Laylat al-Bara’ah – Night of Salvation
The 15th night of
Shabaan is a very blessed night. According to the Hadith Shareef, the name of
this Mubarak night is “Nisf Sha'baan” which means 15th night of Shabaan. The
reason for this special night to attain its name of Laylat al-Bara’ah, meaning
the Night of Salvation, Seeking Freedom from Torment and Calamity, is that in
this night the blessing and acceptance of repentance may be accomplished. Laylat
al-Baraa’ah in Persian, as well as in Urdu, is called Shab-e Bara’at. It is the
special night of seeking forgiveness and repenting to Almighty Allah,
remembering our past sins and sincerely settling the mind that one will never
commits sins in the future. All the deeds that are against Shari’ah must be
totally avoided so that our Du’a and Istighfaar, hopefully, will be accepted.
A Letter of Imam al-Ahl as-Sunnah towards All
Muslims
Imam of Ahl as-Sunnah, Mujaddid of the Ummah, Allamah, Mawlana, Al-Haaj,
Al-Hafidh, Al-Qari, Ash-Shah Imam Ahmad Rida Khan [Alaihir raHmah wa ar-Ridwan]
wrote a letter to one of his disciples emphasizing repentance before onset of
Shab-e-Bara'at. Same is being presented here due to its worthiness:
Shab-e-Bara'at is
about to come. On this night, the deeds of all servants are presented in the
Exalted Court of Allah. For the sake of the Most Dignified Rasool (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon Him), Allah forgives the sins of the Muslims except
that of a few. Among these are those two Muslims who bear mutual hostility for
some worldly reasons. Allah says: ‘Leave them as they are, until they mend their
relations’.
Ahl-e-Sunnat
should end discords and mend relations before sunset of 14th Sha’ban. Fulfil the
rights of others; else get waiver so at the book of deeds is presented in His
court devoid of rights of others. Regarding the rights of Allah, mere sincere
repentance is sufficient. It is mentioned in a Hadith:
التائب
من
الذنب
كمن
لا
ذنب
له
Whoever
repents of his sin, is as if he has not committed the sin at all.
[Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 4250]
If one abides
as advised, (by the grace of Allah) there is a strong hope of forgiveness in
this night provided his beliefs are perfect. (He forgives sins and grants mercy)
This practice
of bringing brothers in Islam close to settle discords and fulfill the rights of
each other is being in effect here since long. Hopefully, you will inculcate
this good practice among the Muslims of your environs to become deserving of the
reward mentioned in the following narration:
من
سن
في
الإسلام
سنة
حسنة
فله
أجرها
وأجر
من
عمل
بها
الى
يوم
القيمة
لاينقص
من
أجورهم
شيء
He who
initiates a virtuous tradition in Islam, there is reward of it for him and also
the reward of all those acting upon it will be written continually in his
account of deeds until the Day of Judgement without any decrease in the rewards
of those acting upon it.
Pray for this
Faqir (lowly servant of Allah) to be blessed with absolution and peace in the
world and in the Hereafter! I remember you in supplications and will keep doing
so. It should be made clear to all the Muslims that concord and pardon all
should be made from core of the heart. Neither mere utterance by tongue is
sufficient and nor lip-service is liked in the court of Allah.
— — —
والسلام
Faqir Ahmad
Rida Qadiri
from:
Bareilly
Five Blessed Nights
Sayyiduna Abu Umamah Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu has narrated that the
Beloved and Blessed Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam has said, ‘There are
five nights in which Du’a is not rejected: the first night of Rajab, the 15th
night of Sha’ban, the night between Thursday and Friday, the night of
Eid-ul-Fitr and the night of Eid-ul-Adha (the 10th Zul-Hajja-tul-Haram).
[Tarikh Dimishq li-ibn 'Asakir, Vol. 10, Page 408]
How to welcome the Night?
On this auspicious night, you should perform fresh Ghusal and Wudu and perform
the two Rakaat of Tahhiyatul Wudhu. In every Rakaat, after the Suratul Fatiha,
you should read Ayatul Kursi once and Surah Ahad 3 times. Also perform eight
Rakaats of Salah with four Salaams.In each Rakaat after the Surah Fatiha, you
should read the Ayatul Kursi (once) and Surah Ikhlas fifty times.
