The eighth month of Islamic calendar is called Shaban. This whole month has a unique significance. The beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ says,   “Shaban is my month and Ramzan is the month of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.” The whole month is full of blessings but there is a night when the mercy of our Creator عَزَّوَجَلَّ is at its peak. And that is the fifteenth night. It is known as Laila-tul-Bara’at in Arabic; in Urdu it is known as Shab e Brat.

The Virtue of this Night

It is stated that in this blessed night Hazrat Ali کَرَّمَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی وَجْہَہُ الْکَرِیْم would come out of his home. Once as usual he came out and looked towards the heavens and said," In this night Dawood the Prophet of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ looked towards the heavens and said: "this is the time if one prays for something, no matter whatsoever, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ will grant him. If someone seeks forgiveness of his sins he will be forgiven provided he is not one of the followings; a person who collects taxes unlawfully, a magician, Kahin (a person who sits to foretell the future incidents), and a musician. Then he prayed with the following words; o Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! O the cherisher of Dawood! Forgive everyone who prays thee or seeks forgiveness of his sins in this night.

The Unfortunate Ones

Dear Islamic brothers! After having read the above mentioned narration we must prepare ourselves to gain maximum blessings of this night but stop for a while and read the following Hadith as well.

Hazrat Aaisha رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہَا narrates that the beloved Prophet Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم said, “once Hazrat Jibrail عَلَیْہِ السَّلَام came to me and said “In this blessed night Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ frees his bondman from Hell and the number of those who are freed is like the number of strands of hair on the goats of the Banu Kalab (an Arab tribe famous for its livestock) but any of those who are non-Muslims  or have grudge or sever the ties or hang the cloths (out of arrogance) or disobey their parents or consume alcohol as an habit (will be deprive of the mercy and) Allah will not look towards them with mercy.

Dear Islamic brothers! We must sit for a while to perform a self-analysis. Because if we are any of those mentioned above then we will be deprived of the blessings of the night and it is really a great disaster for a Muslim to be deprived of the Mercy of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. Let us make sincere repentance and make firm intention that from now onward we will not indulge in any of the sins mentioned above.

What to do in this night?

Many readers will naturally ask “what is the best way of acquiring the blessings of the night.” The answer is:

· Sit in the company of the scholars and righteous people who can educate you best in this regard.

· Try to perform all your salahs with congregation.

Observe fast on the fifteenth day of Shaban. There is a prophetic saying in this regard as well; the beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ has stated, “Whenever you find the night of fifteenth Shaban, worship Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ in the night and observe fast in the day.”

Another way which will prove very comprehensive in this regard in my humble understanding is to participate in any of the congregations held by Dawat-e-Islami in different parts of the world. Because there you will have the company of pious people and will be able to offer your salahs with congregation as well. Further, many Islamic brothers observe the fast as well as it is a routine in Madani environment. When one sees the other Islamic brothers observing fast he also gets motivation and fasting becomes easier for him.

In order to learn more about this night please visit our website http://www.dawateislami.net and download the booklet “The Month of My

Prophet” you will find it very informative.

اِنْ شَآءَاللہ عَزَّوَجَلَّ

May Almighty Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ enable us to gain barakah of this night! Ameen