Shab-e-Barat is the holy night of fortune and forgiveness. It will be observed on Saturday by the Muslims in India. It is also known as Laylat-ul-Barat or Laylat-ul-Baraa or Mid Shabaan.
It holds significance for Sunni Muslims followed by the Barelvi and the Deobandi school of thoughts. Urdu word Shab means night while Barat is an Arabic noun which is translated in English as innocence or salvation.
This night comes 15 days before the holy month of Ramadan or Ramazan and it is believed that on this night god decides the fortunes of men and women for the coming year and shower forgiveness.
Shab-e-Barat 2019 Date
Shab-e-Barat is observed on 15th of the Islamic month of Shaban. As per the Islamic calendar, the date changes after the sunset and not after midnight. Therefore, on 15th Shaban will begin after the sunset, that is April 20, 2019. The festival will be observed until the next sunset I.e on April 21, 2019.
Shab-e-Barat significance
Shab-e-Barat marks the night when God seals people’s fate in terms of life and death until the next year. According to a Hadith in Baihaqi, Prophet Mohammed told his wife Hazrat Aisha: “…record is made of every human being who will be born, and of every human being who will pass away this year. In it their deeds are taken up to heaven and in it, their provisions are sent down.” The festival is also known as the night of forgiveness.
Other facts about Shab-e-Barat
On this night, Muslims observe special prayers and worship the entire night to seek forgiveness for their sins. The festival is considered to be the Eid of those who have dies. Several Muslims also visit the nearest graveyards to seek forgiveness for the deceased relatives. The following day, fast is also observed by many of them.