What to Recite immediately after Sunset?
After sunset, you should recite “La Hawla walaa Quwwata illa Billahil-aliyil
Azeem” forty times with three times Durood Shareef before and after. It is
mentioned that by reciting this, Almighty Allah will forgive forty years of your
sins and forty Hoors will await to serve you in Jannat al-Firdous.
Countless Mercies
Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) has stated: “Verily!
Almighty Allah directs His Special Grace on the world on this Night. He forgives
my Ummah more than the number of wool that is found on the sheep of the Bani
Kalb”. We should remember that in those days the Bani Kalb possessed the most
number of sheep that any other tribe.
How great is the Mercy of Almighty Allah on this night that He forgives millions
of Muslims. We also realize from this that these numbers can only pertain to the
Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah collectively, for the righteous followers of the
Hanafi, Shafi’i, Maliki and Hanbali indeed number millions of Muslims.
The visitors of this Night
It is narrated that the departed souls (Arwaah) of the Muslims visit the houses
of their friends and relatives on this night and proclaim: “O people of the
house! You stay in our houses and enjoy the wealth that we have left behind. You
use our children and take work from them, please perform our Esaale Sawaab.
Verily our deeds have become complete, while your record of deeds is still
spread”.
If the people of the house perform the Esaale Sawaab and Khatam Shareef on this
night, then the Arwaah depart will the Sawaab extremely happy and overjoyed all
the time making Du’a for the people.
Visit to the Cemetery
Hadrat Ayesha Siddiqah (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anha) reports: “One night, which was
the 15th of Shabaan, I did not find the Beloved Prophet (SallAllahu Alaihi wa
Sallam) in the house so I went in search of him. After a long search, I found
him in al-Baqi' (the cemetery of Madinah) offering Du’a for the deceased and
praying for their forgiveness”.
A special point must be made to visit the cemetery during this night and pray
for the deceased buried therein, as the Most Beloved Prophet (SallAllahu Alaihi
wa Sallam) is been reported as having visited the cemetery on this night and
spending a long time therein, lamenting, reading and praying for the deceased.
To keep Fast
According to the Hadith Shareef which is narrated by Ibn Hibbaan (Radi Allahu
Ta’ala Anhu) that Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: “When the
night of 15th Shabaan arrives spend the night awake and keep fast the next day”.
Hadrat Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu ta’ala anhu) reports that the Most Beloved of
Allah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said often in his Khutba (sermon): “O
people! Lighten and cleanse your bodies by way of fasting during Shabaan, so
that it shall be easy and helpful to you for the fast during Ramadan. Whoso
fasts for three days during Shabaan, all his past sins are wiped off”.
Sayyiduna Ali Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu has reported that the Holy Prophet
(SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said, ‘When the 15th Night of Sha'ban comes, do
Qiyam (for worship) in the night and observe fast in the day. No doubt Allah
reveals special Divine Manifestation on sky above the earth from the time of
sunset and announces, ‘Is there anyone seeking forgiveness so that I may forgive
him? Is there anyone seeking sustenance so that I may grant him sustenance? Is
there anyone afflicted so that I may relieve his affliction? Is there so and
so...’ He keeps announcing it until the time of the Fajr.’
[Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 2, Page 160, Hadith 1388]
Fasting is also recommended on the 13th, 14th and 15th of Shabaan.
How to spend the Night?
On this night, perform Nawaafil, recite the Qur’an Shareef, recite abundant
Durood Shareef, Istighfaar and Kalima Tayyibah. It is also mentioned that if one
reads Surah Dukhan seven times on this night, Almighty Allah will reward you
with 70 worldly needs and 70 deeds for the Hereafter.
Do not be amongst deprived of Mercy
Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: “Almighty Allah
forgives all Muslims on this night, besides the fortune tellers, the magicians,
the alcoholics, those who disrespect their parents and those who take part and
encourage adultery”.
