The Night of Freedom from Fire
Shab e Barat - Lailatul Bara'ah - Nifse Shaban
Sunset of Shaban 14th to Dawn of Shaban 15th
Shab-e-Barat means the night of salvation or the night of freedom from the Fire of Hell. It occurs in Mid-Shaban – between the 14th and 15th day of Shaban. This night, known as Shab-e-Barat or Laylat-ul-Baraa, is called Laylatun Nisf min Shaban in Arabic. The blessed night starts at magrib after the asr of 14th and ends at dawn on the 15th. Islamic dates start at night, not day time. So magrib is the start of Shaban 15th.
Muslims observe Mid-Shaban as a night of worship and salvation. Some spend the whole night awake and some worship half of it. We should not be negligent on this occasion, because people are shown grace on this auspicious night. During this night, traditions of the Messenger tell us, Allah determines the destiny of all people, including whether a person is to live or die in the coming year.
For the proof of the merit of Shab-e-Barat, the following verses of the Holy Qur’an are cited:
“Surely, We have sent it (the Holy Qur’an) down in a blessed night. Surely, We are the Warner. In this (night) judgment is given on all matters of wisdom (separately) by Our Command.” (Sura ad-Dukhan, 44:3-5)
Imam Qurtubi and Imam Jalal-ud-Din Suyuti hold that the verses refer to Laylatun Nisf min Shaban or Shab-e-Barat.
The whole of the month of Shaban is meritorious. Its excellent merit is evident from a tradition narrated by Aisha, the mother of the faithful: “The Prophet did not fast in any month more than Shaban.” (Sahih Bukhari)
