
6. Those who commit adultery and murders
7. Those who sever family ties.
From the above, we can gauge the severity of these sins and need to perpetually abstain from them as they are so grave that even when Allaah (SWT’s) Mercy comes to the fore, they still pose an obstacle to forgiveness.
SPECIAL VIRTUES OF THE NIGHT OF BARAAT
The special virtues of the night of Baraat are:
1. Contrary to other nights wherein Allaah (SWT) descends to the lowest Heaven to bestow His special blessings during the last third of the night, on the night of Baraat the special rain of mercy and forgiveness from Allaah (SWT) begins to shower down right from the beginning of the night and continues up till dawn.
2. The Sins of countless people are pardoned. Furthermore, the number of pronouncements seeking out those who want forgiveness supersede those which occur on other nights. [Hafiz Zayud-deen Iraqi, Faydhul Qadeer, vol 2, pg 317].
It should be remembered that while the narrations regarding the night of Baraat are weak, the narrations regarding Allaah (SWT’s) descending to the nearest Heaven during the last third of every night are totally correct.
VISITING THE GRAVESIDE ON THE NIGHT OF BARAAT
Rasulullaah (SAW’s) awakening during any night and visiting the graveyards is recorded in some previously mentioned Ahaadith. However, visiting of the graveyard is not a special characteristic of this night in particular. It is proven from another authentic narration that Rasulullaah (SAW) used to visit the graveyard during the last portion of every night.
NO SPECIFIC PRESCRIBED SALAAT RESERVED FOR THE NIGHT OF BARAAT.
Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri (R.A.) has written regarding the matter that the significance of the night of Baraat is proven. There is however, no proof for those weak and unacceptable narrations mentioned in certain books. [Alarfus-Shazi, pg 156].
Mulla Ali Qadri has discussed this matter under a special chapter regarding the prescribed Salaat’s of the night of Baraat. After mentioning these Salaat’s, he declares them to be unfounded and therefore in the fourth century in Baitul-Muqaddas and thereafter Ahaadith were fabricated in order to support these baseless formulae. [Mowdhu’aatte-Kabeer, pg 330, Beirut edition, also Tadhkiratul-Mowdhu’aat of Farrbi, pg 45].
FASTING ON THE FIFTEENTH OF SHABAAN IS NOT ESTABLISHED FROM HADITH.
Some people believe the misconception that fasting on the fifteenth of Shabaan is Sunnat.
FASTING DURING THE MONTH OF SHABAAN IS SUNNAT AND A CLEARLY ESTABLISHED PRACTICE OF THE SHARI’AH
Fasting in the month of Shabaan, without the stipulation of any day, is proven from Rasulullaah (SAW). In fact, he used to fast excessively during this month.
THE NIGHT OF BARAAT AND QUR’AAN
Has the night of BARAAT been mentioned in the Qur’aan? The most correct opinion is that the night of Baraat has not been mentioned in the Qur’aan.
Hafiz Ibnu-Katheer writes that those like Ikramah who have explained the “blessed night’ in the Qur’aan as the night of Baraat are very distant from the correct interpretation. [Ma'arisfus-Sunan, vol 5, pg 420].
IS SUSTENANCE, LIFE AND DEATH DECIDED ON THIS NIGHT?
Qazi Abubakr bin Arabi writes that there is no reliable Hadith regarding the fifteenth of Shabaan from which it may be understood that sustenance, life and death are decided on that night. He has even gone so far as to say that there is no reliable narration concerning this night being the blessed one. [Ma'ariful Qur'aan, vol 7, pg 757].
It has been established from the Qur’aan that these decisions are passed to the Angels on Laylatul Qadr and not on the night of Baraat.
SOME STRANGE AND INNOVATIVE PRACTICES ASSOCIATED WITH SHABE-BARAAT
The occasion of Shabe-Baraat has become synonymous with some baseless beliefs and practices.
1. Burning lights and candles.
2. Preparing of Sweetmeats.
3. Souls Visit Families.
4. Distribution of Food.
5. Hadith on Rajab, Shabaan and Ramadaan: Some people quote the following narration in their lectures. Some people quote the following narration in their lectures: Rasulullaah (SAW) said: “Rajab is Allaah’s month, Shabaan is my month and Ramadaan if the month of my Ummah.” It should be noted that this “Hadith” is a fabrication. [Akhbaare-Modhoo', pg 329].
Rasulullaah (SAW) said: “Rajab is Allaah’s month, Shabaan is my month and Ramadaan if the month of my Ummah.” It should be noted that this “Hadith” is a fabrication. [Akhbaare-Modhoo', pg 329].
OTHER ACTIONS WHICH ARE THE RESULT OF MISINFORMATION
On these nights, in many Masaajids:
1. Congregational Yaseen Khathams are held.
2. Congregational Zikr sessions are held.
3. Congregational recitation of Salaat wa Salaam are held.
4. One person recites the 40 Durood etc. whilst others listen.
5. Individual Quraan recitations takes place.
6. Delivery of Lectures in the Masjid on the night.
All the above are NOT proven in the Shariat of Islaam.
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Please be aware the date specified by this code is an approximate and may need to be adjusted. As we all know months in Islam are calculated by the Phases of the moon which vary at times.