Shab-e-Barat (The Night of Absolution) is celebrated on the night in between the 14th and 15th of Sha’ban in the Islamic calendar. Shab-e-Barat is a night in the month of Sha’ban is the night of forgiveness and pray the whole night asking Allah E to bestow us with His blessings.
People stay up during the whole night and offer voluntary prayers (Nafl), asking Allah E to forgive any sins they might’ve committed in the past.
Shab-e-Barat memorializes the time when Allah E saved Nooh S and his Ark from the flood. Sunni tradition says that on this night, Allah E determines the fate of all people in the coming year. It is for this reason that the night is also known as the Night of Salvation. The night of Shab-e-Baraat also commemorates the entry of the Prophet Muhammad H into Mecca.
Shab-e-Barat is also known as Lailatul Baraat, Lailatul Dua, Mid-Sha’ban, Nisf Shaban (in Arabic speaking countries), Nisfu Syaban (in Malay speaking countries), Nim Shaban (in Iran), Berat Kandili (in Turkish). It is known as Shab-e-baraat only in South Asian countries.
On this night, people often distribute sweets to children and to each other. In South Asian countries, people usually distribute a local dessert known as a Halwa or other delicacies.
15th Sha’ban is a night when all deeds of everyone (who is going to die, who will be born, who will be ill and how much food people will have in the year, etc.) is written for the next year. Our Prophet Muhammad H used to pray and fast on this day, so when his deeds are to be written, Allah E would have mercy (He is Already in the Mercy of Allah E Forever, but he did this, so that it becomes Sunnah)
Shab-e-Barat is Special Mercy.
Allah E said:”Ha-Mim.By this luminous Book. Undoubtedly we sent it down in a blessed night, verily We are to warn.Therein every affair of wisdom is divided.”[44:1-3] Hadrat Ibn-e- Abbas I said,”Ha-Mim means that Allah E has predetermined everything in existence till the day of Resurrection. The book means AL-QURAN, which is a mercy from Allah E and provide guidance and was revealed in “blessed night”. The ‘blessed night’ is the night of mid-Sha’ban in which every wise and important work is decided and is made distinct. Mid of Sha’ban is the night of absolution.”
