Shab-e-Barat

This article is about the regional & cultural aspect of the religious day ofMid-Sha'ban.For a described overview, seeMid-Sha'ban.

Not to be confused withShab-e-Miraj,which marks when theProphetascended to heavens.

Shab-e-Barat(lit. 'Barat Night'),Cheragh-e-Barat,Berat Kandili,orNisfu Syaaban(Southeastern Asian Muslims) is aMid-Sha'banrelated cultural celebration celebrated in manySouth Asian,Central Asian,South East AsianandMiddle EasternMuslim countries, on the 15th night (the night on 15th only) of the month ofSha'ban,the eighth month of theIslamic calendar.

Shab-e-Barat
Mid-Sha'ban/Shab-e-Barat observance inIran
Official name	Nisfe barat
Observed by	South Asian and South East Asian Muslims
Type	Islamic,Mid-Sha'ban
Celebrations	Mosque
Date	Night between 14 and 15 ofSha'ban

Description

Some people mistake Shab-e-Barat festival as it is not a festival and ShiaMid-Sha'banceremony as they take place at the same time, but Shab-e-Barat's rituals and styles differ from region to region, while Mid-Sha'ban is celebrated the same everywhere. The observance of Barat involves a festive nightlong vigil with prayers. In most regions, it is a night when one's deceased ancestors are commemorated.

Shab-e-Barat is considered a major event in South East Asia, in which Muslims collectively worship and ask for forgiveness of their wrongdoings. It is believed to reward them with fortune for the whole year and cleanse them of their sins. In many regions, it is also a night when prayers are offered to forgive one's deceased ancestors.Additionally,TwelverShia Muslims commemorate the birthday ofMuhammad al-Mahdi.ImamJa'far al-Sadiqand ImamMuhammad al-Baqirused to perform special prayers in this night.Both Sunni and Shia Muslims recognise this night to be as the Night of Forgiveness. Muslims observe Mid-Sha'ban as a night of worship and salvation. Scholars like Imam Shafii, Imam Nawawi,Imam Ghazali,and Imam Suyuti have declared praying acceptable on the night of mid-Shaban.

Origins

According to a study by Eiichi Imoto and Mohammad Ajam, Shab-e-Barat is rooted in pre-Islamic religions in the Middle East andPersia.Eastern Iranians traditionally preserve the Barat like theBon Festivalin Buddhism andPitri Pakshain Hinduism and Zoroastrianism. The study states that the Persian wordbrat(bright) is different from the Arabic wordbara'at.TheKhorasanpeople call the Barat the Cheragh (light) Brat, meaning bright or light festival.Al-Biruni(973 – after 1050) had written about "a festival from 12 to 15 of the lunar month that in Arabic is Al Baiz meaning bright, and Barat also is called al Ceqe meaningCheque."In some Iranian cities, people celebrate this festival by gathering in the cemeteries, lightingPeganum harmala(wild rue)—a holy plant in old Persia—placing the fire in a corner of the tombs, and pouring some salt on the fire while reading a poem saying: "The Peganum harmala is bitter and salt is salty so the jealous eye of the enemy be blind."

Shab-e-Barat is also known as the Night of Forgiveness or Day of Atonement.Muslims observe Mid-Sha'ban as a night of worship and salvation. Scholars like Imam Shafii, Imam Nawawi, Imam Ghazzali, and Imam Suyuti have declared praying acceptable on the night of mid-Shaban.In his Majmu',Imam Nawawi quoted Imam al-Shafi'i's Kitab al-Ummthat there are five nights when dua (prayer) is answered, one of them being the night of the 15th of Sha`ban.

Etymology

Shab-e-Barat is celebrated by Muslims all over the world. Some Muslims believe that on the night of Shab-e-Barat, God writes the destinies of all men and women for the coming year by taking into account the deeds they committed in the past. It is of high value toSunni Muslims,and is regarded as one of the holiest nights on theIslamic calendar.

Significance and traditions

To pray for the dead and ask God for the forgiveness of the dead is a common ceremony in all cities that hold Barat ceremonies. According to ahadithtradition, Muhammad went into the graveyard of Baqi' on this night, where he prayed for the Muslims buried there and never repeated again on this night. On this basis, some clerics deem it advisable on this night to go to the graveyard of the Muslims to recite part of the Qur'an and pray for the dead.

According to some Sunni Islam traditions, this night is calledShab-e-Bara'at(transl.  "the night of freedom") because Allah frees those who are destined forHell.

Customs in different countries

This occasion is celebrated all over South and Central Asia. In the Arab world, the festival is celebrated bySufiandShiaMuslims.SalafiArabs do not celebrate this holiday.

