Significance of Shab e Barat
 Shaban is the 8th month of Islamic calendar and is one of the fourth sacred months for which we find particular instructions in the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Shaban is the 2nd month of worship in command to make arrangements for the blessed and magnificent month of Ramadan. The Muslims have come to know the month of Shaban as the month of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “Shaban is my month, Rajab is Allah’s month and Ramadan is the month of my Ummah. Shaban is expiator, while Ramadan is the purifier.”

Shab-e-Barat the 15th of Shaban is one of the most revered nights in which Muslims seek Allah’s forgiveness and blessings and repent over their sins. Hazrat Ali (RA) narrated that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “When it is the fifteenth of Shaban, then stand (in worship) at night and fast during the day. Because Allah descends in this night at sunset to the first heaven and says: ‘Is there any seeker of forgiveness, that I may forgive him? Is there any seeker of sustenance, that I may sustain him? Is there anyone in affliction, that I may remove his affliction? Is there anyone like this, like that (and so on)’. This continues until Fajr.” (Ibn Majah)

Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to fast repeatedly in the month of Shaban. Hazrat Aishah (RA) said: “I never saw the Messenger of Allah fast for a complete month except for Ramadan, and I never saw Him do more fasting in any month than He (SAW) did in the month of Shaban” (Al-Bukhari). The night of absolution or Shab-e-Baraat has its own significance in religion Islam. Shab-e-Baraat is the night of celebration or the night of freedom from Hell’s Fire.

In another hadith Prophet (PBUH) aid related to the significance of the month of Shaban in these words: “People neglect this month which is between Rajab and Ramadan, in this month the actions of the people are presented to Allah; so, I like my deeds to be presented while I am fasting.” (Abu Dawood)

Shab-e-Barat is the night in which Allah Almighty forgives all those who believe Him and who don’t hate others. In hadith it is stated by our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) that: “In the fifteenth night of Shaban, Allah manifests and forgives all His creation except for the Mushrik (idolater) and the spiteful.” (Ibn Majah)

Shab e Barat is one of the blessed nights in which a Muslim can repent on the previous mistakes and sins with a true heart and receive forgiveness from Allah Almighty. The 15th of Shaban is the blessed night in which a Muslim can turn towards Allah Almighty and find His doors of forgiveness open for him or her. Hazrat Aisha (RA) reported that: “The Prophet (SAW) said: ‘On the middle night of Shaban (that is, Shab-e-Barat), Allah most high descends to the lowest heaven and remits more sins than the hair of the goats of Banu Kalb.’” (Jami Tirmidhi)

Therefore, every Muslim must make use of this night and repent in front of Allah Almighty so that He forgives the sins that a person committed throughout the year. Ameen!