ISLAMABAD: “Shab-e-Barat”, the night of reverence, fervour and divine blessings, was observed across the country tonight.
“Shab-e-Barat”, the night of praise of God, is observed 15 days before the start of the holy month of Ramzan.
The night is known as Laylatul Bara’ah or Laylatun Nisfe min Shaban in the Arab world.
This is the best night of prayer and worship of God to seek His forgiveness for sins and blessing to achieve success in this world and hereafter.
The Muslims spend the whole night to offer special prayers and recite the Quran.
Mahafil-e-Milad, zikr and other religious rituals are held to commemorate the occasion. The people also visit the graves of their relatives and offer Fateha and special manajaat to seek God’s blessings for the departed souls.
According to Muslim belief, Shab-e-Barat is the night when God arranges affairs of the next one year. He writes the destinies of all His creations on this night for the coming year by taking into account their past deeds.
The significant distinction of this night, according to Islamic belief, is that it falls on the night of Shaaban 15 in which all births and deaths in universe are written in the ‘Loh-e-Mehfooz’ for the forthcoming year.
According to religious scholars, there are some nights in Islam which are significant, sacred with grandeur and divine majesty and ‘Lailatul Barat’ is one of them.
Faithfuls are gathering at mosques and offering night-long special prayers, while different gatherings and Mahafile Naat have also been arranged to mark the holy night.
The religious scholars in their sermons are highlighting the true teachings of Islam and various aspects of the life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
The houses, streets and especially mosques have been decorated with colourful pennants and buntings whereas at night these are well-Illuminated with electric lights, candles or even oil lamps.
