Shab-e-Barat : Date, history, practices, relevance and importance of Shab-e-Barat

Here is everything you need to know about the Muslim festival. Date, importance, and relevance of Shab e barat.

Shab e barat day is known as Bara’at Night, The Night of Fortune and Forgiveness. Shab e-Barat is a holiday observed on the 14th night of Sha’aban, the eighth month in the Islamic calendar. Shab e-Barat which takes place on the full moon is dependent on the sighting of the previous new moon signifying the start of the month of Sha’aban. In Islam, Shab-e-Barat means the night of forgiveness, or Day of Atonement. It is considered to be the night when God forgives sinners.

Also Read Shab e barat night- what to do, Dua

Date of the Shab e Barat

This year the festival will be observed on Wednesday April 8 and 9. The shab e barat will begin in the evening of April 8 and end on the evening of April 9.

This is one of the major festivals for the Muslim community.

History of Shab e Barat

The history of this festival dates backs to the time when the twelfth Imam of the Shia Muslims named Muhammad al-Mahdi was born. The night of Shab e barat is celebrated as his birthday.

On the other hand, Sunni Muslim community believes that on this day only, God saved the ark of Noah from the flood. This is why the people across the globe celebrate shab e barat.

Practice on Shab e Barat

On shab e barat, people pray to Allah and visit the graves of their near and dear ones to offer prayers and light candles.

Some Muslims do a daylong fast while spending the night seeking mercy for the sins committed by them. Muslims stay awake in the night, reciting the Quran and praying after the return from the graveyards where they prayed for their departed relatives and Muslim congregation.

Importance of Shab e Barat

The word Barat’ means the quality of being guileless’, or without guile or deception’. In the Arab world, the festival is referred to as Laylat al-Bara’at. The festival falls before the Ramadan. The holy Shab-e-Barat is observed across the country with due religious fervour and devotion.

Muslims believe on Shab-e Barat, God writes their destinies for the year to come, on the basis of their past actions. Therefore, the night is spent in asking for God’s mercy for any misdemeanour. Shab e barat is celebrated by Shia Muslims with joyous displays of fireworks.