Iran

Shab E Braat in Iran

Peganum harmalaincense

Peganum harmala/haoma

The Barat festival in Khorasan, especially in theGreater Khorasanregion, Kurdistan, and parts of Iran, is one of the most important festivals for respecting the souls of the dead.[1]People in every area have their own customs, but the common tradition is to prepare sweets and candy with dates (Halva) andDate palm.before sunset Groups gather in cemeteries to clean the tombs to place offerings of sweets and candy pot on the tombs for the departed to eat, to pray, and to light candles to turn on the lights (cherag). In some Iranian cities, to celebrate this festival people gather in the cemeteries to burnPeganum harmalaorhaoma(wild rue) in a corner of the tombs and pour some salt on the fire, and recite a poem saying: thePeganum harmalais bitter and salt is salty so the jealous eye of the enemy be blind. In Iran, the Barat festival is celebrated in two different ceremonies. in the recent century On the day of 15th, which is a national holiday all city streets are lit to commemorate the birth date of Imam Al Mahdi, the lastimamof Shia.but shab barat festival have a long history. "

Iraq

InIraq,people give children candies as they walk through their neighborhoods. Sunni Muslims and non MuslimYazidi(Êzîdî) Kurds inIraqi KurdistanandAfghanistancelebrate this holiday 15 days beforeRamadan,so Muslims in Indonesia do communaldhikrdevotions in mosques followed by a lecture (ceramah) led by an ustadz.This tradition is rarely followed in Indonesia, but it is widely followed in Aceh, West Sumatra, and South Kalimantan. In southern Asia, Muslims make sweets (especially halwa orzarda) to give to neighbors and the poor on the evening before the 15th of Sha’ban.

Bangladesh

See also:Bengali Muslims

Shab-e-Barat is observed by Bangladeshi Muslims. Many schools remain closed on that day. Many people fast, pray after theIsha prayer,read theQuran,barter bread and sweets and donate to the impoverished on that day.People visit graveyards, prays and lights candles and incense and places flowers. Shab-e-Barat and lanes ofOld Dhakagets bustling with shops vending these soft, fluffy decorative pieces of bread, using traditional motifs such as fish andkalka.Alongside the traditional decorative breads, colorfulBengalisweetssuch asHalua,Borfi,Sandesh,Pitha,Kheerer putli,Rasmalai,Nikuti, Naru, Moya as well as savoury dishes like boondi kabab polao and hari kababs are served.Buildings get illuminated and decorated by traditional lighting such asDiyas,candles and lanterns,cloth architectures(Shamiana) and paperworks. Children engage in fireworks and burn fireworks and crackers. Religious cultural programs such as WazMehfil,Qur'anrecitation,Na'atMehfil,Bengali GhazalMehfil,Qasida,Tabarrukdistribution andMezbanare held in mosques and other places.Shab e Barat has now become aculturalfestivalofBengalis.

A decoration of Bengali sweets is prepared on Shab e Barat.

India

Historically, Shab-e-Barat in India has been associated with fasting, visiting mosques and charity.TheDarul Uloom Deobandseminary in India has opined that individual worship on the night of 15thShabanismustahab(virtuous) but practices such as lighting bulbs, preparing a variety of dishes, wearing new clothes, making halwa and collective worship in mosques arebid'ah(innovation) and should be avoided. People belonging to the Muslim community of India pray all night and also recite the holy Quran. They start their prayers after sunset and prey untilSuhur.On the next day down, before azaan, sehri is eaten. Devotees also believe that Shab-e-Barat is the night whenAllahdecides the fortunes of people. On the occasion people wish each other "Shab-e-Barat Mubarak".

Pakistan

Shab-e-Barat is observed throughout Pakistan, and is an optional holiday that can be chosen from employment and holiday laws in Pakistan. Some employees may choose to take this day off, though most offices and businesses remain open.

Traditional sweets likehalwa,savaiyyan(vermicelli) and flatbread are prepared and shared with neighbours, friends and relatives, and the poor.

Flowers are also placed on graves of deceased family members besides offeringFatihafor them.

In various places, it is a common tradition to offer prayers to Allah for forgiveness on behalf of the deceased, which is why people visit the graves of their loved ones, offer prayers and light candles and scent sticks at the graves of their loved ones.

A child lighting candles and scent sticks on the graves of the deceased, a tradition among some families to seek forgiveness of their loved ones.

TheUlemaand religious scholars in their sermons highlight teachings of Islam while different gatherings andMahafil-e-Naatare arranged to mark the holy night.

The houses, streets and mosques are decorated with colourful pennants and buntings.

Turkey

Berat Kandiliis the name for Mid-Sha’ban and it is considered a sacred day in Turkey. Muslim holiday celebrations have been calledKandil(Arabic:qindīl,oil lamp) sinceSultan Selim IIof theOttoman Empireafter burning lamps to light upminaretson the occasion of special blessed nights.

Japan

Shab e Barat in Japan is an important ceremony for Muslims of Japan. In Islam, there are several Islamic events that have their own significance. However, Shab e Barat is also among the holiest event in Islam. Each year, Muslims in Japan do special arrangements regarding the event. They eagerly wait for the moon sighting to be aware about the confirmed date of Shab e Barat in Japan and to plan their activities accordingly.

See also

• Mid-Sha'ban
• Baraat
• Bon Festival
• Pitri Paksha
• Sufism

External links

• Origin of Cherag (light) e Brat in Khorasan[2]
• Celebration of Shab-e-Barat[3]