Dear Islamic brothers! Tonight is the night of Shab-e-Bara`at; the night to attain salvation; the night of goodness; the night of blessings; the night in which Du’as are answered; the night of forgiveness; the night in which sustenance is distributed; the night in which the names of Hājis are written; the night of freedom from Hell; the night in which good fortune or misfortune is written. Tonight is the night in which the names of those who will die till the next Shab-e-Bara`at are handed over to Malak-ul-Maut, Sayyiduna ‘Izraeel عَـلَيْـهِ الـصَّلٰوة ُ وَالـسَّلَام. Alas!

عزیزا یاد کر جس دن کہ عِزرائیل آئیں گے                    نہ جاوے کوئی تیرے سَنگ اکیلا تُو نے جانا ہے

Arrival of Malak-ul-Maut

Sayyiduna Yazeed Raqqaashi عَـلَیۡهِ رَحۡـمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ الۡـکَافِی has said: An extremely arrogant man of the Bani Israa-eel was sitting with one of his family members in his home. Suddenly he saw someone enter through a door. Nervous and frightened, he immediately became angry and asked: Who are you and with whose permission have you entered my home? The one who entered the home replied: I entered with the permission of the owner of this home; I am the one whom no guard can stop nor do I need the permission of any king, the display of rank and dignity of anyone cannot frighten me. No stubborn and arrogant person can escape from me. Upon hearing this, the arrogant person felt deeply ashamed and started trembling; he then fell flat on his face. Then, lifting his head in a disgraceful manner, he said: This means that you are Malak-ul-Maut عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام. He عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام said: I am Malak-ul-Maut. The arrogant man asked: Will you allow me some time to repent? Malak-ul-Maut عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام replied: Definitely not! Your time is over; you have taken your breaths; your time is up and now you have nothing left.

The arrogant man asked again: Where will you take me? He عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام said: Towards those deeds you have forwarded and towards that home you have prepared. The man said: I did not forward any good deeds nor any home.

Sayyiduna Malak-ul-Maut عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام said: Then I will take you to the valley of Hell which cooks the flesh. Then he عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام seized the soul of that arrogant person and he fell amongst his family members. Everyone started crying and