In another narration, the following people have also been mentioned:
All these persons
are not shown Mercy on this auspicious Night.
A humble appeal to seek pardon and ask Allah’s forgiveness
Dear Muslim brothers, the Bountiful Allah in His Infinite Mercy has provided us
with such an auspicious night so that we may take advantage of it and repent for
our sins,and thus obtain His Grace and Favour. It is for us to take full
advantage of it. During this night, offer special prayers and repent sincerely
for our past sins and ask for His Forgiveness.
Also on this night the Doors of Mercy and Forgiveness are opened wide, and those
who sincerely grieve over and repent for their past sins and seek forgiveness
from Allah are pardoned and forgiven by the Grace of Allah the Merciful.
Each Tasbih or Du’a should begin and terminate with the recital of Durood
Shareef and one who wishes for the acceptance of his Du’as should use the Wasila
of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam).
It is mentioned in "Gunyah at-Talibeen" that the month of Shaban according to
some narrations is related to Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam). So, it
is our duty, as the Ummat of Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Ta’ala Alaihi wa Sallam) to
love and respect this month more than any other month (besides Ramadan). We
should also offer abundantly salutations (Salaat-o-Salaam) upon the Most Beloved
Prophet (SallAllahu Ta’ala Alaihi wa Sallam).
While we are praying and asking for ourselves and family, we should also
remember in our Du’as the Muslim Ummah facing calamities in many parts of the
world, that may Allah Ta’ala grant them the strength and Istiqaamat
(steadfastness) in Deen. Those weak Muslims who are under pressure from the West
and modernisation, may Allah Ta’ala guide them and show them the right path so
that they be in touch with their glorious past. Aameen. May Almighty Allah guide
us on the path of the Ambiya and the Awliya. Aameen.
Nafil Salaah to be read on Shab-e-Baraat
Basharat of Jannat: Sayyiduna
Rasulullah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) is reported to have said that Allah
Ta’ala instructs and assigns 100 angels to the person who performs 100 Nafil
Salaahs on this auspicious night – 30 of which will bring the good news of
Jannat, 30 angels to protect one from the Azaab (Punishment) of Dozakh (Hell),
30 to remove all misfortunes and miseries of this world and 10 angels to protect
one from Shaitaan.
The Guardian of Imaan:
After performing Maghrib Salaah, read 2 rakaahs of Nafil. In the first
rakaah, after Surah Fatiha, recite Surah Ikhlaas 3 times and Surah Falaq once.In
the second rakaah, after Surah Fatiha, recite Surah Ikhlaas 3 times and Surah
Naas once. After Salam, make Du’a and ask Allah to protect your Imaan.
Barakah in Rizq: After Maghrib
Salaah, read 2 rakaahs of Nafil. Thereafter, read Surah Yasin once, Surah
Ikhlaas 21 times and Du’a Nisf Shabaan once. Then, make Du’a for Barakah in Rozi
and ask Allah not to make you dependent on anyone.
Long Life filled with Piety:
After Maghrib Salaah, read 2 rakaahs of Nafil. Read Surah Yasin once. Then read
Du’a Nisf Shabaan once. Thereafter, make Du’a for long life filled with piety
and righteousness.
Reward for ten thousand good Deeds:
Anyone who performs 20 rakaahs of Nafil after Maghrib in such a way that after
Surah Fatiha, recites Surah Ikhlaas 10 times in every rakaah, will be rewarded
abundantly by Allah Ta’ala, and ten thousand good deeds will be recorded in his
Amal Namaa (Book of Deeds).
Death with complete Faith/Imaan:
Anyone who performs 2 rakaahs of Nafil on the last Friday of Shabaan between
Maghrib and Esha will die with full faith and Imaan. After Surah Fatiha, one
should read Ayatul Kursi once, Surah Ikhlaas 10 times and Surah Falaq and Surah
Naas once in both rakaahs. If the person who reads Nafil in such a way dies
until the next Shabaan, will die with Imaan, Inshaa-Allah.
Sincere Advice: The performing of Salaat al-Tasbeeh on this night is also very
virtuous.